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Tournai Community Cemetery, Belgium, WW1

ProfilePosted byOptionsPost Date

Potty

Potty Report 5 Mar 2008 16:01

I found the details of my father's brother's grave on the CWGC site and visited it two years ago.

This one was in Northern France, beautifully tended. So tidy that I felt a bit guilty about leaving the flowers had I brought!

Nearly every gravestone had a personal message on. I understand that the relatives were asked what they wanted on the stones.

If you ever get the chance to visit make sure you have plenty of Kleenex - it really is very emotional. I fill up even thinking about it.

Nickydownsouth

Nickydownsouth Report 5 Mar 2008 14:05

Margaret ,his cause of death was on the " Memorial certificate" I printed out from the CWGC.


Nicky

Madmeg

Madmeg Report 5 Mar 2008 00:26

Just to say, my great Uncle Charlie is buried locally and the chap at our council offices assured me that his grave is regularly tended and the headstone cleaned and made secure by employees of the war graves commission!

Seem our taxed are going to something meaningful!

Love to all who lost loved ones in the war.

Margaret

Madmeg

Madmeg Report 5 Mar 2008 00:24

Keith, thanks, I have found four relatives from this site, one at Turnai, one in Greece (Selonika), one drowned at sea, reference the cenotaph at Portsmouth, and one buried locally whom I knew about but the certificate was still nice to have.

Nicky, where did you find the cause of death?

Thanks everyone

Margaret

Madmeg

Madmeg Report 5 Mar 2008 00:22

Keith, thanks, I have found four relatives from this site, one at Turnai, one in Greece (Selonika), one drowned at sea, reference the cenotaph at Portsmouth, and one buried locally whom I knew about but the certificate was still nice to have.

Nicky, where did you find the cause of death?

Thanks everyone

Margaret

Nickydownsouth

Nickydownsouth Report 28 Feb 2008 13:18

Thanks for that Teresa, I didn`t have a clue about that, thought the graves were just left untended due to being abroad.......... I will take a look.



Nicky

TeresainWirral

TeresainWirral Report 28 Feb 2008 09:24

All the graves are tended by the CWGC.
People on the forum connected to the website www.1914-1918.net often put up posts that they are going to visit cemeteries and offering to take photos.

There is a website that has photos of WW1 graves (I think its run by people who are members of that forum~ there is a charge, I think its called british war graves )

Have a look at the website its very informative loads of background information. I can't remember if you have to join the forum to look at the posts but there are loads of helpful people and posts there also.

Teresa

Nickydownsouth

Nickydownsouth Report 27 Feb 2008 23:59

Margaret, I found my gr grandfathers younger brother on the CWGC site, he died in action in 1916 and is buried in Sailly le Sac Cemetrey france , it dawned on me when I found it, that probably no one has ever visited there, made a mental note if I ever get the chance to pay a visit, his father was already dead and his elderley mother died the following year, its so sad to think of them hundreds of miles from home and no one to tend a grave..... his certificate says he died from his injuries, injured many times before.....he was only in his thirties.

so sad

Nicky

Madmeg

Madmeg Report 27 Feb 2008 23:26


Dear Keith

Thanks, found him. Never heard of this site, but there he is, including date of death, service record number, age, regiment, parents and their address, and grave reference.

I felt suddenly chilled at the thought of a young man losing his life for us, and honoured at the same time. You can even print off a "certificate" with all the details. Will do that.

Many thanks.

Margaret

KeithInFujairah

KeithInFujairah Report 24 Feb 2008 08:51

Margaret, have you checked the CWGC site for information on him? If he was a war casualty, there should be information on him and his burial place.

www.cwgc.org

Madmeg

Madmeg Report 24 Feb 2008 02:55

Does anyone know how I can find out if my relative was buried here - I believe he was. And the reference number of his grave.

Thanks

Margaret