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⚫ ], near ], ], contains the graves of some of the soldiers who died during the ]]]
⚫ ] from ].]]
The '''Commonwealth War Graves Commission''' is a joint governmental organisation responsible for marking and maintaining the graves of members of the ] military forces who died in the two world wars and subsequent wars, to build memorials to those with no known grave, and to keep records of the war dead. The Commission is responsible for the commemoration of 1.7 million Commonwealth servicemen and women in 150 countries worldwide. The '''Commonwealth War Graves Commission''' is a joint governmental organisation responsible for marking and maintaining the graves of members of the ]' military forces that died in the two ]s and subsequent wars, to build memorials to those with no known grave, and to keep records of the war dead. The Commission is responsible for the commemoration of 1.7 million Commonwealth servicemen and women in 150 countries worldwide.


Member nations are: the ], ], ], ], ], and ]. ] was a founding member but ceased to have separate status from 1949 when it became a part of Canada. The President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is ]. The six member nations are ], ], ], ], ], and the ]. ] was a founding member but ceased to have separate status from 1949, when it became a part of Canada. The President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is ].


The largest cemeteries are in ] and ] built after the ]. The largest Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery is ] north of ], containing nearly 12,000 graves. A number of cemeteries are also present in the ] and ] as a result of battles against the ] during the First World War, and in ] and ] from the ]. The cemeteries have always been respected as humanitarian, non-political sites and instances of ] or desecration are rare. On ], ], 33 headstones were demolished by three armed men in the ] (which contains 3,500 graves) in supposed retaliation for the notorious ]. The largest cemeteries are in ] and ], and were built after the ]. A number of cemeteries are also present in the ] and ], as a result of battles against the ] during the First World War, and in ] and ] from the ]. The largest Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery is ], north of ], which contains nearly 12,000 graves; the smallest maintained site contains the remains of only ], and is located on ].<ref>. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved on 3 July 2006.</ref>


==Design==
⚫ Each cemetery is made up of rows of white ]s -- unlike French or German graves these are not shaped like crosses but are rather rectangles with rounded tops. Each gravestone is marked with a ], however, except for those where the dead were known to belong to another ] where another symbol is provided. The graves are also marked with the name, rank and unit symbol of the soldier. Many soldiers are unknown and their gravestones bear no name, these have the phrase "Known Unto God" engraved upon them. Some graves also have additional phrases added by friends or family.
⚫ ]
⚫ Each cemetery is made up of rows of white ]s; unlike French or German graves, these are not shaped like crosses, but are, instead, rectangles with rounded tops. However, each gravestone is marked with a ], except for those where the deceased was known to belong to another ], in which case, another symbol is provided. The graves are also marked with the name, rank and unit symbol of the soldier. Many soldiers are unknown; their gravestones bear no name, and have the phrase "Known Unto God" engraved upon them. Some graves also have additional phrases added by friends or family.


⚫ The cemeteries are normally surrounded by a low brick wall, often with a decorative gate over the entrance. Many have an identical ], called the ']' and designed by Sir ]; these vary in height from 4.5m to 9m, depending on the size of the cemetery. If there are one thousand or more burials, a Commonwealth cemetery will contain a ']', designed by Sir ] and bearing words from the book of ]: "Their name liveth for evermore". All the Stones of Remembrance are 3.5m long and 1.5m high, with three steps leading up to them. Each cemetery has a plaque that explains in which war the soldiers died and provides some background history. They also have a visitors book and a register of everyone buried in the cemetery.
⚫ ]
⚫ The cemeteries are normally surrounded by a low brick wall often with a decorative gate over the entrance. Many have an identical ] called the ] designed by Sir ] that vary in height from 4.5m to 9m depending on the size of the cemetery. If there are one thousand or more burials, a Commonwealth cemetery will contain a Stone of Remembrance, designed by Sir ] with words from the book of ] "THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE", all the Stones of Remembrance are all 3.5m long and 1.5m high with three steps leading up to them. Each cemetery has a plaque that explains which war the soldiers died in and provides some background history. They also have a visitors book and a register of everyone buried in the cemetery.


⚫ On the ], and at the Haidar Pasha Cemetery in ], the cemeteries have slightly different design features. To prevent masonary sinking into water-sodden ground, the graves have stone-faced pedestal markers rather than headstones, and instead of a freestanding Cross of Sacrifice, the cross is built into a wall.<ref> ({{PDFlink}}). Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved on 3 July 2006.</ref><ref> ({{PDFlink}}). Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved on 3 July 2006.</ref>
⚫ ] contains the graves of some of the soldiers who died during the ]]]
⚫ On the ], and at the Haidar Pasha Cemetery in ], the cemeteries have slightly different design features. To prevent masonary sinking into water-sodden ground, the graves have stone-faced pedestal markers rather than headstones, and instead of a freestanding Cross of Sacrifice, the cross is built into a wall.
<ref></ref>
<ref></ref>


==Financing==
⚫ ==Some of the Monuments and Cemeteries Maintained by the CWGC==
⚫ ] ] cemetery, near ], ].]]
⚫ *the 3 cemeteries on the ]
The War Graves Commission's work is funded predominantly by grants from the governments of the six member states. In the ]2004/05, these grants amounted to £38.9m.<ref name="The Commission Finances"> ({{PDFlink}}). Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved on 3 July 2006.</ref> The contribution from each country is proportionate to the number of graves preserved, and grants are thus broken down as follows:
⚫ *the ] and ] in ]
{| class="wikitable"
⚫ *] in ], Canada
|-
⚫ *cemeteries in ] at ], and at ] in the ]
! Country
! Value of grants <br>(])
! % of total
|-
| ]
| <center> 30.5
| <center> 78.4
|-
| ]
| <center> 3.9
| <center> 10.1
|-
| ]
| <center> 2.4
| <center> 6.1
|-
| ]
| <center> 0.8
| <center> 2.1
|-
| ]
| <center> 0.8
| <center> 2.1
|-
| ]
| <center> 0.5
| <center> 1.2
|-
| colspan=3|<small>Source: Commonwealth War Graves Commission<ref name="The Commission Finances" />
|}


==Vandalism==
The cemeteries have always been respected as humanitarian, non-political sites, and instances of ] or desecration are rare. On ] ], 33 headstones were demolished by three armed men in the ], which contains 3,500 graves, in supposed retaliation for the notorious ].<ref>. Ben Lynfield, ''The Scotsman'', 11 May 2004. Retrieved on 3 July 2006.</ref>


⚫ ==Some of the monuments and cemeteries maintained by the CWGC==
{{See also|:Category:Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries}}
* The ], a memorial to missing soldiers in the ]
⚫ * Three cemeteries on the ]
⚫ * The ] and ] in ]
⚫ * The ] in ], Canada
⚫ * Cemeteries in ] at ], and at ] in the ]


==References== ==Footnotes==
<div class="references-small">
<references/> <references/>
</div>


==External links== ==External links==
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
* *
*http://collections.ic.gc.ca/courage/wargravescommission.html *


] ]

Revision as of 09:14, 3 July 2006

The Azmak Cemetery, near Suvla Bay, Turkey, contains the graves of some of the soldiers who died during the Gallipoli Campaign

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is a joint governmental organisation responsible for marking and maintaining the graves of members of the Commonwealth of Nations' military forces that died in the two world wars and subsequent wars, to build memorials to those with no known grave, and to keep records of the war dead. The Commission is responsible for the commemoration of 1.7 million Commonwealth servicemen and women in 150 countries worldwide.

The six member nations are Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Newfoundland was a founding member but ceased to have separate status from 1949, when it became a part of Canada. The President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is HRH The Duke of Kent.

The largest cemeteries are in France and Belgium, and were built after the First World War. A number of cemeteries are also present in the Middle East and Iraq, as a result of battles against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War, and in North Africa and Italy from the Second World War. The largest Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery is Tyne Cot Cemetery, north of Ypres, which contains nearly 12,000 graves; the smallest maintained site contains the remains of only Rupert Brooke, and is located on Skyros.

Design

Cross of Sacrifice

Each cemetery is made up of rows of white gravestones; unlike French or German graves, these are not shaped like crosses, but are, instead, rectangles with rounded tops. However, each gravestone is marked with a cross, except for those where the deceased was known to belong to another religion, in which case, another symbol is provided. The graves are also marked with the name, rank and unit symbol of the soldier. Many soldiers are unknown; their gravestones bear no name, and have the phrase "Known Unto God" engraved upon them. Some graves also have additional phrases added by friends or family.

The cemeteries are normally surrounded by a low brick wall, often with a decorative gate over the entrance. Many have an identical war memorial, called the 'Cross of Sacrifice' and designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield; these vary in height from 4.5m to 9m, depending on the size of the cemetery. If there are one thousand or more burials, a Commonwealth cemetery will contain a 'Stone of Remembrance', designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and bearing words from the book of Ecclesiasticus: "Their name liveth for evermore". All the Stones of Remembrance are 3.5m long and 1.5m high, with three steps leading up to them. Each cemetery has a plaque that explains in which war the soldiers died and provides some background history. They also have a visitors book and a register of everyone buried in the cemetery.

On the Gallipoli Peninsula, and at the Haidar Pasha Cemetery in Istanbul, the cemeteries have slightly different design features. To prevent masonary sinking into water-sodden ground, the graves have stone-faced pedestal markers rather than headstones, and instead of a freestanding Cross of Sacrifice, the cross is built into a wall.

Financing

The First World War Ypres Reservoir cemetery, near Ypres, Belgium.

The War Graves Commission's work is funded predominantly by grants from the governments of the six member states. In the FY2004/05, these grants amounted to £38.9m. The contribution from each country is proportionate to the number of graves preserved, and grants are thus broken down as follows:

Country Value of grants
(£) 		% of total
United Kingdom
30.5
78.4
Canada
3.9
10.1
Australia
2.4
6.1
New Zealand
0.8
2.1
South Africa
0.8
2.1
India
0.5
1.2
Source: Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Vandalism

The cemeteries have always been respected as humanitarian, non-political sites, and instances of vandalism or desecration are rare. On May 9 2004, 33 headstones were demolished by three armed men in the Gaza War Cemetery, which contains 3,500 graves, in supposed retaliation for the notorious Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse.

Some of the monuments and cemeteries maintained by the CWGC

See also: Category:Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries

Footnotes

  1. Architecture. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved on 3 July 2006.
  2. Haidar Pasha Cemetery (Template:PDFlink). Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved on 3 July 2006.
  3. The Gallipoli Campaign, 1915 (Template:PDFlink). Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved on 3 July 2006.
  4. ^ The Commission Finances (Template:PDFlink). Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved on 3 July 2006.
  5. "Palestinians vandalise UK war graves". Ben Lynfield, The Scotsman, 11 May 2004. Retrieved on 3 July 2006.

External links

Categories: