It's Commonwealth Day!

Today marks Commonwealth Day celebrating an organisation that has grown into an international community supporting cultural, democratic and economic development for its diverse members. But what were its origins?

Photo: courtesy Commonwealth Secretariat

The original Empire Day was established in 1902 after the death of Queen Victoria to mark her birthday on the 24^th May. It was fully introduced into Britain in 1904 but not officially recognised until 1916. During the inter-war years, the day took on a more sombre feel. In 1958 the name was changed to Commonwealth Day and, after a proposal by the Royal Commonwealth Society in 1973, the date was finally moved to the second Monday in March.

The 1926 Imperial Conference established the British Commonwealth of Nations (the Commonwealth) where Britain and its dominions agreed they were all equal members of a community within the British Empire, owing allegiance to the monarch, but not ruled by the United Kingdom. Over time as the dominions became independent or, like India, became republics, the allegiance to the monarch was not a prerequisite to be part of the Commonwealth from 1949.

Membership today is based on free and equal voluntary co-operation with recent members Rwanda and Mozambique having no historic ties to the British Empire. Currently the Commonwealth is made up of 54 member countries with 2.5 billion people – one third of the world’s population.

Photos above and below: CWGC team members celebrate around the globe

CWGC in many respects parallels the Commonwealth, its Royal Charter, granted 21st May 1917, created the Imperial War Graves Commission, founded on equality in death for all who fell. The name was changed in the 1960s to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, better reflecting the post-war world.

We are a truly global organisation, financed by six Commonwealth member countries - Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK, caring for the cemeteries and monuments to 1.7 million war dead at 23,000 locations in over 150 countries and territories. These are carefully looked after by our dedicated local teams throughout the Commonwealth and beyond while our search to locate and commemorate the Commonwealth war dead still continues.

From one Commonwealth organisation to another and to all our dedicated team members,
best wishes on Commonwealth Day!

Read our blog - Iconic Commonwealth memorials from around the world