The Ploegsteert Memorial

We find ourselves at the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing, often affectionately referred to by British soldiers as 'Plugstreet.' This site is located in a relatively quiet sector of the Ypres Salient, south of the more famous…

As you approach the entrance to the memorial, you are met by two imposing stone lions, the work of the sculptor Gilbert Ledward. These lions serve as the 'sentinels' of the site, but they represent two very different emotional…

Stepping inside the memorial, you are enclosed by the circular colonnade. This architectural form is highly significant; the circle represents eternity and the unbroken bond of the Commonwealth. …

The Ploegsteert Memorial is uniquely situated within the Berks Cemetery Extension. This makes the experience here particularly poignant, as you can see the graves of those who were identified while standing next to the names of…

Looking toward the southwest, you can see the dark outline of Ploegsteert Wood. This woodland was a critical part of the battlefield, serving as a shelter for troops moving to the front and as a location for artillery positions…

Just a short distance from this memorial lies the site of one of the most remarkable and humanizing events of the war: the Christmas Truce of 1914. In December of that first year, the professional soldiers of the British and…

While Ypres is famous for its daily Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate, the Ploegsteert Memorial hosts its own moving ceremony on the first Friday of every month. This event is a local tradition that keeps the memory of the…

As we conclude our visit to the Ploegsteert Memorial, look one last time at the two lions guarding the entrance and the circular walls of names. This site is a powerful synthesis of architecture, nature, and history. …