November is a time when the world comes together to remember all those service men and women who lost their lives in the two World Wars. As Chair of the Cheshire Commonwealth Association and a Deputy Lieutenant of Cheshire, I would like to pay particular remembrance to those Commonwealth comrades who are laid to rest within our own County.

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I was astonished to learn that there are more than 170,000 Commonwealth War Graves in the United Kingdom which are cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWG) and their database allows us to research and discover where the graves are located across our local church yard cemeteries and war memorials.

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At this time of year when we wear our poppies with pride, we stop to pay respect to the millions who lost their lives before the Armistice of 11 November 1918, the youngest being just 14 and the eldest 67. Our own celebrated regional poet and soldier Wilfred Owen describes so vividly the great suffering and loss, reminding us just how many fell.

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Both wars cost millions of lives and the CWG ensures that we never forget the sacrifice made by our brothers and sisters from across the Commonwealth who are buried and remembered here in the UK (as well as across the world).

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May they all rest in peace and may we ensure to never forget.

 

David Maisey, DL
CEO, ICC Solutions Ltd
Chair of Cheshire Commonwealth Association

 

 

Commonwealth War Graves information
• https://www.cwgc.org
• Graves and memorials for almost 1.7 million service men and women
• At 23,000 locations
• Across 150 countries and territories

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