Oliver Heald, MP for North East Herts, has visited Commonwealth War Graves in the churchyards at Therfield and Sandon and in Royston cemetery. He is reminding local schools and constituents to visit their local Commonwealth war graves to gain a greater understanding of the scale and magnitude of the Great War and the impact that it has had on today’s society.
The call follows a national initiative spearheaded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), the All-Party Parliamentary War Heritage Group and the ‘In From The Cold Project’ that maps over 300,000 Commonwealth war dead by each Parliamentary constituency.
Commenting, Oliver Heald said “It was moving to visit the well-tended individual War Graves of heroes from the First World War, who were laid to rest in their local churchyards, often having died at home from war wounds. I pay tribute to the work of the Commonwealth war Graves Commission in this country as well as abroad. The Centenary of the outbreak of the First World War is a time, not just for reflection and commemoration but also an opportunity to educate a new generation of young people about the extraordinary events of a hundred years ago and to bring to life some of the personal stories from this remarkable time.”
The Herts At War project has also brought the stories of local heroes to greater attention.
Deirdre Mills, CWGC’s Director of UK Area states that: “The Centenary is an opportune time for us to re-engage and connect with local communities and young people, and explain how the people who are buried in our graves got to be there, who they were, and where they were from. More than 300,000 Commonwealth servicemen and women are commemorated in the UK. Many died in military hospitals whilst being treated for their wounds or fell victim to the flu pandemic as the conflict drew to a close. Their graves reflect both the local impact of the war but also its wider historical significance.
“To highlight some of the personal stories of those who are buried or commemorated in our graves, we are installing over 100 visitor information panels throughout the UK during the Centenary.”
Notes for editors:
The photographs show:
- Oliver with Alan Dracup, Regional Supervisor for Eastern Region, CWG, in Sandon churchyard at the grave of Private W T Davis, Hertfordshire Regiment, died 21.5.20 aged 31.
- Oliver with Alan Dracup in Royston cemetery at the grave of Private C A Watson, Cambridgeshire regiment, died 17.11.17