CWGC welcomes Commissioners for tour of France and Belgium

Between 18-20 October 2022, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission welcomed Commissioners and other guests on a tour of key sites in France and Belgium.

This was an opportunity to introduce newly appointed Commissioners to the work of the CWGC, to help them liaise with staff that maintain our sites, and to enhance their knowledge and experience of the Commission.

It was also a chance for our maintenance teams to showcase the challenges, solutions and innovations that go into maintaining our cemeteries and memorials.

The war cemetery tour started in Belgium on Tuesday 18^th October.

The first day included a packed itinerary, starting with visits to Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery and a tour of Tyne Cot Cemetery & Memorial. While visiting the cemeteries, tour guests were given talks on the sites’ historical context and importance, as well as meeting staff involved in their care.

The tour also took in the iconic Ypres (Menin Gate). The Menin Gate will undergo a thorough restoration in 2023. Guests were given the reason for the restoration and insights into how our skilled craftsmen and operations team will achieve this.

The travelling party were also given the privilege of being guests of honour at the Last Post Ceremony which takes place each evening at the Menin Gate.

During their time in Ypres, Commissioners also met with representatives of the Flemish government. As stakeholders in some of our key Belgian projects, Flemish authorities are some of our largest supporters and partners.

Commissioners and guests travelled to Bedford House Cemetery on Wednesday 19^th October.

Here, Horticultural Assistant Manager Jimmy Clynckemaillie showed off the cemetery’s compost farm. New measures and features like this are integral to helping the CWGC achieve its sustainability targets.

We are also using new enzyme treatments, differing horticultural techniques, and mechanisation/automation where possible to lower our carbon footprint and boost sustainability.

Thursday 20^th October was the tour’s final day with the party crossing over into France. Several CWGC sites were visited including the Thiepval Memorial, the CWGC’s largest memorial, Vimy Ridge, and Poziéres Cemetery & Memorial.

Thiepval has just been subject to a full restoration, including changes to brickwork and its archaic drainage system. The operations team provided a full breakdown of the work undertaken to bring Thiepval back to its full glory.

Loos British Cemetery was also on the tour itinerary.

Development works nearby, and a general improvement in working methodologies, has led to an increase in the number of discoveries of World War One remains.

With available space in existing cemeteries at a premium, the CWGC proposes to build an extension to Loos British Cemetery to give the proper burial to these soldiers their sacrifice richly deserves.

The Commission’s commemorations teams tirelessly work to identify and bury hundreds of newly discovered cases each year.

A visit to the CWGC Experience was also undertaken on Thursday. The Experience is a unique visitor attraction in Beaurains, near Arras in France that shines a light on the work of the remarkable organisation at the heart of remembrance of the war dead.

While at some of our sites, the Commissioners and guests interacted with our Guides.

The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation Guides programme provides young people with the chance to become CWGC representatives, sharing stories of remembrance and history of Commission sites across France and Belgium.

We’d like to thank them for their attendance and look forward to welcoming Commissioners to further events and war graves tours in the future.

Our Ieper Visitor Centre is a vital part of any Belgian battlefield tour. Plan your visit.