19 December 2023

The CWGC in 2023 – January to June

As we draw towards the end of another incredibly busy year for the Commission, let’s take a look back at some of our biggest news stories and events during the first half of 2023.

January

In January, we marked the 79^th anniversary of Operation Shingle, the codename for the Allied landings at Anzio during the Second World War. The landings were the precursor to D-Day and a key chapter in the Italian campaign, eventually leading to the liberation of Rome.

We were glad to host events at the Beach Head War Cemetery and Anzio War Cemetery and the guest list included the British Ambassador to Italy and San Marino, The Rt Hon Edward Llewellyn OBE, the British Defence Attaché to Rome, Col. Matt Smith, the Canadian Embassy to Rome Defence Attaché Capt. André Boisjoli and the prefectural commissioner of the Municipality of Anzio, Francesco Tarricone; as well as representatives from the Italian Army and local institutions.

Read more about Operation Shingle

February

February was an important month for the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation. Firstly, we announced the continuation of our partnership with the University of Glasgow, a programme that trained student tour guides, teaching them valuable skills and helping to introduce the stories of the casualties of the world wars to the next generation.

Meet some of our student tour guides

We were also delighted to announce a new partnership with the Post Office Remembrance Fellowship (PORF), who awarded us a generous grant to develop three exciting projects which would create a living memorial to the men and women of the General Post Office who died in the two world wars.

Discover more about our partnership with PORF

March

In March, we began a restoration project on our Leopoldsburg War Cemetery in Belgium, which holds more than 760 Second World War casualties. The site requires extensive restoration of its entrance way and walls which have naturally worn down over time. This work will be completed in line with our conservation policy, where we endeavour to use the most sustainable methods possible, repairing rather than replacing the original materials.

Financial support for the restoration is being provided by the Flemish Government and the Municipality of Leopoldsburg will be opening a new museum ‘Liberation Garden’ near the cemetery.

We hosted quite the party in the historic Edinburgh Castle to celebrate the launch of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Scotland. This is a huge step forward for the Foundation, allowing us to raise funds to support our commemorative and education work in Scotland and across the UK.

We were joined by more than 130 guests including Major General Alastair Bruce, Governor of Edinburgh Castle and Foundation Trustee, who hosted the event, members of the Armed Forces, consulate representatives, local and national politicians and university, school and youth group representatives.

See the photos of the CWGF Scotland Launch

April

April saw the beginning of one of our largest and most high-profile projects of the year, the restoration of the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial.

Located in the heart of Ieper, one of the key battlegrounds of the First World War, the Menin Gate is synonymous with remembrance and the work of the CWGC. Now, nearly 100 years since its unveiling, this iconic memorial is being restored ahead of its centenary year.

This is an incredibly complex undertaking, and we are committed to completing the work as sustainably as possible, conserving as much of the original materials, and restoring rather than replacing wherever possible.

Discover more about the Menin Gate restoration

We also celebrated Anzac Day at our sites across the globe. The first ever Anzac Day took place in 1916, as Australians and New Zealanders remembered those who had lost their lives in the Gallipoli landings the year before. Today, Anzac Day is used to remember the fallen of both world wars, and the conflicts since, both in Australia and New Zealand and in the places around the world where these men and women died in service.

We are always honoured to welcome guests to our sites around the world to pay tribute each Anzac Day. This year, events were held at our sites around the world as we paused to pay tribute to the Anzac Fallen.

See our Anzac Day 2023 photo gallery

May

In May, we held our third ever War Graves Week where we hosted events in the UK and around the world and invited the public to come and join us, learn about our work and share the stories of the men and women we commemorate.

View our War Graves Week photo highlights

The country was also in a celebratory mood as we crowned King Charles III. We were established by Royal Charter in 1917 and have always maintained very close ties with the Royal Family. Several faces from the Commission’s history have featured in past coronations – and have been a great opportunity for commission staff to gather and celebrate together.

Discover the Coronation at the Commission

We were also pleased to announce the extension of Loos British Cemetery. The extension will provide burial space for hundreds of additional First World War casualties – many of whom could be recovered into our care as part of a major canal construction project in northern France.

June

On a sweltering day in June, we were delighted to cut the ribbon on our new Menin Gate Moments exhibition. Located on the ramparts by the Menin Gate, Menin Gate Moments tells the story of this iconic CWGC memorial, explaining about its place in the Ieper landscape and explaining why we are currently undertaking an incredible restoration of the gate.

We teamed up with Tom Clohosy Cole – the renowned illustrator of War Horse – who has created a series of artworks that tell the story of the memorial through the decades of CWGC care. We were joined by many esteemed guests and representatives of our member nations, reinforcing the importance of our work more than 100 years after the end of the First World War.

Learn more about Menin Gate Moments and plan your visit

We also marked the 79^th Anniversary of Operation Overlord – the invasion of Normandy – at Bayeux War Cemetery in France. Our Director General, Claire Horton CBE, was joined by a number of Second World War veterans, local dignitaries and invited guests to pay tribute to those who fell during the invasion and push into France.

This year’s visit was made even more important as we used it as a recce and planning session for next year when we will be gathering to mark the 80^th Anniversary next year.