Over the last few months, the  Commission has been asking you for your feedback on a variety of topics.

In addition to the recent customer service survey, which nearly 500 of you have kindly completed, focus groups and telephone surveys have also been underway.  The focus groups and individual telephone conversations were held during January and February to discuss several aspects of the Commission's work in more detail, including information within our cemeteries, horticultural standards and other items.

We are extremely grateful to you all for the feedback we continue to receive.  Thank you to all of you who also contacted us following the launch of our new website.

Your feedback is important to us and only through regular liaison will our services continue to meet your needs.

It is not too late to complete our customer service, please click the read more button to participate.

We are always delighted to receive feedback from our readers, and recently David Holmes sent in a copy of his book 'For John, Winston and of course, Harry' which included poetry and information about his grandfather Private John Holmes. Further information about the book and David's poetry can be found on his website www.thepeacefulpoet.co.uk

John Holmes was from Rothley in Leicestershire and joined up in 1914 and was drafted into the 1st/5th Leicester's. After completing training he was along with the rest of his Battalion sent to the Western Front in early 1915 , one of the first territorial units to arrive at the Front. He was wounded in 1916, and after recovery was not returned to his unit, but sent to Arras and was fatal wounded in 14th June 1917 succumbing to his wounds a day later and is buried at St Leger British Cemetery, France.

To view an example of one of David's poems and a photograph of his grandfather click on the read more button below. 

As we continue our monthly walk-though of countries where the Commission has a commitment, we reach F for a second time.

This month we feature F is for The Falkland Islands.  There are thirty-three British war dead of the two world wars buried in Stanley Cemetery in the Falkland Islands, and twenty-one non world war graves. 

The Commission's commitment in the Falkland Islands is overseen by the Secretary of our Canadian Agency, based in Ottowa Canada.

Second Lieutenant Gerald Rupert Laurie "Twiggy" Anderson, of The Cheshire Regiment, is best known in the sporting world for setting a  World Record of 56.8 secs for 400 yds hurdles at Crystal Palace, 16 July 1910.

Twiggy Anderson then went on to participate in the Stockholm Olympics in 1912, when he reached the final of the 440yds hurdles.

During the First World War, 2nd Lt Anderson served with the Cheshire Regiment and was killed in action on 9 November 1914.  He is commemorated by the Commission on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper, Belgium.

In this month's Battle of the Month feature, we look at the Battle in the Air in 1917, featuring the Red Baron

Thanks to the Western Front Association (WFA) for providing this article. The WFA is a registered charity dedicated to perpetuating the memory of those who served in the First World War.

For further information about the WF and on how to join the Western Front Association  please visit their website>>

Click the Read More button for the full battle feature

Much of Italy was struck by heavy snowfall across the country in the early parts of February.  Even in parts of the country which receives snow each winter, the temperatures plummeted and snow lay thick on the ground.  The most surprising conditions were in Southern Italy where snow is almost unheard of; even spreading as far as Algeria where our cemeteries were covered with a light dusting ,

The cemetery shown in the photograph above is Ancona War Cemetery, where despite the snow gardeners were at work.