Search for a war grave
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) keeps complete records in its Debt of Honour Register of the official commemorations to the 1.7 million members of the Commonwealth forces, including Australians, who died during the world wars. It also details 67,000 Commonwealth civilians who died due to enemy action during the Second World War.
This is a massive database which contains information on the 23,000 cemeteries, memorials and other sites and also certain details of the casualties themselves. For those interested in researching First World War and Second World War war graves and memorials, it is well worth exploring.
The database is contained within the CWGC website and can be searched for:
- particular individuals, using surname and initials; and/or war or year of death; and/or force or nationality; or
- particular cemeteries or memorials. Choose cemeteries (from the casualty/cemeteries drop down list), then put the name or part of the name in the cemetery search box. Place names only bring up cemeteries or memorials with the place name in the title.
Do bear in mind that the register is designed to search for specific individuals, cemeteries or memorials rather than to be used for more general searches.
Once you have reached the record of your casualty, you can print out a certificate for your own records.
See:
Kantara War Cemetery, Egypt
Warlencourt British Cemetery, France
Labuan War Cemetery, Malaysia