Merry Christmas from the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation

Commemorations at Christmas

In December, we hosted our very first Commemorations at Christmas Carol Service. We welcomed special guests Barbara Dickson OBE and Michael Morpurgo to an intimate evening of carols and remembrance in the stunning surrounds of the Guards Chapel, London.

We were treated to some spectacular performances by the pupils of the Purcell School for Young Musicians as well as the fabulous choir of Guards Chapel.

A huge thank you to everyone who came. We can’t wait to do the same next year!

Commemorations at Christmas recap

An Evening at Brookwood

May brought the second War Graves Week, celebrating the work of the Foundation and Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Capping off the week was our first Evening at Brookwood concert.

Performers included our friends from the Purcell School, as well as award-winning folk trio Harp & A Monkey, the Gordon’s School Pipes & Drums band, and Sandhurst Military Wives Choir.

We couldn’t have pulled off such a magical evening without our partners The Commonwealth Resounds.

An Evening at Brookwood

Calendar Competition

Our Calendar Competition is quickly becoming a regular yearly event.

More than 600 photos were submitted for 2022’s contest but there could only be 13 winning photographs.

This year’s competition was themed around nature. We were blown away by the various pictures of Commission cemeteries and memorials interacting with the natural world.

Our contest winners and entrants enthralled us with snaps of various curious animals hiding amongst the headstones, beautiful blooms, and inspirational horticulture.

2023 calendars are still on sale in our shop so pick yours up today.

See the Calendar Contest Winners

Walking our War Graves: Normandy

Our second virtual Walking our War Graves challenge was taken up by hundreds of eager walkers, swimmers and cyclists between April and May 2022.

Almost £10,000 was raised by 115 participants!

They virtually covered 95 kilometres of Normandy countryside, following a route that connected Ranville War Cemetery and Banneville-la-Campagne War Cemetery with stops along the way.

On June 6^th, the anniversary of the D-Day Landings, several participants laid wreaths at Bayeux War Cemetery. Individual wreaths were laid for the five highest fundraisers.

Walking our War Graves: Normandy