Ramparts
Cemetery lies within the town of Ieper itself, 1 Km south of Ieper
the Market Square. The Rijselsestraat connects the Market Square
with the Rijselpoort (Lille Gate) and on to Armentieres. Prior to
passing through the Lille Gate and immediately after the Police
station, is the right hand turning onto the Kanonweg. The cemetery
is located on a pathway along the Ramparts, 50 metres along the
Kanonweg.
From
October 1914 to the summer of 1918, Ypres (now Ieper) formed the
centre of a salient held by Commonwealth (and for a while French)
forces. From April 1915, the town was bombarded and destroyed more
completely than any other town of its size on the western front.
The cemetery is by the Lille Gate, on top of the old rampart, over
what had been dug-outs. It was begun by French troops in November
1914 and used by Commonwealth units at intervals from February 1915
to April 1918. The cemetery contains 198 Commonwealth burials of
the First World War. The French graves have been removed. The cemetery
was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.
[Extract
from the Commonwealth
War Graves Commision website]