Tag: Commonwealth War Graves Commission

War Graves Week is coming to Edinburgh

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) will be bringing War Graves Week to Edinburgh and offering free tours at Rosebank, Piershill and Seafield Cemeteries from May 21st.

War Graves Week is an initiative aimed at encouraging people from the local community to come together and discover the World War heritage on their doorstep – learning about the stories of those commemorated by the CWGC in Edinburgh and the skills, dedication and expertise of those CWGC staff and volunteers who work to keep their memory alive.

The free guided tours will take place at Rosebank, Piershill and Seafield Cemeteries and will give people in Edinburgh the chance to discover the remarkable stories of the men and women of the Commonwealth forces that died in the First and Second World Wars who are buried in their community. War Graves Week provides a unique chance for the people of Edinburgh to reconnect with their local history.

More than 290 casualties from World War One and World War Two are buried at Seafield Cemetery, 300 at Rosebank Cemetery and 130 at Piershill Cemetery.

Rosebank Cemetery contains the memorial to Britain’s worst railway accident, which involved the men of the 7th (Leith Volunteer) Battalion Royal Scots who were killed on 22nd May 1915.

One of the CWGC gravestones commemorates a member of the Women’s Royal Naval Service from the Great War, whose husband was docked two days’ wages and received 28 days field punishment for over-staying his leave after his wife’s death.

Other gravestones commemorate service personnel who died in aircraft crashes or died of illness or training accidents.

Seafield Cemetery has two CWGC plots, one being a large naval plot while the other contains a number individuals who served with the Canadian Forestry Corps. It also contains other CWGC headstones with interesting stories.

Piershill Cemetery, in addition to a number of Great War and World 2 CWGC headstones, has two headstones maintained by the CWGC to Jewish members of the Czech Army who served in WW2.

The cemetery is also the resting place for two Victoria Cross holders, one from the Crimean War and one from the Great War.

On the tours Edinburgh residents will learn about the Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times project – the focus of this year’s War Graves Week.

Alongside the front-line armed forces, the CWGC will be celebrating the value those who served during the World Wars brought to key sectors such as healthcare, logistics, infrastructure and communications.

To learn more about specific stories of those who served, and the parallels with today’s global Britain which they helped to create, please click here: 

www.cwgc.org/wargravesweek

The tours will be led by local resident Ken Nisbet, who is a volunteer for the CWGC. Ken said: “We’re delighted that the CWGC’s War Graves Week will be taking place in Edinburgh.

“For us at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, remembrance and the sharing and caring for World War heritage is a daily duty. Behind every name on a war grave or memorial in Edinburgh is a human story waiting to be discovered and War Graves Week is the perfect opportunity to do just that.

“I’d encourage everyone in Edinburgh to join one of the tours to reconnect with their local history to learn about the courageous ordinary people from our community who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.”

The CWGC is encouraging the people of Edinburgh to seek out the stories in their local area and book onto a free tour this War Graves Week.

To book a tour, visit www.cwgc.org/tours

Engraved spoon helps identify Royal Scots Fusilier killed at Loos

Two Great War soldiers finally laid to rest

Two British soldiers killed on 26 September 1915 (during the Battle of Loos) were laid to rest with full military honours yesterday, a century after their deaths.

The service was organised by the MOD’s Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (MOD JCCC), also known as the “MOD War Detectives”, and was held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Loos British Cemetery, Loos-en-Gohelle in northern France.

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Members of the Royal Regiment of Scotland carry Pte Johnston to his final resting place. Crown copyright.

One set of remains was recovered in January 2018 during a WW1 ordnance search near Lens. Also found was a pocket watch and a spoon with the number 13228 stamped on the back.

MOD JCCC and the CWGC confirmed it to be the regimental number of Private (Pte) William Johnston (aged 39) of 7th battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, having cross referenced it with war records that also confirmed he was the only casualty with this number who did not have a known burial place.

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Soldiers of the Yorkshire Regiment carry an unknown East Yorkshire Regiment soldier to his final resting place. Crown copyright.

The MOD JCCC traced a great-great-niece who provided a DNA sample to compare with DNA taken from the remains. The results were conclusive. Pte Johnston’s service records no longer exist, so not much personal information is known about him.

Sharon Williamson, of Portadown, County Armagh, is Pte Johnston’s great-great-niece and DNA donor, she said: “I was sent an email by a relative in America who had been contacted by the MOD War Detectives to say that they had found remains from the Great War.

“They asked for my DNA, that was the start of our journey. Later, once it was confirmed that William was our relative, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to be here and pay our respects to a family member that, though we didn’t know, we did not want him to be alone on his final journey.”

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Phil Aldridge, great great nephew of Pte Johnston lays a wreath. Crown copyright.

The remains of another British soldier were found separately in the same area. Although it was not possible to identify him by name, MOD JCCC did confirm he served with the East Yorkshire Regiment due to two East Yorkshire shoulder titles being found with the remains.

Louise Dorr, MOD JCCC Caseworker said: “I’m both pleased and saddened that although I have been able to identify one of these soldiers by name, there are just too many casualties missing from the 8th East Yorkshire Regiment for us to be able to name their casualty.

“I’m delighted to see them both laid to rest in front of their military family and, in Pte Johnston’s case, his biological family. May they both rest in peace.”

The service was conducted by the Reverend Dave Jeal, Chaplain to 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland. Two bearer parties were provided by the Yorkshire Regiment and the Royal Regiment of Scotland respectively.

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Rev Dave Jeal leads the service. Crown copyright.

Rev Dave Jeal, who’s own grandfather Frederick Nichols served with the East Yorkshire Regiment during the Second World War, said: “To be involved today is a real privilege for me.

“When these two men died they did so in the service of our country: they gave everything. That’s so important to remember and to honour, because by bearing their remains to their final rest, our young soldiers of today can see they walk in the footsteps of those giants who went before them.”

The graves will now be marked by headstones provided by the CWGC, who will care for their final resting place in perpetuity.

CWGC Horticulture Manager, Steve Arnold said: “As the Recovery Officer I was honoured to be able to retrieve these two British soldiers from where they had fallen over 100 years ago, together with the personal items that have enabled Private Johnston to be named.

“It is deeply moving to see them laid to rest today alongside their comrades; each time we engrave a new headstone we renew our commitment to caring for all the graves in our care in perpetuity.”

New project remembers ‘the forgotten front’

The Living Memory project remembers the “forgotten front” – the 300,000 war graves and commemorations here in the UK.kirsty wark

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) in partnership with Big Ideas Company are asking the public in the British Isles to re-connect with the war dead buried in their own communities. Broadcaster Kirsty Wark, who lost her great-uncle at the end of the Great War, launched the campaign in Scotland earlier today. Continue reading New project remembers ‘the forgotten front’

‘An appointment with history’: Public ballot for Somme commemorations opens

The public can now apply for tickets to attend Somme centenary commemorations in Thiepval next year.

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Culture Secretary John Whittingdale today opened the public ballot for tickets to attend the Battle of the Somme centenary commemorative event in Thiepval, in France, next year. The ballot will be open until 18 November, the day the battle ended in 1916.

The commemorative event will take place on 1 July 2016 at Thiepval. This will also be televised in neighbouring towns and throughout the UK .

Other events in France include:

  • A vigil at Thiepval on 30 June 2016
  • A small event at Thiepval each day from 2 July to 18 November 2016 to mark the 141 days of the battle.
  • Closing events on 18 November 2016 to mark the end of the Battle of the Somme.

The ballot for tickets to the commemorative event in Thiepval will run from 28 September to 18 November 2015. The tickets will be allocated in pairs, free of charge. More details can be found on the Somme 2016 Ballot website at www.Somme2016.org

The Battle of the Somme was one of the defining events of the First World War, resulting in over one million casualties. The Government recognises that the Somme holds a particular resonance for many people in the UK. It is important everyone has an opportunity to commemorate and take part in this centenary. An exciting and far-reaching programme of UK plans events will be announced in the coming months.

Prime Minister David Cameron said: “The First World War, with that mixture of horror and courage, suffering and hope, has become a fundamental part of our national consciousness. Perhaps nothing brings home the sheer scale of the sacrifice and loss more starkly than the Somme, a battle where 20,000 were killed in a single day.

“Next summer thousands will gather to mark the centenary of the battle at the memorial at the village of Thiepval in France.

“I hope many people will take the opportunity to travel to the Somme itself to remember those who fought but for those who wish to pay their respects here in Britain, there will also be events up and down the country commemorating this historic anniversary.”

Culture Secretary John Whittingdale said: “The centenary event in Thiepval will be an opportunity to pay tribute to those who sacrificed so much at Somme and ensure that their legacy continues for generations. Now that the ballot is open, I hope people will apply for tickets for what I believe will be an incredibly important and deeply moving event.”

“But it’s not just about Thiepval – the events at the Battle of the Somme left a deep mark on the nation – almost everyone in the UK will have an ancestor who fought or died at the Somme. It’s important that everyone has the chance to remember and honour the sacrifices made both here and in France so I am delighted that in the coming months we will be announcing a further programme of events here in the UK to mark this centenary.”

thiepval3French Secretary of State for Veterans and Remembrance Jean-Marc Todeschini said: “A century ago, France and the UK fought side by side in the Battle of the Somme. In spite of the considerable means deployed at the time and the courage of the soldiers who fought there, the offensive resulted in nothing but a cruel and tragic disappointment. Now, a century later, France and Great Britain have a moral obligation to pay tribute to the millions of men who risked their lives on the Somme all those years ago.

“The French government and all the local authorities in the region will be working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sports to prepare for the commemorations of the Battle of the Somme. Everything will be done to make this joint ceremony in Thiepval on 1 July 2016 a memorable occasion for the French and British people. No effort will be spared in France to welcome the families and descendants of those valiant soldiers of the Somme. On 1 July 2016, France and the United Kingdom have an appointment with their history.”

Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson CB CVO, President of The Royal British Legion, said: “The Royal British Legion is honoured to be involved in the organisation of the international, national and regional events to mark the centenary of the Battle the Somme; one of the most ferocious battles of the First World War where the Allied Forces lost over 615,000 lives. The commemorative events programme, both at the Thiepval Memorial and in the UK, will offer the public an opportunity to remember those that fell over the 141 days of continuous fighting, and also remember the suffering of the many who were wounded and survived. The Battle of the Somme took the lives of soldiers from almost every city, town and village across our country and we will remember them.”

Air Chief Marshal Sir Joe French KCB CBE, Vice-Chairman of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, said: “We are honoured that this historic event will be hosted at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Thiepval Memorial. Sir Edwin Lutyens’ monument is the largest Commonwealth war memorial in the world, and bears the names of 72,000 men who perished on the Somme and who have no known grave. It is also an enduring reminder of the alliance between the British and French armies during the First World War. It is uniquely fitting place at which to mark the centenary of the Battle of the Somme.

“The war cemeteries on the Somme testify to the sacrifices of soldiers from across Britain and the Commonwealth during the battle, and we are proud to be their guardians. The events at Thiepval and across the battlefields over 141 days will ensure that all those who fought, on both sides, are not forgotten. Together, we will mark the sacrifices of those who served and honour those who lost their lives.”