PLOEGSTEERT WOOD MILITARY CEMETERY
Hainaut
Belgium
Location Information
Ploegsteert Wood Military Cemetery is located 12.5 Kms south of Ieper town centre, on a road leading from the Rijselseweg N365, which connects Ieper to Wijtschate, Mesen, Ploegsteert and on to Armentieres.
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.
2 Kms after Mesen lies the left hand turning onto Rue St.Yvon. Immediately after passing Prowse Point Military Cemetery lies a right hand turning onto a small road track (unsuitable for vehicles). 1.2 Kms after this junction lies the cemetery, along the track leading into the wood.
Visiting Information
This cemetery is located in the wood at Ploegsteert and access is only possible via a track in the woods to which motor vehicles are not allowed - a post is in position preventing vehicle access.
Historical Information
Ploegsteert Wood Military Cemetery was made by the enclosure of a number of small regimental cemeteries.
Plot II was originally the SOMERSET LIGHT INFANTRY CEMETERY, made by the 1st Battalion in December 1914. The 32 graves it contains, as well as ten in Plot I, are from that battalion.
Plot IV, the BUCKS CEMETERY, was made by the 1st/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, in April 1915. 11 of the 20 graves it contains are from that battalion.
Plot III contains 16 graves of the 1/5th Gloucesters, made between April and May 1915, and in Plots III and I there are 12 graves of the 8th Loyal North Lancs from October to December 1915. However, these plots were known as CANADIAN CEMETERY, STRAND, from the 28 Canadian graves of June to October 1915 in Plot III, and from the trench running nearby.
The cemetery as a whole was used sparingly in 1916, and again by the New Zealand Division in July and August 1917. It was in German hands between 10 April and 29 September 1918.
Ploegsteert Wood Military Cemetery contains 164 First World War burials.
The cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw.
Casualty Details: UK 117; Canada 28; Australia 1; New Zealand 18; Total Burials: 164
Ploegsteert Wood Military Cemetery is located 12.5 Kms south of Ieper town centre, on a road leading from the Rijselseweg N365, which connects Ieper to Wijtschate, Mesen, Ploegsteert and on to Armentieres.
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.
2 Kms after Mesen lies the left hand turning onto Rue St.Yvon. Immediately after passing Prowse Point Military Cemetery lies a right hand turning onto a small road track (unsuitable for vehicles). 1.2 Kms after this junction lies the cemetery, along the track leading into the wood.
Visiting Information
This cemetery is located in the wood at Ploegsteert and access is only possible via a track in the woods to which motor vehicles are not allowed - a post is in position preventing vehicle access.
Historical Information
Ploegsteert Wood Military Cemetery was made by the enclosure of a number of small regimental cemeteries.
Plot II was originally the SOMERSET LIGHT INFANTRY CEMETERY, made by the 1st Battalion in December 1914. The 32 graves it contains, as well as ten in Plot I, are from that battalion.
Plot IV, the BUCKS CEMETERY, was made by the 1st/1st Buckinghamshire Battalion, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, in April 1915. 11 of the 20 graves it contains are from that battalion.
Plot III contains 16 graves of the 1/5th Gloucesters, made between April and May 1915, and in Plots III and I there are 12 graves of the 8th Loyal North Lancs from October to December 1915. However, these plots were known as CANADIAN CEMETERY, STRAND, from the 28 Canadian graves of June to October 1915 in Plot III, and from the trench running nearby.
The cemetery as a whole was used sparingly in 1916, and again by the New Zealand Division in July and August 1917. It was in German hands between 10 April and 29 September 1918.
Ploegsteert Wood Military Cemetery contains 164 First World War burials.
The cemetery was designed by W H Cowlishaw.
Casualty Details: UK 117; Canada 28; Australia 1; New Zealand 18; Total Burials: 164
Second Lieutenant
Charles Frederick Robert Barnett
5th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
19th April 1915, aged 35.
Plot III. D. 9.
Son of F. C. C. Barnett, of Lark Hill, Abingdon, Berks; husband of Cicely Frances Barnett, of 2, Berkeley Villas, Cheltenham. Joined 4th Aug.1914.
A picture of his headstone can be seen in the gallery below.
Charles Frederick Robert Barnett
5th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
19th April 1915, aged 35.
Plot III. D. 9.
Son of F. C. C. Barnett, of Lark Hill, Abingdon, Berks; husband of Cicely Frances Barnett, of 2, Berkeley Villas, Cheltenham. Joined 4th Aug.1914.
A picture of his headstone can be seen in the gallery below.
Captain
Frank Seymour Bradshaw
1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
19th December 1914
Plot II. C. 6.
Nephew of Captain A Bradshaw of Newell House, Grimston Avenue, Folkestone.
Frank Seymour Bradshaw
1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
19th December 1914
Plot II. C. 6.
Nephew of Captain A Bradshaw of Newell House, Grimston Avenue, Folkestone.
Lieutenant
Henry George Christopher Guise
5th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
6th May 1915, aged 27.
Plot III. D. 8.
Son of Sir William Guise, 5th Bart., of Elmore Court, Gloucester.
A picture of his headstone can be seen in the gallery below.
Henry George Christopher Guise
5th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
6th May 1915, aged 27.
Plot III. D. 8.
Son of Sir William Guise, 5th Bart., of Elmore Court, Gloucester.
A picture of his headstone can be seen in the gallery below.
378 Serjeant
William Harry Morgan
5th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
13th May 1915, aged 36.
Plot III. D. 7.
Son of John Henry and Mary Harriet Morgan; husband of the late Minnie Emily Morgan.
William Harry Morgan
5th Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment
13th May 1915, aged 36.
Plot III. D. 7.
Son of John Henry and Mary Harriet Morgan; husband of the late Minnie Emily Morgan.
Captain
Robert Clifford Orr
3rd Bn. attd. 1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
19th December 1914, aged 34.
Plot II. C. 3.
Son of Robert Harrison Orr and Cassandra Marchaise Orr, of 1, Lombard St., Belfast.
A picture of his headstone can be seen in the gallery below.
Robert Clifford Orr
3rd Bn. attd. 1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
19th December 1914, aged 34.
Plot II. C. 3.
Son of Robert Harrison Orr and Cassandra Marchaise Orr, of 1, Lombard St., Belfast.
A picture of his headstone can be seen in the gallery below.
15319 Rifleman
Harold Douglas Puckridge
1st Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
20th June 1917, aged 24.
Plot III. A. 9.
Son of Samuel Inkerman Puckridge and Laura Puckridge, of Te Aroha, New Zealand.
Harold Douglas Puckridge
1st Bn. 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
20th June 1917, aged 24.
Plot III. A. 9.
Son of Samuel Inkerman Puckridge and Laura Puckridge, of Te Aroha, New Zealand.
1478 Lance Corporal
Allen Redfern
1st/6th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
8th March 1915, aged 20.
Plot I. C. 6.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Redfern, of 26, Byron St., Buxton, Derbyshire.
Allen Redfern
1st/6th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
8th March 1915, aged 20.
Plot I. C. 6.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Redfern, of 26, Byron St., Buxton, Derbyshire.
Corduroy path through Ploegsteert Wood. © IWM (Q 11744)
