The Loos Memorial

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Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Location

Loos-en-Gohelle is a village about 5 kilometres north-west of Lens. The Loos Memorial forms the side and back of Dud Corner Cemetery where over 1,700 officers and men are buried, the great majority of whom fell in the Battle of Loos.

Dud Corner Cemetery, which stands almost on the site of a German strong point, the Lens Road Redoubt, captured by the 15th (Scottish) Division on the first day of the battle, is located about 1 kilometre west of the village, on the N43, the main Lens to Bethune road.

This is a very busy road and the cemetery and memorial are situated on the crest of the hill. There is a parking area in front of the cemetery but please do not even think about trying to accomplish a U-Turn. It is far safer to carry on further and come back again.

The cemetery is best approached from Loos/Lens as it will be on the right hand side of the road. If coming from Vermelles/Mazingarbe continue past and use the junctions for Loos to turn around.

The Loos Memorial

Historical Information

The Loos Memorial commemorates over 20,000 officers and men who fell in the area from the River Lys to the old southern boundary of the First Army, east and west of Grenay, and who have no known grave.

Lt John Kipling

Lt John Kipling 2nd Bn Irish Guards (Panel 9)

It covers the period from the first day of the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915 to the Armistice on 11 November 1918.

On either side of the cemetery is a wall 15 feet high, to which are fixed tablets on which are carved the names of those commemorated.

At the back are four small circular courts, open to the sky, in which the lines of tablets are continued, and between these courts are three semi circular walls or apses, two of which carry tablets, while on the centre apse is erected the Cross of Sacrifice.

Dud Corner Cemetery Dud Corner Cemetery
Loos 1915 Battle of Loos 1915
 
Loos-en-Gohelle from the south

Looking towards the village of Loos-en-Gohelle from the south, the battlefield is off to the right

 

A few notable names

Amongst the thousands of names here are a few that catch the eye.

John Kipling, My Boy Jack, the 18 year old son of Poet Laureate Rudyard Kipling. Although his name still appears on the wall it is no longer on the CWGC Database for the Memorial as the CWGC have stood by their identification of the grave at St Mary's ADS Cemetery.

Captain Bowes-Lyon

Captain The Hon Fergus Bowes-Lyon 8th Bn Black Watch (Panel 78)

Son of 14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, of Glamis Castle, Forfarshire
Husband of Lady Christian Bowes-Lyon
Educated at Eton. Previously served with 2nd Bn in India
Brother of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon (future Queen Consort of King George VI : the Queen Mother).

Victoria Cross holders

There are three recipients of the Victoria Cross commemorated.

Shot at Dawn

There are two soldiers commemorated on the walls who were executed during the war.

Family members

The toll on families during the war should never be forgotten and I highlight just a few cases. Looking through the register and looking at the walls you can surely find more.

You will notice that all of the following are to be found on the one panel - No 31.

Loos Memorial Loos Memorial