Tyne Cot Cemetery was established on the site of a former military stronghold during the First World War. The location is particularly significant as it lies on the Zonnebeke Ridge, which was heavily contested during the Battle of Passchendaele, part of the Third Battle of Ypres.
History
The village of Passendale had been in German hands since October 1914. During the Third Battle of Ypres, which began on 31 July 1917 and ended on 10 November 1917, the Allies wanted to recapture the village. After more than three months of fighting, the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade recaptured Passendale. After the German spring offensive in the spring of 1918, the village fell into German hands again. This remained the case until the Belgian 4th Regiment of Carabiniers and Grenadiers finally recaptured the village on 29 September 1918 during the Allied final offensive. This battle was one of the bloodiest engagements of the war, with immense loss of life due to the mud, constant artillery fire, and the difficult terrain. Over 500,000 men from both sides were either killed or wounded during the battle.
The name Tyne Cot(tage) was given by the 50th Northumbrian Division to a shed that stood in the middle of five German concrete bunkers, along the road from Broodseinde to Passendale. They referred to the cottages along the Tyne, a river in Northern England that runs through Northumberland. The largest bunker was set up as an Advanced Dressing Station by the 3rd Australian Division after its capture on 4 October 1917. The fallen were also buried here until the end of March 1918. This was the start of this cemetery.
After the war, it became one of the most important sites for commemoration of the fallen soldiers of the Commonwealth, particularly those from the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia.
Design and Layout
Tyne Cot Cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker, a renowned architect who was tasked with creating a consistent and solemn architectural style for Commonwealth cemeteries. The overall design reflects the solemn nature of the conflict and the reverence for the sacrifices made by soldiers.
Grave Layout
The cemetery contains 11,968 Commonwealth graves, and it is designed with rows of uniform white headstones laid out in a series of parallel lines. Each grave is marked with a headstone that includes the soldier’s name, rank, regiment, and date of death, provided this information was available.
They are made up of United Kingdom soldiers 2,337, Australian soldiers 582, Canadians 451, New Zealanders 178, South Africans 24, Germans 1. Totalling 3,593 named graves. For 8375 soldiers whose identities remain unknown, a headstone with the inscription “Known unto God” is placed. The graves are arranged methodically in rectangular plots, with clear demarcations to maintain the orderly layout.
Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing
The cemetery is also home to the Tyne Cot Memorial, a striking feature at the rear of the cemetery. The memorial is dedicated to the missing soldiers of the Commonwealth who died during the Third Battle of Ypres but have no known grave. The memorial consists of 4,000 names of soldiers commemorated on panels that run along the back wall of the cemetery. This memorial is one of the most significant commemorative structures in the region and is one of the largest memorials to the missing from World War I.
Stone Cross of Sacrifice
At the heart of the cemetery stands the Stone Cross of Sacrifice, a typical feature in Commonwealth cemeteries. It symbolizes the selflessness of the soldiers who died during the war. The cross is flanked by two smaller structures—one of which is a Cenotaph that holds a plaque for General Sir Julian Byng, who was involved in the Passchendaele offensive. The memorial design reflects the classical style, emphasizing simplicity and dignity. The Cross of Sacrifice is built over the central bunker on the cemetery which is referred to as the block house.
Visit
Tyne Cot CWGC is visited by over 200.000 visitors each year. It is accessible by wheelchair. There are two separate registers for this site – one for the cemetery and one for the memorial. The cemetery register will be found in the gatehouse as you enter the cemetery, and the memorial register will be found in the left hand rotunda of the memorial as you face the memorial.
Check out the website for opening times.
Tyne Cot – WW1 Commonwealth Cemetery – Zonnebeke, Belgium
