The Commonwealth War Graves Commission cares for the burial places and memorials for 1.7 million men and women who died in the First and Second World Wars. We work in 150 countries and territories, on 23,000 sites. In Scotland alone, we look after more than 21,000 war graves and memorials, including large plots in the cities, and single graves in our villages and islands. They are cared for by our team of gardeners and skilled maintenance craftsmen. Those individuals buried in the UK will have died here, in hospitals, nursing homes, and at home, having returned from the wars wounded or sick. In Dunfermline, we have war graves in the city cemetery, and at Douglas Bank, where there are casualties from several different nations.

Each one has his or her story; and part of the Commission’s role is to tell those stories, and to encourage people to research, remember and visit them.

Our core work, care and maintenance of war graves and memorials, is funded by our six member governments. Many other projects, such as our volunteer programmes, are funded through our charitable branch, the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation.

You can find out more on our website, www.cwgc.org

Below are some pictures of our visit to Douglas Bank.

With thanks to Patricia Keppie.