When I was a child (45ish years ago), we had an elderly neighbour called Bill Rathbourne (RIP.) My mum used to make him dinners and I would deliver them, and would sit and keep him company. He fought in both world wars. He lied about his age to enlist in WW1. He enlisted at the age of 14, said he was 16, because, he was poor and could get a money to feed his family and he 'wanted an adventure'. The authorities at the time didn't care or check his age. The only time he ever mentioned the war was once, when he received his 100th birthday telegram from the queen on his 98th birthday, which he found extremely funny, and that was how I found out about his 'deception'. As a naive 8 yr old I said something like 'wow, that must have been an amazing adventure? or something just as stupid. I'll never forget the look on his face. I don't know how to describe it, but I can still see it today as if every horror you can imagine flooded back into his memory. He just looked at me and said "An adventure I hope you never have to endure". He had no family, and to this day I raise a drink to Bill every remembrance day and say his name out loud. The sad thing is, once i'm gone his name and his personal sacrifices will be forgotten. He died aged 99 (or 101 according to his military records).
Wow, thank you for keeping his memory alive by sharing his story with all of us. How special you and your mom spent time with and took care of him. I'm sure he was very grateful to have you both in his life!
Hi , I've been reading through some of the comments as I often do and yours really got me choked up . I used to be a carer for the elderly and I know how important it was for them to have at least one person who cared enough to visit and just hold their hand even it just a little while. Bless you for what you did for that gentleman.
Cambridge has an American cemetery near where I live, it’s perfectly lined out with head stones and just looks incredible even after seeing it every week for the 20 odd years.
The Kohima epitaph is so relevant here. "When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today." This epitaph is on a commonwealth war graves' cemetery memorial in Kohima, India. But it is so relevant to all places like this.
I'm really ashamed I didn't know about this cemetery. I joined the army in 1981, and started basic training January 82. Brookwood station is where I got off to join the military transport to the barracks a few miles away. Thank you so much for bringing this to attention. I shall now visit this cemetery soon. Love your videos.
My grandfather, Captain Peter Compton, is commemorated at Brookwood. He was one of the last officers to be rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk, as he was severely wounded during the rearguard action as the British Expeditionary Forces retreated to the beaches at Dunkirk. His regiment, the 2/6th Btn East Surreys, acted as a line of communication unit, and most were either killed or captured at St. Valery en Caux while defending the beaches. He died in February, 1942, six months after his younger brother, a flight lieutenant, was killed in Malaya. Of three brothers, only the youngest, who flew Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers, survived. Of the 22 members of my family who served across four generations, in every branch of our armed forces, and in every rank, from private to general, three were killed and five severely wounded. I remember them all with love and pride.
The soldiers that are buried here were ones that were injured and brought to the uk for treatment but subsequently died of their injuries. All commonwealth war cemeteries are beautifully maintained, my grandfather is buried in a small one of around 500 people in the middle of nowhere in what is now Belgium. When we visited we found just one German grave, we separated the flowers we had brought and put some by his tombstone.
One of my great uncles, Frederick Murfet, was lost in 1917 and his remains were only discovered in situ of that battle last year and given a respectful funeral. Two other brothers, Walter and Arthur, were lost the previous year. They have their names on memorials, such as this, at Ypres and Passchendaele.
My late husband and I used to plant bulbs on the graves of young German aircrew who died when their plane was shot down over Hoy they may have been the enemy but they were some woman's husband, son, brother, uncle, nephew, sweetheart or lover they all lie at peace now.
Yes you are correct. My father in law (often forgotten a maritime man, who feed us!,) he was Canadian and survived the war, met my British mother in law and obviously had the good sense to stay in the UK and fathered my wife. But he had so many pals in WWIi who were injured on return to the UK, hospitalised, died and were buried in Brookwood. It is vast, but many places to stop and sit down, so disability friendly. So many were killed on training, not active service. The Canadians have special designation days to gather there, it is now sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters, like my wife. Been there many times and it is a very peaceful and quiet place to gather your thoughts and contemplate life.
@@johnnyuk3365 My grandfather turned from a craftsman into a drunken abuser who died in a drunken stupor falling into an open hearth. It took him thirteen years to die after WW1, but his soul died on the battlefield. My grandmother fled the house with my mother, who was still a toddler, in fear of both their safeties. The screen he made for the village church is still testament to his skill. But WW1 destroyed his mind.
This channel gets better and better, not only are Steve, Lyndsey and Sophia a lovely family BUT the channel also educates, im a 59yr old Englishman and I'll be honest, ive never heard of Brookwood cemetery, shame on me 😡
I'm 69 and was unaware of this cemetery. I live 5 minutes away from the American cemetery in Madingley, Cambridge so I know about that one and how beautiful and serene it is.
I’m a Veteran and I joined up as a Boy Entrant as an RAF Apprentice Armourer, this was in September 1969 and I was 15 1/2. I retired after 24yrs in Feb 1996. Cheers both!
@@nickgrazier3373 both my Son's joined the Army at 16,cannot remember how long my youngest served, but he left as a Warrant Officer,Coldstream Guards, my eldest did 13 years left as a Cpl, 3Para' .
Brookwood is our version of Arlington. The train was called The Necropolis Line but was colloquially known as 'The Necropolis Express' and 'The Dead Train'.
Believe it was also nicknamed the "Stiff's express". It was built in the late Victorian period as the cemeteries in London were too overcrowded to keep burying people there, so they decided to have a new massive cemetery for the whole of London well outside the city on sanitary grounds, Brookwood was chosen and the London Necropolis Railway Company was formed to install the line and run services. As you'd expect from any proper British railway service you could book various classes of travel, with first class being afforded the use of a private waiting parlour for the mourners, a very fancy coffin for the deceased, private railway carriages for the mourners, and refreshments. Third class had plain coffins, mourners travelled in shared carriages, and had to bring their own food. In Brookwood cemetery there were two stations, one for Christians and one for other denominations, with a chapel being available for each to conduct services. The line closed on the outbreak of war in 1939, and was hit by a bomb in 1942, badly damaging the London terminus station and destroying most of their rolling stock. They did not reopen after the war as car-based hearses and cremations were becoming more popular.
I think so too. My Grandad was brought back from Ypres to London then on to Glasgow, where experimental treatment saved his leg. It took 2 years until he was well enough to go back to his tiny village near Bath. In all that time only my Great Gran was able to visit him twice. It must've been a hell of a journey for her alone back in 1916.
I did and they actually remembered Kohima, Burma the bloody combat my father fought in and survived but like all combat survivors they always leave a part of themselves in those battles.
One of my great uncles, Frederick Murfet, was lost in 1917 and his remains were only discovered in situ of that battle last year and given a respectful funeral. Two other brothers, Walter and Arthur, were lost the previous year. They have their names on memorials, such as this, at Ypres and Passchendaele.
Hi guys, it gives me such massive pride to be British when I watch your videos here on your channel. For a small nest of islands we have been through and achieved so much. When I worked in retail and we had poppies to buy through a charitable donation to the Royal British Legion, we would often have people paying anything up to a £100 for their poppy, such is our people’s support to the annual Poppy Appeal. PLEASE do a video on how we British lived and survived through the London Blitz (September 1940-May 1941) during WW2. Both my parents were teenagers living in south London during the blitz.
My father was in WW1, he enlisted in 1917 and he was only 16, he lied about his age and got away with it because at that time nobody really checked, my grandmother lost 3 sons in that war.. He was also in WW2 aged 38, he never spoke about either war. We must never forget
My grandfather joined the Royal Marines in 1939 aged 14. The British Army used to have a rank known as "boy". He was given his rifle in February 1941 at age 16. Before that he was armed only with a bugle.
Everything you've said is true, however I must make one correction, which is that the Royal Marines were part of the Royal Navy, they also had "boy" ranks.
@@lloydcollins6337 My mother was a WW2 Wren. When she was drafted to the Isle of Man, her cousin was also there as a Boy Seaman. She used to go and be allowed to 'sign him out' to take him for tea!
Steve, you're thinking of the Necropolis railway that took bodies out of London to Brookwood. London had been running out of burial space and many cemeteries were 'in the way' of routes for building the new railways in the 1800s.
I've travelled a bit around Europe, in particular Northern France. In Normandy you can visit the US cemetery for WW2 and read name after name and it is a moving location. However, as you travel throughout France you'll constantly come across WW1 cemeteries (commonwealth and others). For me, the most impactful I've visited is the one at Villers-Bretonneux (The Somme battlefields). It's Australian (as it was the site of Australian battles) but has soldiers from all nations in the region. The region is fairly flat so even the smallest rise/hill is prominent and this cemetery sits on top of a hill with a tower proud of the surrounding region. The approach to the tower (on foot) is up an avenue of headstones (from memory there are about 1500), at the base is a wall commemorating approximately 10,000. The tower itself, along with some of the headstones, is riddled with bullet damage from WW2. However, the part that always gets to me, as at every WW1 cemetery, are the enormous number of headstones for unidentified soldiers that don't have a nation, a unit, a rank, or a name.. They simply read (whether friend or foe) "A Soldier of the Great War. Known Unto God."
These sites are dotted all over the world, CWGC (Commonwealth War Grave Commission), and are all maintained immaculately. Brookwood is our largest on home soil, a part of a vast cemetery. When I catch the train to London from the south of England it's visible along the route.
Brookwood was the London Necropolis. There was a separate station at London Waterloo for bringing mourners and coffins to the cemetery so they did not have to mix with people going about their ordinary business or stop at multiple stations on the way.
No most had died in Civilian and Military Hospitals after being brought back after being wounded or injured on duty in the UK or overseas. Those who died overseas are buried in Military Cemeteries around the World.
Brookwood cemetery is split into areas for various nationalities. I have an old Latvian friend buried there. He fought for the Nazis against the Russians. He and his friend Eric surrendered to the British. The British have a long history of fighting in Afghanistan. There was a massacre of the British in 1840.
I posted a photo on Facebook last week, in the run up to remembrance. It shows Sikh, Hindu and Muslim Spitfire pilots from WWII. There were many nationalities that served alongside British and American, including Polish, Belgian, French, and Czech nationals.
Dear Steve I have a personal story to tell you, on the Brookwood round memorial, is the name of my 2nd cousin Trevor, who died on Dec 7th 1942 when his ship of Toronto and sunk. So his name was erected here, because he died at sea.
My grandfather and my grandmother's brother both joined the army aged 15 for the first world war. My grandfather came back my great uncle was killed aged 17 at Bailleul. He is still out there in the cemetary. My father joined the navy aged 15 in 1937 and was soon out in the Atlantic and other areas during the war. He lost several of his mates who joined up at the same time.
I lived in Pirbright military camp when young and went to school in Brookwood. The cemetery is massive. My dad would take me there sometimes to walk among the graves. The ages were so young on some of them. ❤
The Commonwealth War Graves commission do a magnificent job maintaining cemeteries all over the world, everyone as immaculate as Brookwood. I visited one in Crete while on a cruise last June, it was really moving. My Grandfather’s youngest brother is buried in one of the cemeteries in Baghdad. He died during WW1. I guess I will never get to see his grave but he is not forgotten.
I visited Brookwood a couple of weeks ago and yes it is immaculately kept. There was a film made about Violette Szabo called Carve Her Name With Pride, which my Mum introduced me to years ago as she had learnt about her in school and was very interested in her story, so I was keen to find her name on the memorial.
The CWGC has something like 23,000 cemeteries all around the world from the very large, Tynecot etc, to plots for just a few burials. All are maintained immaculately.
'Carve her name with Pride' - the film about Violette Szabo - an amazing film, she left behind a young daughter I believe. Violette was played by the incredible Virginia McKenna
The War Graves in Tunisia: Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery is an oasis of immaculate lawns and green, in the desert. It is so lush that I thought, driving up, it was artificial grass. No, just time and respect. Tunisia was part of the "North Africa Campaign". I knew someone whose Granddad was stationed there before they moved on to Egypt. From Yorkshire
You may wish to review the National Arburitum in Staffordshire England. It is for those fallen since WW2. As a biker, we organise a event called RTTW (ride to the Wall).. Thousands attend every year. Our contributions ensure to the upkeep of the grounds, and free entry to all
It is a reminder to remember & respect the fallen,if we ever forget history, history will repeat itself again & again especially the world is going now,nice & respectful reaction
Ahh, Lindsey. When I saw what this video was about, I knew you'd cry, as you'd cried yesterday over the poppies. Many years ago, my partner and I visited an American war graves cemetery and I was so overwhelmed with emotion and great sadness to see all those rows of crosses that I couldn't stay. I remember it so vividly even though it was probably 40 years ago. I'm sure if you get the chance to come over to England and visit a cemetery like this, you'll probably have the same reaction. I'm still glad I went there, even though it made me cry.
I love your sympathetic and moving reactions! I was once the photographer for the CWGC (Commonwealth War Graves Commission) I have visited this location and many others across Europe to attend ceremonies and anniversaries, all these locations are beautifully kept and are a credit to all of the gardening staff who look after them. It was a privilege to have been part of this organisation. Keep up the excellent work with your reviews. Best wishes from the U.K.
Most were members of Commonwealth countries who came to Britain to fight in the wars. Having been injured in battles they were brought back to the UK and if they died they were then brought to Brookwood for burials.
Many church cemeteries in England have sections or even individual graves maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The youthfulness of so many of them is humbling.
You are lovely people. Just keep doing what you are doing. Trust your instincts, be authentic, celebrate your curiosity. Both of you have excellent perceptions about what you may be seeing & you quickly take on board what you are learning.
Yay, one of my favourite places, I did my Masters disitation. It's a cemetery that has a large section for the war graves. It's been there since Victorian period, as a solution for the space issue. There was a railway specific to take the coffins to the cemetery.
I used to pass Brookwood on the train to and from London daily when I worked in London. I always made sure to look into the cemetery and think about those buried there as I passed.
Yeh it’s a Cemetery. My Great Uncle is buried at Angwoit Military cemetery Cambria France. Not always but in most cases they have special “military “ headstones giving their Regiment etc. Even in our local cemetery we have lots of the military headstones dotted about , usually these are soldiers who died of wounds or disease after being shipped back to England
I visited my sister in Germany in July & August and took her to 7 cemeteries run by the CWGC and also 2 US cemeteries in Belgium run by the ABMC. She was very impressed.
Thank you guys for covering this video. It was an honor to learn about this. Since I really cannot speak to this cemetery as an American, other than express how beautiful it is. I would lift up the many military cemetery's here in the U.S. as well, and cemetery's in general. It is important to remember and care for our loved ones and our shared history. Steve and Lindsey, since you remarked on the garden like feel of the cemetery... I would remind us that in years past it was more common to "decorate" the graves of those who have passed, not everywhere, but much more. My immediate family is buried in the Elmwood Park Cemetery in River Grove, IL. Growing up we would go as an entire family (multiple generations) and spend half a day cleaning the graves and tending to perennial plants surrounding the graves and trimming evergreen bushes and trees that we had on the graves. We also planted beautiful flower gardens on the full length of the grave. People would go to the cemetery every week or two to water plants and keep things looking good. It wasn't until more recent decades that, even there where new graves are being used that there has been a move toward flat headstones and not planting allowed. Why? First, grounds keepers just want to be able to use large lawn mowers and go over the graves. Second, because younger generations have seemed to move away from even going to visit deceased family members after burial. I hope we can get back to the older ways of caring for the dead as families. It was a strong way of building strong families and strengthening communities. You always ran into friends and cousins caring for their graves and would spend time visiting. Peace
There's also a war graves cemetery at Madingley just outside Cambridge, devoted to US servicemen, particularly because so many airmen were stationed nearby.
I live about a mile from Brookwood. The history is really interesting, the civilian part was built as an overflow for the cemeteries in London. There was a special station in the cemetery for the coffins and mourners.
My Dad is buried at Brookwood along with his mother. He is not buried with all the soldiers, although he did fight in WW11 in Burma as a Chindit. It is absolutely beautiful. He bought a plot in 1955 when his mother passed for £8000 now it's worth a fortune. The plot is big enough for all 9 of us kids when it's our time. You should take a look at the rest of the Cemetery, it's the most beautiful one I have ever been to or seen.
My Great Grandfather Frederick William Hutchings aged 44 was killed in July 1917, he served in the royal navy onboard HMS Vanguard a St Vincent class battleship. The ship took part in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916 the biggest naval battle of the 1st World War without being hit, but on the 9th July 1917 while at anchor in the British harbour of Scarpa Flow in the Orkney Isles she blew up. The cause was unstable ammunition the explosion killed 843 men out of a total crew of 845. My Grandfather was 11 when his father was killed. This is the biggest loss of life due to an accident in British military history😢 Remembrance Day is to honour all British and Commonwealth war dead not just WW1. since the end of WW2 and 2021 we have seen 7,190 servicemen and women killed on active service.
I lived about 2 miles from Brookwood for around 25 years, and I'm sorry I never visited - bringing up children gives you other priorities. I used to travel to work in London from Brookwood station - it takes about 30 minutes from Waterloo station, so very accessible.
Last year I visited Normandy with my husband and toured all of the beaches and many of the war grave sites and for some of these I just couldn’t walk around them properly as I couldn’t see for tears
3:45... Sydney once also had a 19km cemetery line from the city's Funeral Station to Rookwood Cemetery. (Supposed to be the largest cemetery in the southern hemisphere)
Aside from war graves, there are local war memorials dotted throughout the UK. Many of these date from soon after WW1, although some are older. Even relatively small villages like where I live will have one, listing the fallen from the two world wars from that locality.
My granddad left school at 12 years and began working on the docs at that age, he joined the Navy at 16 years (2 months before WW2) My mother left school at 14 years of age and began work in a Black Box factory (for the military) at 15 years. Back then children where much tougher and had to just get on with it, as they did not know any other way.
Hey Guys, I have lived in and around Brookwood my entire life. I have been stood to attention in full undress uniform to the sound of the “Last Post” in honour of of fallen Canadian firefighters who came to London’s aid during the Blitz. As a firefighter myself at the time, we hosted for a a team of Canadian firefighters called team Mitzy. This team was tasked to find the final resting place of their fellow Canadian firefighters from back in WW2. The team stayed at the fire station with us and started at Brookwood cemetery where due our military’s record keeping they found all of their fallen. It was a proud tear jerking moment that I will never forget. Fun fact 1: Watch the movie “Dunkirk” the main line into London passes through Brookwood and then Woking. Listen carefully at the end of the movie. Fun fact 2: I’m sure you guys have seen Tower Bridge in London? This iconic bridge on London’s landscape was designed by John Wolfe Barry who is buried at Brookwood. Stay safe guys. ✊🧑🚒
Great episode as always! You may want to look at the national arboretum in Staffordshire. It has memorials for all service members fallen from the world wars to today and from all over the commonwealth. My grandma helped the project get off the ground and I can remember when it was just a small field to the giant memorial it is today. They do a lot of events and is open to the general public to roam the grounds or just to have a day out at the cafe or restaurant. They do a lot for veterans with the funds.
Beautiful reaction and we must remember these are not just rows of headstones each and every single one represents a life of someone who was a son,grandson,brother fiancé ,nephew or friend.
The first option has always been that UK troops, all nationalities, are buried where they fall - in a cemetry in the country where they fell. Hence there are UK war graves in the Falklands and all over the world. They are maintained by the War Graves Commision. Even going back to WW1 and before, some injured servicemen made it back to the UK, only to die. In more recent times, with air transport being so fast etc., some bodies have been repatriated to the UK.
Some were repatriated from the Falklands; the families were given the choice. However, with Afghanistan, earlier war graves from the WWs had been desecrated so that was another factor.
One of our local cemeteries, where my Parents are buried, contains graves of soldiers from many wars. They are identified by a white portland stone baton beside the headstone. The cemetery is maintained by the local authority and volunteers. It is beautiful with a chapel, currently under restoration, trees, plants and wildlife. In Summer, we often go up as a family, tend our parents grave and then sit on the grass and have a picnic, it is lovely to enjoy the peace, watch the squirrels, listen to the birds. It is as if my Parents are there with us. My Great Grandfather died in the battle for Cambrai, France WW1. He does not have a grave but his name is memorialised on the honour role in the allied cemetery there.
you should react to the Occupation of the Channel Islands. it was the only British soil held by the Germans for 5yrs in WWII. every year on May 9th we celebrate Liberation Day in each of the Islands with military bands and vehicles. it is also a national holiday.
My Mother was in the WRAF during the war and , for a while, she was the official RAF photographer at every military burial that took place there. We have hundreds of black and white photos of funerals.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission looks after over 4000 graveyards and memorials in about 150 countries. These include CWGC graves in 24 US cemeteries, one even in Kentucky and in Kansas. The funding for this $80 million pa comes from the governments of UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India.
Another amazing war graves cemetery is Thiepval Memorial on the Somme in France, which is also massive. Also check out the National Arboretum in England.
In WWII there were many 'volunteers' that fought for us. America, and others that were not involved in the war until later or not at all. These brave committed people are here, where possible. Violette Szabo is a very well known name with those interested in WWII. They even made a film about her 'Carve Her Name with Pride'.
I live about 20 minutes from this cemetery. The military section is only a part of what is a vast cemetery. The dead of London used to be transported here by train on what was The Necropolis Line. The starting point in London still exists today. A little inside information for you. The headstones that are ‘shouldered’ I.e. have a small cut away on each side, denote people who have died of their wounds later. That is, they were evacuated back from the field to hospitals here in the UK, but subsequently died of their injuries.
As a WW2 reenactors I hear the story’s from those who served. One story was of a 15 year old who lost his entire family and home during a bombing raid. He stood there with only the cloths on his back, with anger in his heart, he went and inlisted that very day. When asked his age he said 18. The Sargent said ‘where’s your birth certificate, the reply was, bombed out Sargent, this is all I am, I want to fight. And fight he did.
Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey, 23 miles southwest of London, was opened in 1854 as the main cemetery for the ever- growing population of London. It had its own dedicated railway station, carrying the dead from London directly to the cemetery. The line was called The Necropolis Railway. The cemetery officially closed in April 1941, although the last train ran in May that year. The owners of the cemetery never achieved their goal of it being the only cemetery needed by London for centuries to come.
My grandfather died in Belgium in the 1st WW and I had the opportunity to visit his grave in Belgium looked after by the Graves Commission and also the local people it wasnt a well known one but beautifully looked after like all the War Grave are
In the past it was possible to join the UK navy at 16 as a 'boy' sailor. Before 1939 it was common for front line ships to have 'boy' sailors as part of the crew with some being killed in action. For an example check out the story of Boy 1st Class Jack Cornwell, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry at the Battle of Jutland during World War I.
Brookwood war cemetery is in an area of Surrey where there is an American community. A lot of Americans live within this area and Cobham. There is an international American school in Cobham, Surrey. They also have an American school bus, which they use to transport the pupils/students from home to school & vice versa.
The Brookwood Cemetery was built in response to the lack of burial space within London. The idea was for the people of London to be buried at Brookwood would come by train to a dedicated train station, the deceased would have to pay a one way fare,. It was created in about the 1860's. About this time cremations started to become popular and in fact the first cremation was held at Brookwood. Which defeated the purpose of the place. People had bought burial plots there but the cremation process was cheaper and many were forgotten about so building in this area is a problem as sometimes a 6' x 12' plot of land, upon which you are to build, is owned by some person who is lost in time! A lot of Brookwood was sold off as other forms and places of burial were found. During the First World War the cemetery was used for the burial of Muslim soldiers. Brookwood was chosen for them as Woking has the oldest Mosque in England and also has a very large Muslim population. Wounded Muslim soldiers were sent there for recuperation by the British Indian Army which consisted of Muslim's and Hindu's. As both had different religious and dietary requirements places where they could be accommodated was felt best. They were originally buried just outside of Woking next to the Peace Garden in Horsell Common but later moved to Brookwood. Later the cemetery was used for the numerous wounded Allied soldiers. There is a lovely American cemetery. Also there is a memorial to all the SOE operatives who died and have no grave fighting in Occupied Countries during WWII.
The Railway was the Necropolis Railway whose London terminus was adjacent to Waterloo Station, the line joined the main line to Portsmouth and Southampton at Clapham Junction. The trains had First, Second and Third class carriages for both Mourners and the coffins. British Servicemen's bodies have been repatriated when and where possible since Boer War times and before except the Navy, burial at sea was the norm before refrigerated storage unless an high ranking officer (Admiral Lord Nelson).
Don't worry about pausing, were here for your opinions. Lynsey wears her heart on her sleeve for sure. Edit check out Horacio Nelson our greatest war hero.
There are small war grave cemeteries throughout the UK but are within ordinary cemeteries. One is just up the road near where I live at a place called Lodgehill cemetery near Weoley Castle, and is always kept very neat and tidy. There is also war graves that stand alone within ordinary cemeteries. The railway that you mentioned was built in Victorian times because London burial grounds were full up. It was called the Necropolis railway and went from London to Brookwood in Surrey.
The fallen were repatriated to the UK from the European battlefields. There was an American contingent at Brookwood who then conveyed the GI bodies to the US to be buried on their own soil. This amazingly well thought out operation was what we see today in those well tended surroundings.
Brookwood had a dedicated railway station for the cemetery. I used it as well as thousands of others while doing basic training (R.A.O.C. Royal Army Ordnance Corps) at Blackdown Barracks, Deepcut, Surrey. Also Pirbright that used to be The Guards Depot, the ones you see at trooping the colour and at Buckingham Palace.
If you haven't already I'd recommend checking out the Black Adder Goes Forth final episode ending. There's a 4 minute copy of it on youtube and that's all you need to see to make you cry
I used to live there when my father was in the forces. I could see the cemetery from my bedroom window. Not sure if it has been mentioned in the comments, but the burial scene from the horror film (The Omen) was filmed there.
For an even truer impression of the sheer scale of the events behind this see images of the vast war cemetaries of all nationalities in France, Belgium etc. At just one near Douamont (Verdun), apart from the seemingly endless headstones, the ossuary in the memorial contains the 'assorted' bones from an estimated 130,000 unidentified dead. Visiting them in person is a sobering experience, although the scale is even then almost beyond comprehension. Then there's the also seemingly endless small 'local' war cemetaries with ~ a few dozen graves in each. All that I saw were beautifully maintained.
When I was a child (45ish years ago), we had an elderly neighbour called Bill Rathbourne (RIP.) My mum used to make him dinners and I would deliver them, and would sit and keep him company. He fought in both world wars. He lied about his age to enlist in WW1. He enlisted at the age of 14, said he was 16, because, he was poor and could get a money to feed his family and he 'wanted an adventure'. The authorities at the time didn't care or check his age. The only time he ever mentioned the war was once, when he received his 100th birthday telegram from the queen on his 98th birthday, which he found extremely funny, and that was how I found out about his 'deception'. As a naive 8 yr old I said something like 'wow, that must have been an amazing adventure? or something just as stupid. I'll never forget the look on his face. I don't know how to describe it, but I can still see it today as if every horror you can imagine flooded back into his memory. He just looked at me and said "An adventure I hope you never have to endure". He had no family, and to this day I raise a drink to Bill every remembrance day and say his name out loud. The sad thing is, once i'm gone his name and his personal sacrifices will be forgotten. He died aged 99 (or 101 according to his military records).
Wow, thank you for keeping his memory alive by sharing his story with all of us. How special you and your mom spent time with and took care of him. I'm sure he was very grateful to have you both in his life!
Hi , I've been reading through some of the comments as I often do and yours really got me choked up . I used to be a carer for the elderly and I know how important it was for them to have at least one person who cared enough to visit and just hold their hand even it just a little while. Bless you for what you did for that gentleman.
These heroes must NEVER be forgotten, teach it FAR more in schools.
Cambridge has an American cemetery near where I live, it’s perfectly lined out with head stones and just looks incredible even after seeing it every week for the 20 odd years.
The Kohima epitaph is so relevant here.
"When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today."
This epitaph is on a commonwealth war graves' cemetery memorial in Kohima, India. But it is so relevant to all places like this.
My father's regiment (Cameron Highlanders) was part of the relieving force at Kohima.
If the fallen soldier can be identified, he will have his name his service number, and the regiment.
I'm really ashamed I didn't know about this cemetery. I joined the army in 1981, and started basic training January 82. Brookwood station is where I got off to join the military transport to the barracks a few miles away. Thank you so much for bringing this to attention. I shall now visit this cemetery soon.
Love your videos.
My grandfather, Captain Peter Compton, is commemorated at Brookwood. He was one of the last officers to be rescued from the beaches of Dunkirk, as he was severely wounded during the rearguard action as the British Expeditionary Forces retreated to the beaches at Dunkirk. His regiment, the 2/6th Btn East Surreys, acted as a line of communication unit, and most were either killed or captured at St. Valery en Caux while defending the beaches. He died in February, 1942, six months after his younger brother, a flight lieutenant, was killed in Malaya. Of three brothers, only the youngest, who flew Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers, survived. Of the 22 members of my family who served across four generations, in every branch of our armed forces, and in every rank, from private to general, three were killed and five severely wounded. I remember them all with love and pride.
The soldiers that are buried here were ones that were injured and brought to the uk for treatment but subsequently died of their injuries. All commonwealth war cemeteries are beautifully maintained, my grandfather is buried in a small one of around 500 people in the middle of nowhere in what is now Belgium. When we visited we found just one German grave, we separated the flowers we had brought and put some by his tombstone.
One of my great uncles, Frederick Murfet, was lost in 1917 and his remains were only discovered in situ of that battle last year and given a respectful funeral. Two other brothers, Walter and Arthur, were lost the previous year. They have their names on memorials, such as this, at Ypres and Passchendaele.
My late husband and I used to plant bulbs on the graves of young German aircrew who died when their plane was shot down over Hoy they may have been the enemy but they were some woman's husband, son, brother, uncle, nephew, sweetheart or lover they all lie at peace now.
Yes you are correct. My father in law (often forgotten a maritime man, who feed us!,) he was Canadian and survived the war, met my British mother in law and obviously had the good sense to stay in the UK and fathered my wife. But he had so many pals in WWIi who were injured on return to the UK, hospitalised, died and were buried in Brookwood. It is vast, but many places to stop and sit down, so disability friendly. So many were killed on training, not active service.
The Canadians have special designation days to gather there, it is now sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters, like my wife. Been there many times and it is a very peaceful and quiet place to gather your thoughts and contemplate life.
@@johnnyuk3365 My grandfather turned from a craftsman into a drunken abuser who died in a drunken stupor falling into an open hearth. It took him thirteen years to die after WW1, but his soul died on the battlefield. My grandmother fled the house with my mother, who was still a toddler, in fear of both their safeties. The screen he made for the village church is still testament to his skill. But WW1 destroyed his mind.
This channel gets better and better, not only are Steve, Lyndsey and Sophia a lovely family BUT the channel also educates, im a 59yr old Englishman and I'll be honest, ive never heard of Brookwood cemetery, shame on me 😡
lauries-london.blogspot.com/2004/02/
I visited Brookwood this summer well worth a visit.
You shouldn't feel shame for not knowing about something. If you don't know then how are you expected to change that?
@c_n_b I kinda agree but I'm English, I should know EVERYTHING there is to know about our history
I'm 69 and was unaware of this cemetery. I live 5 minutes away from the American cemetery in Madingley, Cambridge so I know about that one and how beautiful and serene it is.
Theres a brilliant film documenting Viollette Szabo...."Carve Her Name With Pride."...really moving 😢❤
I’m a Veteran and I joined up as a Boy Entrant as an RAF Apprentice Armourer, this was in September 1969 and I was 15 1/2. I retired after 24yrs in Feb 1996.
Cheers both!
@@nickgrazier3373 both my Son's joined the Army at 16,cannot remember how long my youngest served, but he left as a Warrant Officer,Coldstream Guards, my eldest did 13 years left as a Cpl, 3Para' .
I live 5 minutes from this place. One of my wife’s grandparents was born in a cottage here their father was a gravedigger.
Brookwood is our version of Arlington.
The train was called The Necropolis Line but was colloquially known as 'The Necropolis Express' and 'The Dead Train'.
It even had its own railway station in London at one point.
Also the Andrew Martin novel The Necropolis Railway, the first Jim Stringer railway detective book. Big fan of the series.
Believe it was also nicknamed the "Stiff's express". It was built in the late Victorian period as the cemeteries in London were too overcrowded to keep burying people there, so they decided to have a new massive cemetery for the whole of London well outside the city on sanitary grounds, Brookwood was chosen and the London Necropolis Railway Company was formed to install the line and run services. As you'd expect from any proper British railway service you could book various classes of travel, with first class being afforded the use of a private waiting parlour for the mourners, a very fancy coffin for the deceased, private railway carriages for the mourners, and refreshments. Third class had plain coffins, mourners travelled in shared carriages, and had to bring their own food.
In Brookwood cemetery there were two stations, one for Christians and one for other denominations, with a chapel being available for each to conduct services.
The line closed on the outbreak of war in 1939, and was hit by a bomb in 1942, badly damaging the London terminus station and destroying most of their rolling stock. They did not reopen after the war as car-based hearses and cremations were becoming more popular.
The service personnel buried at brookwood were probably casualties who were brought back to hospitals in the London area, but died of their wounds.
I think so too. My Grandad was brought back from Ypres to London then on to Glasgow, where experimental treatment saved his leg. It took 2 years until he was well enough to go back to his tiny village near Bath. In all that time only my Great Gran was able to visit him twice. It must've been a hell of a journey for her alone back in 1916.
The “Festival of Remembrance 2024” is outstanding, please watch the whole service.
I did and they actually remembered Kohima, Burma the bloody combat my father fought in and survived but like all combat survivors they always leave a part of themselves in those battles.
One of my great uncles, Frederick Murfet, was lost in 1917 and his remains were only discovered in situ of that battle last year and given a respectful funeral. Two other brothers, Walter and Arthur, were lost the previous year. They have their names on memorials, such as this, at Ypres and Passchendaele.
Hi guys, it gives me such massive pride to be British when I watch your videos here on your channel. For a small nest of islands we have been through and achieved so much. When I worked in retail and we had poppies to buy through a charitable donation to the Royal British Legion, we would often have people paying anything up to a £100 for their poppy, such is our people’s support to the annual Poppy Appeal.
PLEASE do a video on how we British lived and survived through the London Blitz (September 1940-May 1941) during WW2. Both my parents were teenagers living in south London during the blitz.
Beautifully maintained and rightly so . Bless them all .
Oh, wow. I used to live in Brookwood - just across the railway line from the cemetery. We used to walk around it regularly; lovely place.
My father was in WW1, he enlisted in 1917 and he was only 16, he lied about his age and got away with it because at that time nobody really checked, my grandmother lost 3 sons in that war.. He was also in WW2 aged 38, he never spoke about either war. We must never forget
My grandfather joined the Royal Marines in 1939 aged 14.
The British Army used to have a rank known as "boy".
He was given his rifle in February 1941 at age 16. Before that he was armed only with a bugle.
He was lucky then as someone else would have told him to lie about his age and given him a rifle at 14.
Everything you've said is true, however I must make one correction, which is that the Royal Marines were part of the Royal Navy, they also had "boy" ranks.
@@lloydcollins6337 My mother was a WW2 Wren. When she was drafted to the Isle of Man, her cousin was also there as a Boy Seaman. She used to go and be allowed to 'sign him out' to take him for tea!
Steve, you're thinking of the Necropolis railway that took bodies out of London to Brookwood. London had been running out of burial space and many cemeteries were 'in the way' of routes for building the new railways in the 1800s.
I've travelled a bit around Europe, in particular Northern France. In Normandy you can visit the US cemetery for WW2 and read name after name and it is a moving location. However, as you travel throughout France you'll constantly come across WW1 cemeteries (commonwealth and others). For me, the most impactful I've visited is the one at Villers-Bretonneux (The Somme battlefields). It's Australian (as it was the site of Australian battles) but has soldiers from all nations in the region. The region is fairly flat so even the smallest rise/hill is prominent and this cemetery sits on top of a hill with a tower proud of the surrounding region. The approach to the tower (on foot) is up an avenue of headstones (from memory there are about 1500), at the base is a wall commemorating approximately 10,000. The tower itself, along with some of the headstones, is riddled with bullet damage from WW2.
However, the part that always gets to me, as at every WW1 cemetery, are the enormous number of headstones for unidentified soldiers that don't have a nation, a unit, a rank, or a name.. They simply read (whether friend or foe) "A Soldier of the Great War. Known Unto God."
Only around 50% of those killed in WW1 have known graves.
These sites are dotted all over the world, CWGC (Commonwealth War Grave Commission), and are all maintained immaculately. Brookwood is our largest on home soil, a part of a vast cemetery. When I catch the train to London from the south of England it's visible along the route.
Brookwood was the London Necropolis. There was a separate station at London Waterloo for bringing mourners and coffins to the cemetery so they did not have to mix with people going about their ordinary business or stop at multiple stations on the way.
No most had died in Civilian and Military Hospitals after being brought back after being wounded or injured on duty in the UK or overseas. Those who died overseas are buried in Military Cemeteries around the World.
@@russellbradley454 www.london-walking-tours.co.uk/secret-london/london-necropolis-railway.htm
Brookwood cemetery is split into areas for various nationalities. I have an old Latvian friend buried there. He fought for the Nazis against the Russians. He and his friend Eric surrendered to the British. The British have a long history of fighting in Afghanistan. There was a massacre of the British in 1840.
Afghanistan is known as "the graveyard of empires".
@ Alexander the Great gave them what for! But you’re absolutely right and amazingly modern politicians just haven’t learned.
I posted a photo on Facebook last week, in the run up to remembrance. It shows Sikh, Hindu and Muslim Spitfire pilots from WWII. There were many nationalities that served alongside British and American, including Polish, Belgian, French, and Czech nationals.
If you haven't checked it out, the American cemetery in Cambridge is fantastic.
Dear Steve
I have a personal story to tell you, on the Brookwood round memorial, is the name of my 2nd cousin Trevor, who died on Dec 7th 1942 when his ship of Toronto and sunk. So his name was erected here, because he died at sea.
My grandfather and my grandmother's brother both joined the army aged 15 for the first world war. My grandfather came back my great uncle was killed aged 17 at Bailleul. He is still out there in the cemetary. My father joined the navy aged 15 in 1937 and was soon out in the Atlantic and other areas during the war. He lost several of his mates who joined up at the same time.
I lived in Pirbright military camp when young and went to school in Brookwood. The cemetery is massive. My dad would take me there sometimes to walk among the graves. The ages were so young on some of them. ❤
The Commonwealth War Graves commission do a magnificent job maintaining cemeteries all over the world, everyone as immaculate as Brookwood. I visited one in Crete while on a cruise last June, it was really moving. My Grandfather’s youngest brother is buried in one of the cemeteries in Baghdad. He died during WW1. I guess I will never get to see his grave but he is not forgotten.
Don’t feel embarrassed about showing emotion Lindsey you beautiful human it shows us your heart ❤
I visited Brookwood a couple of weeks ago and yes it is immaculately kept. There was a film made about Violette Szabo called Carve Her Name With Pride, which my Mum introduced me to years ago as she had learnt about her in school and was very interested in her story, so I was keen to find her name on the memorial.
Violette Szabo, Noor Inayat Khan, Odette Hallowes. Their stories will make you cry and prove that war isn't just a boys' game.
The National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire is rather lovely and worth checking out.
The CWGC has something like 23,000 cemeteries all around the world from the very large, Tynecot etc, to plots for just a few burials. All are maintained immaculately.
Fantastic fact that I didn't know!
'Carve her name with Pride' - the film about Violette Szabo - an amazing film, she left behind a young daughter I believe. Violette was played by the incredible Virginia McKenna
The War Graves in Tunisia: Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery is an oasis of immaculate lawns and green, in the desert. It is so lush that I thought, driving up, it was artificial grass. No, just time and respect. Tunisia was part of the "North Africa Campaign". I knew someone whose Granddad was stationed there before they moved on to Egypt. From Yorkshire
There are war grave cemeteries all over France and Belgium. Beautifully looked after and cared for by local people
You may wish to review the National Arburitum in Staffordshire England. It is for those fallen since WW2.
As a biker, we organise a event called RTTW (ride to the Wall).. Thousands attend every year. Our contributions ensure to the upkeep of the grounds, and free entry to all
Was going to suggest this as well! My grandma helped get the project started and is memorialised in the garden for the rotary members.
Yep another suggestion to have a look at the National Memorial Arboretum, and the annual Ride to the wall, 😊
Actually commemorates all services since WW1 up until the present day.
It is a reminder to remember & respect the fallen,if we ever forget history, history will repeat itself again & again especially the world is going now,nice & respectful reaction
Ahh, Lindsey. When I saw what this video was about, I knew you'd cry, as you'd cried yesterday over the poppies.
Many years ago, my partner and I visited an American war graves cemetery and I was so overwhelmed with emotion and great sadness to see all those rows of crosses that I couldn't stay. I remember it so vividly even though it was probably 40 years ago. I'm sure if you get the chance to come over to England and visit a cemetery like this, you'll probably have the same reaction. I'm still glad I went there, even though it made me cry.
Lovely video, other things you shoud definitely check out are the Blitz and the Battle of Britain, there's some good videos on here about both topics.
Yes, I remember you mentioned the Blitz before but I'm not sure if I had Battle of Britain on the list. Thanks for the suggestion, Mark!
I love your sympathetic and moving reactions! I was once the photographer for the CWGC (Commonwealth War Graves Commission) I have visited this location and many others across Europe to attend ceremonies and anniversaries, all these locations are beautifully kept and are a credit to all of the gardening staff who look after them. It was a privilege to have been part of this organisation. Keep up the excellent work with your reviews. Best wishes from the U.K.
You have to visit Ypre. The respect the French and the Belgians have for our British boys! Makes me literally weep
Is this the place where they remember every single night? Or is that Arras?
Most were members of Commonwealth countries who came to Britain to fight in the wars. Having been injured in battles they were brought back to the UK and if they died they were then brought to Brookwood for burials.
There is a film you might want to check out Carve her name with pride, about Violette Szabo
Many church cemeteries in England have sections or even individual graves maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The youthfulness of so many of them is humbling.
We have one in our local village.
You are lovely people. Just keep doing what you are doing. Trust your instincts, be authentic, celebrate your curiosity. Both of you have excellent perceptions about what you may be seeing & you quickly take on board what you are learning.
Yay, one of my favourite places, I did my Masters disitation. It's a cemetery that has a large section for the war graves. It's been there since Victorian period, as a solution for the space issue. There was a railway specific to take the coffins to the cemetery.
I'm reading 'Women in Intelligence' by Helen Fry. It's about women who served in both wars - it's fascinating.
There are 471 Commonwealth War Graves Commission burial grounds in the USA. There are CWGC burial grounds in 150 countries.
Thanks for this information!
I live about five minutes’ walk from this place, in Worplesdon. It’s so SO peaceful. It also had its own railway.
I used to pass Brookwood on the train to and from London daily when I worked in London. I always made sure to look into the cemetery and think about those buried there as I passed.
This cemetery is ten miles from my house, visited many times over the years, it is a sight to behold
Pirbright Army training depot is just along from it, That is where I did my training when I joined up
Yeh it’s a Cemetery. My Great Uncle is buried at Angwoit Military cemetery Cambria France. Not always but in most cases they have special “military “ headstones giving their Regiment etc.
Even in our local cemetery we have lots of the military headstones dotted about , usually these are soldiers who died of wounds or disease after being shipped back to England
I visited my sister in Germany in July & August and took her to 7 cemeteries run by the CWGC and also 2 US cemeteries in Belgium run by the ABMC.
She was very impressed.
Thank you guys for covering this video. It was an honor to learn about this. Since I really cannot speak to this cemetery as an American, other than express how beautiful it is. I would lift up the many military cemetery's here in the U.S. as well, and cemetery's in general. It is important to remember and care for our loved ones and our shared history. Steve and Lindsey, since you remarked on the garden like feel of the cemetery... I would remind us that in years past it was more common to "decorate" the graves of those who have passed, not everywhere, but much more. My immediate family is buried in the Elmwood Park Cemetery in River Grove, IL. Growing up we would go as an entire family (multiple generations) and spend half a day cleaning the graves and tending to perennial plants surrounding the graves and trimming evergreen bushes and trees that we had on the graves. We also planted beautiful flower gardens on the full length of the grave. People would go to the cemetery every week or two to water plants and keep things looking good. It wasn't until more recent decades that, even there where new graves are being used that there has been a move toward flat headstones and not planting allowed. Why? First, grounds keepers just want to be able to use large lawn mowers and go over the graves. Second, because younger generations have seemed to move away from even going to visit deceased family members after burial. I hope we can get back to the older ways of caring for the dead as families. It was a strong way of building strong families and strengthening communities. You always ran into friends and cousins caring for their graves and would spend time visiting. Peace
There's also a war graves cemetery at Madingley just outside Cambridge, devoted to US servicemen, particularly because so many airmen were stationed nearby.
www.abmc.gov/Cambridge
Brookwood is just down the road from me. It's so beautiful. The groundsmen do such an amazing job. Hats off to everyone that works there.
Hi unknown neighbour 👋We walk there often
I live about a mile from Brookwood. The history is really interesting, the civilian part was built as an overflow for the cemeteries in London. There was a special station in the cemetery for the coffins and mourners.
You didn't allow subtitles today. I wanted to watch that today. I'm deaf 😔 You should do it permanently! ❤
Me, too. :(
Hey Lindsay and Steve! Thank you Allies❤respect xx
My Dad is buried at Brookwood along with his mother. He is not buried with all the soldiers, although he did fight in WW11 in Burma as a Chindit. It is absolutely beautiful. He bought a plot in 1955 when his mother passed for £8000 now it's worth a fortune. The plot is big enough for all 9 of us kids when it's our time. You should take a look at the rest of the Cemetery, it's the most beautiful one I have ever been to or seen.
My Great Grandfather Frederick William Hutchings aged 44 was killed in July 1917, he served in the royal navy onboard HMS Vanguard a St Vincent class battleship. The ship took part in the Battle of Jutland in May 1916 the biggest naval battle of the 1st World War without being hit, but on the 9th July 1917 while at anchor in the British harbour of Scarpa Flow in the Orkney Isles she blew up. The cause was unstable ammunition the explosion killed 843 men out of a total crew of 845. My Grandfather was 11 when his father was killed. This is the biggest loss of life due to an accident in British military history😢 Remembrance Day is to honour all British and Commonwealth war dead not just WW1. since the end of WW2 and 2021 we have seen 7,190 servicemen and women killed on active service.
Poor Lindsey, you do have a good heart, bless you.
I lived about 2 miles from Brookwood for around 25 years, and I'm sorry I never visited - bringing up children gives you other priorities. I used to travel to work in London from Brookwood station - it takes about 30 minutes from Waterloo station, so very accessible.
Last year I visited Normandy with my husband and toured all of the beaches and many of the war grave sites and for some of these I just couldn’t walk around them properly as I couldn’t see for tears
3:45... Sydney once also had a 19km cemetery line from the city's Funeral Station to Rookwood Cemetery. (Supposed to be the largest cemetery in the southern hemisphere)
Aside from war graves, there are local war memorials dotted throughout the UK. Many of these date from soon after WW1, although some are older. Even relatively small villages like where I live will have one, listing the fallen from the two world wars from that locality.
My granddad left school at 12 years and began working on the docs at that age, he joined the Navy at 16 years (2 months before WW2)
My mother left school at 14 years of age and began work in a Black Box factory (for the military) at 15 years.
Back then children where much tougher and had to just get on with it, as they did not know any other way.
Hey Guys, I have lived in and around Brookwood my entire life. I have been stood to attention in full undress uniform to the sound of the “Last Post” in honour of of fallen Canadian firefighters who came to London’s aid during the Blitz. As a firefighter myself at the time, we hosted for a a team of Canadian firefighters called team Mitzy. This team was tasked to find the final resting place of their fellow Canadian firefighters from back in WW2. The team stayed at the fire station with us and started at Brookwood cemetery where due our military’s record keeping they found all of their fallen. It was a proud tear jerking moment that I will never forget. Fun fact 1: Watch the movie “Dunkirk” the main line into London passes through Brookwood and then Woking. Listen carefully at the end of the movie. Fun fact 2: I’m sure you guys have seen Tower Bridge in London? This iconic bridge on London’s landscape was designed by John Wolfe Barry who is buried at Brookwood. Stay safe guys. ✊🧑🚒
Great episode as always! You may want to look at the national arboretum in Staffordshire. It has memorials for all service members fallen from the world wars to today and from all over the commonwealth.
My grandma helped the project get off the ground and I can remember when it was just a small field to the giant memorial it is today. They do a lot of events and is open to the general public to roam the grounds or just to have a day out at the cafe or restaurant. They do a lot for veterans with the funds.
Absolutely agree. It’s the most amazing place.
Beautiful reaction and we must remember these are not just rows of headstones each and every single one represents a life of someone who was a son,grandson,brother fiancé ,nephew or friend.
Yes, very true. ❤️
The first option has always been that UK troops, all nationalities, are buried where they fall - in a cemetry in the country where they fell. Hence there are UK war graves in the Falklands and all over the world. They are maintained by the War Graves Commision.
Even going back to WW1 and before, some injured servicemen made it back to the UK, only to die. In more recent times, with air transport being so fast etc., some bodies have been repatriated to the UK.
Some were repatriated from the Falklands; the families were given the choice. However, with Afghanistan, earlier war graves from the WWs had been desecrated so that was another factor.
One of our local cemeteries, where my Parents are buried, contains graves of soldiers from many wars. They are identified by a white portland stone baton beside the headstone. The cemetery is maintained by the local authority and volunteers. It is beautiful with a chapel, currently under restoration, trees, plants and wildlife. In Summer, we often go up as a family, tend our parents grave and then sit on the grass and have a picnic, it is lovely to enjoy the peace, watch the squirrels, listen to the birds. It is as if my Parents are there with us.
My Great Grandfather died in the battle for Cambrai, France WW1. He does not have a grave but his name is memorialised on the honour role in the allied cemetery there.
my aunt went to flanders last year, to see my great uncles grave who died there i want to visit too when i can
you should react to the Occupation of the Channel Islands. it was the only British soil held by the Germans for 5yrs in WWII. every year on May 9th we celebrate Liberation Day in each of the Islands with military bands and vehicles. it is also a national holiday.
My Mother was in the WRAF during the war and , for a while, she was the official RAF photographer at every military burial that took place there. We have hundreds of black and white photos of funerals.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission looks after over 4000 graveyards and memorials in about 150 countries. These include CWGC graves in 24 US cemeteries, one even in Kentucky and in Kansas. The funding for this $80 million pa comes from the governments of UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India.
Another amazing war graves cemetery is Thiepval Memorial on the Somme in France, which is also massive. Also check out the National Arboretum in England.
In WWII there were many 'volunteers' that fought for us. America, and others that were not involved in the war until later or not at all. These brave committed people are here, where possible. Violette Szabo is a very well known name with those interested in WWII. They even made a film about her 'Carve Her Name with Pride'.
I live about 20 minutes from this cemetery. The military section is only a part of what is a vast cemetery. The dead of London used to be transported here by train on what was The Necropolis Line. The starting point in London still exists today. A little inside information for you. The headstones that are ‘shouldered’ I.e. have a small cut away on each side, denote people who have died of their wounds later. That is, they were evacuated back from the field to hospitals here in the UK, but subsequently died of their injuries.
As a WW2 reenactors I hear the story’s from those who served. One story was of a 15 year old who lost his entire family and home during a bombing raid. He stood there with only the cloths on his back, with anger in his heart, he went and inlisted that very day. When asked his age he said 18. The Sargent said ‘where’s your birth certificate, the reply was, bombed out Sargent, this is all I am, I want to fight.
And fight he did.
Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey, 23 miles southwest of London, was opened in 1854 as the main cemetery for the ever- growing population of London. It had its own dedicated railway station, carrying the dead from London directly to the cemetery. The line was called The Necropolis Railway. The cemetery officially closed in April 1941, although the last train ran in May that year. The owners of the cemetery never achieved their goal of it being the only cemetery needed by London for centuries to come.
That’s not far from me and it is huge. It’s also so beautiful and peaceful.
My grandfather died in Belgium in the 1st WW and I had the opportunity to visit his grave in Belgium looked after by the Graves Commission and also the local people it wasnt a well known one but beautifully looked after like all the War Grave are
In the past it was possible to join the UK navy at 16 as a 'boy' sailor. Before 1939 it was common for front line ships to have 'boy' sailors as part of the crew with some being killed in action. For an example check out the story of Boy 1st Class Jack Cornwell, who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry at the Battle of Jutland during World War I.
Brookwood war cemetery is in an area of Surrey where there is an American community. A lot of Americans live within this area and Cobham. There is an international American school in Cobham, Surrey. They also have an American school bus, which they use to transport the pupils/students from home to school & vice versa.
Subtitles for deaf folk.. Put the captions on 😊. Puleeze, with a cherry on top.
The Brookwood Cemetery was built in response to the lack of burial space within London. The idea was for the people of London to be buried at Brookwood would come by train to a dedicated train station, the deceased would have to pay a one way fare,. It was created in about the 1860's. About this time cremations started to become popular and in fact the first cremation was held at Brookwood. Which defeated the purpose of the place. People had bought burial plots there but the cremation process was cheaper and many were forgotten about so building in this area is a problem as sometimes a 6' x 12' plot of land, upon which you are to build, is owned by some person who is lost in time!
A lot of Brookwood was sold off as other forms and places of burial were found. During the First World War the cemetery was used for the burial of Muslim soldiers. Brookwood was chosen for them as Woking has the oldest Mosque in England and also has a very large Muslim population. Wounded Muslim soldiers were sent there for recuperation by the British Indian Army which consisted of Muslim's and Hindu's. As both had different religious and dietary requirements places where they could be accommodated was felt best. They were originally buried just outside of Woking next to the Peace Garden in Horsell Common but later moved to Brookwood. Later the cemetery was used for the numerous wounded Allied soldiers. There is a lovely American cemetery. Also there is a memorial to all the SOE operatives who died and have no grave fighting in Occupied Countries during WWII.
The Railway was the Necropolis Railway whose London terminus was adjacent to Waterloo Station, the line joined the main line to Portsmouth and Southampton at Clapham Junction. The trains had First, Second and Third class carriages for both Mourners and the coffins. British Servicemen's bodies have been repatriated when and where possible since Boer War times and before except the Navy, burial at sea was the norm before refrigerated storage unless an high ranking officer (Admiral Lord Nelson).
Don't worry about pausing, were here for your opinions. Lynsey wears her heart on her sleeve for sure. Edit check out Horacio Nelson our greatest war hero.
There are small war grave cemeteries throughout the UK but are within ordinary cemeteries. One is just up the road near where I live at a place called Lodgehill cemetery near Weoley Castle, and is always kept very neat and tidy. There is also war graves that stand alone within ordinary cemeteries. The railway that you mentioned was built in Victorian times because London burial grounds were full up. It was called the Necropolis railway and went from London to Brookwood in Surrey.
The fallen were repatriated to the UK from the European battlefields. There was an American contingent at Brookwood who then conveyed the GI bodies to the US to be buried on their own soil. This amazingly well thought out operation was what we see today in those well tended surroundings.
Boy soldiers of the great war is a well written book on children who enlisted feu active duty & follows some of their stories & ages
Brookwood had a dedicated railway station for the cemetery. I used it as well as thousands of others while doing basic training (R.A.O.C. Royal Army Ordnance Corps) at Blackdown Barracks, Deepcut, Surrey. Also Pirbright that used to be The Guards Depot, the ones you see at trooping the colour and at Buckingham Palace.
If you haven't already I'd recommend checking out the Black Adder Goes Forth final episode ending. There's a 4 minute copy of it on youtube and that's all you need to see to make you cry
I used to live there when my father was in the forces. I could see the cemetery from my bedroom window. Not sure if it has been mentioned in the comments, but the burial scene from the horror film (The Omen) was filmed there.
For an even truer impression of the sheer scale of the events behind this see images of the vast war cemetaries of all nationalities in France, Belgium etc. At just one near Douamont (Verdun), apart from the seemingly endless headstones, the ossuary in the memorial contains the 'assorted' bones from an estimated 130,000 unidentified dead. Visiting them in person is a sobering experience, although the scale is even then almost beyond comprehension. Then there's the also seemingly endless small 'local' war cemetaries with ~ a few dozen graves in each. All that I saw were beautifully maintained.