The Royal Newfoundland Regiment (RNR) continued its advance into enemy territory and crossed the River Lys on 20 October 1918 and then proceeded towards the village of Vichte. By then, the war nearing its end and Germany had entered into armistice talks with the Allies. Their final casualties buried at Vichte Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.
The RNR had now lost 93 men since 28 September 1918, and was under-strength. On October 26th, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment withdrawn from front line service altogether, and buried their final casualties at Vichte Military Cemetery.
The railway station at Vichte captured by the Royal Newfoundland Regiment on 20 October 1918, and the village by the 9th (Scottish) Division two days later. The cemetery created in October 1918 close to the railway, 200 meters from the closest dwelling. Today, the cemetery lies within a residential area of Vichte.
Graves
One grave contains three unknown RNR’s with an incorrect date of death on their headstone: 4 October 1918. Their true date however would be 25 October 1918.
An unknown soldier of the Black Watch from 4 October 1918 buried nearby. Perhaps a case of mistaken unit, and the three would be of the Black Watch.
The unknown PPCLI without a date of death is curious, perhaps another case of mistaken identity.
Two of the RNR had recently been awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry.
Cpl Leo Crotty
CROTTY LEO 23 25/10/1918 Corporal Royal Newfoundland Regiment 1st Bn. ‘3935’ VICHTE MILITARY CEMETERY SON OF WILLIAM AND ELLEN CROTTY, OF 12, WALSH’S SQUARE, ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND.
Corporal Crotty was reported as having been killed in action on October 25, 1918, while serving with ‘D’ Company and fighting in the advance from Vichte to Ingoyghem during the last days of the Newfoundlanders’ advance.
Pvt Walter A Dean
DEAN WALTER AUGUSTUS 30 25/10/1918 Private Royal Newfoundland Regiment 1st Bn. ‘949’ VICHTE MILITARY CEMETERY SON OF MATTHEW AND RHODA DEAN, OF GREAT BRAHAT, WHITE BAY, NEWFOUNDLAND.
Private Dean was reported as having been killed in action on October 25, 1918, while serving with ‘D’ Company during fighting near the village of Vichte in Belgium. On the following day the 1st Battalion of the Newfoundland Regiment was to march away from the front for the final time.
Pvt William P King MM
KING WILLIAM P. 29 M M 20/10/1918 Private Royal Newfoundland Regiment 1st Bn. ‘2577’ VICHTE MILITARY CEMETERY SON OF WILLIAM AND MARY KING, OF SOUTHSIDE, ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND.
It was during this period of heavy fighting that Private King became a recipient of the Military Medal…‘for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On 14th October, 1918, during the advance from Ledeghem towards the Lys, this man was acting as company runner. During the whole of the day, he carried messages back to Battalion Headquarters, often under heavy fire. Especially when his company was held up at Neerhof during the advance, he carried messages continually back to Battalion Headquarters. On each occasion, he had to cross about 200 to 300 yards of open ground swept by enemy machine-gun fire.’ – London Gazette, June 17, 1919.
On the night of October 19-20, the 28th Brigade traversed the River Lys on those aforementioned hastily-constructed bridges of barrels and drove the Germans from their positions on the far bank. The Newfoundland Battalion followed the initial attack by the Cameronians and Royal Scots Fusiliers, and by the end of the day had captured one village, Deerlyck, and was engaging the enemy in the outskirts of a second, Vichte. There the fighting became intense and after an advance of seven kilometres, the Newfoundlanders were obliged to call a halt to the attack. Pvt William P King MM was no longer with the battalion.
Sgt Edward J Monahan
MONAHAN EDWARD JOSEPH 39 20/10/1918 Sergeant Royal Newfoundland Regiment 1st Bn. ‘3244’ VICHTE MILITARY CEMETERY SON OF MICHAEL AND MARGARET MONAHAN, OF SOUTHSIDE, ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND.
Edward left behind five children, his wife had died 12 August 1917.
Sgt James Newton
NEWTON JAMES 29 25/10/1918 Sergeant Royal Newfoundland Regiment 1st Bn. ‘3585’ VICHTE MILITARY CEMETERY SON OF THOMAS AND ELLEN NEWTON, OF BELL ISLAND, CONCEPTION BAY, NEWFOUNDLAND. NATIVE OF DEER
HARBOUR, TRINITY BAY, NEWFOUNDLAND.
Died of wounds, 25.10.18.
Pvt Michael G O’Brien
O’BRIEN MICHAEL G. 18 25/10/1918 Private Royal Newfoundland Regiment 1st Bn. ‘2968’ VICHTE MILITARY CEMETERY SON OF RICHARD J. AND MATILDA O’BRIEN, OF WITLESS BAY, NEWFOUNDLAND.
During the advance, hit in the head and died instantly.
Cpl John O. O’Rourke MM
O’ROURKE JOHN 22 M M 20/10/1918 Lance Corporal Royal Newfoundland Regiment 1st Bn. ‘3345’ VICHTE MILITARY CEMETERY SON OF JAMES O’ROURKE, OF 71, WESLEY ST., SYDNEY, CAPE BRETON, NOVA SCOTIA. NATIVE OF JOHN’S POND, ST. MARY’S BAY, NEWFOUNDLAND.
For conspicuous gallantry. On 29th September 1918, during the 9 ½ miles advance East of Ypres the company was being harassed and was suffering casualties from machine gun fire from a ruined farm on the company’s front. L/Cpl O’Rourke and three men at once volunteered to go forward and clear up the situation. The farm was 100 yards away and the party crawled forward to within 20 yards of it. On arriving there the party dashed forward and took the farm, but the enemy had retired.
Pvt Leonard Webb
WEBB LEONARD 22 20/10/1918 Private Royal Newfoundland Regiment 1st Bn. ‘2675’ VICHTE MILITARY CEMETERY SON OF JOHN AND REBECCA WEBB, OF VICTORIA COVE, GANDER BAY, NEWFOUNDLAND.
At first reported wounded and missing. Grave report No. 7448, 10/11/18, by O.C. 9th Scottish Division on A.F.B. 2090a forwarded by War Office to Pay & Record Office 25/3/19.
Location Information
Vichte Military Cemetery located 40 Kms east of Ieper town centre and 13 Kms east of Kortrijk. From the E17, Kortrijk Gent motorway, turn off at junction 4 onto the N36 towards Vichte. The village of Vichte located 6 Kms along the N36.
At the traffic lights in the village turn right into Beukenhofstraat, then take the second right hand turning into Lendedreef and first left into Elf Novemberlaan. The cemetery is located on the left hand side of the Elf Novemberlaan.
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