Tyne Cot Cemetery

Tyne Cot Cemetery is a military burial ground in Passendale, Belgium, containing nearly 12,000 graves of Commonwealth soldiers. It is the largest cemetery of its kind in the world and features neatly arranged rows of headstones throughout its well-maintained grounds.

The cemetery was established in October 1917 after Australian and New Zealand forces captured the area during the Battle of Passchendaele. This capture marked a turning point on the Western Front and led to the creation of this major burial site.

The memorial wall displays the names of over 34,000 British and New Zealand soldiers who went missing during the battles in the Ypres Salient. These names serve as a daily reminder of those who fought but never received a final resting place.

The grounds are easily accessible with clear pathways between graves, allowing visitors to walk through the cemetery at their own pace. An onsite visitor center provides detailed information and context about the soldiers buried here.

Beneath the central Cross of Sacrifice lies a German concrete bunker from the original wartime fortifications. This foundation connects the memory of loss with the physical traces of war preserved beneath the memorial site.

Location: Zonnebeke

Inception: October 1917

Architects: Herbert Baker

Official opening: October 1917

Operator: Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Part of: Funerary and memory sites of the First World War (Western Front)

Website: https://cwgc.org/find/find-cemeteries-and-memorials/53300/tyne-cot-cemetery

GPS coordinates: 50.88750,2.99889

Latest update: December 17, 2025 10:33