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COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVE COMMISSION (CWGC)

When the First World War came to an end in November 1918, war graves were scattered throughout all the regions where fighting had occurred. The location and sites of many graves were no longer known, and individuals still lay unburied in areas where fighting had been the fiercest.

Where burial had occurred in established burial grounds, with clearly marked graves, the graves were simply recorded and registered. In most cases, the bodies had to be exhumed and reburied. During this process, the CWGC attempted to identify the person. Old battlefields were searched for casualties, and small cemeteries were concentrated into larger ones; names of the missing were collected from military authorities and engraved onto memorials.

To qualify for a Commonwealth War Grave, men and women of the Commonwealth military or auxiliary forces had to have died during the official war period, 4 August 1914 to 3 August 1921 and died as the result of wounds inflicted or accident occurring during active service, or disease contracted or commencing while on active service, or disease aggravated by active service.

CWGC grave markers come in a multitude of styles, materials and shapes, which reflect the service of casualties who died with the Australian, British, Canadian, and New Zealand forces.

Most will have a badge showing which force or regiment the individual served with, their rank, name, and date of death.

If their next of kin responded to us after the war, the marker may also show the casualty’s age, bear the family’s choice of religious emblem (or none), and sometimes include a personal inscription.

For the 200,000 graves where the individual could not be identified by name, the grave marker will bear as many details as could be established.

Veterinarians are remembered under a variety of different styles of Commonwealth War Graves. These include:

• Commission headstone style (most commonly used) - sloped top, standardised size, engraved lettering, various stone types depending on the environmental conditions.
• Flat/recumbent markers are used where there is a lack of space in a cemetery, where multiple casualties have been buried together or where the ground cannot support standing headstones.
• Pedestal markers with bronze plaques are used where soil and weather conditions aren’t suitable for a standard headstone.
• A pedestal marker with a stone tablet, known as a Gallipoli marker and widely used on the Gallipoli peninsula, was again chosen to suit the ground conditions and weather.

The War Graves Commission lists 74 veterinary surgeons who died during the war.

THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF VETERINARY SURGEONS’ MEMORIAL

During the South African War (1899-1902), animal losses were great. However, the First World War saw a relatively high success rate—over 2 million of the 2.5 million horses hospitalised in France returned to duty. On 27 November 1918, King George V conferred the Royal prefix on the Corps in recognition of their work.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons also wished to recognise the work of the Army veterinary Cops, and in particular, the sacrifice of its members who had died on active service.

The RCVS memorial measures 58cm in width and 123cm at its tallest. It bears the dates of the First World War and the names of the 67 members of the RCVS who died from various causes during the war. Carved at its apex is the College crest, flanked by two oak branches, symbolising patriotism, bravery and strength. An ornate scroll, below the names of the dead, gives the Latin phrase “Dulce et Decorum est Pro Patria Mori”, meaning “It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.”

OFFICERS DIED IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1919

The “Officers Died in the Great War 1914-1919” was originally published by His Majesty’s Stationery Office in 1919. It was published as a single volume covering all officers in the cavalry, infantry, and other corps. The dates covered for casualties are from and including 4 August 1914 to 11 November 1918. Casualties killed after the end of the war until 26 September 1919 are also included in the listing.

The publication lists the names of 53 veterinarians who died during the war.

MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES

One of the oldest Imperial forms of recognition for bravery or distinguished service is when a serviceman or servicewoman was Mentioned in Despatches.

A despatch is an official report, written by a senior commander in the field to pass on information about the progress of military operations. Commanders would include in their despatches the names of those deserving attention to their services. Mentions may be for a specific act of bravery or for a period of outstanding service. During the Boer War it became common practice to list the names at the end of a despatch.

If your name appeared in these lists you were said to have been “Mentioned in Despatches”. The despatches were usually published in The London Gazette, so a mention equated to a public commendation.

This and the Victoria Cross were the only forms of recognition for gallantry or distinguished service in action that could be made posthumously.

Prior to 1919 those Mentioned in Despatches did not receive any form of recognition other than having their names published in The London Gazette. In 1919 a certificate was introduced to acknowledge those who received mention.

The following year an emblem of bronze oak leaves was issued to individuals who had been Mentioned in Despatches between 4 August 1914 and 10 August 1920. The device was to be worn at a low angle in the centre of the ribbon of the Victory Medal. Only one device was awarded per person, even if an individual was mentioned more than once.

MILITARY CROSS

The UK Military Cross (MC) was created on 28th December 1914 for commissioned offers of the substantive rank of Captain or below and for Warrant officers. It was instituted shortly after the outbreak of the Great War of 1914-18 as there was no gallantry awards lesser than the Victoria Cross and the Distinguished Service Order, for junior Army officers

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER (DSO)

Awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat, serving under fire, and usually awarded to those above the rank of Captain.

Between 1914 and 1916, the DSO could also be awarded to staff officers when they were not under fire or in contact with the enemy, but by 1917, it was once more restricted to those who had served in the presence of the enemy.

THE 1914 STAR - THE MONS STAR

Also known as the Mons Star, the medal is a bronze star with a red, white and blue ribbon, reflecting the French Tricolore.

It was issued to British forces who had served in France or Belgium from 5 August 1914 (the declaration of war) to midnight 22 November 1914 (the end of the First Battle of Ypres).

Recipients of this medal were responsible for assisting the French to hold back the German army while new recruits could be trained and equipped. Collectively, they fully deserve a great deal of honour for their part in the first sixteen weeks of the Great War. This included the battle of Mons, the retreat to the Seine, the battles of Le Cateau, the Marne, the Aisne and the first battle of Ypres. There were approximately 378,000 1914 Stars issued.

These were soldiers that were there at the very beginning of the war and so it was primarily awarded to the ‘Old Contemptibles’, the professional pre-war soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force.

There were approximately 378,000 1914 Stars issued.

THE 1914-1915 STAR

Instituted in December 1918, the 1914−15 Star is a First World War campaign medal that was granted to military personnel, and some civilians, who served between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915.

The near identical 1914 Star was presented to those who served in Belgium and France between 5 August and 22 November 1914.

Individuals could only receive one of these two medals.

Like the 1914 Star, the 1914-15 Star was not awarded alone. The recipient had to have received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

THE BRITISH WAR MEDAL

The British War Medal was instituted by King George V in 1919 to mark the end of World War I and record the service given. The qualification period was later extended to cover post-war mine clearance and service in Russia during 1919 and 1920. The British War Medal was awarded for service in a theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918.

The Medal was known as ‘Squeak’.

THE VICTORY MEDAL

The Victory Medal was authorised in 1919 to commemorate the victory of the Allied Forces over the Central Powers. Each of the Allied nations issued a ‘Victory Medal’ to their own nationals. Each nation used the standard ribbon but used different designs on the medal to reflect national identity and custom.

The Victory Medal was issued to all those who received the 1914 Star or the 1914-15 Star, and to most of those who were awarded the British War Medal. It was never awarded on its own.

Those who were Mentioned in Dispatches between 4th August, 1914, and 10th August, 1920, were allowed to wear an oak leaf on the ribbon of this medal.