The Western Front Today - Prowse Point Cemetery
Prowse Point cemetery is
the only cemetery in Ypres Salient named after an individual,
Brigadier-General Charles Prowse DSO of the 1st Somerset Light Infantry who
was killed on 1st July 1916 during the opening day of the
Battle of the
Somme.
The cemetery is the site of a stand by the Hampshire Regiment and the Somerset Light Infantry in October 1914 which featured the heroism of (then) Major Charles Prowse. The cemetery was begun by the Dublin Fusiliers and 1st Warwicks and was in use from November 1914 to April 1918. It contains 160 U.K. burials plus 13 Australian, 12 German and 1 Canadian burials
The cemetery remains open to burials: on 31 October 2001 Private Harry Wilkinson of the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers was buried with full military honours. Killed in action a mile away on the Flanders battlefield on 10 November 1914 his remains were identified by forensic examination in 2001. His burial coincided with the 25,000th playing of the Last Post at the Menin Gate.
References:
Before Endeavours Fade, Rose E.B. Coombs, After the Battle 1994
Major & Mrs Holt's Battlefield Guide - Ypres Salient, Leo Cooper 2000
A bunker comprised a fortification largely built below ground level.
- Did you know?
