War graves at home

[nort]

I have noticed that some churchyards and cemeteries there are the same headstones that are seen in France and Belgium from both world wars.Were these men wounded abroad,brought home and then died or were their bodies brought back for burial?

Steve

[forester]

Hello Steve,

There was a deliberate government policy against repatriation in both WW1 and WW2 so the CWGC graves that are found in UK cemeteries are of those that subsequently died of sickness or wounds in the UK.

Phil

[nort]

Thanks Phil,i have noticed that there are a few of these headstones in most churchyards and cemeteries and was curious how they came to be there.

Steve

[IMBER]

These graves are of those who died while serving in the UK or died in the UK as a result of injuries from serving overseas.  Sometimes they were buried near to where they died.  For example, there are often many war graves in cemeteries not far from military hospitals.  Relatives could claim the remains of those who died in the UK if they wished and that explains many of the individual burials found throughout the British Isles.