Brookwood 1914-1918 Memorial: A memorial reimagined
A powerful new chapter in remembrance is taking shape
Honouring the Fallen of the First World War
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is building a new Memorial to the Missing. This memorial will commemorate those who died in the United Kingdom and Ireland during the First World War and currently have no known final resting place.
The original Brookwood 1914-1918 Memorial honoured some of these individuals. However, as on-going research has revealed more names to commemorate, and the final resting places of others commemorated on the previous memorial were identified, it became clear that a new memorial was needed.
Initially, 400 service personnel will be commemorated on the new memorial. As research progresses, additional names will be added, with space available for up to 1,200 names. At the Commission, we know our work is never truly done. We remain committed to ensuring that every individual we commemorate is remembered.
Many of the service personnel who will be commemorated here were found through research conducted by the In From The Cold Project. Their volunteers worked closely with the CWGC Commemorations Team to examine military records, death certificates, and local archives to discover these additional names of those missing from official lists since the First World War.
When complete, this memorial will be a place of remembrance and a powerful reminder that all those who served should be remembered and that the memory of the First World War is a responsibility we all share, over a century on.
Designing the New Brookwood 1914-1918 Memorial
This memorial has been designed by Studio Wignall & Moore, working closely with internationally acclaimed Landscape Architect Tom Stuart-Smith. The design honours the fallen, allowing visitors a very different commemorative experience in the heart of the naturalistic landscape.
Sustainability is woven into every aspect of the project. Low-impact construction methods, and a long term ecological management plan ensure that this space will be preserved for generations to come. The stone from the previous memorial is being donated to local craft colleges as training material.
The names of the missing will be engraved on Portland stone stele. These stele will be arranged to mirror the stars as they appeared in the night sky on 11 November 1918 - the day the war ended. In stone and sky, their memory continues to endure.
The memorial will be set within a carefully landscaped environment that celebrates local biodiversity and supports wildlife. Plantings of wildflowers, pollinator-friendly planting, and thoughtfully managed green spaces will attract bees, butterflies, and other species, creating a peaceful setting for reflection and remembrance while fostering a thriving habitat for flora and fauna.
Many shared volunteer and CWGC staff initiatives are planned, including bulb planting, which will further enhance the site through thoughtful horticulture.
Frequently Asked Questions
The memorial unveiled in 2015 honoured First World War casualties who died in the United Kingdom and Ireland and have no known grave. Since then, we have discovered more casualties for commemoration and furthermore, we have located the final resting places of some of those listed on the previous memorial, which is why a new memorial is now needed: to ensure every individual is remembered and commemorated.
400 service personnel will be commemorated on the new memorial. As research progresses, additional names will be added, with space available to record up to 1,200 names.
Many names were uncovered in the last decade by the In From The Cold Project, volunteers who combed military records, death certificates, and local archives.
In addition, the Commission has located the graves of approximately 250 servicemen and women who were previously commemorated on the memorial. These casualties will now be honoured at their original burial locations. This vital work – locating casualty graves and ensuring appropriate commemoration - restores their place of remembrance within the communities where they were originally laid to rest. Over 100 years later, our work continues.
Sustainability has been woven through every stage at this project.
Names will be engraved on sustainably sourced Portland stone, that uses all parts of the quarried stone, with normally wasted off cuts being used as seating. The stone from the previous memorial will be sent to local craft colleges.
The surrounding landscape uses wildflowers and pollinator friendly planting to support biodiversity and create a tranquil, living habitat. We will plant over 600 trees in the scheme.
No, only the area we are working in will be closed during construction, the majority of the site and all graves will remain open for visitors throughout the works.
This memorial has been designed by Studio Wignall & Moore, working closely with internationally acclaimed landscape Architect Tom Stuart-Smith.
The design honours the fallen while enhancing the natural environment. The memorial’s stone tablets are arranged to mirror the pattern of stars as they appeared on 11 November 1918: the night the Armistice came into effect on the Western Front. Set within carefully landscaped grounds, the design strikes a balance between solemn remembrance and a biodiverse, peaceful environment for reflection.
A stele (STEE-lee) is a stone slab, generally taller than it is wide, erected in the ancient world as a monument. The surface of the stele often has text, ornamentation, or both. These may be inscribed, carved in relief, or painted. Here at Brookwood we are using large stone Stele with the names of the missing engraved into the surface.
This new memorial marks the beginning of an important new chapter for Brookwood. We’ll be sharing regular updates on the construction process across our social media channels and here on our website, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how a memorial of this significance is brought to life by our team of experts. Make sure you are signed up to our newsletter here.
Brookwood is more than a place of remembrance; it’s a living, breathing community dedicated to honouring history.
Here’s how you can be part of it:
Join our events
From moving commemorative services to uplifting concerts, Brookwood Military Cemetery hosts a vibrant calendar of events that bring people together in remembrance and celebration.
Volunteer with us
Lend your time, skills, and passion. Whether you have green fingers for gardening or a voice for storytelling, there’s a place for you in our volunteer family.
Support The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation
Join our charitable foundation or make a donation to help us inspire the next generation. Your support fuels our education and outreach work, ensuring the stories of those we commemorate are never forgotten.