Prowse Point Military Cemetery is a

Commonwealth War Graves Commission The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) is an intergovernmental organisation of six independent member states whose principal function is to mark, record and maintain the graves and places of commemoration of Commonwealth of Nations mil ...

(CWGC) burial ground for the dead of the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

located in the

Ypres Salient The Ypres Salient, around Ypres, in Belgium, was the scene of several battles and a major part of the Western Front during World War I. Location Ypres lies at the junction of the Ypres–Comines Canal and the Ieperlee. The city is overlooked b ...

on the Western Front in Belgium. The cemetery grounds were assigned to the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

in perpetuity by King

Albert I of Belgium Albert I (8 April 1875 – 17 February 1934) was King of the Belgians from 23 December 1909 until his death in 1934. He is popularly referred to as the Knight King (, ) or Soldier King (, ) in Belgium in reference to his role during World War I ...

in recognition of the sacrifices made by the

British Empire The British Empire comprised the dominions, Crown colony, colonies, protectorates, League of Nations mandate, mandates, and other Dependent territory, territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It bega ...

in the defence and liberation of

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

during the war.First World War
accessed 19 August 2006

Foundation

The cemetery is on the site of a stand made by the 1st Battalions of the

Hampshire Regiment The Hampshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 37th (North Hampshire) Regiment of Foot and the 67th (South Hampshire) Regiment of Foot. The re ...

and

Somerset Light Infantry The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army, which served under various titles from 1685 to 1959. In 1959, the regiment was amalgamated with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry to form the Som ...

in October 1914. Major (later Brigadier-General)

Charles Bertie Prowse Brigadier-General Charles Bertie Prowse, DSO (23 June 1869 – 1 July 1916) was a British Army officer. He joined the militia battalion of Prince Albert's (Somerset Light Infantry) Regiment in 1889 and transferred to a regular battalion in 189 ...

displayed

hero A hero (feminine: heroine) is a real person or fictional character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through feats of ingenuity, courage, or Physical strength, strength. The original hero type of classical epics did such thin ...

ism at this stand and the site (and thus cemetery) was named after him.Bourne, John ''Charles Bertie Prowse'' in th
Lions Led by Donkeys Archive
University of Birmingham, undated, accessed 27 September 2007 This makes the cemetery unique on the Salient for being named after an individual.Commonwealth War Graves Commission
accessed 27 September 2007 The cemetery was begun in November 1914 and continued to be used until fighting moved beyond the Ploegsteert area in April 1918.WW1Cemeteries.com
, accessed 27 September 2007 The cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw. Notable graves include

Sergeant Sergeant (Sgt) is a Military rank, rank in use by the armed forces of many countries. It is also a police rank in some police services. The alternative spelling, ''serjeant'', is used in The Rifles and in other units that draw their heritage f ...

W A Connor of the

Royal Berkshire Regiment The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1959. The regiment was created in 1881, as the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment), by ...

, who was awarded the

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

Croix de Guerre The (, ''Cross of War'') is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was first awarded during World ...

.Wereledoorlog I in de Westhoek record on W A Connor
, accessed 27 September 2007

Later burials

This site featured heavy fighting at numerous points in the war. As such, remains of combatants are still occasionally being discovered in the area.

Private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...

Harry Wilkinson of the

Lancashire Fusiliers The Lancashire Fusiliers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that saw distinguished service through many years and wars, including the Second Boer War, and the World War I, First and World War II, Second World Wars. It had many diffe ...

was originally listed on the

Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing The Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) memorial in Belgium for missing soldiers of World War I. It commemorates men from the Allies of World War I, Allied Powers who fought on the northern Western Fr ...

but his body was recovered and buried here in 2001.Wereledoorlog I in de Westhoek record on Harry Wilkinson
, accessed 27 September 2007 More recently, the remains of Private Richard Lancaster of the Lancashire Fusiliers, plus two others unidentified, were found and were buried at Prowse Point with full military honours.Waterfield, Bruno ''The Daily Telegraph'
"First World War victims finally buried"
5 July 2007, accessed 27 September 2007 The ceremony was attended by his granddaughter.
4 July 2007, accessed 27 September 2007

References

External links

* * {{Find a Grave cemetery, 2150661, Prowse Point Military Cemetery Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries in Belgium Funerary and memory sites of the First World War (Western Front)