Visitors Learn the Story behind CWGC at Heritage Open Day

On 28 April 2019 the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) participated in the 19th edition of Heritage Day with the exhibition ‘A Century of Caring: a story told by artisans’ and live demonstrations near the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. In light of this year’s theme ‘How do you make it?’ the CWGC showed visitors the unique craft of engraving.

Around the world the CWGC employs hundreds of specialist staff including stonemasons, bricklayers, gardeners, carpenters, painters and blacksmiths. Visitors to the heritage day were given a chance to learn about the expertise of these staff, past and present, and try their hand at some of the skills they have honed.

Even though the day started with pouring rain, hundreds of curious visitors still came out to meet our staff and see the CWGC’s unique expertise. Beyond the heritage day people will be able to explore the story of our work in more depth at the CWGC Experience when it opens this June.

Sarah Camerlynck, Conservation Supervisor at Commonwealth War Graves Commission, said: The CWGC not only endeavors to preserve and maintain its heritage sites, but also strives to preserve the traditional craftsmanship. We even developed an in-house education program for this so that we can train our employees to be skilled craftsmen.’

On the day the craftsmen showed how they engrave the names of the fallen in the iconic Portland stone headstones. Young visitors also received a DIY-booklet testing the children’s knowledge about the Menin Gate and the skills they had seen on display.