My Favourite History Place The Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains memorials to our war dead in large and small numbers in cemeteries across the world, and here Glenn Hearnden presents us with a detailed and informative case-study of Cambridge City Cemetery.
ike many large towns and cities across the UK, there is a cemetery in the centre of Cambridge that has dedicated areas containing over a thousand graves immaculately maintained byL the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). Situated on the Newmarket Road, the Cambridge City Cemetery has been used for local burials since June 1903. As you walk between the private memorials for those locals buried there you become aware of four areas that have the uniform CWGC pattern headstones, as impressive as any CWGC cemetery in France or Belgium. These headstones tell a fascinating story about those from across the Commonwealth who paid the ultimate sacrifice, died in eastern England and have been laid to rest in Cambridge during the two world wars. During the First World War, Cambridge was the location of the 1st Eastern General Hospital. In the cemetery, there are 181 CWGC headstones from this period. These include cases of Commonwealth soldiers who died in Cambridge as a result of injuries sustained during one of the battles of the Somme in 1916. Other individuals commemorated include those who died as a result of illness or tragically during medical operations. On one headstone is the name Warwick Bowen of the 10th Battalion Australian Infantry. He had served on the Western Front and had been injured with a thigh wound and consequently suffered from shell shock. Unfortunately, he drowned while attending a course of instruction. Over 800 graves are from the Second World War. Viewing these graves and learning their stories gives a fascinating insight to the environment around Cambridge during this period. The graves ‘The Cross of Sacrifice’ in Cambridge City Cemetery include a dedicated RAF plot for burials for those from Bomber – designed to represent the faith of the majority. and Fighter Command bases in Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. On another headstone is the name Wing Commander David Holford DSO, DFC aged 22. He had completed two tours of operations and was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander, all this achieved before his 22nd birthday. He was the youngest man in Bomber Command to hold this rank. He volunteered to lead a raid on Berlin on the night of 16 December 1943. His aircraft was damaged en route by a night fighter though he continued with his mission. Upon returning to England, he discovered that several aircraft had been attempting to land in fog-bound conditions. He allowed less experienced crews to land first and then, low on fuel, his aircraft hit high ground. Tragically he lost his life. Harry Clack was an aircraftman attached to a Maintenance Unit. He died while trying to recover a crashed German Dornier. His crane jib hit an overhead power line and he was killed at the age of 16, one of the youngest Second World War RAF casualties. The sacrifice made by women during the war is evident on the grave of Corporal Kathleen Hayes from the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. She was a passenger when the plane that she was flying in
38 The Historian – Spring 2015 collided with a Beaufighter aircraft, resulting in her death. Schools Visits programme where schools will be met by an The features of the cemetery tell the same fascinating story Education Volunteer who will facilitate a ‘Learning Outside the of the work of the CWGC. The headstones feature the service Classroom’ education visit to their CWGC local cemetery. details as well as their national, unit or regimental badge. Currently these visits are available at Cambridge, Oxford, The personal inscriptions at the bottom of the headstones Plymouth, Southampton and Cannock Chase in Staffordshire. chosen by their relatives are thought-provoking and offer real By Easter 2015, this will extend to over 20 locations including opportunities for interpretation and personal insight into their Scotland, Wales, the North East, the North West and London. thoughts and feelings at their loss. You will see the same features found in any CWGC For further details please contact the CWGC: cemetery visited in France and Belgium including the [email protected]. impressive Cross of Sacrifice, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield to represent the faith of the majority. The Stone of Glenn Hearnden is the Education Manager at the Remembrance, a symbol for those of ‘all faiths and none,’ stands Commonwealth War Graves Commission, based in near the centre of the Air Force plot. Maidenhead, Berkshire. Cambridge is typical of many cemeteries around cities, towns and villages across the UK. There are some 13,000 If you would like to tell us about your history place locations in the UK where CWGC war graves can be found and in a future edition of The Historian, in about 700 each has a fascinating and intriguing story to tell. words, please email: [email protected] The CWGC has recently launched a Local War Graves The Defence of the Realm Act in ten tweets The Magna Carta has let loose Summarising an event or person using ten statements of only discussions and ideas about 140 characters (including spaces!). Compiled by Paula Kitching freedoms and democracy - so here are ten tweets about one DORA, the Defence of the Realm Act, was passed with no debate on 8 August 1914 ‘for securing public safety’. bill that restricted freedoms. Hello DORA! DORA gave the power to prosecute any whose actions could ‘jeopardise the success of the operations of HM Forces or to assist the enemy’.
Some of the rules involved censorship of the press and private mail, some have remained with us, and some now seem just plain odd.
It messed with time – British Summer Time was instituted in May 1916 to maximise working hours in the day, particularly in agriculture.
Whistling for London taxis was banned in case it should be mistaken for an air-raid warning!
It changed a night out – opening hours in pubs were cut, beer was watered down, and buying a round of drinks was no longer allowed
Possession of cocaine or opium, other than by authorised professionals such as doctors, became a criminal offence – all legal before 1914
Fines were issued for making white flour instead of wholewheat and for allowing rats to invade wheat stores.
The movement of foreign nationals from enemy countries was restricted, with many interned. Punch, 9 April 1919 No one was allowed to buy binoculars, ring church bells or to melt down gold or silver. What would the Barons and King John say!
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