Latest news with #CommonwealthWarGravesCommission
Daily Record
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
Commonwealth Stone erected in Hartwood Cemetery to remember World War One soldier
Thanks to the dedication of the Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery, Patrick Tierney's service and sacrifice have finally been recognised. In a moving moment of remembrance and reconnection, the volunteers of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery came together today to honour a World War One soldier who had long been forgotten. Thanks to the dedication of the Friends of Hartwood Paupers Cemetery, the persistence of Rhona Barr and the compassionate efforts of Scott Cumming and Sehar Sardar from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), Patrick Tierney's service and sacrifice have finally been recognised. A 90kg granite headstone now stands proudly in the cemetery, bearing his name—a lasting tribute to a life once lost to history but now permanently etched in memory. 'Today was one of those rare moments that truly touch the soul,' said one of the volunteers from Friends of Hartwood. 'Though Patrick's journey ended long ago, this moment felt like the beginning of a new chapter, one of remembrance, reconnection, and the rediscovery of family.' Patrick Tierney, believed to have lived out his final days within Hartwood Asylum, was previously buried without recognition in a paupers grave. The installation of his headstone marks not just a correction of historical oversight but a restoration of dignity and honour. In a powerful turn of fate, members of Patrick's family, previously unaware of their ancestor's story, will travel from Ireland to Hartwood this August for a special commemorative service being arranged by Sehar Sardar of the CWGC. This emotional reunion will see Patrick Tierney finally acknowledged not only by the wider public, but by his own descendants. 'He is no longer forgotten. He is home in our hearts,' said the Friends group, reflecting on the journey that began with the discovery of one of their own family's descendants, Private Robbie MacDonald, Royal Scots, who was laid to rest in Villers Station Cemetery, France. The upcoming August service will be open to the public, with further details to be announced in the coming weeks. The community is invited to attend and bear witness as one family, and one village, bringing a once forgotten hero out from the cold.
Telegraph
3 days ago
- General
- Telegraph
Battle of Britain pilot's grave identified 85 years later
On Wednesday, a rededication ceremony took place at the gravesite, with a new Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone with his name placed. The service was conducted by Reverend Squadron Leader Jonathan Stewart and attended by relatives of Flying Officer Cox as well as the Dutch historian who made it happen. Andy Saunders, a Battle of Britain historian and author, said: 'The identification and marking of the grave site of Flying Officer Philip Cox highlights the fact that, 85 years after the Battle of Britain, a full one-third of the casualties of that battle remain officially unaccounted for.' Flying Officer Cox was born in Brighton in July 1915. During the Battle of Britain, he claimed a Me109 and shared in the destruction of another on July 20. On July 27, he led a squadron into a dog fight over Dover Harbour when he was shot down in Hurricane P3808. He was 25 years old. His mother, Winifred, a widow by this time, wrote a letter to the mother of a colleague of her son. She wrote: 'I have bad news. Philip lost his life last Saturday July 27th while leading the squadron into an engagement off the Southeast coast during the squadron leader's absence. 'The squadron had moved to Gravesend two days previously. Phil phoned me to meet him at Shoreham on Sunday the 21st – his birthday – after tea which I did and I took him back on Tuesday midday and saw him take off. '[His brother] Bob also turned up unexpectedly on Monday, so for the last time here we had the children all together. 'I had a very nice letter from his Squadron Leader this morning. I feel he is with my husband who was very devoted to him. Phil always enjoyed himself so much at your house. 'Thank you for being so nice to him.' Her other son, Robert, was killed four years later when the minesweeper he was on was sunk in the English Channel. During the Battle of Britain, 179 RAF airmen were lost at sea and not recovered.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Battle of Britain pilot's grave identified 85 years later
The lost grave of a Battle of Britain hero has been identified 85 years after he was shot down over the English Channel. Flying Officer Philip Cox was killed when his Hurricane was attacked by German fighters in July 1940. RAF colleagues said they saw his aircraft plunge into the sea off Dover. Cox was listed as missing in action and his name was later added to the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey. Weeks after his death, an airman's body washed up on a beach in Holland and was recovered by the Germans. It was then buried in a cemetery at Bergen-op-Zoom under a headstone with the words 'Known unto God'. Earlier this year, a historian in Holland researching Second World War records kept by the occupying Germans found clues that pointed to the unmarked grave being that of Flying Officer Cox. The records for the grave plot gave a partial service number recovered from the body, which matched that of Cox. On Wednesday, a rededication ceremony took place at the gravesite, with a new Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone with his name placed. The service was conducted by Reverend Squadron Leader Jonathan Stewart and attended by relatives of Flying Officer Cox as well as the Dutch historian who made it happen. Andy Saunders, a Battle of Britain historian and author, said: 'The identification and marking of the grave site of Flying Officer Philip Cox highlights the fact that, 85 years after the Battle of Britain, a full one-third of the casualties of that battle remain officially unaccounted for.' Flying Officer Cox was born in Brighton in July 1915. During the Battle of Britain, he claimed a Me109 and shared in the destruction of another on July 20. On July 27, he led a squadron into a dog fight over Dover Harbour when he was shot down in Hurricane P3808. He was 25 years old. His mother, Winifred, a widow by this time, wrote a letter to the mother of a colleague of her son. She wrote: 'I have bad news. Philip lost his life last Saturday July 27th while leading the squadron into an engagement off the Southeast coast during the squadron leader's absence. 'The squadron had moved to Gravesend two days previously. Phil phoned me to meet him at Shoreham on Sunday the 21st – his birthday – after tea which I did and I took him back on Tuesday midday and saw him take off. '[His brother] Bob also turned up unexpectedly on Monday, so for the last time here we had the children all together. 'I had a very nice letter from his Squadron Leader this morning. I feel he is with my husband who was very devoted to him. Phil always enjoyed himself so much at your house. 'Thank you for being so nice to him.' Her other son, Robert, was killed four years later when the minesweeper he was on was sunk in the English Channel. During the Battle of Britain, 179 RAF airmen were lost at sea and not recovered. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
South Wales Argus
20-05-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Chris Evans MP on CWGC appointment and importance of remembrance
For those who are not familiar with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), the organisation was founded more than 100 years ago in 1917 to commemorate the fallen during the First World War. Since then, it has expanded to include the more than 1.7 million men and women from across the commonwealth who died during the two world wars. The CWGC has a global impact. It works on behalf of the governments of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, India and South Africa in its mission. Some of the most important activities of the CWGC are to mark, record, and maintain military graves and sites of commemoration across the commonwealth. In total, it looks after more than 12,000 sites across at least 150 countries and territories. The reason I am so honoured by this appointment is because of how important it is we remember the fallen over the two world wars, across the Commonwealth. In Caerphilly, Penyrheol cemetery alone contains 19 war graves from the First World War, and 28 from the Second World War. There are many others. Only recently we came together to remember and commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, holding a two minute silence in respect and reverence for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. The events that were held across the country and locally demonstrate the strength of our commitment to honouring and remembering our war dead. War is a terrible thing, and we can only truly appreciate that by diligently reminding ourselves of the almost unbearable costs of conflict. It is also important that we ensure our children and young people learn and understand the sacrifices their forebears made for them, to ensure the freedoms we all enjoy to this day. The CWGC runs many educational projects including a virtual Wall of Remembrance, and regular live talks hosted online on many different topics. They also hold events and talks that explore the important contributions made by commonwealth forces in the two world wars, including in the Far East as part of the 75th anniversary of VJ Day. I am looking forward to working as a Commonwealth War Graves Commissioner over the coming years, and I feel the profound sense of duty that it brings. I would encourage everyone to visit the CWGC website to find out more about its important work, and how to support it. The website can be found at: Chris Evans is MP for Caerphilly.
South China Morning Post
19-05-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
UK children write to WWII veterans for VE Day 80th anniversary
Tens of thousands of children in the UK wrote to World War II veterans as part of a project aimed at teaching new generations about the significance of the conflict before the Victory in Europe Day celebrations on May 8. The VE Mail initiative was launched by campaign group Together Coalition to mark 80 years since Nazi Germany surrendered, ending the war in Europe. The group encouraged schools and youth centres to request a letter from a veteran, detailing their wartime experience and its significance to them. Around 1,300 schools requested a letter, and children participating in the programme replied with their own letters. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission will put the letters from veterans and children into the national archive. Answer: to teach new generations about the significance of World War II
