CWGC cemeteries marked at 120th commemoration service for St George’s Anglican Church, Venice

Image: Ceremonies outside the church

On Sunday, 19 April, a ceremony was to mark the 120th anniversary of the consecration of St George’s Anglican Church, Venice.

The ceremony also marked the 100th anniversary of the installation of bronze panels bearing the names of 10 CWGC cemeteries in the Veneto Region.

The doors were installed in 1926 as a symbol of thanks to the British and Commonwealth, and as a memorial to British soldiers, sailors, and airmen who fought and fell alongside the Italians on the northern Italian front in the Great War.

The names of 10 CWGC cemeteries are inscribed on bronze panels on either side of the church’s doors:

• Gradisca – This cemetery was closed in 1971 when 30 burials were moved to Ravenna War Cemetery
• Giavera – Home to 417 Commonwealth war graves, with the memorial commemorating a further 150 missing servicemen
• Tezze British Cemetery – Holds 356 Commonwealth war graves
• Montecchio Precalcino – You can find war graves in two locations in Motecchio Precalcino: Montecchio Maggiore Comune Cemetery, home to 4 burials, and Montecchio Precalcino Comune Cemetery Extension with 439
• Dueville - Dueville Comune Cemetery Extension contains 134 Commonwealth burials of the First World War
• Boscon – Boscon British Cemetery commemorates 166 First World War Commonwealth servicemen
• Barenthal – Barenthal Military Cemetery 125 Commonwealth Burials of the First World War
• Magnaboschi – 183 First World War Commonwealth servicemen are commemorated at Magnaboschi British Cemetery
• Cavaletto – Cavaletto British Cemetery 100 WWI burials. Some of the graves were brought in after the Armistice from Monte di Sunio British cemetery
• Granezza – Granezza British Cemetery features 142 First World War burials

The entrance doors are of historical and heritage significance, as they were forged from two cannons provided by the British War Office and melted down at the Venice Arsenale, which was reopened specifically for this purpose.

Image: left to right: CWGC's Luigi Salerno, right, with dignatries and religious leaders at the ceremony; right shows one of the two bronze panels listing CWGC locations

The Imperial War Graves Commission, our organisation's name at the time of installation, played an active role in the project to build the church doors.

Officiating the service were the Suffragan Bishop of Europe, the Right Reverend Andrew Norman, and the Chaplain of St George’s Anglican Church, the Very Reverend Lucinda Laird.
 
Among the assistants were some descendants of Lord Cavan, who was involved in the original plan, representatives of the Anglican religious community, mayors from the Veneto region, and members of local communities.

Representing the Commission was Luigi Salerno, Project Leader for Works in Italy.