I've just received a photograph of my wife's great grandfather's headstone from The War Graves Photographic Project. Near the base of the headstone, there is an inscription which, with the exception of the last word "done" is covered by plants. Does anybody know what this inscription might have been (my guess is possibly something to do with duty).

Also, was it the CWGC who decided which inscription would appear near the base of headstones, or were next of kin allowed to choose it.

next of kin: 1/2d per letter as I recall.

I think the charge was subsequently waived.

The relatives selected the Personal Inscription.

The charge was 3 1/2d per letter but this was later made voluntary. The charge was the reason many did not select a text.

Thanks very much, Pals. Your replies appreciated.

Hello Reminiscene 2,
If you let the forum know what cemetery he is buried in someone might be able to look it up for you the next time they are in France/Belgium.I wil be on the Somme later in the year.Good luck.
Anthony.

Terry do you mean thruppence ha'ppeny in old talk please?

I certainly do!

Obviously no one wants to damage the planting around a headstone to capture the inscription on a photo, but where the inscription is partly hidden it seems a shame not to record it to accompany the photograph. No offence intended towards the volunteers (I appreciate that some are photographing hundreds of stones in a day), but the inscription, being personal and individual, is a very important part of the stone, especially to family members unable to visit the grave themselves.

It says "Duty Nobly Done" on my gt uncle Tom's wouldn't be surprised if your relatives inscription was the same.

Jane

A shame you are unable to see the inscription.

If you go to the war cemeteries you'll see that none of the New Zealanders have inscriptions. Our government felt that as some people couldn't afford the inscriptions, no-one in the NZEF would have one. The Canadians went the other route: since some people mightn't afford them, the government paid for them all.

Allie

You are dead right Allie however, Unknown Kiwi's have "Known unto God" for an epitaph as do all and NZ graves that are "Known To Be Buried" in the cemetery have "Their Glory Shall Not Be Blotted Out" as their epitaph but this also applies to any nationality. Their are also no NZ soldiers on the Menin Gate Memorial. NZ have their own battlefield and missing memorials, for their own reasons! I would be interested to hear your views on that decision, it comes up alot in conversation over here!

Terry

Long shot, but....

Do the CWGC hold records which show the name of the relative who wrote/chose the inscription?

Reason I ask is because on my great uncle's stone it says "Thy will be done" At the time of his death, just post war, he was estranged from his wife & children & living in lodgings having no contact with any of his family, including brothers, sisters and parents.

Andy

Andy

This you will not be pleased to hear.....

The relatives conveyed the required Personal Inscription to CWGC on their Final Verification Forms along with whatever personal details, address etc that they wished to appear in the registers (now the online database).

These forms would have been a source of all sorts of useful information although they would almost certainly not have been available for public scrutiny being regarded as confidential correspondence.

However, all the WW1 forms were destroyed in 1970 when CWGC moved to their new HQ in Maidenhead. Presumably, they were taking up useful storage space. The forms for WW2 were retained.

Such is life.

If I remember correctly, a small booklet of appropriate inscriptions was available from which the NOK were welcome to draw.
Many are taken from it, but equally, many were very personal to the family concerned.
Bruce

Thanks for the very helpful replies.

I agree that it's a shame that the inscription didn't appear on the photograph but I am just grateful for the fact that my wife's great grandfather's headstone has actually made it to TWGPP so quickly. I hope to be able to visit the cemetery either later this year, or early next year. However, if some kind soul is visiting Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in the near future, and wouldn't mind gently parting the foliage to note the entire inscription, I'd be most grateful. Details are:

S/6611 Corporal L Urquhart, M.M. 8th Bn Seaforth Highlanders. Died 27 August 1917. Grave Ref: XVIII. G. 15A.

Jane
"Duty Nobly Done" sounds great to me. It will be interesting to see if this one is the same.

Thanks, again, for your help everybody.

Hi,

I could be wrong, but I am sure that the CWGC will provide the inscription listed on the headstone, worth enquiring anyway.

Jones 75 Harry

There is one New Zealand stone with an inscription but I can't remember what it says or what cemetery.

Just my luck. 38 years too late!

I should have asked when I was 4

Thanks for replying though Terry

Andy

CWGC gave me details of the inscription at the bottom when I enquired about who selected the details . They listed some of the details on the website , but the one at the bottom hadn't been mentioned .