Back to work under lockdown – Our Work Continues

Many countries in Europe are now back under increased restrictions in a bid to control the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. While we are not immune from the disruption at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the vast majority of our global workforce is able to safely carry on, with careful measures in place.

In France, the country with our largest commitment and largest workforce, our gardeners continue with their seasonal duties. We have a maximum of two staff per cemetery and as the work is outdoors, maintaining social distancing is easy.

We have installed dividers in work vehicles to keep our people safe and stagger break times to remove the opportunity for mingling. Everyone has full PPE available and even though we are all learning to live with many of these guidelines as part of our new daily routines, managers offer regular reminders one to one to check their teams know how to keep themselves and their colleagues safe.

Despite an uncertain year, we have managed to keep on top of the regular maintenance duties that keep our people busy in every season. While it is sad that most visitors are unable to make their usual pilgrimages to our cemeteries and memorials, we have been able to carry on the daily tasks and care in the meantime. These sites of remembrance will still be there for people to explore and reflect in, once it is safe to do so.