Who maintains war graves?

Who maintains war graves?

The CWGC The CWGC is now a truly global organisation – working to care for war graves at 23,000 locations in more than 150 countries and territories. We commemorate almost 1.7 million individuals.

Who funds the Commonwealth War Graves Commission?

Financing. The CWGC's work is funded predominantly by grants from the governments of the six member states.

How is the War Graves Commission funded?

OUR FUNDING In 2019/20, the Commission received just under £65 million in funding, provided by the member governments of the Commonwealth nations who share the cost of the Commission's work proportionately to the number of their graves.

Who qualifies for a war grave?

We commemorate members of auxiliary organisations that have been recognised by one of the member governments, who died during First or Second World War. Eligibility generally requires a casualty to have died: overseas while employed with the armed forces; or from wounds inflicted while serving overseas.

Are soldiers buried in war graves?

Thousands of soldiers were being buried on the battlefields in individual or communal graves by their comrades. They were often buried where they fell in action, or in a burial ground on or near the battlefield.

How many Commonwealth war cemeteries are there?

2,500 war cemeteries Introducing the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Since our establishment, we have constructed 2,500 war cemeteries and plots, and we have erected headstones over more than a million burials at military and civil sites across the world.

Who are we CWGC?

We honour and care for the men and women of the Commonwealth who died in the First and Second World Wars, ensuring they will never be forgotten. Funded by six Member Governments, our work began more than a century ago building cemeteries at 23,000 locations all over the world.

Are there bodies in war graves?

Graves and burial grounds situated in the area of a battlefront were often damaged by subsequent fighting across the same location, resulting in the loss of the original marked graves. Some bodies simply could not be retrieved from underground.

What are war grave headstones made of?

Most Commonwealth War Grave headstones are made of Portland Stone. This is a soft stone and mainly white in colour however, on occasion the Commission have used a red Portland stone, which, in my humble opinion, is not as nice.

Are war graves protected?

An Act to secure the protection from unauthorised interference of the remains of military aircraft and vessels that have crashed, sunk or been stranded and of associated human remains; and for connected purposes. England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

What is the Commonwealth war graves commission?

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) honours the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars, and ensures they will never be forgotten.

How did the Graves Registration Commission get started?

• In March 1915, with the support of Nevil Macready, Adjutant-General of the British Expeditionary Force, Ware's work was given official recognition and support by the Imperial War Office and the unit was transferred to the British Army as the Graves Registration Commission.

What's happening at CWGC cemeteries in Ireland?

• Grangegorman Military Cemetery in Dublin contains more than 600 war casualties from both World Wars. The following burial services are due to be held at CWGC Cemeteries in November 2019. Work is underway to restore the iconic roof paintings at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Runnymede Air Forces Memorial in Surrey.

What is the National Committee for the care of soldiers' graves?

• The National Committee for the Care of Soldiers' Graves was created with the intention of taking over the work of the Directorate of Graves Registration and Enquiries after the war. The government felt that it was more appropriate to entrust the work to a specially appointed body rather than to any existing government department.