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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: LUV on Friday 07 September 18 20:25 BST (UK)
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Hello All
I was wondering if anyone knows whether Britain has, like Canada, an "Unmarked Grave Program” whereby a permanent military-style marker is erected for eligible WWI Veterans who lie in unmarked graves?
Thanks
LUV
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Yes indeed, in all WWI cemeteries you will see many
graves marked
“Known unto God”,.
That denotes the soldier buried there could not be identified but received a Christian burial.
Actually I may need correcting as the phrase”Known only unto God “
comes to mind.It is some years since I have been back(going in November to
Ypres,for the 100th anniversary of the ending of WWI),
There are some mass graves such as the one near Hoogh on the Menin Road
on the opposite side of the road to where Hoogh chateau stood .
It is The King’s Liverpool cemetery.p
Did you mean survivors of WWI who have since died and have no grave markers in civil cemeteries.?
As far as I know no individual burial in a military cemetery is without the above words.,but still 100 years after there are many unrecovered bodies who may never be found.
Viktoria.
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I think Viktoria and I are answering different questions. :-\
For veterans no longer serving in the Armed Forces: When a cousin wanted a marker on my great-grandfather's grave she contacted the Commonwealth War Graves Commission https://www.cwgc.org/ (This was a case where he had died less than a year after being discharged due to ill health).
I have not heard of a scheme the UK like the one you mention (which I assume is for veterans who were civilians for some years after leaving the Forces). Perhaps the Royal British Legion https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/ would be a good starting point.
Philip
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I re read the original post and have modified my answer, but thanks for drawing my attention to that.
Viktoria.
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Thank you both Phillip and Viktoria
Yes Phillip I did mean Veterans of WWI who died years after their service in the Great War. And thank you for the lead (Royal British Legion).
Sadly I have an elderly cousin living in Wimborne whose father died in 1932 only months after she was born. Her mother and she were then left destitute after his death and he was buried in Buxton, Derbyshire in an unmarked grave.
I know her father served in the Army in the King's Royal Rifles and that he was wounded in the jaw from shrapnel, lost his teeth and suffered from Lock Jaw. Subsequently, after that he was never a healthy man and contracted TB of the throat in 1923. And then TB abscesses that further disabled him. In 1927 he tried to get an Army pension but was denied being told his illness was not a result of the war.
There is no stone for him or for his wife who was also buried in an unmarked grave but in Derby when she died in the late 40s after living hand to mouth trying to provide for her daughter all alone.
I know these stories are probably a dime a dozen but I would truly like to see what if anything can be done.
With my regards
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http://counties.britishlegion.org.uk/counties/derbyshire - has a "Contact us" button
Or, if you want to get local support
https://www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk/contact-us
https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/contact-us
(I am sure the local press would love a "WW1 hero in unmarked grave" campaign!)
All the best
Philip
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Perfect
A huge thank you :)
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Neither the Commonwealth War Graves Commission or the Ministry of Defence will provide a headstone. It's possible that an organisation such as a local British Legion branch might be persuaded to organise fund raising for such a headstone.
Imber
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Thank you
I have written to the Buxton Legion...we will see what if anything they say?
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Thank you
I have written to the Buxton Legion...we will see what if anything they say?
Do keep us informed.
If I (or others) can help with campaigning, please ask.
All the best
Philip
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You might find this of help:
http://www.infromthecold.org/war_grave_criteria.asp