PLOEGSTEERT CHURCHYARD
Hainaut
Belgium
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.72604, Longitude: 2.87996
Image above © Werner Van Caneghem
Location Information
Ploegsteert Churchyard is located 14 Kms south of Ieper town centre, on a the Rijselseweg N365, which connects Ieper to Wijtschate, Mesen (Messines), Ploegsteert and on to Armentières.
From Ieper town centre the Rijselsestraat runs from the market square, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort) and directly over the crossroads with the Ieper ring road. The road name then changes to the Rijselseweg.
On reaching the village of Ploegsteert the church is located on the right hand side of the N365.
Visiting Information
Wheelchair access possible via main entrance.
Historical Information
Ploegsteert Churchyard contains nine Commonwealth burials of the First World War, made between October 1914 and February 1915.
Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 7, Canada 2. Total 9.
Images in gallery below © Thierry Grier
Lieutenant
Herbert Beaumont Boggs
7th Bn. Canadian Infantry
26th February 1915, aged 22.
Son of Beaumont and Louise Mary Boggs, of the "Pacific Club," Victoria, British Columbia.
A law student, he enlisted in the CEF on 24 Sept 1914 in Valcartier, Quebec, Canada.
One of the first Canadian Officers killed in the Great War, he served with the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion, The British Columbia Regiment.
Herbert Beaumont Boggs
7th Bn. Canadian Infantry
26th February 1915, aged 22.
Son of Beaumont and Louise Mary Boggs, of the "Pacific Club," Victoria, British Columbia.
A law student, he enlisted in the CEF on 24 Sept 1914 in Valcartier, Quebec, Canada.
One of the first Canadian Officers killed in the Great War, he served with the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion, The British Columbia Regiment.
Captain
Eric John Western Dolphin
1st Bn. Hampshire Regiment
7th November 1914, aged 28.
Row A. 4.
Son of Lt. Col. and Mrs. H. E. Dolphin, of Oak Lodge, Guildford.
Major Parker wrote: "Your son was killed yesterday morning. He is a very great loss to the Regiment, just one of those who could ill be spared. He was one of the best of comrades and a real good soldier, always cheery and putting his best into all his work."
Eric John Western Dolphin
1st Bn. Hampshire Regiment
7th November 1914, aged 28.
Row A. 4.
Son of Lt. Col. and Mrs. H. E. Dolphin, of Oak Lodge, Guildford.
Major Parker wrote: "Your son was killed yesterday morning. He is a very great loss to the Regiment, just one of those who could ill be spared. He was one of the best of comrades and a real good soldier, always cheery and putting his best into all his work."
Captain
Reginald Wickham Harland
1st Bn. Hampshire Regiment
30th October 1914, aged 31.
Son of the Revd. A. A. H. and Mrs. L. E. Harland, of The Lodge, Harefield, Uxbridge, Middlesex.
His headstone bears the inscription "Looking Unto Jesus The Author & Finisher Of Our Faith"
A brother officer wrote: "It was a day of very hard fighting, in spite of very heavy fire he continued to watch with his field glasses the movements of the enemy in order to direct the fire of his men, when a bullet struck him in the head." Captain Harland won Lord Roberts' Prize at Sandhurst as winner of the competition at drill.
Reginald Wickham Harland
1st Bn. Hampshire Regiment
30th October 1914, aged 31.
Son of the Revd. A. A. H. and Mrs. L. E. Harland, of The Lodge, Harefield, Uxbridge, Middlesex.
His headstone bears the inscription "Looking Unto Jesus The Author & Finisher Of Our Faith"
A brother officer wrote: "It was a day of very hard fighting, in spite of very heavy fire he continued to watch with his field glasses the movements of the enemy in order to direct the fire of his men, when a bullet struck him in the head." Captain Harland won Lord Roberts' Prize at Sandhurst as winner of the competition at drill.
Second Lieutenant
Richard John Lumley
11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars
17th October 1914, aged 20.
Row A. 1.
Son of Brig. Gen. the Hon. Osbert Lumley, C.M.G., and Mrs. Lumley, O.B.E., of 50, Cadogan Square, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "None Untimely Die That Die For England"
Richard John Lumley
11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars
17th October 1914, aged 20.
Row A. 1.
Son of Brig. Gen. the Hon. Osbert Lumley, C.M.G., and Mrs. Lumley, O.B.E., of 50, Cadogan Square, London.
His headstone bears the inscription "None Untimely Die That Die For England"
Major
George Hastings Parker, (Mentioned in Despatches)
1st Bn. Hampshire Regiment
19th December 1944, aged 44.
Son of Capt. G. F. Hastings Parker, R.N., and Susan M. Parker. As Acting Lieut.-Col. commanded the Battalion Sept.-Dec., 1914.
His headstone bears the inscription "Quis Prohibeat Sperare Meliora"
George Hastings Parker, (Mentioned in Despatches)
1st Bn. Hampshire Regiment
19th December 1944, aged 44.
Son of Capt. G. F. Hastings Parker, R.N., and Susan M. Parker. As Acting Lieut.-Col. commanded the Battalion Sept.-Dec., 1914.
His headstone bears the inscription "Quis Prohibeat Sperare Meliora"
Lieutenant
William Douglas Maclean Trimmer
1st Bn. Hampshire Regiment
30th October 1914, aged 22.
Son of Edward Douglas and Mary Kate Trimmer, of "Oakrigg," Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. Born at Surbiton, Surrey.
His headstone bears the inscription "Faithful Until Death"
William Douglas Maclean Trimmer
1st Bn. Hampshire Regiment
30th October 1914, aged 22.
Son of Edward Douglas and Mary Kate Trimmer, of "Oakrigg," Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. Born at Surbiton, Surrey.
His headstone bears the inscription "Faithful Until Death"
Other Burial Details
8691 Private C. E. Horne, 1st Bn. Hampshire Regiment, died 18th November 1914, aged 22. Son of Mrs. G. Horne, of Grateley Station, Andover, Hants. His headstone bears the inscription "For Ever In Our Thoughts At Home"
Captain Arthur Paget Knocker, "B" Company, 1st Bn. Hampshire Regiment, died 8th February 1915, aged 25. Son of Col. H. P. Knocker (R.E.) and Mrs. Knocker, of "Bushey Ruff," Carlisle Rd., Eastbourne. His headstone bears the inscription "He Asked Life Of Thee And Thou Gavest It Him"
17173 Private Thomas Sutton, 7th Bn. Canadian Infantry, died 26th February 1915, aged 22. Son of William and Marie Sutton, of 18, Kennerley Rd., Stockport, England. His headstone bears the inscription "Faithful Unto Death"
8691 Private C. E. Horne, 1st Bn. Hampshire Regiment, died 18th November 1914, aged 22. Son of Mrs. G. Horne, of Grateley Station, Andover, Hants. His headstone bears the inscription "For Ever In Our Thoughts At Home"
Captain Arthur Paget Knocker, "B" Company, 1st Bn. Hampshire Regiment, died 8th February 1915, aged 25. Son of Col. H. P. Knocker (R.E.) and Mrs. Knocker, of "Bushey Ruff," Carlisle Rd., Eastbourne. His headstone bears the inscription "He Asked Life Of Thee And Thou Gavest It Him"
17173 Private Thomas Sutton, 7th Bn. Canadian Infantry, died 26th February 1915, aged 22. Son of William and Marie Sutton, of 18, Kennerley Rd., Stockport, England. His headstone bears the inscription "Faithful Unto Death"
Images in gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem
Panoramic view of smashed German fortress and trenches; edge of Ploegsteert Wood, 11th June 1917, destroyed during the Battle of Messines. © IWM (Q 2321)
Church in Ploegsteert, November 1914. © The rightsholder (IWM Q 56685)
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Interior of church at Ploegsteert showing effect of German shell fire. 1914-1915. © IWM (Q 11734)
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