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Welcome to our August Newsletter It is always interesting to receive your feedback and stories; in fact this is one of the reasons why putting together this monthly newsletter is so fulfilling. Your feedback makes this newsletter, so please continue to let us have YOUR stories. Also this month:
For a PDF version of the newsletter please visit our website here>> Visiting Gallipoli? Restricted access to some cemeteries 
Are you planning to visit Gallipoli over the next few months? Please note that over the coming months, a programme of works will be conducted along Anzac Cove including the construction of a concrete gravity sea wall along the back of the beach through Anzac Cove. The surface of the road above Anzac Cove will also be upgraded with proper drainage installed, and the surrounding land side slope will be landscaped. This will result in restricted access to the area and some of our cemeteries. For further information on the cemeteries involved please check our website>>> ![[picture of John Moody at a recent event at Serre Road No 2 Cemetery, France]](http://i2.createsend1.com/ei/r/2F/3C1/67C/csimport/johnmoody2.120740.JPG)
Gardening on the Somme July marked the 95th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, one of the largest battles of the First World War. The first day of the battle was the bloodiest in the history of the British Army with 20,000 men killed and 40,000 captured or wounded. John Moody, a member of Commission staff, and more recently our Horticulture Manager in France, was the feature of an excellent BBC article commemorating both the anniversary of the Somme and also his retirement after nearly 50 years with the Commission. Watch the video here on the BBC website [picture of John Moody at a recent event at Serre Road No 2 Cemetery, France] HRH Princess Royal Visits Botswana 
During her recent visit to Botswana, HRH The Princess Royal participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Botswana Memorial in Gaborone, honouring Batswana who fought with the British Army during the Second World War. Jennifer Anderson, the British High Commissioner to Botswana was also in attendance. For more information about the Botswana Memorial and those commemorated please visit our website. Thank you to the High Commission for this photograph. 
On Friday 22 July, in an informal but moving ceremony, Major General John Caligari of the Australian Army presented the parish of St Mary’s in Harefield, UK with a new Australian flag for their ANZAC war grave plot. Harefield (St. Mary) Churchyard contains war graves from both world wars but the vast majority are those of Australians who died in the nearby No. 1 Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield Park. The grave markers in this beautiful cemetery are unique among war graves – marked by scroll shaped headstones, chosen by the staff and patients at the hospital. Every year, the parish of St Mary’s holds an ANZAC Day ceremony and General Caligari remarked how much such acts, and the high standards of care afforded by the CWGC to war graves all over the world, mean to all Australians. Take part in our survey: horticulture in our cemeteries 
What is your view of the horticulture in our cemeteries? We are continually reviewing the horticulture in our cemeteries around the world. Whilst local conditions affect our horticultural designs, we try to ensure a level of quality and consistency that meets the high expectations of our visitors. As part of an ongoing research programme we would like to understand more about your views and expectations when visiting our cemeteries. Please be assured that this survey is only to understand your view of our cemeteries and to ensure we measure up to your expectations. It IS NOT a pre-cursor to any cost cutting exercise by the Commission. Even if you have NEVER visited a Commission cemetery please do give us your views on what you would expect to see. Take part in our survey here>> Signhills Junior School Remember 
Children at Signhills Junior School have been studying the Second World War this term. As part of their project, pupils visited Cleethorpes Cemetery to learn more about the work of the Commission and the 158 servicemen and women commemorated in the cemetery. We were delighted to be able to help them with their research and preparation for their visit. Further Dedication at Fromelles 
On 19 July 2011, the Commission’s newest cemetery, at Fromelles in northern France, witnessed a moving ceremony as the headstones of 14 newly identified Australian soldiers were formally dedicated on the 95th anniversary of the battle in which they died. Photo of ceremony The Battle of Fromelles in July 1916 has been described as the bloodiest 24 hours in Australia’s military history. By the time it was over, more than 5,000 Australians had been killed, wounded or were missing. Casualties for the British, who attacked alongside the Australians, numbered in excess of 1,500. Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery contains the graves of 250 Australian and British soldiers who died in the battle and whose bodies were discovered in a series of mass graves in 2008. Read more and watch a video of the event here>>>> Battle of the Month: Mons August 1914 
Battles this Month – August 1914 – Mons: The start of the Great War Thank you once again to the Western Front Association (WFA), for providing this article particularly Professor Peter Simkins, President of the WFA, and author of this item. For the complete article and further information about this campaign please click here>>>
If you enjoy reading these articles from the WFA, you may wish to become a member. To do so, please click here. When joining the WFA please mention the CWGC newsletter. The Commission also produces an information leaflet available on our website entitled Mons to the Marne. New visitor information at Runnymede Air Forces Memorial 
New visitor information panels have been erected close to the main entrance at Runnymede Air Forces Memorial in Surrey . Included on these panels is a QR Code which will give visitors an opportunity to download an audio guide of the memorial. The QR code is a means of giving visitors access to layers of information not previously available at our cemeteries, including information on some of the casualties at the cemetery, the architect and other relevant information. A QR Code (short for Quick Response) is a two-dimensional barcode readable by camera phones. To read a QR Code your mobile device must have a QR Code reader installed. These are freely available over the internet Further information on QR codes and where to download them is available here. Please give us your feedback: We welcome your feedback on the information panels and the QR codes which can be emailed to Feedback. We are particularly interesting in hearing from anyone who has viewed the new information boards and trialled the new codes, but any comments are welcome 
Trooper Albert Cotter (1883-1917) This month, we feature an Australian cricketer, kindly sent in by Brigadier Chris Appleton, Director, Office of Australian War Graves. Albert Cotter was 20 years old when he was selected to bowl for Australia. In a nine-year international career he played in 21 Tests, taking 89 wickets for an average of 28.64 runs. Cotter's bowling caused outrage in the British newspapers when he first toured England with the Australian Test Team in 1905. A fast bowler with an intimidating style, he faced the grand old man of English cricket, W.G. Grace, in his first match. He bowled a full toss, striking the batsman on the chest. Grace spooned the next ball then walked off in disgust. At one point the England captain demanded that Cotter stop bowling at the body. Cotter joined the AIF in April 1915, aged 31. The enlistment of a former sporting champion was seen as powerful publicity for the AIF recruiting campaign. Despite having no great riding ability, he was accepted into the 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment; he took a late part in the Gallipoli campaign. Later he transferred to the 12th Light Horse and was commended for his "fine work under heavy fire" during the second battle of Gaza. The official history remarked: "he behaved in action as a man without fear". He declined promotion. On 31 October 1917 the 4th Light Horse Brigade, of which the 12th Regiment was part, captured Beersheba by a brilliant cavalry-style charge. Cotter was there as a stretcher-bearer. At the end of the charge, as troops dismounted to engage the enemy, a Turk shot Cotter dead at close range. Trooper Cotter died on 31 October 1917 and is buried at Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel 
We have now made our way through the alphabet to the letter Z. This month we once again visit countries around the world, focussing on some of the more unusual places where we have a commitment This month we focus on ZAMBIA where the Commission commemorates over 730 Commonwealth war dead of the two world wars. The Commission's work in Zambia is overseen by the Director of Outer Area, based in Maidenhead. Don't forget..... The Commission publishes a series of information sheets illustrating aspects of its work and major cemeteries and memorials. These can be downloaded from our website, or copies are available from our Enquiries Section Burials in France: on 1st and 2nd September the burial of several unknown soldiers will take place.
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August 2011 NewsletterIn this Issue Social Media 
Useful Links CWGC Work of the Commission in the United Kingdom leaflet CWGC Mons to the Marne leaflet Partners: *The Commission is not responsible for the content of these external sites New to the newsletter? If you are new to the newsletter and would like to read any of our previous newsletters, they can all be found on our website
From our Archives 
La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, France Many of the men killed at Mons and the subsequent retreat have no known grave and are commemorated here Read more in the Battle of the Month section
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