Commonwealth War Graves Commission

On this day 75 years ago the Battle of Monte Cassino came to an end.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Cassino War Cemetery is a lasting legacy to the bitter battle that took place here during 1944 – as we care in perpetuity for those who lost their lives.
You can learn more about the battle and the Italian campaign, here: ow.ly/MY6g50u9BZZ
... #LegacyOfLiberation #MonteCassino75 #Cassino75
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His Royal Highness The Duke Of Kent, President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, has today visited the Commission’s Phaleron War Cemetery in Greece.
The Duke paid his respects to the 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen commemorated here and meet staff who care for the cemetery.
#WW2 #WeAreCWGC

Not all those who died during the Battle of Monte Cassino were servicemen. On this day 75 years ago Roderick Kenneth Macdonald, war correspondent for The Sydney Morning Herald, was killed.
Macdonald went straight into the newspaper business from university in 1931 – landing with glider troops in Sicily in 1943 and briefly becoming a prisoner of war.
On what would be the final day of the battle, 18 May 1944, Macdonald was travelling up to the front line with British reporte...r Cyril Bewley when their jeep came under German artillery fire. They sought cover in a roadside field where they set off a mine and were instantly killed.
Macdonald and Bewley were initially buried where they fell, and their graves were later brought to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Cassino War Cemetery.
Learn more, here: http://ow.ly/MY6g50u9BZZ
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The Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Cassino War Cemetery is one of the most evocative locations anywhere on the Second World War battlefields of Europe – due to the fierce fighting witnessed here 75 years ago.
Commission Chief Historian, Dr Glyn Prysor provides more detail in this guided tour.
#LegacyOfLiberation #MonteCassino75 #Cassino75

The latest Commonwealth War Graves Commission podcast episode is live!
This time we focus on the Battle of Monte Cassino by learning more about the rich history and cultural history of Cassino War Cemetery.
We also speak to Second World War veteran Jim Knox, who fought in the infamous battle.
... Make sure to listen to it, here: http://ow.ly/nue250ufM6e
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A ceremony has today been held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Cassino War Cemetery to mark the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Monte Cassino.
The Commission’s Vice-Chairman, Sir Tim Laurence attended the event alongside veterans who fought during the battle in 1944 and throughout Italy in the Second World War.
Read more, here: http://ow.ly/ckoX50uf7sq
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There are over 4,000 Second World War Commonwealth servicemen buried at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Cassino War Cemetery.
This photograph dates from June 1948 - just four years after the Battle of Monte Cassino – and shows the original crosses that were placed in the cemetery following the campaign.
In the background Monte Cassino, which was bitterly fought over, looms large over the cemetery.
... Learn more about the battle and work of the Commission in this area, here: http://ow.ly/MY6g50u9BZZ
#LegacyOfLiberation #MonteCassino75 #Cassino75 #WW2 #CWGCarchive
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A rededication service has today, Wednesday 15 May, been held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery for Captain Eric Edwards.
Captain Edwards was serving with 6th Battalion, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) when he was killed in action on 30 November 1917 near Heudicourt.
The body of Captain Edwards was buried in the cemetery after the Armistice when graves were brought in from other small cemeteries and the battlefield of Camb...rai. He was not identified at the time and was therefore commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial to the Missing at Louverval. Recent research has identified his last resting place and the Commission has now been able to mark his grave with a new headstone bearing his name.
Find out more, here: http://ow.ly/jCfg50ue6bP
#WW1 #OurWorkContinues
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75 years ago Second Lieutenant Eric Fletcher Waters was killed in action during the fighting at Anzio – being commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Cassino Memorial, with his body never being recovered.
His son Roger was just five months old at the time – he would go on to become one of the founder members of Pink Floyd, writing a song, When the Tigers Broke Free, about his father’s death.
Learn more about Eric, here: http://ow.ly/MY6g50u9BZZ
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Private Charlie Hapeta, 28th (Maori) Battalion, left New Zealand in July 1943 to serve in the Italian campaign.
On the night of 17/18 February 1944, Commonwealth forces launched ‘Operation Avenger’, the second major attempt to capture Monte Cassino. The 28th Maori were in the forefront of the assault, after a night and morning of heavy fighting the Maoris captured the station but, lacking support, they were forced to retreat during the afternoon, in the face of counter attac...ks by German tanks.
During the fighting Charlie, 24, was killed along with nineteen of his unit – whim him being buried alongside his comrades in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Cassino War Cemetery.
Learn more in our multimedia hub, here: http://ow.ly/MY6g50u9BZZ
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A rededication service has today, Tuesday 14 May, been held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery for First World War serviceman Captain Cecil Thomas Tuff.
Captain Tuff was attached to the 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment when he was killed in action on 18 April 1915 at Hill 60.
His body was buried in the cemetery after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields. He was not identified at the time and was ...therefore commemorated on the CWGC’s Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial to the Missing with recent research having identified his last resting place.
The Commission, in front of family members, has today been able to mark his grave with a new headstone bearing his name.
Find out more, here: http://ow.ly/jCfg50ue6bP
#OurWorkContinues #WW1
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A rededication service will tomorrow, Wednesday 15 May, be held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery for Captain Eric Wilson Edwards, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment).
Captain Edwards was killed in action on 30 November 1917 during the First World War - with his final resting place having now been identified over 100 years after being buried.
Find out more, here: ow.ly/gNnQ50tUh2k
... #OurWorkContinues #WW1
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Seventy five years ago the final assault of Monte Cassino began.
The cemeteries and memorials in Italy cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission are a permanent reminder of the bitterly fought campaign which took place across the country during the Second World War - with the sacrifices made in Italy all too often overshadowed by the Allied landings in Normandy.
Learn more in our multimedia hub, here: http://ow.ly/MY6g50u9BZZ
... #LegacyOfLiberation #MonteCassino75 #Cassino75
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A rededication service will tomorrow, Tuesday 14 May, be held at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery for Captain Cecil Thomas Tuff, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).
Captain Tuff was killed in action on 18 April 1915 during the First World War with his final resting place having now been identified over 100 years after being buried.
Find out more, here: ow.ly/gNnQ50tUh2k
... #OurWorkContinues #WW1
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Next month will see the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's brand new visitor centre – The CWGC Experience - opening on the outskirts of Arras in France.
Watch this video to see how the site was transformed during the early part of the project.
Learn more about the centre, and read the latest news, here: ow.ly/bvOr30nS6jq
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The Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemorates over 900 nurses who died during both World Wars - Staff Nurse Frances Bruce is one of those.
After volunteering for service with Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service she was posted overseas to 21st stationary hospital Salonica, Greece as a Staff Nurse in early 1916.
Frances would die on Malta from dysentery in September 1916 - being buried at the Commission’s Pieta Military Cemetery.
... We're looking for more Malta Personal Stories, here: ow.ly/gj5i30mLILx
#InternationalNursesDay #IND2019
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Tomorrow, Sunday 12 May, morning will see the RAF Bomber Command annual service of commemoration taking place at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Runnymede Memorial.
A Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight is due to do a flypast over the memorial at 11.27am.
The service will run from 10am until midday and members of the public are welcome to attend.
... Learn more about the memorial, here: http://ow.ly/kWQs50u6ypz
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LIVE Horticulture Q & A with Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Director of Horticulture, David Richardson.
If you have a question about our horticulture please leave it in the comments below.
#NationalGardeningWeek #OurWorkContinues