Guests from other Soroptimist clubs joined members for this meeting.
Club Secretary Alison welcomed the guests to the meeting and clarified that the meeting would be briefer than usual because members had just learned of the death of Johanna Raffan. While this had been anticipated, following her recent stroke, it was a significant shock to everyone who had known her. It had been decided to continue with the meeting as it was felt this was what Johanna would have wished.
The club was offered the condolences of those Soroptimists who had been lucky enough to have known Johanna. Those who had worked closely with her also expressed their appreciation of her friendship and commitment to Soroptimism. A minute’s silence was observed as a mark of respect.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission https://www.cwgc.org
Alison welcomed our guest speaker and asked Sushi (Programme Action Officer) to make the formal introduction of Megan Maltby from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission based in Maidenhead. Megan is Public Engagement Manager for the Commission – a post created 2 years ago to stimulate community knowledge of the work of the Commission.
Megan explained how the Imperial War Graves Commission was set up and led by Sir Fabian Ware after the first World War. It is supported by the governments of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India, South Africa and the UK. The 23,000 cemeteries are spread widely across the globe – the most well-known being those of the First World War in France and Belgium which are very sizeable. (The British
government having decided in 1915 on no repatriation of dead bodies.) Tyne Cot cemetery contains over 12,000 graves.
The shape of gravestone used in the cemeteries varies according to the religion (where this is known).
The number of combatants with no known grave is reflected in the size of the Thiepval Memorial Arch which shows the names of the soldiers missing after the Battle of the Somme. Megan reported that around 36 bodies are recovered and buried each year from ground where major battles have taken place. There are also memorials in Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth for the sailors killed during the wars.
The number to be buried or commemorated from the second World War was over 500,000 again around the globe. There are also graves in local cemeteries – sometimes because that was where the death occurred.
After 1947 the Ministry of Defence took on responsibility for repatriation of any dead soldiers and for burial and maintenance of the grave.
Megan also mentioned the significant challenges of maintaining the cemeteries around the globe – selecting appropriate materials and plants to suit the climate in the area.
She showed us a map of the various graves in the Thames Valley Area – and suggested that we might like to visit the cemeteries at Brookwood and Runnymede. Cliveden (which was used as a hospital in the First World War) also has a small cemetery maintained by the Commission.
After questions and discussion Megan was thanked by Sushi for a very interesting presentation and it was agreed that on our next visit to Cliveden we would seek out the cemetery.
It was later agreed that the club would make a donation to Commonwealth War Graves Commission.