Cross of Sacrifice  

In any cemetery with over 40 graves, you can find the Cross of Sacrifice, designed by the architect Sir Reginald Blomfield to represent the faith of the majority.   All follow the same original design  - a simple cross embedded with a bronze sword and mounted on an octagonal base

The Stone of Remembrance 
The words carved on every Stone of Remembrance, “Their Name Liveth For Evermore”, were suggested by Rudyard Kipling. The phrase is taken from Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 44, verse 14: “Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore"

Cemetery Register

At each cemetery you will find a printed register showing the service details and, in some cases, family details, of the men and women buried. There will also be a grave plot reference and a layout plan of the cemetery to help find the grave. And a visitors book which you are invited to sign, and leave your thoughts. 

Renewal and Replace

It is a constant battle against time and weather to maintain the headstones.  Damage & erosion is routinely inspected, and maintenance is an on going task. A damaged or eroded headstone - a name that cannot be read - is unacceptable, there is a constant 'work in progress' of inspections of headstones & memorials. Eroded headstones are re-engraved, but where the damage is beyond repair headstones are replaced.

BURIED 'SOMEWHERE' 

There are a great  number of soldiers who are known to be buried in a particular place but the exact burial plot was not recorded or was lost.
One of our Brimington men - L/Corp Edward Newbery is buried somewhere in Wancourt British Cemetery in France, along side over 1900 comrades.

His headstone is located at the periphery of the cemetery and bears the inscription

'Known to be buried somewhere in this cemetery'

Unfortunately the headstone is weather-worn and the lettering very faint

LOST & LOST AGAIN.....

 During the four years of fighting and with battle lines ever changing, many graves and burial grounds were completely destroyed by artillery - some more than once.

Eventually comrades would erect memorials to the men who were lost and lost again.

TO THE MEMORY OF THESE 35 SOLDIERS OF

THE BRITISH EMPIRE KILLED IN ACTION IN 1916

AND BURIED AT THE  TIME IN MASH VALLEY
CEMETERY  OVILLERS  LA BOISELLE

WHOSE  GRAVES WE DESTROYED

IN LATER BATTLES

THEIR GLORY SHALL NOT BE BLOTTED OUT

 The Beginning and the End

St Symphorien Cemetery, Mons

St. Symphorien cemetery was established by the German Army in August 1914 as the final resting place for British and German soldiers who were killed at the Battle of Mons. Brimington soldier George Insley is buried there and despite its significance we found the cemetery quite lovely, serene and unique in its layout.

Among those also buried there is Private John Parr of the Middlesex Regiment who became the first British soldier to be killed in action on the western front. And ironically the last British soldier to be killed Private George Ellison of the Royal Irish Lancers is also buried in St Symphorien- and they are buried only a few feet apart.