Leicester (Welford Road) Cemetery

Welford Road Cemetery was originally intended as a private burial ground for dissenters but, in response to pressure from the public, Anglican burials were allowed and the cemetery officially opened in June 1849. During the First World War, cemetery authorities gave the War Office permission to bury service personnel here, some of whom had died in the 5th Northern General Hospital in the city.  

In 1907 the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act brought in a national medical service for the care of the volunteer army for the first time. Prior to the First World War plans were made for 23 Territorial Force hospitals in towns and cities throughout the United Kingdom, each with 520 beds that could be quickly opened in the event of war. Until such time as they were required, the hospitals existed only for training purposes. Once activated, they were usually housed in existing hospitals, asylums and university buildings. Almost all were ready to receive patients by the end of August 1914, just three weeks after being mobilised. 

The 5th Northern General Hospital was established under this scheme in Leicester in 1914. The main hospital was housed in the former Leicester and Rutland Lunatic Asylum, which had been empty since 1908. Existing outbuildings were replaced with more suitable accommodation for patients and medical staff and over the course of the war the hospital expanded to more than 60 locations in the area including North Evington War Hospital, Knighton House Hospital, Gilcross Hospital and Leicester Royal Infirmary. By 1917 there were beds for almost 2,600 patients in and around the city and by 1919 more than 95,000 casualties of war had been treated. Of that number 514 died, of whom 286 lie here in Welford Road Cemetery. All were given a military funeral with honours. More than half of the First World War casualties are in the war graves plot, their names inscribed on the Screen Wall. 

At the end of the war the hospital and grounds were purchased by a local businessman, Thomas Fielding John, and given to the Council that founded Leicestershire and Rutland University College (now the University of Leicester) as a memorial to the young men of the county who had paid the ultimate price. 

The institution’s motto ‘ut vitam habeant’ means ‘so that they may have life’. 

During both world wars, UK-based families of those who died in this country were able to lay their relative to rest where they wished. During the Second World War, one servicewoman and 45 servicemen were buried privately in Welford Road Cemetery, so their graves are scattered across several sections and some still bear grave markers chosen by their kin. The army, navy and air force are all represented.  

Flight Sergeant Sidney Brown of Leicester was killed 50 miles south of here when the Wellington bomber on which he was aircrew crashed during an operational training flight. His parents inscribed on his headstone:  

HE GAVE HIS LIFE 

THAT WE MIGHT LIVE 

ONE OF THE BEST