UK NATIONAL GRAVES AND MEMORIALS COMMISSION

The time has come to create a new UK National Graves and Memorials Commission and the next Conservative Government will make this a priority.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) and their staff at home and overseas work to the very highest standards but there are dozens of military graveyards all over the world which are not their responsibility. Such graves and memorials are looked after on an ad hoc basis by high commissions, embassies, individual service units or under other arrangements.

The CWGC is only responsible for the graves of service personnel who died while on active service from 4th August 1914 to 31st August 1921 and from 3rd September 1939 to 31st December 1947. There is no coherent policy or agency covering other graves and memorials.

For example, our Ambassador in Aden keeps an eye on military graves. In the Falklands, the memorial is maintained by the resident garrison. British Boer War graves are maintained by the South African Heritage Committee on payment of an annual contribution from the British Government. Elsewhere political or climatic conditions can make it very difficult to maintain appropriate standards.

Shadow Defence Minister Robert Key MP (Salisbury) said, "As the turbulent years of the Twentieth Century recede, new generations must be reminded of our priceless heritage, the cost of our freedom and the sacrifices made by so many brave men and women. We will remember them and their resting places will be honoured. This will get more and more difficult unless the current arrangements are focused on the CWGC and a new responsible agency.

"Nothing but the best will do for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice - and their families. There is more at stake here than Government penny-pinching over the wages of the gardeners. All men and women are equal in death. There can be no second-class sacrifice".

NOTES FOR EDITORS: It will be necessary to have two commissions because the CWGC includes the graves of Commonwealth forces. The UK commission will look after the graves and memorials of UK soldiers, sailors and airmen. The number of servicemen and women who died in the last Century outside the dates covered by the CWGC are Palestine 230, Malaya 719, Korea 971, Cyprus 100, Aden 163, Falklands 256 (Northern Ireland 643). In the last Century the only year in which no British military died on active service was 1968.

PRESS CONTACT:
SALISBURY 01722 782793