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Lottery winner fulfils ambition of a lifetime
Neil Baker recently won £1.5m on the UK's National Lottery, allowing the former pub chef to fulfil his long-held ambition of playing his late father's bugle at the grave of his great-grandfather.
The grave of Private Sydney Carver is in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Le Tournai Cemetery in Belgium.
Latest on the CWGC's climate change strategy (March 2011)
As a responsible and pro-active organisation with horticultural commitments in 150 countries, climate change is a challenge which the CWGC has a duty to address. In northern Europe, CWGC gardeners have noted a trend for hotter, drier summers and very wet winters, so the Commission has been conducting climate change demonstrations at four of its cemeteries to see how it can continue to provide horticultural excellence in the face of often challenging conditions.
These have taken the form of comparing various types of grass seed mixes, using artificial grass mixes and demonstrating dry-site techniques, where turf and traditional flowers are removed and replaced with plants and materials more commonly seen in desert cemeteries.
Irish war dead honoured
Following research by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Glasnevin Trust, which runs Ireland's largest cemetery, 43 Irish men and women who, until now, lay in unmarked graves have had a headstone erected at the spot in which they are buried.
On Remembrance Day 2011, relatives of those buried at Glasnevin were amongst the crowd which gathered to see dignatories lay wreaths to remember the fallen.
Forever India
"Forever India" is an educational DVD from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, produced in association with the Indian government.
This film recounts the often-overlooked contribution made by hundreds of thousands of Indian men and women during the First World War.
The Indian Army’s contribution, both on the Western Front and elsewhere, was vital and its involvement should never be forgotten. More than 74,000 died in this conflict and their stories of bravery and sacrifice are both inspirational and sobering.
A copy of the film is being sent to every school in the UK.The Indian Army’s contribution, both on the Western Front and elsewhere, was vital and its involvement should never be forgotten. More than 74,000 died in this conflict and their stories of bravery and sacrifice are both inspirational and sobering.
A copy of the film is being sent to every school in the UK.
CWGC unveils new Indian memorial
On Sunday 26 September 2010, a new screen wall, bearing the names of 53 Indian soldiers who were cremated on the hills above Brighton, after dying of their wounds at the temporary hospital at Brighton Pavilion, was unveiled.
Fromelles Cemetery opens
On 19 July 2010, exactly 94 years after the Battle of Fromelles, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission new Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery opened.
Thousands of people attended this very special event, including hundreds of relatives of those soldiers who died during the battle.
New Fromelles exhibition opens at Imperial War Museum
A new exhibition, organised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, tells the fascinating story of the 250 Australian and British soldiers who were found in several mass graves at Fromelles in northern France in 2008.
Over the past two years, the soldiers have been carefully exhumed and reburied in the CWGC's new purpose-built cemetery at Fromelles, the first such cemetery to be built in 50 years.
This video shows the new exhibition at the Imperial War Museum, London, and talks to relatives of the men who fell at Fromelles, as well as some of those experts who've worked on the project.
Fromelles reburials begin
At 11am local time, on Saturday, 30 January 2010, the first of 250 Australian and British soldiers was reburied at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's new Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery.
Fromelles Cemetery nears completion ahead of reburials
At Fromelles in northern France, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is building its first new cemetery in 50 years. On 30 January 2010, the reburial of 250 Australian and British soldiers will begin. These reburials will continue through February and the public will be able to view proceedings. With around 70% of the construction at Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery now complete, Ranald Leask reports on how this important project is progressing.
Climate change and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
What impact might climate change have on the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and how is the organisation planning for such eventualities? You can comment here: http://www.cwgc.org/climate.
Commission replaces vandalised war graves
Local residents in Godalming, Surrey, have thanked the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, after two First World War headstones were replaced three weeks after vandals destroyed them.
Commonwealth Conversation: What are the origins of the CWGC? And what does it mean to visit a CWGC Cemetery?
Glory Days - Football in Times of War from the CWGC
A short film aimed at engaging teachers, students and football fans of all ages with the website of the same name at cwgc.org/glorydays. Introduced by David Beckham and enthusiastic football manager Boyce Dungood, Glory Days tells the stories of some of the footballers who gave their lives for their countries and how they are remembered. It explores how the two world wars affected football teams and how football played a part in times of war as entertainment, for boosting morale and for propaganda.
Why should Young People Mark Remembrance Day? - November 2009
17 year old Crawford McInally-Kier is a pupil at Hutchesons' Grammar School in Glasgow. His great-great-grandfather served with the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, and died during the First World War, leaving behind a wife and six month old daughter. Crawford admits that Remembrance Day was a difficult and rather distant concept for him until he visited the war cemeteries and memorials in Flanders. In this video, Crawford tells how his visit changed the way he views Remembrance Day.
Stolen Bronze Panels Replaced
The memory of over 50 fallen soldiers will be once again be honoured on Remembrance Day, following the replacement of six bronze panels, which were stolen last year.
The plaques were taken last November from Philips Park Cemetery in Manchester, but at a special re-dedication ceremony at the weekend, the panels were unveiled in a service led by the Bishop of Middleton, the Rt Rev Mark Davies.
The new plaques are exact copies of those which were taken, and honour soldiers from the Manchester Regiment, Lancashire Fusiliers and Cheshire Regiment, who died in both the First and Second World Wars
Caring for the Menin Gate
Commission staff in Ieper, in Belgium, have been busy cleaning The Menin Gate - the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's most-visited memorial on the Western Front.
Unveiled in 1927, the Menin Gate is a hugely important structure, which pays tribute to The Missing - those soldiers whose bodies were never recovered or identified. Almost 55,000 names are inscribed on this imposing memorial.
Fromelles Report
The video is of the archaeological excavation of several burial pits close to the area where the Battle of Fromelles was fought in July 1916. The excavation is being carried out by Oxford Archaeology. The project is being overseen by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on behalf of the Australian and British governments.
CWGC Youth Ambassador
Jen Waller attends Cardigan Secondary School in Wales, and recently spent some time on work experience with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. She’s dedicated herself to the task of bringing the work of the CWGC to a wider audience in the schools of her homeland. Her blog, which can be seen in the "Learning Zone" at cwgc.org is thought-provoking and inspirational for young people everywhere. In this video, she tells us why it's so important to continue to remember The Fallen.
