Commemorative Information
LONDON RIFLE BRIGADE CEMETERY, Comines-warneton, Hainaut, Belgium
Grave Reference / Panel Number / Location: IV. B. 3.
London Rifle Brigade Cemetery is located 15 kilometres south of leper town centre, on a road leading from the Rijselseweg, N365, which connects leper to Wijtschate, Mesen, Ploegsteert and on to Armentieres. From leper town centre the Rijselsestraat runs from the market square, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort) and directly over the crossroads with the leper ring road. The road name then changes to the Rijselseweg. The cemetery lies 800 metres beyond the village of Ploegsteert on the right hand side of the N365.
Historical Information
The commune Of Ploegsteert, which contains a large number of British War Cemeteries, remained in British hands during the greater part of the War, but it and the cemeteries were in German possession from the 10th April to the 29th September 1918. London Rifle Brigade Cemetery was begun by units of the 4th Division in December 1914, and used by fighting units and Field Ambulances until March 1918; in April and May 15 German soldiers were buried in Plot IV, Row D; and in October 1918 the two graves in Plot I, Row E were added. It owes its name to the 22 burials of the London Rifle Brigade (which then belonged to the 4th Division) contained in Plot Ill and made in January, February and March 1915. There are now over 300, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. The cemetery covers an area of 1,836 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall. In June 1927 Lieut.-General Sir H. F. M. Wilson, late G.O.C. 4th division, unveiled a tablet set in the wall at the North corner of the cemetery, commemorating the dedication of the cemetery by the Bishop of London on Easter Day and the sacrifice of 91 officers and 1,831 Other Ranks of the Regiment during the war.
