Grave stones

[Graham Smith]

This may have been covered before but how were grave stones produced?

All the ones I have seen (WW2 sites) all bear the crest of the soldiers regiment.

Would these 'regimental' stones be produced en-mass as ready 'blanks' then inscriptions hand carved into the stone?

Also for soldiers that were awarded the VC, their graves also bear the image of the VC, again would this emblem have been pre marked onto the stone?

Sorry if I'm a bit dim about this, I was just looking at Matt Dixons pictures in another post 'Autumn sunset' and the thought just popped into my head.

If you don't ask?

[NIGEL]

Someone told me they were done with a big grit blaster

[Terry Denham]

Until recent years all CWGC headstones were carved individually by hand and hence each is slightly different in tiny details on the badge. All details were carved at the same time in accordance with very detailed specifications. Each mason was issued with full size blueprints for the headstone design. Therefore, each stone was a 'one-off'.

However, nowadays, the headstones are machine cut guided by lasers operated by computers. This means that there should be no variations although some of the laser cut badges are quite different to the hand carved versions.

There have been a couple of threads on this subject which a search should find.

[Ken Lees]

How long has this been computerised Terry?

2-3 years ago I stood in Cabaret Rouge Cemetery and watched a team of men carving the inscriptions into headstones after they had been erected. It was fascinating to watch them. I believe it was the name/date details that were being done on site.

Ken

[Terry Denham]

The process has been mechanical for some years now but only for new headstones.

Often, like you, I have seen recarving happening on-site. When running repairs can be made in situ, it is far cheaper than producing a new headstone. Sometimes this is a minor repair or addition (eg missing decoration) or can be the recarving of the entire inscription which has become worn.

[BatterySergeantMajor]

Last year I attended a demonstration day of the CWGC near Zillebeke.

I always had a particular interest in the stonemasons, so took the opportunity to have a talk with the responsable. He said that he was asking from his staff that they still mastered the handcarving techniques, pointing out that it was much cheaper and easier to go on a plane to Norway with some chisels than with a sandblasting set annex electric generator.

Apart from that, he stressed that the crests which were done by hand gave a more personal link, and thus satisfaction, to the carver.

Erwin

[Graham Smith]

Last year I attended a demonstration day of the CWGC near Zillebeke.

Apart from that, he stressed that the crests which were done by hand gave a more personal link, and thus satisfaction, to the carver.

Erwin

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What a fantastic skill that must be to be able to chisel out a regimental badge.

The thought that each stone is individual to the stone mason and creates such a bond between that mason and the soldier is terrific.

Terry,

Lets hope that the masons skills are never replaced by a machine that would be a shame I think.

[Guest Simon Bull]

Until recent years all CWGC headstones were carved individually by hand and hence each is slightly different in tiny details on the badge. All details were carved at the same time in accordance with very detailed specifications. Each mason was issued with full size blueprints for the headstone design. Therefore, each stone was a 'one-off'.

However, nowadays, the headstones are machine cut guided by lasers operated by computers. This means that there should be no variations although some of the laser cut badges are quite different to the hand carved versions.

There have been a couple of threads on this subject which a search should find.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Terry

In very very approximate terms do you have any idea what proportion of the present gravestones are original?

Also, is there any way one can tell by looking when a particular gravestone was placed? I suppose I am saying are they "date marked " in any way?

[Terry Denham]

Simon

The vast majority of stones are the originals.

There is no way of dating the headstones as far as I am aware (short of asking CWGC to search their archives!) but newer stones usually stand out a mile off! They are crisper and do not have the roughness of a worn original. Also, they are often of a different stone - eg Botticino Limestone instead of Portland or Hopton Wood on the WF.

[Alan_J]

Newer stones certainly stand out.

The three relatively new headstones in Delville Wood cemetery are very obviously different to those around them (the bodies of these soldiers were found when the museum in the wood opposite the cemetery was being constructed - the museum opened in the early 1980s).

They look like they are a different stone as well (at least to my eye).

Alan

[Guest Simon Bull]

Thanks Terry. On my next visit I shall look with interest for the inconsistencies in the badges. I had always assumed that the badges were mass produced from the start.

[Terry Denham]

Simon

Find a run of headstones with the same badge and then look very closely. You will see very minor differences in the carvings.

This is obviously more noticeable in the more complicated badges and in ones with animals (horse's manes/tails etc).