3 replies to this topic

[Peter Gower]

This is slightly off topic, but ... Can some people tell me when individual named graves became common for Other Ranks. I know there was a mass grave after the battle of Waterloo, and I know there are individual graves from the Boer/South African War. But the Crimea, or before or after? Any input would be most welcome. Thanks. Peter

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Peter,
Here is a photograph of part of the British 77th Foot ( East Middlesex ) Regiment of Foot, Crimea cemetery.
The War Graves seemed to follow the style and tradition of the typical British civilian cemetery with the same type of grave stones, a far cry from WW1 British War graves of only 60 years later.
LF

Attached Files

•  Crimea 77th Reg graves.jpg   55.02K   1 downloads

[Lancashire Fusilier]

Peter,
Here is an old print - caption " Graves of officers and men ", again showing civilian style individual graves and headstones for both officers and men ( bottom right illustration ), as opposed to mass graves.
Regards,
LF

Attached Files

•  M1110875620.jpg   43.02K   2 downloads

[Tom Tulloch-Marshall]

Peter – this will be a rather unsatisfactory “answer” because I cant quote document refs, but I believe that the change from “ad hoc” burial arrangements to (where possible) individual burials for British (and Dominion, etc) other ranks only came in with WW1. I have certainly seen papers in class WO32 at TNA where mass internments such as were used during the 2^nd Boer War (Spion Kop, for example) were advocated during WW1, - but rejected. I firmly recall that papers which I saw many many years ago included views from a certain Rt. Hon W.L.S. Churchill !

I think that individual burials up till WW1 were probably made under regimental arrangements, or privately arranged, rather than there being any formal War Office policy.

Sorry I cant be more precise.

Tom