The Commonwealth War Graves Commission care for cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 locations, in 154 countries.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission owes its existence to the vision and determination of one man - Sir Fabian Ware. Neither a soldier nor a politician, Ware was nevertheless well placed to respond to the public's reaction to the enormous losses in the war. At 45 he was too old to fight but he became the commander of a mobile unit of the British Red Cross. Saddened by the sheer number of casualties, he felt driven to find a way to ensure the final resting places of the dead would not be lost forever. His vision chimed with the times. Under his dynamic leadership, his unit began recording and caring for all the graves they could find. By 1915, their work was given official recognition by the War Office and incorporated into the British Army as the Graves Registration Commission.
Here is a little Twitter insight into the daily travails of the gardeners and stonemasons whose daily care ensures these memorials are kept in tip-top shape.
RT @bebidocy: @CWGC gardener Yiannis carefully tending the borders at Karasouli Military Cemetery #greece pic.twitter.com/1ZQEstDiGE
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) August 27, 2015New cross of sacrifice going up @CWGC Suzanne Military Cemetery No.3, France: http://t.co/xiS8bPnt95 pic.twitter.com/7KMV6uVSBj
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) August 26, 2015Replacement of #ww1 pedestals @CWGC Sarigol Military Cemetery #greece pic.twitter.com/HDy532893P
— Aphoti (@bebidocy) August 25, 2015RT @RodCarkett: Planting new grass @CWGC Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery, Tanzania pic.twitter.com/5FquZw21ba
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) August 25, 2015RT @magicandlaughs: 'The cutting edge @CWGC' pic.twitter.com/fiJlP4DQnT Headstone engraving at our workshop in Arras.
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) August 24, 2015Horticultural renovation underway @CWGC Sage War Cem, Germany, after intense mole activity! http://t.co/KaFl4kHvOM pic.twitter.com/0URoaLZwMv
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) August 24, 2015RT @JoJohook2003: Fantastic job being done by @CWGC stone masons today. Thanks Guys pic.twitter.com/iPAmFy2DPH
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) August 22, 2015RT @KanCwgc: Latest phase of re-turfing now complete at @CWGC Kanchanaburi War Cemetery pic.twitter.com/yiKi7ibZ64
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) August 19, 2015the perfect floral wheelbarrow
great gardening at Delville Wood, France
@CWGC @GarethHardware pic.twitter.com/lZH4ZErpbo
— David Richardson (@gardentheworld) August 13, 2015Work in progress @CWGC Iringa Cemetery, Tanzania: http://t.co/YlaRqwyNo6 pic.twitter.com/oHbVooeyPa
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) August 9, 2015RT @aapaops: Fabrication of the Nigeria Memorial is progressing to plan. Great looking Granite. pic.twitter.com/WwTFquWx1Y
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) August 6, 2015RT @RodCarkett: @cwgc re-levelling turf in civil section of Addis Ababa War Cemetery, Ethiopia pic.twitter.com/bEK7FHlAV6
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) August 5, 2015@CWGC staff carrying out horticultural maintenance prior to the battle for Lone Pine ceremony 6th August pic.twitter.com/Pb4lD1Fktg
— David Bennett (@Bennett22David) August 3, 2015In-painting the inscription at the main entrance to @CWGC Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery in Orkney, Scotland pic.twitter.com/k6skeJuQLA
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) July 29, 2015RT @gardentheworld: @CWGC Coriano Ridge War Cemetery in Italy, looking at planting layout with Andy and Francesco pic.twitter.com/D1myhlGdJT
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) July 28, 2015RT @richhills68: @cwgc team at work in Delhi War Cemetery. Immaculate. Well done. pic.twitter.com/Vcr2DisdKw
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) July 27, 2015RT @KanCwgc: Phase two of turf project @CWGC Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand complete! pic.twitter.com/r3pssr2D8m
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) July 27, 2015Our team in Scotland hard at work in-painting inscriptions on headstones @CWGC Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery, Orkney pic.twitter.com/P7o47ei5lj
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) July 23, 2015RT @KanCwgc: Turf going down between rain showers @CWGC Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand pic.twitter.com/ldNiPBzyag
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) July 21, 2015RT @KanCwgc: Re-turfing project underway @CWGC Kanchanaburi War Cemetery in Thailand http://t.co/wcu3h5AcV4 pic.twitter.com/JYkP3wjn82
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) July 20, 2015Exciting project to rebuild stone wall surrounding Cavalletto British Cemetery, Asiago, Italy: http://t.co/xaUe6fiGEX pic.twitter.com/dRxEp86eTl
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) July 18, 2015RT @ArmyPost: PHOTO: Labour of love - @CWGC gardeners tend to Ari Burnu Cemetery at #Anzac Cove, #Gallipoli pic.twitter.com/e2jtrIrqY4
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) July 15, 2015Today marks start of major turf & shrubbery renovation at #CWGC Suda Bay War Cem, Crete: http://t.co/MhJy92JDAW pic.twitter.com/xokV2b8FmZ
— WarGravesCommission (@CWGC) July 15, 2015
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