Commonwealth War Graves

Our mission is to ensure those who died in service, or as a result of conflict, are commemorated so that they, and the human cost of war, are remembered forever

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

Menin Gate 100: a new logo created to provide a unified visual identity to centenary events - https://t.co/l41wgOQf5C

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

Our iconic Menin Gate is approaching a major centenary in 2027.

Keep up to date with all our #MeninGate100 news by signing up to our newsletter.

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

We have placed a headstone at the grave of Volunteer David Anderson, a Second World War serviceman who was recently discovered to not be commemorated as a war casualty, in Kirkcadly (Dysart) Cemetery, Scotland.

David was a member of the local Home Guard, and was just 19 years old when he lost his life. The touching personal inscription on his headstone was chosen by his niece.

Our work to ensure all Commonwealth soldiers who gave their lives in the world wars are commemorated continues in perpetuity.

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

Discover their stories - https://t.co/3CY7SF6oKL

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

In a small cemetery on the Somme lies Private Battersby of The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment).

Private Battersby was from Leigh, Lancashire and was just 17 years old when he lost his life. He is one of thousands of teenagers we commemorate.

Every headstone holds a story, and we will continue to tell them - discover them on our online story sharing platform, For Evermore, at the link in the top comment.

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

🔗 https://t.co/3PoQgOGaJJ

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

Over the years, Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited a number of our cemeteries and memorials, meeting staff, veterans, families and communities, and helping to ensure the stories of the war dead continued to be remembered.

We're looking back on those special moments and celebrating Her Late Majesty's enduring connection to the Commonwealth.

If you have photographs of Her Late Majesty at a CWGC cemetery or memorial, we'd love to see them shared as part of the Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial. Whether taken during an official visit or passed down through a family collection, every photograph helps preserve these memories for future generations.

Visit the Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial to share your photographs and memories.

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

Our colleagues from across our Canada and Pacific Area (CAPA) were honoured to meet our President, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, during a special reception at the British Embassy in Bangkok last week.

The reception took place during Her Royal Highness's official visit to Thailand and coincided with our CAPA Managers Conference, providing a valuable opportunity for her to meet colleagues from across the region. During the visit, The Princess Royal thanked colleagues for their commitment to caring for our sites, commemorating the war dead, and supporting visitors and communities around the world.

Her Royal Highness was joined by Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, our former Vice Chairman (2016-2019), who also visited Kanchanaburi War Cemetery.

📷British High Commission in Thailand

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

The Somme region is not just a testament to a battle of 110 years ago, it is also a living landscape.

Our cemeteries and memorials here are cared for in perpetuity, and open for you to visit as active sites of reflection and learning.

Plan your visit - our Visitor Centre in Beaurains is the place to begin. You can make your booking at the link in the top comment.

#CWGC #ForEvermore #Somme110

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

@thecgf https://t.co/NlVyilTSJt

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

The Commonwealth Games bring together athletes and audiences from across the Commonwealth, united by a love of sport.

Among those we commemorate are competitors from the British Empire Games, the precursor to today's Commonwealth Games @thecgf.

In our latest blog, we explore the links between sport and the World Wars, the connections forged through sporting endeavour across the Commonwealth, and how major events such as the Commonwealth Games can provide a gateway to remembrance.

🔗 Link below.

📷 Sergeant Gerald Ian Dacres Backhouse was one of Australia's leading runners of his era. During the Second World War, he served with the Royal Australian Air Force, attached to the RAF. He sailed for Britain in June 1941, but just six months later was killed in an accident during a practice bombing raid in Cumberland, northern England. Today, he is buried at Silloth (Causewayhead) Cemetery, Cumbria.

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

Tolkien and the Somme | https://t.co/4cDm9ONRQc

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

Before he wrote of Middle-earth, J.R.R. Tolkien served at the Somme.

Like millions of young British men in the early 20th Century, Tolkien’s experiences were tinged with tragedy. He lost close friends in military service, including on the First Day of the Somme. Much of what he lived through there found its way into his writing. He is one of many whose names you might know, and whose war you might not.

Read his story, and discover others, on For Evermore. Link below.

#CWGC #ForEvermore #Somme110

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

https://t.co/6v3N2AzMS5

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

Coriano Ridge War Cemetery in Italy has an unusual layout. It is located on lower, hilly ground, with the entrance positioned above the main part of the cemetery.

This gives visitors an immediate view across the entire site. From the entrance, they can see the scale, layout and long rows of graves below, almost as though they are looking at a plan of the cemetery.

Coriano Ridge War Cemetery is cared for by a team of seven gardeners. The same team is also responsible for five other sites: Cesena, Rimini, Gradara, Montecchio War Cemetery and Ancona War Cemetery. Because the team works across several locations, it usually spends around one and a half days at Coriano each week. This means every visit has to be carefully planned. The cemetery is large, and the team must complete a wide range of tasks while maintaining the same high standard across the whole site.

👉Discover more on our website, link below.

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

The Somme 110 – Our Work Continues For Evermore | https://t.co/ibPuMVwI15

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

Behind every number is a name. Behind every name, a person.

Discover their stories on For Evermore.

#CWGC #ForEvermore #Somme110

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

https://t.co/DdIR2Dg6Mb

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

🇿🇦 This summer, South African guides are welcoming visitors for the first time at our Thiepval Memorial on the Somme, helping them to engage with the stories we preserve there.

Our guides Refilwe and Tebatso have shared some personal and candid reflections on their encounters at Thiepval, and what commemoration means for their country. You can read their blogs by following the links in the top comment of this post.

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

Support our work: https://t.co/bRfR3rnNuI

[Commonwealth War Graves @CWGC]

Every story we share takes research and care.

Our Foundation helps us to make that work possible, revealing the people behind the names engraved in stone.

If these stories matter to you, help us keep telling them.

#CWGC #ForEvermore #Somme110