It's Remembrance Day. It's easy to get caught up in the big picture and forget that every single war grave is a tiny tragedy.
Many tell you a tiny fraction of their story in the inscription, paid for by the loved ones left behind.
I'm gonna get out of the way and show you some
Many tell you a tiny fraction of their story in the inscription, paid for by the loved ones left behind.
I'm gonna get out of the way and show you some
A Jackson. East Yorkshire Regiment. Died August 1916 aged 36
"I love him still"
"I love him still"
W H Merrick. Leicestershire Regiment. Died December 1914 aged 29
"In loving memory of my dear husband. Gone but not forgotten."
"In loving memory of my dear husband. Gone but not forgotten."
F Kirby. Leicestershire Regiment. Died December 1914 aged 29
"Youngest of seven but first to go."
"Youngest of seven but first to go."
A Gaines. Gloucestershire Regiment. Died June 1916 aged 26.
"In whose presence one found it easy to be good."
"In whose presence one found it easy to be good."
J W Gittings. Hertfordshire Regiment. Died July 1916 aged 28
"Dearly loved son of Mr & Mrs Gittings. Abbots Leigh Bristol"
"Dearly loved son of Mr & Mrs Gittings. Abbots Leigh Bristol"
A Baglin. Gloucestershire Regiment. Died September 1915 aged 19
"A silent thought, a secret tear, keep his memories ever dear."
"A silent thought, a secret tear, keep his memories ever dear."
Robert Cecil Custace. 21st Battalion Canadian Infantry. Died April 1918 aged 29
"May his reward be as great as his sacrifice. Wife & Daughter"
"May his reward be as great as his sacrifice. Wife & Daughter"
A C Strachan. Royal Field Artillery. Died March 1918 aged 23
"Bartie"
"Bartie"
P J Niall. Royal Lancaster Regiment. Died March 1918 aged 29.
"Never forgotten by his loving wife Rosa"
"Never forgotten by his loving wife Rosa"
W Dobbie. Cameron Highlanders. Died March 1918 aged 18.
"It was hard to part with you dear son. But God he knoweth best."
"It was hard to part with you dear son. But God he knoweth best."
N B Sinclair-Travis. Royal Garrison Artillery. Died March 1918 aged 31
"In loving memory of our O.C. and pal. Perfect peace."
"In loving memory of our O.C. and pal. Perfect peace."
(Sinclair-Travis' men loved him so much that they paid for a custom stone originally. It is preserved behind his regular CWGC headstone)
C H Newton-Deakin. 3rd Dragoon Guards. Died April 1917 aged 24.
"Only son of C F and A M Newton-Deakin"
"Only son of C F and A M Newton-Deakin"
J Hackett. Royal Field Artillery. Died April 1917 aged 24.
"Never a day but his name is spoken. Too dearly loved to be forgotten"
"Never a day but his name is spoken. Too dearly loved to be forgotten"
J A Jordan. Highland Light Infantry. Died April 1917 aged 24.
"Sleep on dear Alf & take thy rest. They miss you who loved you best R.I.P"
"Sleep on dear Alf & take thy rest. They miss you who loved you best R.I.P"
Peter Harding. Royal Engineers. Died March 1918 aged 30.
"Gone but not forgotten"
"Jennie"
"Gone but not forgotten"
"Jennie"
You can find more about why I think Commonwealth war graves, and their inscriptions, are so important here:
Normally I'd ask you to buy me a coffee at this point too, but don't. You can support the work of the CWGC here: cwgc.org/donations
Normally I'd ask you to buy me a coffee at this point too, but don't. You can support the work of the CWGC here: cwgc.org/donations
(Special h/t to @DanHillHistory. Think most, if not all, of the graves I've highlighted this year were taken on one of his organised trips)
