nunhead cemetery

[malleymoo]

Sorry I know this is relating to nunhead but as its a local beauty spot I hope it will be ok to post a query about Nunhead Cemetery.

I was walking there today and noticed the war graves of Australian, South African and New Zealand soldiers. I was left wondering how these young men came to be buried in Nunhead. Does anyone know how and why ? Im hoping that someone will have ebeen on the guided tour and know the answer

[Brendan]

Were there dates on the graves? Would be interesting to see if they are First or Second World War. My uncles fought in the South African infantry in the Second World War but they were mainly involved in North Africa and Italy.

I think in the First War there were more commonwealth troops involved in France which may have meant that they were based in England and ended up being buried here.

[Cassius]

I think in the First War there were more commonwealth troops involved in France which may have meant that they were based in England and ended up being buried here.

Which would explain the heart-breaking cemetaries in Normandy. I always feel so sad about those young men buried half a world away from any relatives who would have wanted to visit their graves.

[mockney piers]

who'd a thought, here's a photo of just some of them canadian ones by a budding local photographer

 

[malleymoo]

Yes those are some of them. they seem to be all first world war. One of the New Zealand ones was specifically from the "Maori division" and one of the Canadian ones was The Cycling Corps. I had wondered if they had been injured in action and brought here then died as they seemed to come from such different battalians etc it didnt seem to fit with them being based here in Nunhead.

I agree Cassius very sad to see young men of 18 and 19 buried half a world away from their families.

[mockney piers]

Yes, I do find it quite affecting, but it's lovely to see how well maintained they are.

There's a big WW2 memorial over near the east gate too.

I'm guessing you're right that most of them died of their wounds over here, especially as you see not a few from 1919 which would suggest that too.

[SimonM]

I seem to recall Dulwich Hospital was a military hospital during the First World War, which might also go some way to explaining this?

[mockney piers]

Excellent detective work. RIght, that one solved, move along, next please :)

[????]

Also the Influenzia outbreak in 1919 took a lot of young lives especially those weakened by wounds...

...I spent the whole of my time at Karrabuchi Cemetry crying my eyes out at all these young men from various places in the UK buried in Thailand...the one that really sticks out was a 20 year old from somewhere up north with just..

.."he was a good son and a good lad just doing his duty" on it

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Brendan, here's a link for you that might be interesting

http://www.southafricawargraves.org/lists/unitedkingdom.htm

Q Why do some memorials have the dates 1914 ? 1919 or 1921 inscribed upon them?

A On November 11th 1918 the Armistice was signed and for many this signalled the end of four long years of conflict. However, the armistice only marked a temporary cessation of hostilities and people in many communities feared that fighting might break out again. Their minds were finally set to rest with the signing of the Peace Treaty of Versailles on 28th June 1919. They could now consider the war officially over and it is for this reason that they placed the date 1919 on the memorials.

The date 1921 appears less often but it marked the official end of the war for the United States. Consequently, some communities chose to use this date as the end date on their war memorial.

[lost the source website, sorry]

[macroban]

The official date for the end of World War I was 31 August 1921 when King George V declared it so by an Order In Council.

In those days only the Monarch could declare and end wars.

[Ann]

This is a very interesting thread. You can learn a lot from this forum.

Thank you.

[woofmarkthedog]

Ohh interesting reading

[Sandperson]

That's weird. I was looking at the graves myself today, pushing my daughter in her pushchair. I always go and say hello to the boys when I'm in the cemetary (is that weird? I just think they are such a long way from home). The dates range from 14-18 I think.

[Pickle]

Fascinating info, I'm from New Zealand so will be sure to go and visit the graves. Interesting thread, thanks all

[Freddy1929]

Sandperson Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> That's weird. I was looking at the graves myself

> today, pushing my daughter in her pushchair. I

> always go and say hello to the boys when I'm in

> the cemetary (is that weird? I just think they are

> such a long way from home). The dates range from

> 14-18 I think.

Not weird at all - a very nice thing to do, I'm sure their families would have appreciated that years later they have not been forgotten, I haven't been to Nunhead for years, but will go next week and say a hello myself.....

[Huggers]

'Testament of Youth', Vera Brittain's account of being a wartime nurse during the Great War centres mainly on Kings College Hospital so Nunhead would be the nearest cemetery I think for those who didnt make it.

[daizie]

sandperson, that is an extremely touching thing to do, what an interesting thread this is

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Also war graves at Camberwell Old Cemetery up Forest Hill Rd.