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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Ferme "Pelikaan" (Flanders/Belgium)


Malte Znaniecki

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Hello Malte,

For Your information :

Pelikan (Langemark) was situated close to Houthulst Forest, between Veldhoek and Schaapbalie.

During the war there was also a German burial site.

Regards,

Cnock

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Hello Malte,

I found a pick of the small hamlet 'Pelikaan', before 3rd Battle of Ypres.

(Knew I had one, but finding it was another matter)

I think there was an inn of that name.

Regards,

Cnock

post-7723-1127827520.jpg

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(Knew I had one, but finding it was another matter)

I think there was an inn of that name.

Cnock

Correct, Cnock.

The inn was in the northwest corner of the crossroads Houthulststestraat (= Poelkapelle - Houthulst) and the road Langemark - Madonna - Staden. The cemetery (begun in 1916) was in the northeast corner. Completely turned up in Third Ypres.

I knew I had a photo somewhere, but finding it was another matter. (Where have I heard that before ?)

Apparently not the same house. The ruined house on your photo must be a different one in that hamlet.

Aurel

post-92-1127837333.jpg

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Hello Malte, Aurel,

Pelikan.

On the road Poelcapelle-Houthulst.

On British Trench maps 1917 : near LES CINQ CHEMINS

Regards,

Cnock

post-7723-1127839249.jpg

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Hello Malte, Aurel,

Pelikan.

On the road Poelcapelle-Houthulst.

On British Trench maps 1917 : near LES CINQ CHEMINS

Regards, 

Cnock

Cnock, thanks for the map.

(Also because it confirms a few locations of Disappeared Cemeteries I knew of. (Marked as Soldatengräber.)

Cemetery am Pelikan once in a while is named "Les 5 Chemins" indeed, but this is a bit confusing and misleading as well, since a little more east (towards Staden) there is a hamlet Vijfwegen, which also had a German cemetery (even two).

Aurel

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Fighting conditions at PELIKAN - LES CINQUES CHEMINS, december 1917 :

...the 2/6th King's relieved the 7th Buffs in the Les Cinques Chemin sector, moving up via Clarges Stret....

The front-line system consisted of a series of small posts in shell holes....

No cover of any description, either from the weather or from the enemy, existed. A ground sheet spread over a rough hurdle roof was all the cover attempted...

The shell-hole posts were literally shell holes, with the very minimum done to improve them as habitations for six or seven men.

The exact locality of the respective British and German front liens, was to either side somewhat vague...

...No movement was possible in daylight...Tommy Cookers' were allowed in the front line by day, and one man at a time was allowed to smoke....

from :The History of the King's Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919, Vol.III

Regards,

Cnock

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  • 15 years later...

Thank you for all this info.I have a post in Finding the Fallen..German first burials.The Pelikan was the site of the soldier in my researches burial.All the information will be shared with his grandson.He will be amazed.Zil

 

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