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From Shetland to the Borders, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission ensures that the sacrifice of thousands of men and women who died during the world wars is remembered in perpetuity.
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From Shetland to the Borders, the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission ensures that the sacrifice of thousands of men and
women who died during the world wars is remembered in perpetuity.
The UK as a whole contains over 170,000 Commonwealth
war graves, with over 20,000 of these found north of the
border. Scotland was an important centre for both training
and operational units during both world wars and war
graves are to be found at over 1,200 locations.
The work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
in Scotland
Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery in Orkney is one of three sites in Scotland owned bythe Commission and is the largest war cemetery in Scotland, with almost 700 burials.
A screen wall memorialat Seafield Cemetery,Edinburgh. Thesebronze name panelslist the casualtiesburied in the cemetery.
The practice of non-repatriation of the dead, established during the
First World War, meant that Commonwealth personnel were buried
or cremated where they fell. Those who are commemorated in the
UK died at home or in hospital from their wounds, sickness or
disease; in training accidents and air raids or were killed in the air or
at sea and their bodies washed ashore.
The Commission’s team in Scotland includes a Regional Supervisor,
who travels all over the country, inspecting each and every grave on
a three yearly cycle.
Our gardeners and skilled
stone technicians clean
and repair headstones,
memorials and walls,
whilst ensuring
horticulture is maintained
to the highest standards.
Local authorities also play
a vital part, mowing grass
and keeping flowerbeds
looking as they should.
From the biggest concentration of
graves – almost 700 burials at Lyness
Royal Naval Cemetery on Orkney – to
the numerous graveyards containing
a single casualty, the Commission’s
commitment varies greatly in type.
Large concentrations of graves are
the exception, with over 75% of
cemeteries containing fewer than 10
casualties. Sometimes the graves are
grouped together, but often they are
scattered throughout the cemetery.
The Commission also maintains
screen wall memorials, upon which
are inscribed the names of casualties
buried somewhere in the cemetery or
whose remains were cremated.
The youngest known Britishservice casualty of the SecondWorld War is buried at ComelyBank Cemetery, Edinburgh.Reggie Earnshaw was just 14when the merchant ship hewas aboard was attacked byGerman aircraft in July 1941.
Commission staff introducing new turf andbedding plants at Sleepyhillock Cemetery inMontrose, Angus.
French civilians gathered around the grave of aSeaforth Highlander, killed in September 1914.
IWM Q53263
A screen wall memorialat Seafield Cemetery,Edinburgh. Thesebronze name panelslist the casualtiesburied in the cemetery.
The practice of non-repatriation of the dead, established during the
First World War, meant that Commonwealth personnel were buried
or cremated where they fell. Those who are commemorated in the
UK died at home or in hospital from their wounds, sickness or
disease; in training accidents and air raids or were killed in the air or
at sea and their bodies washed ashore.
The Commission’s team in Scotland includes a Regional Supervisor,
who travels all over the country, inspecting each and every grave on
a three yearly cycle.
Our gardeners and skilled
stone technicians clean
and repair headstones,
memorials and walls,
whilst ensuring
horticulture is maintained
to the highest standards.
Local authorities also play
a vital part, mowing grass
and keeping flowerbeds
looking as they should.
From the biggest concentration of
graves – almost 700 burials at Lyness
Royal Naval Cemetery on Orkney – to
the numerous graveyards containing
a single casualty, the Commission’s
commitment varies greatly in type.
Large concentrations of graves are
the exception, with over 75% of
cemeteries containing fewer than 10
casualties. Sometimes the graves are
grouped together, but often they are
scattered throughout the cemetery.
The Commission also maintains
screen wall memorials, upon which
are inscribed the names of casualties
buried somewhere in the cemetery or
whose remains were cremated.
The youngest known Britishservice casualty of the SecondWorld War is buried at ComelyBank Cemetery, Edinburgh.Reggie Earnshaw was just 14when the merchant ship hewas aboard was attacked byGerman aircraft in July 1941.
Commission staff introducing new turf andbedding plants at Sleepyhillock Cemetery inMontrose, Angus.
French civilians gathered around the grave of aSeaforth Highlander, killed in September 1914.
IWM Q53263
Scotland and the First World War
Estimates vary, but it is generally agreed that over 125,000 Scots
were killed in the Great War, with some estimates putting that figure
at over 145,000. The UK as a whole lost some 750,000. Scotland,
with around 10% of the UK population, therefore lost a far higher
proportion of its people than Britain overall.
This was due, in part, to the strong pre-war tradition of military
service amongst Scots and because of the large numbers of
Scotsmen who volunteered to serve in the opening period of the
War, prior to the introduction of conscription in 1916. Scots units
were also frequently used as “shock troops”, in the first wave of an
infantry attack, and suffered predictably high casualty rates.The Helles Memorial, situated on the Gallipoli Peninsula and maintained by theCommission, commemorates over 20,000 dead, including many Scots, who diedduring the campaign against Turkish forces.
Men of the King's Own Scottish Borderersgo over the top at Cape Helles, Gallipoli,on 4 June 1915 IWM Q70701
Scotland and the First World War
Estimates vary, but it is generally agreed that over 125,000 Scots
were killed in the Great War, with some estimates putting that figure
at over 145,000. The UK as a whole lost some 750,000. Scotland,
with around 10% of the UK population, therefore lost a far higher
proportion of its people than Britain overall.
This was due, in part, to the strong pre-war tradition of military
service amongst Scots and because of the large numbers of
Scotsmen who volunteered to serve in the opening period of the
War, prior to the introduction of conscription in 1916. Scots units
were also frequently used as “shock troops”, in the first wave of an
infantry attack, and suffered predictably high casualty rates.The Helles Memorial, situated on the Gallipoli Peninsula and maintained by theCommission, commemorates over 20,000 dead, including many Scots, who diedduring the campaign against Turkish forces.
Men of the King's Own Scottish Borderersgo over the top at Cape Helles, Gallipoli,on 4 June 1915 IWM Q70701
Scotland and the Second World War
Scotland’s strategic importance came to the fore following Hitler’s
invasion of Norway in 1940. With a multitude of Scottish air force,
naval and army bases, thousands of Allied servicemen and women
found themselves posted to Scotland.
Places like Shetland and Orkney saw their populations increase
massively as defences were constructed.
Ports like Greenock, Methil, Leith and those on the Clyde were at the
centre of wartime activity and the Central Belt became vital for the
production of munitions, ships, aero engines and other war materiel.
Grave of Private Donald MacRae of the Seaforth Highlanders, buried atClachan Duich Burial Ground in Ross & Cromarty.
Granite headstones in Lerwick New Cemetery, Shetland, where 117 casualties fromboth World Wars are buried
Scotland and the Second World War
Scotland’s strategic importance came to the fore following Hitler’s
invasion of Norway in 1940. With a multitude of Scottish air force,
naval and army bases, thousands of Allied servicemen and women
found themselves posted to Scotland.
Places like Shetland and Orkney saw their populations increase
massively as defences were constructed.
Ports like Greenock, Methil, Leith and those on the Clyde were at the
centre of wartime activity and the Central Belt became vital for the
production of munitions, ships, aero engines and other war materiel.
Grave of Private Donald MacRae of the Seaforth Highlanders, buried atClachan Duich Burial Ground in Ross & Cromarty.
Granite headstones in Lerwick New Cemetery, Shetland, where 117 casualties fromboth World Wars are buried
The Commonwealth War Graves
Commission is the organisation
responsible for the commemoration of
almost 1,700,000 members of the
Commonwealth forces who gave their
lives in the two world wars.
The graves and memorials of these men
and women, who came from all parts of
the Commonwealth and who were of
many faiths and of none, are found
around the globe in some 150 countries.
See the web site at www.cwgc.org for
more information about the Commission,
its work and how to search its records
online.
Enquiries are also welcome at the
Commission’s offices:
CWGC UK Office
Jenton Road
Sydenham
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire CV31 1XS
United Kingdom
Tel: + 44 (0) 1926 330137
Fax: + 44 (0) 1926 456595
CWGC Head Office
Tel: + 44 (0) 1628 634221
E-mail: [email protected]
This Celtic cross, maintainedby the CWGC, in RosebankCemetery, Edinburgh, paystribute to the 226 civiliansand soldiers killed in Britain’sworst rail disaster. Men ofthe 7th Battalion RoyalScots, from Leith, wereaboard a train heading toEngland when it collided witha local goods train atQuintinshill, near Gretna inMay 1915. An express trainthen ploughed into thewreckage. Many of thebodies were neverrecovered.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Archive pictures courtesy of Imperial War Museum
