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PostPosted: Mon May 26, 2014 1:15 pm 
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The Toronto Star is running a series of articles about WWI

Seven things you didn't know about a WWI Commonwealth Cemetery

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains cemeteries and memorials for Commonwealth soldiers of the first and second world wars at 23,000 locations in 153 countries. They maintain hundreds and hundreds of WWI locations in Belgium and France alone.

Some of them are redesigned battlefield cemeteries. Others were beside aid stations and hospitals. Still others are locations where some graves were amalgamated for a variety of reasons.

Each of these WWI cemeteries has uniform elements.

The Cross of Sacrifice

A Cross of Sacrifice is usually found in cemeteries containing 40 or more graves. It was originally designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It represents the religion of the majority of soldiers and has a bronze downward-facing sword for the military nature of the cemetery. It is normally made of limestone and is between 5.5 metres and 9.7 metres tall on an octagonal base.

The cross and sword of the Post Office Rifles Cemetery soars high into the clouds in Neuve Chapelle, France.

The cross and sword of the Post Office Rifles Cemetery soars high into the clouds in Neuve Chapelle, France.

The Stone of Remembrance

A Stone of Remembrance is generally placed in cemeteries of 1,000 or more. It was felt that in smaller cemeteries it would be too overwhelming and distract from the headstones. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens as a sentinel and silent presence. Three steps lead up to the stone that is 3.5M long by 1.5M high. It is unadorned but for the inscription, Their Name Liveth for Evermore. It is meant to appeal in its simplicity to all races and denominations. The quote was suggested by Rudyard Kipling and taken from the Wisdom of Sirach , an ancient book of ethical teachings.

La Laiterie military cemetery in Kemmel, Belgium.

The headstones

The headstones are of identical shape and made of Portland stone. The markers are inscribed with the name of the soldier, rank, date of death and a religious symbol. Families could request a short, personalized inscription that had to be agreed upon by the Commission. Canadian soldiers generally have a maple leaf inscribed on their stones while the British use regimental symbols.

If a body could not be identified, a marker is placed with no name. Particularly in smaller, battlefield cemeteries, a soldier who died in the area of the cemetery but could not be recovered has a stone placed around the periphery of the cemetery.

The stones mark the graves in order of death, regardless of rank or regiment.

An anonymous headstone in the Essex Farm Cemetery, Ypres.

Bronze Registry Box

All but the smallest cemeteries have a bronze registry box. These boxes contain a registry of those buried there with designations as to how to find their location. The box also contains a book that visitors can sign and leave a comment.

Bill Bourne, left, and David Hood look up the location of a relative in Thiepval, France.

Benches

There are usually a few stone benches in the cemetery, including in a small stone shelter for reflection.

Reporter Katie Daubs stands out of the rain in the Bray Vale British Cemetery in Bray-sur-Somme, France.

Reporter Katie Daubs stands out of the rain in the Bray Vale British Cemetery in Bray-sur-Somme, France.

Signage

The name of the cemetery is carved in stone by the entrance as well as the dates of the war or of the particular battle. There is usually a sign with some information about the battle that claimed the lives of the soldiers or about the war in general, often with a map of the area and front lines.

There are also signs acknowledging that the land is freely given by the French or Belgian governments.

Hawthorn Ridge Cemetery Number 2 in Beaumont-Hamel, France.

The grounds

The grounds are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. They have meticulously maintained lawns with plants immediately in front of the headstones. They are usually low-growing so as to not cover the inscriptions on the stones.

Posted:
http://www.thestar.com/news/walking_the ... etery.html


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