In Memory of

SIMEON CHARLES KINGSLEY

Gunner

340648

76th Siege Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery

who died on

Tuesday 24 July 1917 . Age 37.

Additional Information: Husband of Blanche Mary Kingsley, of 17, Grove Rd., Shoeburyness, Essex.

Commemorative Information

Cemetery: VLAMERTINGHE NEW MILITARY CEMETERY, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium

Location: Vlamertinge New Military Cemetery is located 5 Km west of Ieper town centre and to the south of the village of Vlamertinge. Vlamertinge itself is located along the Poperingseweg. (Vlamertinge is the modern spelling of Vlamertinghe). From Ieper town centre the Poperingseweg (N308), is reached via Elverdingsestraat then straight over two small roundabouts in the J. Capronstraat. The Poperingseweg is a continuation of J. Capronstraat and begins after a prominent railway level crossing. The cemetery itself is located after turning left in the village of Vlamertinge onto the Hugo Verriestraat. This road crosses a railway and the main road N38, where the name of the street changes to Bellestraat. The cemetery lies 200 metres on the left hand side of the Bellestraat, after crossing the N38. Visitors to this site should note a grassed access path which runs between two houses on the street front and is unsuitable for vehicles.

Historical Information: For much of the First World War, Vlamertinghe (now Vlamertinge) was just outside the normal range of German shell fire and the village was used both by artillery units and field ambulances. Burials were made in the original Military Cemetery until June 1917, when the New Military Cemetery was begun in anticipation of the Allied offensive launched on this part of the front in July. Although the cemetery continued in use until October 1918, most of the burials are from July to December 1917. The cemetery now contains 1,813 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. The cemetery was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

No. of Identified Casualties: 1807