Remembrance is....
Our work never stops.
Remembrance is a time when we come together to reflect on loss and those lost in conflicts worldwide – but for us, remembrance goes far beyond one day in November.
Commemoration of the Commonwealth’s war dead is our ongoing commitment.
For over a century, we have commemorated by name 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth who died in military service in the First and Second World Wars.
Our work has not stopped. From maintaining and caring for their final resting places and points of commemoration, to identifying newly discovered remains and updating our records, to public outreach, our work continues to this day.
Why Remembrance Matters Beyond 11 November
Remembrance Day and Armistice Day are important moments of Commonwealth commemoration.
But for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, commemoration is not limited to just one time of the year. It’s an eternal commitment.
Why we mark 11 November
November 11 is Armistice Day: the day marking the end of the First World War on the Western Front.
From 1919, it became the annual day of remembrance for commemorating the First World War.
After the Second World War, the day’s meaning was expanded to incorporate commemoration of all victims of past, present, and future conflicts.
Remembrance Day has been marked on 11 November ever since. Remembrance Sunday takes place on the closest Sunday to 11 November as the UK’s National Day of Remembrance.
Commemoration throughout the year
Our work extends beyond Remembrance Day.
Commemoration of 1.7 million Commonwealth servicemen and women is a permanent responsibility for the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation.
The work is wide and far ranging, ranging from pioneering historical research, the care of cemeteries and memorials globally, new commemorative projects and opportunities for people to discover individual stories.
Our work in 2026: Commemoration continues
In 2026 alone, we have unveiled new memorials to the missing, began regeneration and upgrade works at sites around the world, presented new digital solutions for missing servicemen, added thousands of names to our database for commemoration, and more.
Some of our latest projects
Held in Trust: How to support the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation and keep their stories alive
The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation is our charity arm.
It aims to engage and educate people, especially the young, with the work of the CWGC and the inspiring stories of the men and women who died whilst fighting in the two World Wars.
CWGF projects and public engagement
Through events, public engagement, and projects, the Foundation reaches new generations around the world, keeping the stories of those we commemorate alive.
Some key Foundation projects include:
Eyes On, Hands On – Our largest volunteering project, helping us care for isolated and scattered war graves in the UK
CWGF Guides – A chance for young history lovers to work with the CWGC for a summer at key sites in France
Oral histories – Oral histories from Kenyan and Tanzanian Second World War servicemen preserved forever
Support our work and help honour the 1.7 million who never returned home
How supporting the Foundation helps preserve Commonwealth stories
Donating to the CWGF supports education and outreach programmes that share the stories of 1.7 million Commonwealth service personnel who died in the World Wars.
Your gifts fund youth projects, volunteer initiatives, and historical preservation work that keep these memories alive for future generations.
This Remembrance, keep their memories alive by supporting the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation.
There’s a war grave nearer than you think
Did you know there are approximately 160,000 CWGC war graves in the UK alone? There’s history in your community, not just in the United Kingdom, but all over the world, with war graves in 23,000 locations globally.
Discover Commonwealth War Graves
The places you’ll find CWGC war graves and commemorations include our purpose-built cemeteries and war memorials, local churchyards, municipal burial grounds, and even isolated graves in unique locations.
These places offer the opportunity to discover your local history, as well as inviting you to learn more about the people commemorated by headstones and memorial panels.
Key places of commemoration in the UK
Find a cemetery or memorial near you
To find Commonwealth War Graves near you, use our Find Cemeteries and Memorials tool.
This lets you find war graves in 155 countries and territories worldwide.
Why not download the CWGC App? The free app, available on iOS and Android, lets you search for all our sites, with visitor and navigation information, plus postcode and map search, to help you find war graves near you.
How you can get involved this Remembrance
Remembrance is a great time to explore the stories of those we commemorate. Here’s how.
For Evermore: Stories of the Fallen
For Evermore: Stories of the Fallen is our digital stories archive.
Here, we preserve and share stories from the public and their relatives who are commemorated by us.
We have tens of thousands of inspirational, moving, and extraordinary stories from the Commonwealth and both World Wars.
You’ll find stories of Victoria Cross winners, Olympic sportsmen, professional footballers, artists, writers, painters and poets among our stories. But more than that, you’ll learn about the ordinary men and women who lost their lives in military service, helping us better understand exactly what they faced.
Got a story to share? Contribute to our archive and share
Take a virtual tour
Download the free For Evermore App and take virtual tours of select CWGC sites from around the world.
Discover the historic information behind each cemetery and memorial, uncover hidden details and fascinating cemetery features, and read the stories of those commemorated there.
Visit us
Remembrance ceremonies and activities are being held at sites in the UK and around the world.
Visit our Events page to learn more.
Stay connected with the CWGC
Subscribe to the CWGC newsletter to keep up to date with all the latest news and information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Find a name & discover a personal story
Commonwealth War Graves records hold the commemoration details of 1.7 million Commonwealth servicemen who lost their lives in military service to the British Empire during the First and Second World Wars.
How to search CWGC records
Searching CWGC records is easy:
Go to the Find War Dead Tool – The Find War Dead tool is your place to begin your casualty search
Enter known details - Type in a name or initials, or other details you may have, such as service number or regiment
Narrow your search – Use filters to narrow your search, such as conflict, service branch (Army, Navy, Air Force, Merchant Navy, or Civilian), or country of service
View casualty profile - Click on an individual's name to see their rank, unit, age at death, place of commemoration, and other information, such as parents’ names, place of birth, and medals and awards, if available
From a name to a personal story
CWGC records make an ideal starting point for learning about an individual we commemorate, and Remembrance makes the perfect time to start your research.
On each profile, you will find a variety of information. Record details vary as we have more information on some than others. This information includes rank, unit, age at death, and place of commemoration.
If we have it, profiles will also include other information, such as medals and awards, parents’ names, place of birth and so on.
Use these as a basis for building a fuller story of an individual commemorated by CWGC.
Don’t forget to download our Free Research Guides to help you get started. Download yours and start your research journey today.
Please note that our records are for commemoration only. They are not full military service records.