Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing, War memorial in Comines-Warneton, Belgium
The Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing is a Commonwealth war memorial in Comines-Warneton, Belgium, bearing the names of soldiers who died in the Ypres Salient between 1914 and 1918 and have no known grave. A circular stone colonnade surrounds a central tower, and the whole structure stands next to Berks Cemetery Extension.
The memorial was designed in the 1920s and inaugurated in 1931 to commemorate Commonwealth soldiers who fought in the southern part of the Flanders front and were never found. It was commissioned by the Imperial War Graves Commission, now known as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
This place serves as a gathering space where visitors from around the world come to remember those lost during the war. The monthly ceremonies create moments of reflection that keep the memory of these soldiers alive.
The memorial is freely accessible throughout the year and sits directly along the N365 road between Ploegsteert and Armentières. A small parking area nearby makes it easy to stop, and the surrounding paths allow a calm walk around the site.
Among the names on the panels is that of a soldier who served alongside Winston Churchill when he was briefly posted to the front line in this area in 1916. Three recipients of the Victoria Cross are also named here, a detail that is easy to miss on a first visit.
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