Berks Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery Extension

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Berks Cemetery Extension
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Berks Cemetery Extension entrance
Used for those deceased June 1916 - September 1917
Established 1916
Location 50°44′17″N, 02°52′55.2″E near Ploegsteert, Hainaut, Belgium
Designed by H Chalton Bradshaw
Total burials 880
Burials by nation
Allied Powers:

Central Powers:
Burials by war
World War I: 880
Statistics source: WW1cemeteries.com

Berks Cemetery Extension is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) burial ground for the dead of World War I located in the Ypres Salient on the Western Front.

The cemetery grounds were assigned to the United Kingdom in perpetuity by King Albert I of Belgium in recognition of the sacrifices made by the British Empire in the defence and liberation of Belgium during the war.

[edit] Foundation

The cemetery was founded by Commonwealth troops in June 1916 as an extension to Hyde Park Corner (Royal Berks) Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery which lies across the road.[1]

The cemetery was still small at the time of the Armistice. It was englarged in 1930 when it became clear that Rosenberg Chateau Military Cemetery and Rosenberg Chateau Military Cemetery Extension, approximately one kilometre away, could not be acquired in perpetuity and the graves were moved to the Berks Cemetery Extension.[2]

Inside the cemetery is the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing.

The cemetery was designed by H(arold) Chalton Bradshaw, who also designed the Cambrai Memorial in France.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ www.wo1.be, accessed 26 May 2006
  2. ^ CWGC entry, accessed 26 May 2006
  3. ^ First World War

[edit] External links