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Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing: A Testament to WWI Sacrifice

A solemn tribute to over 11,000 missing WWI soldiers, the Ploegsteert Memorial offers a place for reflection amidst serene Belgian countryside.

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The Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing, located in Comines-Warneton, Belgium, commemorates over 11,000 British and South African servicemen who died in the area during World War I and have no known graves. Designed by H. Chalton Bradshaw, the memorial stands as a poignant reminder of the Great War's immense human cost.

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Local tips

  • Plan your visit for the first Friday of the month at 7 p.m. to witness the moving Last Post ceremony.
  • Take time to explore the Berks Cemetery Extension and Hyde Park Corner Royal Berks Cemetery, adjacent to the memorial.
  • Consider walking the area and Ploegsteert Wood, using Paul Reed's 'Walking Ypres' as a guide.
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Getting There

  • Public Transport

    From Ypres, take the De Lijn bus line 712 towards Ploegsteert Memorial. The bus departs from Ieper Station perron 6 and arrives directly at the memorial. The journey takes approximately 23 minutes and costs €3.

  • Car

    From Ypres, drive south on the N365 towards Mesen and Ploegsteert. The Ploegsteert Memorial is located 12.5 km south of Ieper town center. The drive takes approximately 14 minutes. There is a designated parking layby at the memorial. Parking is free.

  • Taxi

    From Ypres, a taxi to the Ploegsteert Memorial takes approximately 14 minutes. Expect to pay between €30-€40 for the ride.

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Discover more about Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing

The Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) memorial in Belgium, honoring soldiers of the British Empire who fought on the northern Western Front during World War I, outside the Ypres Salient. It commemorates over 11,000 servicemen of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in this sector and have no known grave. The memorial serves the area from Caestre-Dranoutre-Warneton in the north to Haverskerque-Estaires-Fournes in the south, encompassing towns like Hazebrouck, Merville, Bailleul, and Armentières. The memorial stands in the Berks Cemetery Extension, which was begun in June 1916 and used continuously until September 1917. The cemetery and memorial were designed by Harold Chalton Bradshaw, with sculpture by Gilbert Ledward, and unveiled on June 7, 1931. The names of the missing are inscribed on panels that line the interior of the memorial. Two large stone lions flank the structure, symbolizing the Allied effort and sacrifice. Most of those commemorated at Ploegsteert did not die in major offensives but rather in the course of daily trench warfare. The location was a relatively quiet sector of the Western Front, where Allied units were sent to recuperate and retrain. The sounding of the Last Post takes place at the memorial on the first Friday of every month at 7 p.m., drawing visitors who wish to pay their respects.

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