1914-1918 Remembrance
The First World War left a lasting mark on the collective memory of the region.
The losses suffered, the destruction of homes and the loss of landmarks scarred people’s consciences, eventually gave rise to a culture of remembrance. These four years of suffering also left indelible traces on Comines-Warneton’s landscape.
The following two publications are useful guides to discover the moving traces left by the past and Comines-Warneton’s Great War heritage.
Special edition 14-18 Remembrance Comines-Warneton: an essential reference work
This publication gives an illustrated overview of the lasting traces of the First World War in Comines-Warneton’s landscape and in our collective memory. A veritable guide to 1914-1918 in the area, it catalogues Comines-Warneton’s heritage: sites, commemorations, cemeteries, notable figures, etc.
A Walk Round Plugstreet: a memorial trail
This hike with waymarks takes you past numerous sites commemorating the First World War: British cemeteries, mine craters, but also:
- the site of the 1914 Christmas Truce and the UEFA monument inaugurated by Michel Platini in December 2014, commemorating the incredible football match played by a few British and German soldiers during those fleeting moments of peace and camaraderie.
- Hill 63 Dugouts, or the Catacombs, a complex of nineteen underground galleries dug by Australian soldiers to accommodate up to 1,200 men.
Most of the units assigned to the Ploegsteert sector stayed there for at least one night, protected by the hill known as Mont de la Hutte or Hill 63.
