Shorncliffe Military Cemetery Kent

[BettyofKent]

Now that surprises me, that a grave is "very overgrown"  I was up at the cemetery three years ago for Primrose Day, & all the graves were very well kept.
I wonder if there's an older part that isn't looked after for some reason.
Sad, if that's so.

Betty

Hi Panda - many thanks!

I phoned the Cemetery Manager number today and spoke to a very helpful woman.  She phoned me back within minutes, giving me the plot number of my g.g.grandfather's grave.  She said "it's very overgrown" (he died in 1862). I'm hoping to visit the cemetery next week, so shall try to find the grave, nevertheless...

Yours, David

[panda40]

Hi Betty
The military graves are kept in excellent condition they look brand new gleaming white stone even though they are nearly 100 years old but towards the sides of the cemetery are older private graves of everyday folk who were connected with the barracks one presumes. These areas aren't maintained on a regular basis and resemble churchyards you find all over the country these days. My daughter and I were having to scrape off moss and grass to read some of the inscriptions. There are plots with no headstones and some that have fallen down.
It just how different cemeteries are maintained, I have just received a bill for the maintenance of my parents crematorium rose for the next 15 years. Who will maintain it after I am gone??
Regards panda

[BettyofKent]

Thanks Panda, I didn't know about these other graves, I didn't get a chance to look around when I was up there.
Very sad they are not being maintained, but as you say, that's all too common these days.

Betty

[kentfallen]

I live very close to the cemetery. If anyone needs a photo etc... then please get in contact with me via my website here - http://www.kentfallen.com

All the very best
Neil

[davidga]

I visited the cemetery on Wednesday, but was unable to find any gravestone for my g.g.grandfather, who was buried there in 1862.

I'd been told that his grave was in plot F178, so I scrambled all over area "F" (the wild-looking area in the foreground of the attached picture). I couldn't find any memorials there prior to about 1880, but there are many large gaps.

Perhaps his gravestone fell many years ago, and was removed, or perhaps his family could only afford a simple wooden memorial...?

David

[pat29]

David, I am amazed that you have a plot no. and area no. for your g.g.grandfather.
My brother was buried their in 1953 and i have enquired everywhere and cant even get answer as to where he is.
My father was Army and definately buried him there. Must be because it was not a war grave.
Patricia

[davidga]

Patricia - my ancestor's grave wasn't a war grave either - he was a Chelsea Pensioner, having served in the Scots Fusilier Guards, and was Camp Librarian when he died in 1862.  I did notice another Librarian's grave (that of a woman, from a later date) in the main part of the cemetery.

I, too, was surprised that the plot number was known. Perhaps the records are very patchy?

David

[pat29]

David, Thankyou for your reply. I was born in Folkestone and hope to come back to England for a holiday.
I cant wait to see Schorncliffe mlitary cemetery.
This is a very interesting site.
Panda kindly offered one day to look there for me.
Patricia

[Manitoulingirl]

I am the grandniece of a private of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces who died on the Salisbury Plains on April 2, 1916. He was 24 years old at the time and died of pneumonia from the poor living conditions at the time of his training.
His name was Valentine Christopher Wilman and he is buried in Shorncliffe Cemetery in plot 0.334 (this could be a graves registration or reference number, I'm not sure).
I am unable to acquire his death certificate through online research and do not know the proper channels to get it through the Canadian Veterans Records. I think that if I can get a picture of his headstone/gravestone, that may be a suitable substitute.
I have managed to get a copy of the page that he is recorded on from the Book of Remembrance that is kept in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (our country's capital) and I have a regimental picture of him with his date of death and battalion number. He was in the 37th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry, Canadian Expeditionary Forces.
Could anyone offer some assistance in my quest? Please reply a.s.ap.