Private Harold Grant, known as Ambrose, served with the 1st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, and was killed on this day in the Second Battle of Bullecourt. During the brutal fighting, over 7,000 Australians were killed or wounded. 📍Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery 🇫🇷

Flying Officer Joseph Cherkinsky was killed alongside three fellow Canadian airmen when their Wellington bomber crashed during a training flight in 1943. His brother, Sgt Arthur Cherkinsky, was killed on a bombing raid and is buried in the Netherlands. 📍Evesham Cemetery 🇬🇧

Signalman Patrick McKaigney Alexander of the Royal Signals died of injuries sustained in a road accident while serving with the British Expeditionary Force in France in 1940. 📍Fouquieres Churchyard Extension 🇫🇷

Private Abel Wright, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, served with the Gordon Highlanders. He died on this day in 1916. 📍Whittington (St Giles) Churchyard 🇬🇧

Private Peter Wyse served with the Royal Scots Fusiliers and died of wounds after being evacuated back to the UK. He is buried in a large military cemetery in Oxfordshire that contains casualties from both world wars. 📍Oxford (Botley) Cemetery 🇬🇧

Bristol City goalkeeper Thomas Ware died of wounds on this day in 1915 while serving with the Royal Field Artillery in Belgium. Recently, I was able to find a photograph of him in action during a 1912 match against Birmingham City. 📍Poperinghe Old Military Cemetery 🇧🇪

A neat line of headstones, all bearing the same cap badge. In this instance, they belong to men of the 6th (City of London) Battalion (City of London Rifles), London Regiment. These men were killed when German mines exploded near Vimy Ridge. 📍Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery 🇫🇷

Join the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for a free tour of the Nuneaton (Oaston Road) Cemetery, led by one of our experienced volunteer tour guides. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cwgc-war-g... #WarGravesWeek

A couple of years ago, I found a swarm of bees covering the headstone of Australian Pilot Officer Geoffrey Smith. I didn’t know it at the time, but an airman killed in the same crash is buried in my local cemetery. 📍Oxford (Botley) Cemetery 🇬🇧

Podporucznik Jerzy Fijałowski of the Polish Air Force was killed when the North American P-51B Mustang he was piloting spun into the ground while approaching RAF Montford Bridge in Shropshire. 📍Donington (St Cuthbert) Churchyard, Albrighton 🇬🇧

Nineteen-year-old Midshipman George Wetherall was one of around 125 men killed off Malta in the sinking of HMS Russell. The ship, which had served in the Gallipoli Campaign, struck a mine while returning to Valletta Grand Harbour. 📍Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery 🇲🇹

Brigadier General James Riddell was killed in action while commanding the 149th (1st Northumberland) Infantry Brigade. His headstone records that he was killed leading his brigade just five days after arriving on the Western Front. 📍Tyne Cot Cemetery 🇧🇪

First Lieutenant Howard Winand, US Army Air Forces, was killed while piloting a Douglas C-47 Skytrain that crashed shortly after takeoff from RAF Membury, Berkshire. Tragically, the crash claimed 14 lives. 📍Cambridge American Cemetery 🇬🇧

In 1916, William Rowbotham volunteered to serve on HMS Julnar in an attempt to reach the besieged garrison at Kut-al-Amara with much-needed supplies. For his involvement, Rowbotham was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal in 1919. 📍Scarborough (Woodlands) Cemetery 🇬🇧

One of just a handful of headstones in a German First World War cemetery with over 17,000 burials that commemorates a Jewish soldier. 📍Fricourt German Military Cemetery 🇫🇷

William Henry Ensor is named on a family headstone in my hometown, Nuneaton. Living in Canada when war broke out, he likely lied about his age and enlisted with the Canadian Infantry in November 1914, giving his age as 19 years and 1 month. 📍Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery 🇧🇪

Flight Lieutenant Richard Burke AFC was a pilot instructor based with No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School at RAF Ansty. He was killed when the Tiger Moth aircraft on which he was flying struck a tree. His pupil, LAC Ronald Burt, also died. 📍Ansty (St James) Churchyard 🇬🇧

Company Serjeant Major John Wager, Royal Garrison Artillery, was killed on this day in 1915. A local newspaper reported that the 31 year old had served in the South African War and was likely to be commissioned. 📍Ypres Town Cemetery 🇧🇪

Flight Sergeant Douglas Stunt, RAF, was lost over Hungary with the crew of his Wellington bomber. From 1942, his unit, 128 Squadron, served in the North African and Italian campaigns. 📍Budapest War Cemetery 🇭🇺

The Shoes on the Danube Bank memorial was unveiled on this day in 2005, honouring the thousands of people murdered and shot into the river by Arrow Cross Party militiamen during the Second World War. 📍Budapest 🇭🇺

The Governor, Malta. To honour her brave people I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history. George R.I. April 15th, 1942.  📍Fort St Elmo - National War Museum. Valletta, Malta 🇲🇹

I’ve not seen many war graves for civilians. This one belongs to J. Pobjoy, who was attached to the 1st Army Postal Company, Royal Engineers. Where I have seen civilians commemorated, the headstone corners are usually clipped. 📍Calais Southern Cemetery 🇫🇷

Lance Serjeant Bright DCM MM, Coldstream Guards, was originally buried in Wavrin German Cemetery. The award of his Military Medal was announced in the London Gazette in March 1918, and that of his Distinguished Conduct Medal in May 1918. 📍 Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery 🇫🇷

Lieutenant Colonel Philip Magnay, Royal Fusiliers, was killed commanding 12th Battalion Manchester Regiment. In July 1916, he took part in the actions at Delville Wood, Longueval, and Beaumont Hamel and was Mentioned in Despatches three times. 📍Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery 🇫🇷

War Graves Week 2026 Nuneaton (Oaston Road) Cemetery Tour Saturday 16 May, 2026, at 10.00am. Join us for a free tour at Oaston Road Cemetery, the final resting place of twelve First World War casualties and 76 from the Second World War. 1/2

Two Cumbrian territorials resting side by side in France. Both Robert Briggs and Robert Burns were employed in the mining industry before enlisting in 1914, when they were aged just 17. They were both killed in this day in 1917. 📍Beaurains Road Cemetery 🇫🇷

Captain Charles Browne, Queen Victoria's Own Corps of Guides Cavalry (F.F.) (Lumsden's), was shot through the head and killed by a rifle bullet while withdrawing a machine-gun section, when attached to the 15th Lancers (Cureton's Multanis). 📍Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery 🇫🇷

Gloucestershire-born Lieutenant John Poulton served with the South Saskatchewan Regiment. He was accidentally killed after being struck by a dispatch rider’s motorcycle while acting as an umpire during a training exercise in Sussex. 📍North Nibley Cemetery 🇬🇧

A memorial to the crew of Lancaster LE-Z ND949, lost returning from an operation against Lützkendorf. Diverted in poor weather on its return, the aircraft crashed, killing all seven aboard, six of whom were serving with the Royal Australian Air Force. 📍Foxton, Leicestershire 🇬🇧

Private Charles McCorrie was awarded the Victoria Cross during the Siege of Sevastopol in 1855. Born in Killead, County Antrim, he served in the 57th (West Middlesex) Regiment of Foot. He died in Malta in 1857, aged 27. 📍Msida Bastion Cemetery 🇲🇹

L/Cpl Winifred Caves, Auxiliary Territorial Service, died on this day in 1942. However, her body was not buried until 29 May. The delay was raised in the House of Commons by Nuneaton’s MP, Mr Bowles, and answered by the Home Secretary, Herbert Morrison. 📍Nuneaton (Oaston Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧

Tom Manning and Frank Manning, 5th Battalion Canadian Infantry, were killed on the same day, have consecutive numbers, and are buried side by side. At first, I thought they may have been closely related, or even brothers, but it appears they are not. 📍Aeroplane Cemetery 🇧🇪

Corporal Herbert Easter, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, at rest in a cemetery on the Somme, France. 📍Connaught Cemetery 🇫🇷

The Malta Memorial commemorates almost 2,300 airmen who lost their lives during the Second World War and have no known grave. 📍Malta Memorial 🇲🇹

Stoker Jack Duran, Royal Naval Patrol Service, was killed alongside four others when HMT Cramond Island was attacked by enemy aircraft off Berwickshire on 2 April 1941. The St Abbs lifeboats rescued the survivors, two of whom were badly burned. 📍Foxton (St Andrew) Churchyard 🇬🇧

Private Margaret Lillian Thompson, Auxiliary Territorial Service, died on this day in 1946. Inside the church, I found her photograph displayed beside a marble tablet naming those from the village who were killed in the Great War. 📍Ratcliffe Culey (All Saints) Churchyard 🇬🇧

A busy day with many sites and cemeteries visited. The Thiepval Memorial, which bears over 72,000 names, was the final stop of the day

Arrived in France early yesterday morning and headed down to the Somme. En route, I stopped on the outskirts of Béthune, visiting Fouquières Churchyard Extension and Sandpits British Cemetery. It was then on to Notre Dame de Lorette, France’s largest military cemetery.

A young soldier of the 31st Training Reserve Battalion buried in Northamptonshire. 📍Kilsby Cemetery 🇬🇧

Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron, is credited with shooting down 80 aeroplanes. On board his 72nd aerial victory was 19-year-old Lt Kenneth Barford from Coventry. 📍Coventry War Memorial Park 🇬🇧

The grave of ‘An Airman of the 1939–1945 War’ who, sadly, is ‘Known unto God’. Somewhere, someone missed him and mourned his loss on 27 March 1945. 📍Budapest War Cemetery 🇭🇺

A smiling face A heart of gold One of the best We could not hold Words chosen by the family of Private William Sharman, The Worcestershire Regiment, who died on this day in 1945. 📍Coventry (Windmill Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧

Cadet George Johnston, Australian Flying Corps, died on this day in 1918 from injuries sustained in a flying accident. 📍Winchester (West Hill) Cemetery 🇬🇧

Sedgebert Herschel Joelson MC served with the Artists’ Rifles, Royal Fusiliers, and RFC in the First World War, during which he was awarded the MC. At the time of his death in 1941, he was on the Headquarters Staff of RAF Fighter Command. 📍Torquay Cemetery and Extension 🇬🇧

Gefreiter Kurt Maletzki is buried among over 15,000 German soldiers who lost their lives on the Greek island of Crete during WW2. The cemetery stands on a hill overlooking Maleme Airfield, where heavy fighting took place in 1941 during the Battle of Crete. 📍Maleme German Military Cemetery 🇬🇷

Another soldier from the same battalion was killed the following day. He was 20-year-old Private Percy Ingram, who came from Withybrook and was his parents’ only son. 📍Point 110 New Military Cemetery 🇫🇷

Local soldier Private Herbert Farndon, from Bedworth, Warwickshire, was killed by a shell while eating his midday meal. The former miner’s death is stark reminder of how random and indiscriminate death was in the trenches. 📍Point 110 New Military Cemetery 🇫🇷

Lavinia Hall and two of her children, Sheila (aged 10) and Alan (aged 2), were killed in a deadly WW2 air raid. Two other children, Roy and Norman, survived, as did their father. Roy passed away in December 2022, aged 94. 📍Scarborough (Woodlands) Cemetery 🇬🇧

The Latvian Riflemen Monument commemorating those who fought in the riflemen battalions during World War One. 📍Riga, Latvia 🇱🇻

Signalman William Bigden, his wife Ethel, and their 15-month-old daughter Jean were killed in an air raid on 18 March 1941. Their lives were tragically cut short; they now rest together in North Yorkshire. 📍Scarborough (Manor Road) Cemetery 🇬🇧