Ploegsteert Churchyard
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Ploegsteert Churchyard Cemetery, CWGC, contains seven British and two Canadian burials of the First World War made between October 1914 to February 1915. The N365, which goes past the cemeteries at Hyde Park Corner Ploegsteert Memorial Berks Cemetery Extension and Hyde Park Corner (Royal Berks) Cemetery on the way from Messines, is a busy road that runs through Ploegsteert village and south to Le Bizet and Armentieres via a roundabout in the village. The roundabout replaced the crossroads that used to stand here and there is the story of Dave Coutts, a member of an infantry battalion, who was famous for his large feet. The story goes that at roll call one morning the Company Sergeant-Major called Coutts name and there was no response, he tried again, and again no response when a Private in the ranks said: ‘Please Sergeant-Major, he’s gone up to the cross-roads to turn around.’ The village of Ploegsteert has seen many changes with renovations to housing and the removal of historical buildings such as the Café au Lion d’Or which stood opposite the Trois Amis at the crossroads, both of which were focal points for British troops looking for their cheap wine, watery beer, and
omelette and chips. The schoolhouse, that was a billet for Lieutenant Ronald Poulton Palmer, is still in the village and in a letter to his parents he wrote about being billeted in the local school in Ploegsteert that was located next to the church. He was to be the first officer of the Battalion to be killed and was shot by a sniper at 12.20am on 5 May while he was overseeing a working party repairing the trench. His body was taken to the Field Ambulance located in the nunnery on the Le Bizet road, this was the nunnery Winston Churchill referred to as a hospice and were he stayed in 1916. Lieutenant Ronald Poulton Palmer is buried in Hyde Park Corner
(Royal Berks) Cemetery. The brewery, on the La Bizet road, used as a bathhouse for the troops was destroyed during the war and was rebuilt as houses. In the corner of the village square is Ploegsteert Church which was heavily damaged during the war but never destroyed. In the square is the Ploegsteert village War Memorial that lists the names of soldiers and civilians killed in the First World War. Amongst the civilian names are those
who were killed in WWII fighting with the
resistance and the memorial also shows signs of damage from the fighting in this area in 1940. On the wall by the entrance door to the church is a plaque which remembers Winston Churchill and his time in the sector from January to May 1916 when he commanded the 6th Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers, the plaque was unveiled by his grandson Winston Churchill, who was a Member of Parliament, on the 60th anniversary of the unveiling of the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing at Hyde Park Corner in 1991.
1st Battalion Hampshires, 11th Infantry Brigade, 4th Division
There are six men from the Battalion buried here. On the 30 October the Battalion was in the line occupying the trenches on a 2,000 yard front running from the Douve via St Yves to Le Gheer with the whole Battalion in the firing line with the exception of one platoon of ‘A’ Company. The German trenches ran parallel and were about 1100 yards away. At 6.30am the Germans commenced a terrific bombardment of the Battalion positions that lasted until 4.30pm when the German infantry came forward. They were checked along the line by the Battalion fire except left of centre were dead ground aloud the enemy to gain a foothold and to work their way close to ‘C’ Company and was during this advance that Reginald was killed by machine-gun fire. On his death an officer wrote: ‘It was a day of very hard fighting, in spite of very heavy fire he continued to watch with his field glasses the movements of the enemy in order to direct the fire of his men, when a bullet struck him in the head.’ Lieutenant Trimmer was holding a trench some 20 yards in front of the main line and suffered heavy losses from the German artillery bombardment and machine-gun fire, both of which were concentrated on his position. William was killed
along with the men in his Platoon during the bombardment. Captain Reginald Wickham Harland, Killed in action 30 October 1914, age 31. Grave A.3. He was one of seven sons and two daughters of the Reverend Albert Augustus Harland and Louisa Ellen Harland, of The Lodge, Harefield, Uxbridge, Middlesex. He was educated at Temple Grove, East sheen, and then Wellington College before going to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst were he won the Lord Roberts Prize at drill. He was gazetted Second Lieutenant on 22 April 1903 and joined the Hampshire Regiment. Promoted to Lieutenant on 22 December 1905, and Captain on 9 August 1911, and went to France with the Battalion on 20 August
1914. Lieutenant William Douglas MacLean Trimmer, Killed in action 30 October 1914, age 22. Grave A.2. Son of Edward Douglas and Mary Kate Trimmer, of "Oakrigg," Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. Born at Surbiton, Surrey. Educated at Aldenham School and Royal Military College Sandhurst, he was gazetted to 1st Hampshires on 20 September 1911 as 2nd Lieutenant and promoted Lieutenant 18 March 1914. He went with the Battalion to France on 22 August 1914. On his death J F Gwynne, Medical Officer, of the Hampshires wrote: ‘He died like a hero, and the way he and his men fought to the last is one of the finest acts I have heard of in the whole war. He was found in his trench – game to the last. He must have died immediately on receiving the fatal shot.’ Captain Douglas Johnson, 1st Battalion wrote to his parents: ‘He was holding an isolated and advanced trench, losing most of his platoon to heavy shelling and infantry attacks. He sent for reinforcements but there were none to be had. He held his men together and stuck it out being killed by a shell towards evening. The remains of his platoon, about 9 out of 40, were finally overrun and killed by German Infantry although one may have survived having been taken prisoner.’
Captain Eric John Western Dolphin, Killed in action 7 November 1914, age 28. Grave A.4. Son of Lt. Col. H. E. Dolphin, (Royal Artillery retired), of Oak Lodge, Guildford. He was educated at Stubbington and the Royal Military College Sandhurst. He was gazetted Second Lieutenant in 1906 and joined the Hampshires and was later promoted to Lieutenant in March 1909, and promoted to Captain on 21 October 1914. On the 7 November the Battalion was in the line with their positions running from the Le Gheer crossroads down to the River Warne. The Germans attacked and a party consisting of one officer and sixty men succeeded in getting past the right trench of the unit on their left and into Ploegsteert Wood. ‘A’ Company, led by Captains Unwin and Dolphin, counter-attacked and cleared the Germans from the wood. Captain Dolphin was ‘treacherously shot by the Germans’ as he went forward to receive the surrender of a number of Germans who had called out ‘don’t shoot.’
The War Diary records that of the officers that came out to France in August 1914 only the following remained alive or unwounded: ‘Captain Perkins, Lieutenant (now Captain) lim Thurn and Lieutenant Edsell.’
8691 Private Charles Edward Horne, Killed in action 18 November 1914, age 22. Grave A.5. Son of Mrs. G. Horne, of Grateley Station, Andover, Hants. Charles was a regular and went with the Battalion to France on 22 August 1914. On the 18 November the Battalion was in the line directly in front of Le Gheer and were involved in improving the trenches which were falling in due to the heavy rains. During the day the Battalion HQ was shelled with one officer, Captain Perkins, wounded. Two men were also wounded by snipers.
Major George Hastings Parker Mentioned in Despatches, Killed in action 19 December 1914, age 44. Grave A.6. Son of Capt. G. F. Hastings Parker, R.N., and Susan M. Parker. He joined the Hampshire Regiment from the Militia in October 1892, becoming a Lieutenant in October 1894, and then a Captain in July 1900. He took part in the South African war 1901 to 1902. From November 1903 to November 1907 he was Superintendent of Gymnasia in Malta, and was promoted to Major in February 1910. On the outbreak of the war in August 1914 he was promoted to temporary Lieutenant- Colonel to take command of the 10th (Service) Battalion of the Regiment but subsequently rejoined the 1st Battalion in France. As Acting Lieutenant-Colonel he commanded the Battalion from September-December 1914. On the 19 December the Battalion supported the 1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry and the 1st Battalion Rifle Brigade in an attack on German House and The Birdcage. ‘B’ Company occupied a line of dugouts on the west edge of Ploegsteert Wood, and ‘A’ Company occupied the second line breastworks. ‘C’ Company was in the main trench, one Platoon of ‘D’ Company in the communication trench with the remainder of ‘D’ Company in the front breastwork with one Platoon ready to advance on the right rear of the Rifle Brigade. ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies were commanded by Major Parker. The attack began with an artillery barrage form 9am on the German lines which had been accurate but by midday was falling short on the British lines. At 2.30pm the Rifle Brigade moved forward to attack but were held up by machine-gun fire and despite support from one Platoon from ‘D’ Company made no progress. The British Battalions captured some houses on the eastern edge of Ploegsteert Wood. The War Diary records: ‘This attack was really stopped by shrapnel from our own guns.’ Battalion casualties were Major G.H. Parker killed while directing machine-gun fire from the main trench, 15 Other Ranks killed and 25 wounded. Major George Parker was mentioned in Field Marshal Sir John French’s Despatch of 14 January 1915. Captain Arthur Paget Knocker, ‘B’ Company, Killed in action 8 February 1915, age 25. Grave A.7. Son of Col. H. P. Knocker (R.E.) and Mrs. Knocker, of "Bushey Ruff," Carlisle Road, Eastbourne. The Battalion was continuing to occupy the same trench line at Le Gheer with the Saxon Regiment opposite them. Throughout the month they worked on strengthening the defences and to work on the communication trench into Ploegsteert Wood known on the trench maps as Hampshire Lane. They also had ‘2 Companies of 7th (British Columbia) Canadians attached from 21st to 27th.’ This was for trench familiarisation. Arthur Paget was killed by a sniper.
Second Lieutenant Richard John Lumley, ‘A’ Squadron, 11th (Prince Albert’s Own) Hussars, 1st Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. Killed in action 17 October 1914, age 20. Grave A.1. Son of Brigadier General the Hon. Osbert Lumley, C.M.G., and Constance Elinor Lumley, O.B.E. 50 Cadogan Square, London. He was educated at Ludgrove School, Middlesex, and at Eton and went onto the Royal Military college, Sandhurst. He was gazetted as a Second Lieutenant and joined the 11th (Prince Albert’s Own) Hussars, on 25 February 1914. He went with the Regiment to France on 15 August 1914. The 11th Hussars received orders to hold the line south of Ploegsteert with ‘B’ Squadron holding the right section from Le Bizet to Le Touquet Station, ‘A’ Squadron from Halte to west of Doulemont, and ‘C’ Squadron in reserve at Ploegsteert. ‘A’ Squadron were ordered to take over the section of the line from the 4th Dragoons with the German positions extended some 300 yards in front of them. Second Lieutenant Lumley was killed shortly after taking over the line.
Canadian
There are two men from the 7th Battalion (1st British Columbia), 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division. They were attached to the 1st Battalion Hampshires for trench familiarisation in February 1915. The Hampshires War Diary recording ‘2 Companies of 7th (British Columbia) Canadians attached from 21st to 27th.’ Lieutenant Herbert Beaumont Boggs, Killed in action 26 February 1915, age 22. Grave A.8. Son of Beaumont and Louise Mary Boggs, of the "Pacific Club," Victoria, British Columbia. He was a Law Student when he enlisted on 18 September 1914. 17173 Private Thomas Sutton, Killed in action 26 February 1915, age 22. Grave A.9. Son of William and Marie Sutton, 18 Kennerley Road, Stockport, England. He gave his trade as Seaman when he enlisted on 23 September 1914.
Location
Ploegsteert Churchyard is located 14 Kms south of Ieper town centre, on a the Rijselseweg N365, which connects Ieper to Wijtschate, Mesen (Messines), Ploegsteert and on to Armentieres. 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. On reaching the village of Ploegsteert the church is located on the right hand side of the N365.
Burials
Ploegsteert Churchyard contains nine Commonwealth burials of the First World War, made between October 1914 and February 1915.
UK – 7
Canadian - 2
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