Commonwealth War Graves Commission Debt of Honour Register

When the Imperial War Graves Commission was established by Royal Charter in 1917 it was unique in two respects.  It was the only organisation to be charged with the commemoration of all the war dead, both military and civilian, from the member countries and it was, until the creation of the Commonwealth Secretariat in 1965, the only permanent Commonwealth institution reflecting a common aim shared by an equal partnership of nations.

1,700,000 men and women of the Commonwealth forces died in the two World Wars.  Of these the remains of 925,000 were found and their graves are marked by a headstone.  Where the remains were not found the casualty’s name is commemorated on a memorial.  There are war graves in some 150 different countries; mostly in the 2,500m war cemeteries and plots constructed by the Commission.

There are also graves in many civil cemeteries and churchyards throughout the world.  The Commission employs craftsmen to maintain the grounds of its cemeteries and memorials and embellishes its site with monuments to give the casualties fitting and peaceful commemoration.

The cost of the work of the Commission is shared by those partner governments of nations which raised independent forces in the 1914-18 and 1939-45 wars, in proportions based on the number of their graves.  Other Commonwealth nations contribute to the work of the Commission by maintaining graves in their own country.

The partner governments and the proportion they contribute towards the cost of the Commission’s work are:  Australia (5.91%), Canada (9.88%), India (2.23%), New Zealand (2.10%), South Africa (2.07%) and the United Kingdom (77.81%).  Newfoundland, which was a founding member of the Commission, ceased to have separate status from 1949 when it elected to join Canada.

All Forces Commemorated

This together with 208,848 burials (185,369 from the First World War and 23,479 from the Second World War) brings the totals to 1,143,643.

Of the many civilians of the Commonwealth whose deaths were due to enemy action in the 1939-45 War, the names of 66,383 are commemorated in the Civilian War Dead Roll of Honour, located near St George’s Chapel in Westminster Abbey, London.

THEIR NAME LIVETH FOR EVERMORE
DEBT OF HONOUR REGISTER

This Register provides personal and service details and places of commemoration for the 1.7 million members of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First or Second World Wars.  (A record of some 60,000 civilian casualties of the Second World War is provided without details of burial location.)

The cemeteries and memorials where these names are commemorated, in pertetuity, are located in around 150 countries.  This database makes it possible to identify the exact location, by cemetery plot or memorial panel, where any given name is commemorated.

Forces of Australia Commemorated

Forces of Canada Commemorated

Also see Canada’s ‘Books of Rememberance’

Forces of Undivided India Commemorated

No listings for this country.

Forces of New Zealand Commemorated

Forces of South Africa Commemorated

Forces of the United Kingdom and Former Colonies Commemorated

COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION

First World War (1914-1922)

Australia

Canada

India - No names listed

New Zealand

South Africa - No names liested

United Kingdom

Second World War (1939-1947)

Australia

Canada
(Also see Canada’s - Books of Rememberance)

India

No names listed

New Zealand

No names listed

South Africa

United Kingdom

Source:  The Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Debt of Honour Register