The Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery is located next to what was Remy Sidings, a series of casualty clearing stations and military hospitals , south west of Poperinghe. A visitor centre tells the story of the medical facilities and the military cemetery where most of those resting there, died whilst in the casualty clearing stations and hospitals.
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| Lijssenthoek Hospital and Cemetery |
In May 1915, the French Army established Hopital d'Evacuation 15. The French had set up medical facilities in Poperinghe, but as the Germans advanced, those facilities came under artillery fire and were moved to the area around Remi Farm outside the range of the German guns. Adjacent to the hospital, a cemetery was set up.
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Nurses outside a French Hospital Remy Siding
Source: IWM Q 51881
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French Motor Ambulance Convoy, near Remy Siding 1915
Source: IWM Q 51895
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The first British medical facility was set up a month later in June, Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) 10. Another CCS, no 17, was set up in August 1915. Further expansion occurred in 1916 with the addition of Canadian CCS no 2 and no 3.
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| Remy Siding CCS no 3 |
Not only was the location outside the range of German artillery, it was adjacent to the Poperinghe to Hazebrouck railway line providing the basis for a medivac system from the front line, through the CCS and onto stationary hospitals using Ambulance Trains
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| Railway Network Remy Sidings |
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| Remy Sidings |
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| Ambulance Train no 2 Remy Siding |
Casualty Clearing Stations were central to the evacuation of the sick and wounded. The first stage in the medical evacuation chain was Collection. This started with Regimental Aid Posts (RAP), Medical Officers and Regimental Stretcher Bearers attached to Battalions and units. Wounded would be moved by Field Ambulances to Advanced Dressing Stations (ADS), then onto the Casualty Clearing Stations (CCS) using Motor Ambulance Convoys.
At the Casualty Clearing Stations, in the Evacuation Zone, hospitals existed to carry out immediate surgery and treatment. Wounded could be returned to unit, or sent back to stationary hospitals in France, and onward to hospitals in the UK if necessary.
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| Medical Evacuation Chain |
Evacuation chain for wounded and sick soldiers
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| Remy Siding Medical Evacuation Chain |
The hospital grew to a total capacity of 4,000 patients housed in 80 tents and barracks, with a further 50 tents for staff, the largest in the Ypres sector. The site also developed into a village. Wooden passages were built between tents and barracks, with signs and street names. Trees and decorative bushes were planted to provide as pleasant an environment as possible. Vegtable gardens would be planted in March 1917 to help overcome food shortages.
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| Remy Siding Hospital |
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| King George V visits Remy Sidings August 1916 |
It is estimated that over 300,000 casualties passed through Remy Sidings of which around 3%, 10,000 casualties died. They were buried in the adjacent cemetery started by the French in 1915. Initially the British casualties were buried along side the French, eight new plots were added in 1916, The carnage of Passchendaele in 1917 resulted in another 15 plots, and 8 others were added 1918-19. Separate plots were established for German, French and Chinese Casualties.
Whilst the number of burials spiked during major battles, almost every day saw a burial.
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| Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery |
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| Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery |
The hospital would remain in operation after he war ended, it finally closed in October 1920.
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| Remy Siding Hospital 1920 |
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| Lijssenthoek Vistor Centre |
The Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery Visitor Centre chronicles the history of Remy Siding and the Military Cemetery. It is located on the site of the original French hospital.
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Lijssenthoek Vistor Centre
Location
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Lijssenthoek Visitor Centre
Remy Siding 1915 - 1918
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A graphic records the number of daily burials on each of the 1,392 days a person lost their lives.
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Lijssenthoek Visitor Centre
Record of Daily Casualties
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A memorial wall displays photographs of some of those buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. An electronic screen displays those lost on a particular date.
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Lijssenthoek Visitor Centre
Memorial Wall
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12th Battalion The Kings (Liverpool Regiment)
Died 13/03/1916
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| Harry Wilfred Rendell |
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Lijssenthoek Visitor Centre
Harry Wilfred Rendell
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Royal Field Artillery
Died 27/10/1917
Harry Wilfred Rendell, a dairy farmer from Beamminter, in the English county of Dorest, was married to Edith May Hooper. A few weeks after the birth of their son Wilfred on 31 July 1914, Harry's call-up papers arrived in the letterbox. He served in the Royal Field Artillery, 94th Brigade, B Battery. Harry's unit arrived in Reningelst on 17 September 1917. They travelled from there to the front line, near Polderhoek Castle, in Geluveld.Harry and his fellow soldiers provided barrage firing during the attacks. After sustaining serious injuries on 26 October Harry was evacuated to Lijssenthoek Hospital, where he died from his wounds one day later. He lies buried in section 22, row H, grave 10.