Berks Cemetery Extension
- Admin
- Mar 9, 2021
- 11 min read
Updated: May 17
Berks Cemetery Extension, CWGC, Ploegsteert, faces Hyde Park Corner (Royal Berks) Cemetery which is on the opposite side of the road. The Berks Cemetery 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 Chateau 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 Chateau Military Cemetery was used by fighting units from November 1914 to August 1916. Plot I was begun by the Battalions of the 41st Division and this original plot contained the graves (see total burials at the end).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 is dominated by the Ploegsteert Memorial and by Hill 63. Hyde Park Corner was a road junction that stands some 200m from the cemetery. Hill 63 and the former 'Catacombs', deep shelters capable of holding two battalions, which were used from November 1916 onwards.
The Catacombs Generator shelter
In the western part of the wood, between Red Lodge and Hyde Park Corner, is the concrete shelter that housed a 16hp 480-volt electricity generator, supplied by the Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company known as ‘The Alphabeticals’ because of their initials, AE&MMBC. This provided power for the dugouts on Hill 63 and The Catacombs, officially named Hill 63 Dugouts, the Australians gave them the name Wallangara, although it was generally called The Catacombs. This was the most ambitious engineering project undertaken by the military on either side in the war. It was a system of chambers with connecting galleries, entrances and exits and had sleeping accommodation, on bunks, for 1,200 men and accommodation for 250 officers and men in steel huts outside, these were covered by the spoil from the workings. Before them, the Canadians in 1915, had shelters and dugouts on the southern and eastern slopes of the hill. The Catacombs were created by the 1st Australian Tunnelling Company and used throughout 1917 and 1918 by many Australian and other units. The main entrance at Hyde Park Corner was large enough to allow a large wagon to enter and this was set up in two one-way passage systems to allow the orderly entering and exiting of men. There were nineteen passages ‘streets’ lined with bunks and some of these streets were cordoned off for officers. Senior officers had rooms that contained two bunks, and a table. Platoon officers had smaller rooms and no table. There were also chambers for electrical equipment, signalling units, a small hospital, and a canteen. There were three exits to the north and the south. To ensure a flow of air and ventilation into The Catacombs the Australian engineers lit fires at some of the entrances, this created airflow, a technique that had been used by the Romans. In March 1918 plans were put in place to provide an alternative ventilation system using fans and passing the air through filters to purify it. The opening ceremony, in the spring of 1917, was an extraordinary affair given the location of the dugouts to the front line. It was attended by nineteen generals and their staff, a crowd of onlookers from officers and men from other units in billets nearby, a regimental band was in attendance and General Plumer, commander 2nd Army, was given the honour of opening The Catacombs. Today, the many entrances and workings are filled in or covered by the natural growth of the wood. However, you can see three of the access points from the Red Lodge Road. These are concrete culverts and span the ditch that runs alongside the road. Learn more about the Ploegsteert British Bunkers and Dugouts
FALKIRK DISTRICT MEN BURIED HERE
Blackness
2nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders
Age
4.1.15
III. C. 22
Links to the area
8th Australian Infantry Force
Age 26
29.6.17
I.B.11
Husband of Alice Davis Hunter, 51 Upton Road, Victoria NSW & father of Lorna K Hunter. Fourth son of William & Eliza Hunter, 45 Graham's Road, Falkirk
One of two brothers
14/17166 Rifleman John Cleland Baird, 14th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, 109th Infantry Brigade, 36th Division. Killed in action on 17 February 1917, age 22. Grave I.O.1. Son of James and Sarah Baird, 17 Spencer Street, Belfast. The Battalion was in rest billets at Red Lodge when the Germans retaliated following a British bombardment of their lines. A number of shells fell in the wood behind the Battalion HQ one hit a tree beside the HQ cookhouse and exploding killed Private John Baird, one other rank, and two officers. His brother, 11548 Sergeant Samuel Baird, ‘A’ Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, 74th Infantry Brigade, 25th Division. Killed in action 24 November 1916, age 20. Grave C.5., is buried in Hyde Park Corner (Royal Berks) Cemetery opposite.
Twin Two Brothers buried together
There are two twin brothers buried together and both were killed together on the same day, 30 June 1916, and who served with the 21st Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 124th Infantry Brigade, 41st Division. C/12391 Rifleman Leonard Crossley, age 31. Grave I.E.20. Leonard was employed as an electrician when he enlisted on 20 November 1915 and went to France on 5 May 1916. C/12390 William Crossley, age 31. Grave I.E.21. He was employed as a bricklayer when he enlisted on 20 November 1915 and went to France on 5 May 1916. Both brothers were unmarried. Sons of William and Emily Crossley, of St. James Green, Thirsk, Yorks. On the 30 June the British artillery had bombarded the German positions opposite Ploegsteert Wood and they retaliated on the British front line, supports, and reserve lines. The Battalion were in the reserve line at Bunhill Row and the junction of Warner Avenue, Regent Street to Touquet Berthe, and the blockhouses on Hunterston. The Battalion casualties were ‘…two men killed and four wounded (two being slight wounds, not interfering with effectiveness)…..’
Killed while Rat Catching
C/12015 Sergeant John Reginald Park, 21st Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 124th Infantry Brigade, 41st Division. Killed in action 20 July 1916, age 22. Grave I.F.3. Son of John and Eleanor A. Park, 11 High Northgate, Darlington. He was employed as an Ironmongers assistant when he enlisted on 25 September 1915. He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the field on 1 June 1916. On the 20 July 1916, the Battalion was in Ploegsteert Wood and holding the trenches in front of Hunters Avenue and in the support line forts. The forts, mainly built along the reserve line at Hunter Avenue, which also had a long sandbag breastwork running alongside, were small and gave protection from shrapnel and rifle fire. They were sited where Hunter Avenue was crossed by east-west rides running through the wood. In ‘Another World 1897 – 1917’, Anthony Eden, serving with the 21st Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps, and in the line at Reading Fort on Hunter Avenue, described them as ‘… a series of unimpressive forts offering no protection from shell fire.’ This was true for his friend and Company Sergeant John Reginald Park who was killed when a 5.9 shell landed on a disused fort in which he was rat catching. Learn more about the Ploegsteert British Bunkers and Dugouts
Tunnellers
British
33726 Shoeing Smith George Sampson Alvey, 171st Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, Killed in action 14 July 1916, age 26. Grave I.F.16. One of four sons and two daughters of Samuel Bower Alvey and Helen Parsons Alvey, of Tibshelf, Derbyshire. He was employed as a Blacksmith when he enlisted. Farriers and shoeing smiths were needed to keep horses moving. The primary job of a farrier was hoof trimming and fitting shoes to Army horses. This combined traditional blacksmith's skills with some veterinarian knowledge about the physiology and care of horses' feet. The Company was working on the mine gallery at Trench 121 which was linked to one of the four Birdcage mines at Le Gheer, these mines were never fired on 7 June 1917 and one famously exploded in 1955. The War Dairy records that: ‘1 R&F killed in action.’
Canadian
75947 Corporal Gordon Charles Cole, 3rd Tunnelling Company, Canadian Engineers. Killed in action 23 November 1916, age 30. Grave I.J.3. Son of Robert J. and Catherine Cole, of Powell River, British Columbia. He gave his trade as a Machinist when he enlisted on 9 November 1914 and joined the 29th Battalion. He sailed for the UK on 20 May 1915 and went to France on 17 September and transferred to the 3rd Tunnelling Company on 11 January 1916. He was promoted to L/Cpl on 1 March 1916 and then to Corporal on 26 August 1916. The Company was working on the mine galleries at Trench 121 which was linked to one of the four Birdcage mines at Le Gheer, these mines were never fired on 7 June 1917 and one famously exploded in 1955. The War Diary records on the 23 November that: ‘Corp Cole Killed – officers and Sergeants dug-outs smashed in by trench mortar.’ 79360 Corporal Wintour Maurice Adams, 3rd Tunnelling Company, Canadian Engineers. Killed in action 28 November 1916, age 27. Grave I.J.2. Son of Hubert and Maria Adams, of School House, St. John's, Cinderford, Gloucester. He was employed as a Fireman when he enlisted in Calgary on 18 November 1914 and joined the 31st Battalion. He went to the UK on 12 May 1915 and arrived in Shorncliffe Camp on 29 May. He went AWOL on 2 august for eight days and was sentenced to nine days detention and forfeited nine days pay, He rejoined the Battalion and was promoted to acting L/Cpl on 15 September and went to France on 18 September. He transferred to the 3rd Tunnelling Company on 10 January 1916 and was promoted to acting Corporal without pay on 1 February. He enjoyed a period of leave from 14 to 23 June 1916. The Company was working at Trench 123 at Le Gheer and the War Diary records that: ‘Sgt Adams killed by sniper 123.’ They also reported on a Sapper who deserted: ‘Sorry to have to report Spr Bromley deserted and went over to the enemy at about 8pm to 9pm, was fired at by machine gunner. He has been mining been mining on this point since October 1915 and is therefore in possession of considerable information.’ They searched No Man’s land for him on 29 November but did not find him. 452394 Sapper Murdock Ross Cameron, 3rd Tunnelling Company, Canadian Engineers. Killed in action 17 January 1917, age 41. Grave I.K.3. Son of Mrs. Ellen R. Cameron, of Calgary, Alberta. He was employed as a Baker when he enlisted on 6 July 1915 and joined the 58th Battalion. On arrival in France on 19 November 1915 he joined the 4th Battalion and then transferred to the 3rd Tunnelling Company on 2 February 1916. On the 17 January the Company was working on the gallery at Trench 121 and building a machine gun emplacement at Trench 127. The German artillery and trench mortars were active over the front line area. No casualties are listed. Murdock died of natural causes. 11556 Sapper William Hayes Betts, 3rd Tunnelling Company, Canadian Engineers. Killed in action 25 March 1916, age 27. Grave II.D.47. Son of Albert William and Margaret Florence Betts, 97 Park Avenue, Brantford, Ontario. Enlisted Aug., 1914. He actually enlisted on 22 September 1914 and gave his trade as Core Maker and joined the 4th Battalion. He arrived in France on 11 February 1915 and on 22 July 1915 went absent without leave and received 14 days Field Punishment No.2. On 23 August he fell out the line of march and was absent for one day and he further absented himself from a working party and received 15 days Field Punishment No.1. He was transferred to 3rd Tunnelling Company on 25 February 1916. A20550 Sapper George McLean, 3rd Tunnelling Company, Canadian Engineers. Killed in action 25 March 1916, age 37. Grave II.D.46. He gave his trade as a Shoeing Smith when he enlisted in Winnipeg on 18 December 1914 and joined the 42nd Battalion. Born in Glasgow he had emigrated and listed his brother John McLean, who was living in the USA, as his next of kin. On arrival in France he joined the 16th Battalion on 17 July 1915 and was then transferred to the 3rd Tunnelling Company on 3 February 1916. The War Diary records the Company casualties for the month of March as three killed and four wounded from shell fire and snipers. Both Betts and McLean were concentrated here in 1930 from the Red Lodge Chateau Cemetery.
Boy Soldiers
In the Ypres Salient, we are drawn to the graves of 6322 Private John Condon, 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, killed in action in May 1915, age 14 and the youngest known battle casualty of the war, although this is now questioned, and the grave of 5750 Valentine Strudwick, 8th Rifle Brigade, killed in action in January 1916, age 15. Strudwicks grave attracts a great deal of attention because of its location at Essex Farm and that locations association with Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae and the poem ‘In Flanders Fields.’ There are many more ‘Boy Soldiers’ buried across the Salient and who are not remembered in the same way and these include three from Falkirk District Private William Jamieson, age 17, Private James Duchart, age 16, and Private Herbert Richmond, age 17. There were many reasons why under age boys enlisted in 1914 and 1915 boredom with their jobs, looking for adventure, and escaping family pressures. The checks on age and qualification to enlist were more relaxed than later in the war. The army preferred younger recruits, there was a history of boy soldiers in the army going back over one hundred years. At Waterloo the army had a number of boy soldiers in their ranks. The army preferred younger recruits as they would follow orders and accept discipline more readily than older men. The boys had a belief in their own indestructibility and were prepared to take more risks. We tend to also forget the number of boys who served in the Royal Navy and we do not seem to have the same passionate response to their service as we do those who fought on the Western Front. With regards to the army, the difference was the sheer number who served on the Western Front and there were more boy soldiers in 1915 than served in Wellington’s army at Waterloo. For further reading on this subject see Richard Van Emden’s excellent book Boy Soldiers of the Great War. There three Boy Soldiers buried here. 10906 Private James Richard Brett, 8th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regiment), 17th Infantry Brigade, 24th Division. Killed in action 14 May 1916, age 17. Grave III.A.60. Son of Mr. and Mrs. James Brett, 1 Acacia Road, Sydenham, London. He was employed as Milkman’s Assistant when he enlisted on 24 August 1914 in Woolwich giving his age as 17 years and 77 days. The Battalion was in the line at Ploegsteert with their HQ located on Hill 63. On the 13 and 14 May their positions had been the subject of German shelling and machine guns were active on the line. 11791 Private Albert Edward Lewis, 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment), 17th Infantry Brigade, 24th Division. Killed in action 31 May 1916, age 17. Grave II.B.33. Son of William Lewis, 51 Penn Road, Holloway, London. Both Brett and Lewis were concentrated here from Red Lodge Chateau Cemetery in 1930.
21713 Private Bernard Harrison, 15th Battalion Hampshire Regiment, 122nd Infantry Brigade, 41st Division. Killed in action 30 June 1916, age 17. Grave I.C.9. Son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Harrison, 11, Clock Street, Portsea, Portsmouth. The Battalion was in the line at Ploegsteert Wood and on the night of 29/30 June mounted a raid on the German lines at the Birdcage sector, Le Gheer supported by a poison gas discharge and artillery barrage. They went over in three groups with a delay in the raid being caused by their own poison gas which had not cleared their own parapet. No.1 group reached the enemy trenches threw in some bombs and retired owing to the programme. No.2 group lost both their leaders one wounded and the other gassed. No.3 reached the enemy trench but had difficulty in getting through the wire and returned. Only 16 men from the three groups actually entered the German trenches. Battalion casualties were 9 killed, 28 wounded and 2 died of wounds.
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 Armentieres. From Ieper town centre the Rijselstraat 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. The N365 which forms the right hand fork leads to the town of Mesen. The cemetery lies 3 kilometres beyond Mesen on the right hand side of the N365 and opposite Hyde Park Corner Royal Berks Cemetery.
The cemetery was designed by H. Chalton Bradshaw.
Burials
Berks Cemetery Extension now contains 876 First World War burials.
Original Plot I
UK – 295
Australian – 51
New Zealand – 45
Canadian - 3
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