Martin P Nicholson

Unusual Commonwealth War Graves and Memorials Martin P Nicholson

This book is compiled from the records maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission of servicemen and women killed or missing since the start of the First World War in 1914. The book is subdivided into separate nationalities - Australian, British, Canadian, Indian, New Zealander and South African. The first list contains details of the location of the grave or memorial in Germany naming servicemen or women of each nationality who were one of five or less of their particular service rank who lost their lives. The second list contains details of the location of the grave or memorial in Germany naming servicemen or women of each nationality who were one of five or less of their particular regiment or service who lost their lives. Every life lost as a result of military service is a tragedy for the family and friends of the individual, and this book does not seek to imply that those listed here are any more deserving of memory than those not selected. The book shows the wide range of units from which only a handful, or even a single, life was lost, and also the wide range of ranks where also only a handful, or even a single, holder of that rank is commemorated in Germany. The CWGC lists 32,044 names of dead and missing service personnel who are remembered at locations in Germany. Of these 7,300 (22.8%) were private soldiers but only one was a Barber.