WW1 Cemeteries.com - A photographic guide to over 4000 military cemeteries and memorials
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    • Commonwealth Cemeteries in Belgium in Alphabetical Order
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      • HAINAUT
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    • Commonwealth Cemeteries in France in Alphabetical Order
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Architects of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
World War One

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​Image by Elliott & Fry bromide print. Used under license to NPG x86245 © National Portrait Gallery, London

Sir Herbert Baker
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Born 9th June 1862, died 4th February 1946. He was born on the family farm Owletts near Cobham, Kent, in England. Following the First World War, Baker was approached to assist in the design of suitable monuments to the efforts of British Commonwealth soldiers. Out of this came the design for Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest British war cemetery in the world sited in Passchendaele near Ypres in Belgium, unveiled in July 1927.

More information on Sir Herbert Baker can be found by clicking on the link below


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William Bryce Binnie, M. C. and Bar

Born 1st July 1866-1993. He trained in Scotland but practised initially in New York and then London. During the First World War he served with the Black Watch and was decorated for bravery. Afterwards he worked for the Imperial War Graves Commission until 1927, when he returned to private practice in London.

More information on William Bryce Binnie can be found by clicking on the link below
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Image by Elliott & Fry bromide print. Used under license to NPG x86388 © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Sir Reginald Theodore Blomfield

Born 20th December 1856, died 27th December 1942.
He was born at Bow vicarage in Devon, where his father, the Rev. George John Blomfield was curate. In 1918 he was appointed one of the Principal Architects of the Imperial War Graves Commission and for the next nine years was heavily involved with the design of their cemeteries behind the Western Front. He designed the Cross of Sacrifice which stands in most of the Commission's cemeteries.


More information on Reginald Blomfield can be found by clicking on the link below

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Harold Chalton Bradshaw

Born 15 February 1893-15 October 1943

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Bradshaw was a Liverpool-born architect. He was a Territorial before the war and was commissioned into the Royal Engineers. He was awarded the Italian War Cross. He was the first Secretary of the Royal Fine Arts Commission, established in 1924. His design work included several Commonwealth War Graves Commission First World War cemeteries and memorials, including the Cambrai Memorial in France and the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing and its surrounding cemetery. He also designed the Guards' Division Memorial in St. James's Park in London.


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Image ​by Walter Stonemanbromide print, 1931. Used under license to NPG x166253 © National Portrait Gallery, London.

Sir John James Burnet

Born 13th March 1857 - Died 2nd July 1938. Sir John James Burnet, FRSE FRIBA RSA R was a Scottish Edwardian architect who was noted for a number of prominent buildings in Glasgow, Scotland and London, England.​ After the war the Imperial War Graves Commission also commissioned war memorials from Burnet's firm in Gallipoli, Palestine and Suez (1919). Burnet took a leading role in the design of the memorials and in the work on Adelaide House, London Bridge.

More information on John James Burnet can be found by clicking on the link below

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Frederick Chapman Clemesha

Born 3rd August 1876-August 1958

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Frederick Chapman Clemesha was born  in Preston, Lancashire, England. He emigrated to Saskatchewan in the early 20th century and opened an architectural practice, Clemesha and Portnall, in Regina. For some unknown reason, Clemshaw changed his surname to Clemesha during his career as an architect. His partner, 10 years his junior, Private Francis Henry Portnall, served with him in the 46th CEF South Saskatchewan Battalion, known as the “Suicide Battalion” owing to its very high casualty rate. Returning to Canada after the war he submitted his plans for the building of the Brooding Soldier at St. Julien near Ypres in Belgium.


William Harrison Cowlishaw

​Born 1869-1957

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Cowlishaw lived in Norton, Hertfordshire, at that time something of an artists' colony. At the end of World War I, Cowlishaw like many Arts and Crafts architects of the period, was commissioned by the Imperial War Graves Commission to design cemeteries and memorials across France and Belgium under the direction of Sir Frederick G. Kenyon, the Commission's advisor on architecture. Cowlishaw was responsible for the design of the impresssive Pozieres British Cemetery and its Memorial to the Missing on the Somme. Amongst the many cemeteries designed by him are the plot within Zillebeke Churchyard, Grootebeek British Cemetery,  Meath Cemetery, Villers–Guislain and Joncourt British Cemetery Whilst at the Commission, he worked with Charles Holden a relationship that continued after the memorial work was completed. ​​


George Hartley Goldsmith

(Born 1886/7 - Died 1967

The information was kindly supplied by Gavin Stamp and used with his permission
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Trained at the Manchester Art School and Victoria University; articled to James Horsfall, Roger Oldham and Henry Goldsmith. He was the Assistant draughtsman to Lutyens 1907-1910. Independent practice in Manchester 1910. War service as Major; MC. Appointed Assistant Architect 27th May 1919, reference provided by Edwin Lutyens. Designed 67 cemeteries and the Memorial to the Missing at La Ferté on the Marne. He left the Commission on the 31st July 1927. He later worked for the Midland Bank and designed banks at Knotty Ash (1936) and Elstree Way (1942). Died 1967.


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​Sir Frank Higginson

Born 22nd April 1890 Died 20th November 1958.

Captain in the Canadian Army 1914-1918. Appointed Assistant Architect 26/11/1918, Deputy Director of Works 07/08/1919. Designed cemeteries including Cabaret Rouge (1926). Chief Administration Officer 1928-38; Director of Works and Controller 1938-47; succeeded Ware as Secretary 1947-56. Knighted 1956. ​

​The information was kindly supplied by Gavin Stamp and used with his permission
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Charles Henry Holden

Born 12th May 1875, Died 1st May 1960. He was born in Bolton, Lancashire in 1875, youngest child of Joseph and Ellen Holden. In September 1918, Holden transferred to the Imperial War Graves Commission (now the Commonwealth War Graves Commission) with the new rank of Major. From 1918 until 1928 he worked on 69 Commission cemeteries.

More information on Charles Holden can be found by clicking on the link below

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Arthur James Scott Hutton

Born 10th January 1891 died 1982. Was articled to Duncan MacNaughtan & Son of Glasgow in 1909, studying at the Glasgow School of Architecture under Eugène Bourdon. In March 1915 he seved in the Royal Engineers in France, supervising and designing hospitals, camps, bakeries, halls and other buildings. He retired from the Royal Engineers a Captain in September 1919. On 5 September he was appointed architect to the Imperial War Graves Commission in France Belgium and Germany, working under Sir Herbert Baker, Sir Reginald Blomfield and Sir Edwin Lutyens to execute their designs for British military cemeteries as well as designing and carrying out many himself. He designed 67 cemeteries including Marzargues Indian Cemetery, Longueval, Fricourt and the Memorial at Arques-la-Bataille. He also assisted Lorimer on cemeteries in Germany.

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Henry Philip Cart De Lafontaine​

Born 1884 in Switzerland. Trained at Ecole des Beaux-Arts and articled to Guy Dawber 1911. Served in War with Distinction; Lt. Col. appointed Inspector of works for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission 25/07/1919 and designed the coloured and gilded gesso memorial tablets placed in French and Belgian Cathedrals. Left Commission 29/02/1920. Later designed Commonwealth Building, Holborn (1939). President of the Town Planning Institute 1950-51. Died 1963.

​Image by Elliott & Frybromide print, 1950. Used under license to NPG x86986 © National Portrait Gallery, London.


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George Esslemont Gordon Leith, M. C. 

Born in 1885, Died 1965. He was born in in South Africa and educated at Pretoria Model School. To Britain 1916, recommended by General Smuts for a Commission. Captain in the R.F.A., gassed, M.C. Appointed Assistant Architect 01/12/1918, recommended by Baker. Designed cemeteries including Terlincthun and Calais Southern under Baker. Appointed Senior Designing Architect in succession to Holden 01/04/1920. Resigned 01/07/1920 to be repatriated to South Africa owing to ill health. Advisory Architect to South African Agency of War Graves Commission 1950 and worked on cemeteries in South Africa.


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Sir Robert Lorimer

Born 4th November 1864 - Died 13th September 1929. He was educated at Edinburgh University. Appointed Principal Architect for Italy, Macedonia and Egypt 21/09/1918. Designed 12 cemeteries in Italy, including Barenthal and Cavaletto, also Memorials at Giavera and Savona; 8 cemeteries in Macedonia (Greece) and Memorials at Lake Doiran (Walter Gilbert, sculptor) and Monastir Road; 8 cemeteries in Egypt, including Chatby, Hadra (Alexandria) and Old Cairo. Also designed 5 war cemeteries in Germany, at Cologne, Hamburg, Worms, Cassel and Berlin. 

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Sir Edwin Lutyens

Born 29 March 1869 – Died 1 January 1944. Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens, OM, KCIE, PRA, FRIBA was a leading 20th century British architect who is known for imaginatively adapting traditional architectural styles to the requirements of his era. Before the end of World War I, he was appointed one of three principal architects for the Imperial War Graves Commission and was involved with the creation of many monuments to commemorate the dead.

More information on Edwin Lutyens can be found by clicking on the link below

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Verner O. Rees

Born 1886-1966

​Trained with Caroe & Passmore. Assistant to Lutyens 1910-12, then to New York. In Artist's Rifles during the War. Won competition, with G.H. Holt, for Memorial to the Missing at Soissons, 1925; design executed by Commonwealth War Graves Commission, sculpture by Eric Kennington. Also designed London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, (with P. Morley Horder), 1925. President of A.A. 1938-39. Died 1966.

The information was kindly supplied by Gavin Stamp and used with his permission


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Noel Ackroyd Rew

Born 1880-Unknown
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The information was kindly supplied by Gavin Stamp and used with his permission

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Trained at Slade School and Regent Street Polytechnic 1897-1904. In office of father, C.H. Rew 1902-1912. Independent practice in Berkhampstead from 1912-1914, domestic and ecclesiastical work. He was a Lieutenant with the Royal Engineers from 1915-1919. After the war he designed houses in Berkhampstead and on the 25/05/1919 he was appointed Assistant Architect on a reference supplied by Blomfield. he designed over 42 cemeteries including Bailleul Road and Serre Road. He was appointed part-time on the 01/10/1928 and left the Commission on the 28/02/1929. He then designed houses, schools and Church restorations in Hertfordshire.


John Reginald Truelove

Born 1886-1942

The information was kindly supplied by Gavin Stamp and used with his permission

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Articled to Hall and Fenton of Sheffield. In private practice for 4 years before the war. Captain in 21st London Regiment 1914-1919, reference from Lutyens. Designed several cemeteries including Noyelles-sur-mer (Chinese). Won  competitions for Memorials to the Missing at Le Touret and Vis-en-Artois Cemeteries 1928. Completed by Commonwealth War Graves Commission by 1930.  He left the commission on the 25/03/1924. Practised in Nottingham until 1929. He later designed Municipal Buildings, Stoke Newington (1937). He worked for the War dept. in 1940 on Anti-Aircraft H.Q's. He died in 1942.


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Image used with the permission of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Captain Wilfred Clement Von Berg, M. C. 

Born 21 October 1894 - July 1978

Born in Croydon, Surrey Wilfred Clement Von Berg began to study architecture in 1912.  He served with the London Rifle Brigade during the Great War and at the end of the conflict he joined the Imperial War Graves Commission as an assistant architect.  He found himself working under principal architects Sir Reginald Blomfield, Sir Edwin Lutyens and Charles Holden  and he designed some 39 cemeteries, including the large Bedford House Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery outside of Ypres in Belgium
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Edward Prioleau Warren

Born 30th October 1856-Died 23rd November 1937

The information was kindly supplied by Gavin Stamp and used with his permission


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Educated at Bristol University. Articled to Bodley & Garner 1880. Independent practice 1885. Ecclesiastical and domestic work, e.g. Great Milton Manor, Oxon., also collegiate work in Oxford and Cambridge, e.g. Caius Cambridge; Balliol, Oxford, Master of Art Workers Guild 1913. Appointed Principal Architect for Mesopotamia 31/10/1919 with honorary rank of Major. Designed cemeteries and Memorial to the Missing at Basra and Tomb of General Maude, Baghdad. Left Commission 31/12/1925. Died 1937.


World War Two Cemeteries
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Disclaimer 

The casualty numbers for each cemetery and G. P. S. Coordinates are taken from the C. W. G. C. site. We are aware that there can be discrepancies in the burial numbers quoted due to rededication burials.

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Belgium
    • Commonwealth Cemeteries in Belgium in Alphabetical Order
    • Commonwealth Cemeteries in Belgium >
      • HAINAUT
      • WEST-VLAANDEREN
      • OTHER BELGIAN DEPARTMENTS
    • BELGIAN MILITARY CEMETERIES
    • BELGIAN MEMORIALS
  • France
    • Commonwealth Cemeteries in France in Alphabetical Order
    • Commonwealth Cemeteries in France >
      • AISNE
      • MARNE
      • NORD
      • OISE
      • PAS DE CALAIS
      • SEINE-ET-MARNE
      • SEINE-MARITIME
      • SOMME
      • OTHER FRENCH DEPARTMENTS
    • FRENCH CEMETERIES WORLDWIDE
    • French Memorials
  • Gallipoli
  • Other CWGC Countries
  • GERMAN CEMETERIES
  • OTHER WAR AND MILITARY CEMETERIES
  • Architects
  • Shot at Dawn
  • Victoria Cross
  • Miscellaneous
  • Regimental Badges
  • "Silent Cities" Revisited