The Commonwealth War Graves – what do you know about them?

The Commonwealth War Graves signs are a familiar sight; from large CWGC war cemeteries and memorials to single headstones in remote churchyards, you're never too far away from one of our sites.

But how much do you know about the war graves, and who maintains them? Did you know you can book informative tours, or arrange a talk for your group? With 2025 marking the 80^th anniversary of both VE Day and VJ Day, it’s time to learn more about these sites in our communities.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) was founded by Sir Fabian Ware in 1917, and is responsible for commemorating all Commonwealth war dead from both World Wars individually and equally.

We care for war graves at 23,000 locations in more than 150 countries around the world, commemorating 1.7 million individuals.

Our global estate is run by a multinational and multilingual workforce numbering approximately 1,300, the vast majority of whom are gardeners and stone masons.

Since our establishment by Royal Charter we have constructed 2,500 war cemeteries and plots, erected headstones over graves and where the remains are missing, inscribed the names of the dead on permanent memorials. More than a million burials are now commemorated at military and civil sites around the world.

Despite being set up over 100 years ago our work is still relevant today as we amend records, search for missing names, build new memorials and where historical inequalities in commemoration are found, ensuring all those who fell are equally remembered. Additionally, war dead are still being identified and when this happens the individual is buried with full military honours. Their name is then removed from the memorial to the missing where they had previously been remembered as they now have their own grave and headstone.

We also have a duty to ensure our sites remain well visited so remembrance of the war dead continues, creating information centres, volunteering opportunities and education programmes designed to engage and educate generations to come.

In Scotland alone we commemorate over 21,000 casualties. Amongst these is the youngest casualty of WWII, 14 year old Reginald Earnshaw who is here in Edinburgh. His grave is in Comely Bank cemetery (you can read his story on our website). In addition to those from the UK we care for the graves of numerous Americans, Canadians, Norwegians, Poles and Czechs plus a further 15 other nationalities. In short, you’re never far from the grave of a Commonwealth casualty.

There are 12 cemeteries in West Lothian that have CWGC, and 32 cemeteries in Edinburgh that have CWGC grave/commemorations, including locally in Boghead Cemetery (containing 9), Fauldhouse Cemetery (15). Linlithgow (32), Ecclesmachan (27), Uphall (30), Whitburn (17), Livingston Adambrae (1), Livingson Churchyard Extension (9), Kirknewton Parish Church (3), Winchburgh (7), Currie Parish Church (containing 7), Dalmahoy (St Mary) Episcopalian Churchyard (2), Ratho Cemetery (3), Colinton parish (20), Kirkliston (7), South Queensferry (189), Winchburgh (7)

Commonwealth War Graves in South Queensferry

Locating cemeteries anywhere in the world can be done easily with our app: ‘Commonwealth War Graves’.

We also have the For Evermore app, an excellent resource where individual’s stories are told in more detail. It’s a wonderful tool not just for research, you can upload your own CWGC casualties’ stories. https://www.cwgc.org/stories/home/

We are fortunate to have volunteers in a host of roles including ‘Eyes On Hands On’ (these are the people who after training, monitor and clean some of the War Graves), researchers, tour guides and speakers.

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Join a tour or request a talk

You can arrange to join a free War Graves Tour to find out more about the work of the CWGC. The list of available tours is on the website at https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/events-tours-and-talks/, and is updated regularly when tours are added.

You can also request a free talk about the Commission for your group. There are four talks to choose from: an introduction to our work; CWGC gardening; Architecture; Archives. So, if you know of a group who may be interested in having a talk please do get in touch.

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If you’re interested in knowing more please go to our website www.cwgc.org.uk

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Published in Konect August 2025

Author: Elaine Edwards, Public Engagement Co-ordinator for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Scotland, East & North. If you would like to know more, drop Elaine an email at elaine.edwards@cwgc.org.