Commonwealth War Graves Commission Marks 100th Anniversary

A new exhibition has opened to mark the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's (CWGC) 100th anniversary.

Since it was set up in 1917, the organisation has helped remember 1.7 million Commonwealth service personnel who died during both World Wars.

The 'For Then, For Now, For Ever' exhibition at Brookwood Military Cemetery uses previously unseen archival materials and artefacts to tell the story of CWGC from its founding.

English actor and adventurer, Brian Blessed OBE, opened the exhibition. He was a boy during the Second World War and and did national service with the RAF. He said:

"Every man and woman who fought in both world wars across the globe deserve to be remembered for the sacrifices they made,"

“The CWGC has done an incredible job over the last 100 years and long may it continue."

The organisation was the brainchild of Fabian Ware, a commander in a mobile unit of the Red Cross, who realised no one was recording the final resting place of First World War troops.

Despite it being an overwhelming task, he was determined to trace and record the graves of those killed on the Western Front.

The exhibition will run until 19 November 2017.

Cover picture courtesy of CWGC.