Berks Cemetery Extension
Location
Berks Cemetery Extension is located 12.5 kilometres south of Ieper town centre on the N365 leading from Ieper to Mesen, 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 (N336).
3.5 kilometres along the N336 lies a fork junction with the N365.
This is at Sint Elooi and you will see a cannon and memorial at the junction.
Take the right hand fork N336 in the direction of Mesen.
Continue through Wijtschate and Mesen. The road will ascend Hill 63 (Note the information panels on the right) and then come down into Ploegsteert Wood. You will soon see the Ploegsteert Memorial on your right with a small cemetery and a café on your left.
The smaller cemetery is Hyde Park Corner and the Berks Cemetery Extension is the larger one next to the memorial.
| GPS | N | E | OSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decimal | 50.73779 | 2.88216 | Map |
The sounding of the Last Post takes place at the Ploegsteert Memorial
on the first Friday of every month at 1900 hours.
Historical Information
Hyde Park Corner was a road junction to the north of Ploegsteert Wood. Hill 63 was to the north-west and nearby were the Catacombs, deep shelters capable of holding two battalions, which were used from November 1916 onwards.
The extension was begun in June 1916 and used continuously until September 1917. At the Armistice, the extension comprised Plot I only, but Plots II and III were added in 1930 when graves were brought in from Rosenberg Château Military Cemetery and Extension, about 1 kilometre to the north-west, when it was established that these sites could not be acquired in perpetuity.
Rosenberg Château Military Cemetery was used by fighting units from November 1914 to August 1916. The extension was begun in May 1916 and used until March 1918. Together, the cemetery and extension were sometimes referred to as Red Lodge.
Berks Cemetery Extension now contains 876 First World War burials.
Within Berks Cemetery Extension stands the Ploegsteert Memorial.
The cemetery, cemetery extension and memorial were designed by H Chalton Bradshaw.
Berks Cemetery Extension is separated from Hyde Park Corner Cemetery by a road.
Hyde Park Corner (Royal Berks) Cemetery was begun in April 1915 by the 1/4th Royal Berkshire Regiment and was used at intervals until November 1917.
The cemetery contains 83 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and four German war graves.
21st Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Died on 30th June 1916
21st Bn King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Died on 30th June 1916
Grave: I E 20
Grave: I E 21
Private Albert Lewis 11791
1st Bn Royal Fusiliers
Died on 31st May 1916 aged 17
Son of William Lewis
of 51 Penn Rd, Holloway, London
Grave: II B 3
Private James Brett 10906
8th Bn East Kent Regiment
The Buffs
Died on 14th May 1916 aged 17
Son of Mr and Mrs James Brett
of 1 Acacia Rd, Sydenham, London
Grave: III A 60
Private B Harrison 21713
15th Bn Hampshire Regiment
Died on 30th June 1916 aged 17
Son of Mr and Mrs G Harrison
of 11 Clock St, Portsea, Portsmouth
Grave: I C 9