Commonwealth War Cemetery Bard Cottage

This cemetery is named after Bard cottage that was located close by and the crossing of the Ypres Canal "Bard’s Causeway", here troops would cross to reach the frontlines on the other side.

The cemetery was concealed from movement due to a high bank that would mask it for the Germans. Furthermore there was a light railway track close by that was used to transport troops and supplies to the frontlines and on the way back it would take casualties that would be buried here. It was in use from June 1915 until the end of the war.

South of this location was a small cemetery, called Marengo Farm, which name was given by the French troops that were based in this area prior to the British. All 32 graves were transferred to Bard Cottage cemetery after the war as well as 14 other burials from fieldgraves close by.

Bard Cottage Cemetery contains 1639 Commonwealth war graves from World War I. Of these, 39 are unidentified.

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Source

• Text: Gio Theunissen
• Photos: Luc van Waeyenberge