An exciting partnership between the University of Winchester & Commonwealth War Graves

At the beginning of 2024, we were delighted to continue our partnership with the University of Winchester and offer their students the opportunity to take part in our Speaker and Tour Guide Programme.

Partnering with the University of Winchester

Image: University of Winchester students George Hanfrey, left, and Liam Sturdey, right delivering a talk

Working alongside local Public Engagement Coordinator Will Reid, the partnership aimed to give students the chance to learn more about Commonwealth War Graves and engage the public with its work, whilst gaining valuable skills that’ll benefit them beyond their studies.

Throughout the year students completed research on local casualties and attended a series of training sessions led by Will, which gave them with all the skills they needed to deliver a talk and a tour.

They were also offered unique opportunities to attend events such as Chalke History Festival and deliver engagements during global awareness periods such as Black History Month.

The programme culminated in a series of remembrance tours around West Hill Cemetery in Winchester and Tower Hill Memorial in London.

Here is what recent graduates Sofia Nazneen, Liam Sturdey and George Hanfrey had to say about their experiences over the course of the year.

Sofia Nazneen

My name is Sofia Nazneen, and I recently completed my MA degree in Cultural Heritage and Resource Management at the University of Winchester, United Kingdom.

My passion for history, particularly the stories of those who served during the world wars and the opportunity to work in a cultural setting, led me to apply for the Commonwealth War Graves University Volunteer Programme.

This experience not only deepened my historical knowledge but also provided invaluable skills in casualty research, public speaking, and community engagement.

Image: Sofia delivering a talk at the Tower Hill Memorial, London

Highlights of my year with Commonwealth War Graves

One of the most memorable experiences during my placement was conducting guided tours alongside Will at Tower Hill Memorial in London. 

Throughout the year, I trained in casualty research and public speaking, which culminated in the opportunity to share the stories of those commemorated by Commonwealth War Graves with the public. 

It was incredibly rewarding to see attendees engage with the contributions and sacrifices of the British Merchant Navy during the First and Second World Wars.

Will entrusted me with the responsibility of delivering historical insights about Tower Hill Memorial, including the number of commemorations, its historical and architectural significance, and the background of its construction within sight of the River Thames.

Additionally, I had the honour of narrating the personal story of Surgeon Badrinath Balwent Joshi, who perished when the cargo liner SS Rohna was destroyed by German bombers off the coast of Algeria during WWII. Sharing his story was particularly meaningful to me, as we both hail from the Indian subcontinent.

Another standout moment was participating in the annual Dutch National Remembrance Ceremony at Mill Hill Cemetery in London on May 4, 2024. 

This event provided a unique opportunity to witness an international commemoration firsthand, further highlighting the global reach and significance of Commonwealth War Graves’ work. 

Being introduced as a CWGC volunteer at such a formal and meaningful occasion was both an honour and a moment of personal growth.

A surprising discovery

One of the most fascinating aspects of my time with CWGC was learning about the meticulous care that goes into maintaining graves and memorials across 150 countries.

I was particularly struck by the fact that each headstone, regardless of rank, race, or nationality, is treated with the same level of respect and dignity. This unwavering commitment to equality in remembrance left a lasting impression on me and deepened my appreciation for Commonwealth War Graves’ dedication to preserving history.

Another surprising aspect was the deliberate design of different memorials to ensure the commemoration of those who have no known grave. The architectural and symbolic thoughtfulness behind these memorials is a testament to the importance of remembering every individual who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Personal growth and takeaways

This opportunity has been instrumental in developing my research and public speaking skills. Through training session at CWGC’s head office and the tours I conducted, I gained confidence in speaking publicly and adapting my delivery to different audiences.

Additionally, this experience has broadened my understanding of the significance of commemoration and its impact on communities. Engaging with visitors, answering their questions, and witnessing their reactions to the stories I shared reaffirmed the importance of keeping these histories alive.

I am incredibly grateful to my supervisor, Will Reid, for his guidance and support throughout the year. I also want to thank my fellow volunteers and the staff of Commonwealth War Graves whom I met at the Maidenhead office. This experience has been truly transformative, and I highly encourage other students to take part in this fantastic opportunity.

The commemoration of the war dead is not just about preserving their names; it’s about ensuring their stories continue to be told. I am honoured to have played a small role in that mission, and I look forward to seeing how Commonwealth War Graves continues to engage future generations in this important work.

Liam Sturdey

My name is Liam and I studied History and Archaeology Degree at Winchester University and have now started my Masters Degree in Cultural Heritage and Resource Management where I look at ways to improve the heritage sector.

I have a significant interest in Battlefield Archaeology, which having the opportunity to be involved in this programme, has helped to give me a much deeper understanding of the sacrifices people made, as well as the personal stories that can be told. 

Uncovering Cyril's story

As part of the programme, I was able to research several casualties’ personal stories, one of the most interesting discoveries I made whilst researching some personal stories was that one of the first casualties of tank conflict lived just down the road from where I did and has a memorial in the local church.

His name was Cyril Coles and before the war he worked as a miller in Poole, he subsequently joined the army in 1916 and fought in the latter stages of the Battle of the Somme, most likely becoming the first ever tank crewmen to be killed in action. 

Highlights from my time with Commonwealth War Graves

Another highlight that I had from my year with the Commonwealth War Graves was giving three tours of West Hill Cemetery in November with my colleague George. This was a fantastic experience to share the work that they do across the world, but also for myself as this was a fantastic way to build my confidence with public speaking. 

Across the tour we had 3 full, sell out tours, despite heavy snow that morning people were still interested to come out and hear about the work of commission and they were very thankful and interested in what we had to say.

A brilliant learning experience

This has been a fantastic opportunity for me, when I first learned about the work of the Commonwealth War Graves, I instantly knew it was something that I wanted to be involved with.

One person I cannot thank enough for allowing me to have this fantastic opportunity is Will Reid. His support and enthusiasm have been fantastic. 

One of the main takeaways I will have from the programme is a growing confidence in the delivery of public engagement events; giving talks and tours on behalf of Commonwealth War Graves has allowed to speak with a wide variety of different people each with their own personal connection to Commonwealth War Graves. 

Not only this but the experience gained from delivering these sessions will be invariably useful in my future career.

George Hanfrey 

My name is George, I’m a recent graduate from the University of Winchester in October of last year with a degree in archaeology. 

My work in archaeology often focused on its overlaps with history and the more unconventional areas exploring contemporary archaeology and protection of more ‘modern’ sites.

During a module on the archaeology of contemporary warfare, I met Will Reid who offered me an opportunity to work with him and some of my classmates during his public engagement activities.

Image: George captivates a group of tour attendees

Deepening understanding

Nothing was more rewarding than investigating a list of names inscribed upon the cemetery’s graves and discovering the intensely human, complex stories of the men and women beneath them.
 
Something I did not expect when I first began working with the Commonwealth War Graves was the pure scale of the operation. I understood that managing graveyards across the world required significant numbers of personnel, but only once I got to see some of their work first-hand I realised the incredible numbers of people that it takes to protect and maintain all these sites and names for the years to come. 

Relating to this, an interaction that stuck with me was when a woman I met at an early event with the public told me about visiting a CWGC cemetery in Hong Kong and being so amazed at the level of care and attention her ancestor had received, even halfway across the world from the UK. 

Small interactions like this provided me with huge insights into the importance of the Commonwealth War Graves’ work and how much it impacts the lives of people all across the planet.

My work with the Commonwealth War Graves n provided me with a real confidence boost in talking to the public and delivering presentations as well as helped me develop my skills in researching and studying the past.

More than that, it helped me to better connect the stories of individuals to large-scale statistics giving me a better understanding of the First and Second World Wars.

I can’t describe enough how rewarding and valuable my time with Commonwealth War Graves’ was and how much I recommend it to others, to help grow and teach both themselves and their communities.

Reflecting on the programme with Public Engagement Coordinator Will Reid

Public Engagement Coordinator Will Reid reflects that it is “opportunities like this that crucial to our future as an organisation. Working alongside Sofia, Liam and George has been a genuine pleasure and it is through them, the next generation, that we can ensure the sacrifices of those we care for are never forgotten.

How can you support Commonwealth War Graves’ student volunteer programmes?

All our projects and programmes rely on the generosity of our Members and our supporters.
 
Please consider donating today to help make a real difference to the remembrance and commemoration of Second World War servicemen.

With your support, we can continue to engage with the public across the country and abroad to inform them of our work in commemorating over 1.7 million men and women from across the Commonwealth.

Membership costs just £3 a month.

With that, not only do you get to support our volunteering, education, and outreach projects, but CWGF Members also enjoy:

• Access to CWG Chats: a series of special online talks about the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, as told by CWGC staff, as well as specialist subjects from renowned historians.
  Priority access to our brilliant events
• A regular newsletter keeping you up to date with all the latest CWGF news
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• Your subscription to the Foundation Magazine detailing events, more Foundation insights, and interesting snippets of World War history
• A free CWGF calendar

Become a Member today and help us keep the memories of the Commonwealth’s war dead alive forever.