Chatham Naval Memorial - War Graves Week Tours

War Graves Week is an initiative aimed at encouraging people from the local community to come together and discover the World War heritage on their doorstep – learning about the stories of those commemorated by the CWGC and the skills, dedication and expertise of those CWGC staff and volunteers who work to keep their memory alive.

MEETING POINT at the gates to the memorial.

After the First World War, an appropriate way had to be found of commemorating those members of the Royal Navy who had no known grave, the majority of deaths having occurred at sea where no permanent memorial could be provided.

An Admiralty committee recommended that the three manning ports in Great Britain - Chatham, Plymouth and Portsmouth - should each have an identical memorial of unmistakable naval form, an obelisk, which would serve as a leading mark for shipping. After the Second World War it was decided that the naval memorials should be extended to provide space for commemorating the naval dead without graves of that war.

Chatham Naval Memorial commemorates 8,517 sailors of the First World War and 10,098 of the Second World War.

Limited parking available nearby; No facilities or toilets; Hilly or steep slopes Wheelchair access. The Memorial is on the top of a hill and it can be quite windy at times.

Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear suitable footwear.