The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has become synonymous with commemoration of war dead. The commission was founded by Sir Fabian Ware whose moral and political leanings helped shape the guiding principles of the organisation, most notably that of ‘equality in death’. He was a passionate believer in social reform, believing strongly that collectivism i.e. putting … Continue reading The Power of Words – CWGC epitaphs of the Great War

I'm looking forward to being back in France and Belgium next week, for the first time in around 18 months! Although I'll be working, I hope to find some time in the early morning and evenings to visit some sites and wander some paths that I've not seen in many months, to reconnect with the … Continue reading ‘Nostalgia – that’s the autumn, dreaming through September’

The 21st May 2021 sees the beginning of the CWGC's first #WarGravesWeek as well the anniversary of the formation of the Imperial War Graves Commission by Royal Charter in 1917. To mark this occasion I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what the CWGC means to me and how it forms an integral … Continue reading The Sound of Silence

Next month will mark a year since I last set foot on the battlefields of the Western Front, a place I had visited pretty much monthly in the years preceding COVID 19. To say I miss it is an understatement. I recently read a quote from an Aboriginal Elder of Uluru, Bob Randall who said:   … Continue reading ‘Maybe you had to leave in order to really miss a place’

The run up to Armistice Day is truly the season of duff military history, so on that theme, I thought I'd share some of my top equine myths of the First World War... 1. 'The British Army requisitioned all the horses in the country' There seems to be a belief that in 1914 the British … Continue reading Straight from the horse’s mouth

I am not religious, and by this, I mean that I do not believe in a God, or that any kind of one divine power has an influence over our lives. I believe that God is a construct of man; that Theology is a very human attempt to grapple with the complexities of life, to … Continue reading ‘Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens’

As the First World War ended, so too did the British Army's requirement for the hundreds of thousands of horses and mules that served within its ranks. With no war, the war horse in his many roles, was made redundant. After the Armistice, the challenge of what to do with these now obsolete animals on … Continue reading From War Horse to Veteran

Women from all walks of life made a contribution to the First World War, even the daughter of the man who would later become Prime Minister of New Zealand. Beatrice Enid Bell was born in Wellington in 1888, to the distinguished parents Sir Francis Bell and Lady Caroline Bell. She is believed to have been … Continue reading Enid & Violet Bell by Olivia Smith

As part of the British Empire, the role of Australian troops in the First World War has been well explored. The ANZAC legend is primarily focused on the contribution of men, yet Australian women also served in many ways. Over 2,000 women served with the Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) in Australia, Greece and India … Continue reading Louise Blanche Riggall

In a world of easy connectivity, I think it is fair to say we all take for-granted our ability to be instantly connected through our mobile phones. I’ll always remember how simple it was to FaceTime my Mum and show her the view of the Somme from the top of the Thiepval memorial - I … Continue reading ‘Hello Girls’ by Olivia Smith