Cemetery to host tours during Commonwealth War Graves Week

Article date: 24 May 2022

War Graves Week encourages residents to learn about the stories of those commemorated by the CWGC in St Helens Borough and the dedication of those who work to keep their memory alive.

Residents keen to learn more about the remarkable stories of the men and women of the Commonwealth forces that died in the First and Second World Wars who are buried in their community can visit www.CWGC.org and visit the cemeteries in person.

A series of free tours will be held at St Helens Cemetery during Commonwealth War Grave Week on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 May, with residents invited to join. Learn more and book your place online at www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cwgc-war-graves-week-tours-st-helens-cemetery-tickets-336537090497

At www.CWGC.org residents can learn about the Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times project - the focus of this year's War Graves Week. Alongside the front-line armed forces, the CWGC will be celebrating the value those who served during the World Wars brought to key sectors such as healthcare, logistics, infrastructure and communications, and the parallels with today's global Britain which they helped to create.

Councillor Lynn Clarke, St Helens Borough Council's Armed Forces Champion, said: "Commonwealth War Graves Week provides a unique chance for residents to reconnect with our local history and learn about the courageous ordinary people from our community who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

"Behind every name on a war grave or memorial in this borough is a human story waiting to be discovered and War Graves Week is the perfect opportunity to do just that."

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) honours and cares for the men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars, ensuring they will never be forgotten. Funded by six Member Governments, CWGC's work began with building, and now maintaining, cemeteries at 23,000 locations all over the world.