Original War Graves

During the Great War, graves were generally established in the areas where men had died, burials went on almost continuously, along with the salvaging of valuable supplies of Mills bombs and other items of equipment. The bodies were collected from no mans land and the trenches where soldiers would assist in the heart breaking task of burying their fallen comrades.

Each burial location was marked by a wooden cross, these burial locations and areas were revisited, after the Commonwealth War Graves Commission was established by Royal Charter in 1917, when the Cemeteries and Memorials we know today were created, most of the original wooden crosses now only exist as photographic memories held by the families of these who died.

British dead awaiting burial

Picture from the book "Barnsley Pals" by Jon Cooksey,
Published by Pen & Sword Books

War Grave photograph and location record card
At the request of a relative the War Graves Registration would send a picture of a loved ones place of burial, showing the graves location and advice as to the location of the nearest railway station.

Joseph Marsden's War Grave photograph
Enlargement of the nameplate reveals some details which were unreadable on the original picture

Reginald Naylor's War Grave photograph
Shows a view of the original Cement House Cemetery, and enlargement reveals some details of the nameplate and the grave of others buried along side.

Comrades buried together

Comrades still together

Pictures by The War Graves Photographic Project