The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) war archives databases record the details and place of commemoration of every Commonwealth casualty of the First and Second World Wars.
Whether you want to search for a soldier who died in the Great War or find the military service records of a family member in the armed forces, the CWGC website makes it happen.
Preserve the past to build the future. This is the ambition of a label distinguishing cultural or natural site presenting « exceptional universal value ».
We are very proud that the monument of Thiepval finds its place in the World Heritage list alongside the Palace of Versailles, the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal and even the Cathedral of Amiens.
Of the 11 Somme sites included on the list of « places or properties located throughout the world, possessing exceptional universal value », 7 are located in the Poppy Country :
• The Commonwealth Memorials in Beaumont-Hamel and Auchonvillers :
Hawthorn Ridge Cemetery No 2, Hunter’s Cemetery, Y Ravine Cemetery
Follow the signals « Newfoundland Memorial Parc »
GPS : Latitude 50.073461 Longitude 2.648048
80300 BEAUMONT-HAMEL
+33(0)3.22.76.70.86
beaumonthamel.memorial@veterans.gc.ca
• The Commonwealth Military Cemetery of Thiepval and Authuille
Buried are 300 graves of French soldiers, some of whom are unidentified, and 300 graves of soldiers from Commonwealth countries. This cemetery symbolizes the Franco-British alliance.
Rue de l’Ancre,
80300 THIEPVAL
www.cwgc.org
• The Memorial of the Commonwealth missing
The bigger Commonwealth Memorial in the World ! It commemorates more than 72 000 British and South-African soldiers dead and missing in the Somme.
Rue de l’Ancre,
80300 THIEPVAL
www.cwgc.org
• The Pozières British Cemetery and the Pozières Memorial at Ovillers-La-Boisselle
2 700, it’s the number of men burried in the cemetery and 14 000 names of soldiers are graved in the stone of the wall. These soldiers had been killed between March 21th and August 7th 1918 and do not have a known grave.
GPS : Latitude 50.03448, Longitude 2.71475
80300 POZIERES
• Martinsart British Cemetery
By entering in this red graves cemetery, coming from Corsehill or Locharbriggs, you will immediately notice a difference from other British cemeteries with their white Portland stone headstones. Staining very quickly, these red steles, present in the cemeteries of Auchonvillers or Courcelles, have not been used much.
• Mill Road Cemetery
A part of this British Cemetery of Windmill Road is unique because some of the graves are lying down on the ground. Being on unstable ground above the German shelters and trenches (not necessarily well filled), they are installed in an elongated manner and were in no risk of falling.