1. Researching names on war memorials
War Memorials Trust
Researching names on war memorials

2. Learning objectives
To use the Commonwealth War Graves Commission database to find out about people in the past
A Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery. © Commonwealth War Graves Commission

3. Learning outcomes
Use the database to find information about people named on a war memorial
Answer questions using the information found
A Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery. © Commonwealth War Graves Commission

4. Learning from war memorials
What can you find out from the local war memorial?
Cawston, Norfolk (WM36) © War Memorials Trust, 2002

5. What do you want to know now?
Look at the questions you wrote about the people named on your war memorial.
How can you find the answers?

6. Commonwealth War Graves Commission
About the CWGC
Established in 1917
Remembers 1.7 million dead from the two World Wars
Preserves graves and memorials in 23,000 locations across 153 countries
A Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery. © Commonwealth War Graves Commission

7. Using the database Go to www.cwgc.org and select ‘Find war dead.’
Type in the surname and initials of the person you are searching for.
This brings up a list of people with that name
You will need to use your own knowledge to decide which record belongs to ‘your’ casualty. Think about where they came from and their age if you know how old they were when they died.
Record what you have found out about them. What do you know now that you didn’t before?

8. What did you find out?