Welcome to our December 2011 newsletter

As many of our regular readers will be aware, we have now worked our way once through the A-Z of countries where the Commission commemorates those who died in the two World Wars.  This is a popular feature and we have been asked to continue a second time through the alphabet.

This month we therefore feature the Czech Republic.  The Commission's work here is overseen by the Director of the Commission's Northern European Area office based in Ieper, Belgium.

The other C's where the Commission has a commitment are:

Canada, Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China & Hong Kong, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus.                              

Forty villagers from the small village of Burwash (East Sussex, UK) recently visited the Ieper Salient, remembering all those from Burwash who died in the two World Wars.

Burwash villagers carry out this pilgrimage every two years, and this year, accompanied by the Vicar of Burwash Church, visited each individual grave and place of commemoration.

The village remembers 135 dead from the First World War and an additional 29 from the Second World War.

Fourteen of the original  battlefield crosses are kept in the village church and they are presently being cleaned and preserved.  The picture above shows two of them with the current grave in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery.

Visit the Hole in the Wall Pub in Darlington and you will find a plaque commemorating George Butterfield, a casualty of the First World War. 

Born in Stockton, George Butterfield became a Darlington Harrier, and was AAA mile champion three times in 1904-06, and in 1906 ran the world's fastest mile at 4:18.6.

At the London Olympics in 1908 he competed in both the 800m and 1500m but sadly failed to qualify for either final.

He later became landlord of the Hole in the Wall , and in 1916 joined the Royal Garrison Artillery but was killed in action in 1917. 

He is commemorated at Birr Cross Roads Cemetery, Belgium.               

As part of a drive to increase awareness of the number of Commonwealth war casualties buried in cemeteries within the United Kingdom, the Commission has unveiled the first of a series of new signs. 

The new signage, in the same style and colours as the Commission uses in places like France and Belgium, will be appearing at hundreds of cemeteries over the next few months and the first was unveiled at Sunderland's Bishopwearmouth Cemetery by Commissioner and local MP, Kevan Jones

The Commission's Regional Supervisor Stephen Liversage (left) holds one of the new signs with Sunderland councillor Harry Trueman (centre) and Commissioner and local MP, Kevan Jones.

More than 160,000 servicemen and women from Undivided India, who sacrificed their lives in the First and the Second World Wars, are commemorated by the Commission.

Undivided India’s contribution during the two world wars 'is known but neither extensively written about nor adequately recognised'.

Forever India is a joint project between the Commission and the Indian Government.  It is intended to address this neglected aspect of our shared history. Over time the site will grow as more stories and content are developed. 

The Commission's Annual Report is published each November. An illustrated narrative account of the Commission's activities during the previous year, the report also contains financial accounts and statistical charts.

This year's report includes  information on the challenges faced in North Africa and the Middle East as well as details of our ongoing work.

Copies are also available online through the link below or by contacting us here for a printed copy of the report.                   

This month we feature a battle further afield - a naval battle, which took place in December 1914.

Thank you once again to The Western Front Association (WFA) for providing this article and particularly David Seymour, MA, MPhil., a Trustee of The WFA, author of this item

We are regularly asked to feature more information on our work and the staff who maintain our cemeteries around the world.

We therefore hope you enjoy this article which provides information on how we keep our headstones and masonry clean.  It also includes some wonderful photos of our staff at work.

Led by Commissioner, Mrs Sara Jones, 12 members of Commission staff from France, Belgium and the United Kingdom marched past the Cenotaph, London on Remembrance Sunday, 13 November. 

Amongst those marching was Steve Arnold, Deputy Horticultural Manager in France, and whose father and grandfather had also worked for the Commission.  Following the event Steve said "Participating on Sunday was a first for me after 27 years with the Commission.I was honoured; the sights and sounds were amazing, the look of pride on participants’ faces and the public clapping their hands whilst all of us were marching past.

Two minutes of absolute silence, the only sound I could hear was the fluttering of wings above – unbelievable really for a city like London."

The order of service at which Her Majesty the Queen was in attendance can be found by clicking the Read More link.

Children from Caversham Preparatory School in Reading, United Kingdom used their literacy sessions to write poetry.  The focus of their topic was to write a poem about Remembrance Day.

The Year 6 children produced some moving work one of which can be read below, and several others are on our website. 

Remembrance Day, when poppies will grow

Just for two minutes with our heads bowed down low

We think about the past, no matter how gory

About every single soldier who had their own story.

We will think about the soldiers who sacrificed their lives, and always remember those who have died.

If you have any educational items you would like us to feature in the future, please do get in touch.

Despite severe monsoon weather and flooding at Madras War Cemetery in India, our dedicated team are doing all they can to maintain the cemetery and help visitors to it.

This remembrance time, they broke out the wellington boots to help the daughter of Warrant Officer Alfred Sebastian D'Rosario visit her father's grave for the first time. Mrs Raberts was 14 when her father was killed. Now in her 80s, she had travelled all the way form Australia to see the grave.

The team were naturally disappointed the cemetery was not at its best, but they did everything they could to make the visit a success and have promised to send a photograph of the grave when the flood waters recede.

The Thiepval Memorial is one of the Commission's most iconic structures, but what is involved in maintaining such a huge memorial?

The memorial lists the names of over 73,000 casualties, most of whom died during the Battle of the Somme.  Designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the Thiepval Memorial requires careful inspection and skilled maintenance by War Graves Commission staff to ensure it continues to look its best. 

The photograph above shows the roof inside the memorial being cleaned.

Watch our video to learn more about what is involved by using the Read More link below.