'Known Unto God' Radio 4

[Mark Hone]

After the coverage of the Remembrance Service from Whitehall this morning Radio 4 are broadcasting what looks like a very interesting little programme about the discovery of an MGC man's body near Cambrai, attempts to identify him and his reburial in a CWGC cemetery. Unfortunately the photograph the BBC uses to illustrate this programme is of an American cemetery. People always seem to feel it necessary to use rows of crosses as the 'iconic' image of war cemeteries, despite the fact that the CWGC deliberately uses the rectangular headstone to allow the incorporation of any religious symbol or none. Odd, in our modern, multi-faith Britain, that this is not emphasised.

[CGM]

I wonder if this is the subject of the programme - from the CWGC website earlier this year:

CWGC Burials - 1st / 2nd September 2011

Over the last few years dating back to September 2007, several remains of British Soldiers from the First World War have been found in the Western Front area. On September 1st and 2nd this year, re-burial services will be held at several cemeteries across this region for these fallen soldiers.

For further details, please see below –

September 1st 2011 -

1300-1400 hrs

Sanders Keep Cemetery – Graincourt-Les-Havrincourt

THE BURIAL SERVICE FOR THE REMAINS OF AN UNKNOWN BRITISH SOLDIER OF THE MACHINE GUN CORPS

CGM

[Michelle Young]

Interesting little programme, but the CWGC talking head seemed to conveniently forget that up to about 15 years ago, remains that were found were buried in the open cemeteries, ie Terlincthun and Cement House.

Michelle

[Mark Hone]

Yes-when did the policy change? The first time I became aware of it was when an unidentified Lancashire Fusilier (probably 3/5th Battalion) whose body had been found on the old Ypres-Roulers railway line was reburied in the nearby Tyne Cot cemetery rather than Cement House in 2007.