Ploegsteert

Ploegsteert is a village in the municipality of Comines-Warneton, in the province of Hainaut. It is the westernmost settlement in Wallonia and lies only a short distance from the French border.

The village sits in one of Belgium’s more intriguing border areas. Historically connected with Flanders, Ploegsteert and the wider Comines-Warneton area became part of Hainaut when Belgium fixed its language border in 1963. The municipality is officially French-speaking, with language facilities for Dutch speakers.

Ploegsteert is also an important First World War site. The Ploegsteert Memorial, standing within Berks Cemetery Extension, commemorates more than 11,000 British and South African servicemen who died in this sector and have no known grave. Unlike the better-known memorials around Ypres, many of those named here were killed in the routine trench warfare that characterised this quieter part of the front.

The village also has a connection with Winston Churchill. From January to May 1916, after leaving government and returning to active military service, Churchill commanded the 6th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers in the Ploegsteert sector. Several local sites are associated with his time here, including former headquarters and billets around Ploegsteert and Le Gheer.

For beer visitors, the village is also known today for Brasserie Vanuxeem, whose large drinks warehouse and shop offers an extensive range of Belgian beers and branded glassware.