In Memory of
B W Starling
Rifleman
S/19765
12th Bn., Rifle Brigade
who died on
Thursday, 17th August 1917. Age 31.
Additional Information:
Husband of Florence M. Lovering (formerly Starling), of 98, St. Dunstan's Rd., Bow,
London.
Commemorative Information
Cemetery:
DOZINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY, WESTVLETEREN
Grave Reference/
Panel Number:
III. C. 16.
Location:
Dozinghem Military Cemetery is located 12 kilometres west of Ieper town centre on the
Leeuwerikstraat, a road leading from the N308 connecting Ieper to Poperinge.
From Ieper town centre the Poperingseweg (N308) is reached via Elverdingsestraat then
directly
over two small roundabouts in the J. Capronstraat.
The Poperingseweg is a continuation of the J. Capronstraat and begins after a prominent
railway
level crossing. On reaching the town of Poperinge the right hand turning onto the R33
Oostlaan
leads to the left hand junction with Veurnestraat. The Veurnestraat leads to the first
right hand
turning onto the Sint Bertinusstraat. The third right hand junction along this road leads
onto
Krombeekseweg, towards the village of Krombeke. 3.5 kilometres along this road, which at
this
point is known as Leeuwerikstraat, lies the signpost indicating the right hand turning
onto a
woodland track leading to Dozinghem Military Cemetery. The cemetery is located a short
distance
along the track.
Historical Information:
Westvleteren was outside the front held by British troops in Belgium during the war, and
the
Cemetery is its one historical link with the British forces. In July 1917, at the
beginning of the
British offensive, groups of Casualty Clearing Stations were placed in readiness at three
positions
called by the troops Mendinghem, Dozinghem and Bandaghem. The 4th, 47th and 61st were
posted at Dozinghem, and the Military Cemetery was used by them until early in 1918. It
contains
a few later burials in Plots XV and XVI. Three of the British graves were brought after
the
Armistice from the former French Military Cemeteries of Hoogstade-Linde, Hoogbrug and
Crombeke.
There are now over 3,000, 1914-18 and nearly 100, 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in
this
site. Of these, a small number from the 1939-45 War are unidentified and 3 are
commemorated by
special memorials bearing the inscription "Known to be buried in this cemetery",
their precise
burial place not having been located.
The cemetery covers an area of 12,366 square metres. It is enclosed on the North and West
sides
by a brick and stone wall, and on the South and East by a concrete wall.
Copyright The Commonwealth War Graves Commission