Bramshott Canadian Memorials

As we head towards Remembrance Day, I did a short cycle ride - around 9 miles total - visiting the Canadian Memorials at Bramshott Common.

This was the location of a Canadian military camp in World War 1. It included a hospital, and many Canadian servicemen died here, primarily in the great flu pandemic of 1918/19, rather then from wounds, a timely reminder that our current predicament is not unique. Most (318) were buried in a dedicated plot within the churchyard of St Mary's, Bramshott, which is now maintained by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission. (A further 95 of the Catholic faith were buried in the churchyard of St Joseph's, Grayshott).

There was also a Canadian army camp here in World War 2, but any dead were buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery. Some time after WW2, as a further memorial, an avenue of sycamores, was planted on either side of the A3 Portsmouth Road, with about 400 trees (apparently one per grave). There is also a memorial bench and stone, the plaque on which states that the sycamores eventually became 'a danger to the travelling public', and were replaced by maples imported from Canada. These are perhaps a more fitting tribute, and glow red in the autumn. They are rather difficult for motorists to see from the A3 itself, due to a belt of trees and scrub beside the carriageway, hence a visit by bike at the right time of year - around early October - is an excellent way to see them. (Outside this time, they are probably a bit underwhelming.)

Here is a map.

As shown, there are several possible car parks: I chose the one in Rectory Lane. I did one loop (blue) via Bramshott churchyard to visit the CWGC cemetery, completing the circuit via Ludshott Common and Wagonners Wells, and a second circuit (red) to see the maple avenue.

The King Alfred's Way cycle route comes through Bramshott and crosses Bramshott Common, so riders may wish to pause a while at these locations.

Here's some photos.