“Who are all these people?” a visitor asks. The Ploegsteert Memorial stands as a solemn testament to over 11000 United Kingdom and South African servicemen. They died in this sector during the First World War. They have no known grave. This memorial serves an area encompassing towns like Hazebrouck, Merville, and Armentières. It stretches from Caestre-Dranoutre-Warneton to Haverskerque-Estaires-Fournes.
The original plan was to erect the memorial in Lille. The Ploegsteert Memorial commemorates those who perished in the day-to-day trench warfare. This area was relatively quiet compared to major offensives elsewhere. It excludes Canadian and Indian regiments, who are remembered at Ypres, Vimy, and Neuve-Chapelle.
British soldiers serving here during World War One nicknamed Ploegsteert Wood “Plugstreet Wood”. Consequently, the Ploegsteert Memorial is sometimes referred to as the Plugstreet Memorial. The memorial stands within the Berks Cemetery Extension. This extension was used continuously from June 1916 until September 1917. Plots II and III were added in 1930. Graves were moved from Rosenberg Chateau Military Cemetery.
Harold Chalton Bradshaw designed the Ploegsteert Memorial. Gilbert Ledward created the sculptures, including two large reclining lions. The Duke of Brabant unveiled the memorial on 7 June 1931. A short ceremony is held on the first Friday of each month at 7 p.m. The Last Post is sounded.
Nearby, separated by a road, lies Hyde Park Corner Royal Berks Cemetery. The 1st/4th Royal Berkshire Regiment began it in April 1915. It was used at intervals until November 1917. Hyde Park Corner was a road junction north of Ploegsteert Wood.
The names of the commemorated are listed in the Memorial Registers. These books are located in a brass register box at the memorial. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission provides these registers. The Ploegsteert Memorial is located approximately 12.5 km south of Ieper town centre. It is on the west side of the N365 main road between Mesen and Armentières. Take care when crossing the road to Hyde Park Corner Cemetery. The site is open to visitors today.