FOR THOSE IN PERIL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT RESOURCE PACK

Transcription

1 FOR THOSE IN PERIL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT RESOURCE PACK

2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Commonwealth War Graves Commission would like to give a special thank you to the organisations and individuals who helped with the creation of this resource pack. Commemoration is something we must all work to achieve together and we greatly appreciate the work of our contributors and supporters: Devonport Naval Heritage Centre MK Heroes Plymouth Plymouth City Council The National Museum Royal Navy The Wrens Association Alan Wrenn CONTENTS ETERNAL FATHER, STRONG TO SAVE WILLIAM WHITING, 1860 Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave, Who bidd st the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep; Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea! 1. Foreword and Introduction What is the Commonwealth War Graves Commission? How are Royal Naval casualties of the world wars commemorated? How was Plymouth significant to the Royal Navy during the First World War? Research tips & Resources What kind of action did men commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial take part in during the First World War? What role did women commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial play during the First World War? Research & Remember Taking Part Share Support Us FOREWORD It has been fantastic over the past three years to see communities rising to the challenge of marking the centenary of the First World War. We have seen a huge upturn in the number of visitors to cemeteries and memorials, the length of the Western Front, and further afield, as people rediscover their personal and community links to those who gave their lives in conflict, and come to pay their respects. Faced with so many images of serried ranks of gravestones in our war cemeteries in Flanders Fields, it is very easy to think only of the land forces, and the army, when one thinks of the two World Wars. Yet the role of the Royal Navy, and of the Merchant Navy, was absolutely fundamental in achieving the strategic outcomes of the Imperial forces. Tragically, for thousands of seamen and their families, the war at sea left them with no known graves. This project seeks to tell their stories, and highlight the men and women commemorated on our iconic Naval memorials across the south of England at Plymouth, Portsmouth and Chatham the home ports to so many ships and on our Tower Hill Memorial to the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets, designed by Lutyens, and embellished with the same moving sculptures of men by Charles Wheeler. Those people are not forgotten in the close-knit seafaring communities they came from, as you will see when you visit the memorials and see the many personal tributes left from family members. The memorials commemorate people from over 100 nations, all lost at sea whilst serving the common cause. We are delighted you are considering joining us to remember them. Front cover The sculptures on the front cover of the pack were designed by Charles Wheeler and are located on the Second World War extension, flanking the central inscription. They are representative of the roles of the Royal Navy such as navigation and warfare. Victoria Wallace Director General, CWGC 2 3

3 INTRODUCTION Welcome to For Those in Peril a remembrance resource from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). For Those in Peril has been created to encourage communities to discover and tell the stories of the men and women who served with the naval forces during the First World War and lost their lives at sea. This resource pack has a particular focus on the CWGC Plymouth Naval Memorial but works equally well with the CWGC s naval memorials at Portsmouth and Chatham, and at sites throughout the UK where naval war dead are buried or remembered. The pack contains lots of useful information to help you on your journey of remembrance researching, remembering and sharing with us the stories of those who died. WHAT IS THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION? We want you to: 1. Research: Find a name on the memorial there might be a local connection, a relative, or just someone with the same surname as you. 2. Remember: Respond to the naval losses with your own act of remembrance. 3. Share: Tell us what you did. You can your work to us at community@cwgc.org using the template provided or upload your findings online. If you use social media don t forget to use #CWGC. We will keep a record of what you do and what you find creating a permanent digital memorial of how your community chose to remember our war dead 100 years after the First World War. Thank you for taking part. Above: CWGC Plymouth Naval Memorial. Top of page: Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) was established on 21 May 1917 in response to the overwhelming number of casualties in the First World War. It owes its existence to the vision and determination of one man: Sir Fabian Ware, who felt compelled to make sure that the final resting places of the dead would not be lost forever. Today the CWGC cares for the graves and memorials of 1.7 million servicemen and women killed in the two world wars. Everyone is remembered equally, regardless of age, rank, nationality or religious belief. We operate at 23,000 sites spread across more than 150 countries. You will find CWGC headstones and memorials on every continent except Antarctica! There are more than 300,000 CWGC graves and memorials in the UK alone. Visit our website to research graves near you and around the world: 4 5

4 CWGC ROYAL NAVAL COMMEMORATIONS AROUND THE WORLD This map depicts the global reach of the Royal Navy during the World Wars and CWGC s commitment to commemorating the individuals who lost their lives. Canada Canada s contribution to the war at sea was crucial throughout both World Wars for supplies, training and troops for the Front. More than 2,800 Naval personal are commemorated on the CWGC Halifax Memorial in Nova Scotia. Falkland Islands In 1914 the Falkland Islands were the scene of a major battle between the Royal Navy and the German Kriegsmarine. Buried in CWGC Stanley Cemetery are a number of service personnel who died in the fighting. CA FR NO TU EG SA IN AU Norway From the Battle of Jutland in 1916 to Arctic convoys in 1942, the North Sea was the scene of fierce fighting during both World Wars. Some of the Naval personnel lost washed up on Norwegian coast. Turkey During the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915 the Royal Navy suffered heavy losses while supporting the fighting on the peninsula. The CWGC Helles Memorial on Gallipoli commemorates some 1,400 naval personnel. Egypt Egypt was an important base for campaigns against the Ottoman Empire. The Suez Canal was also vital as a strategic link for trade, communication and the transportation of troops, particularly between Britain and India. CWGC Alexandria Hadra Military Cemetery is the final resting place of over 300 naval casualties. NZ FI France During the Second World War, the Royal Navy supported Allied operations in France. In May 1940, they evacuated British Forces from the beaches of Dunkirk. Some of the naval forces lost in this operation are commemorated in CWGC Dunkirk Town Cemetery. This is also the location of the Dunkirk Memorial. South Africa South Africa was a key base for military operations in Africa, as well as trade during the World Wars. Important ports include Durban, Cape Town and nearby Simon s Town. There are 164 naval personnel commemorated in Simon s Town (Dido Valley) Cemetery. India The Indian Ocean was an important trade route between Britain and India during the world wars. Germany and its allies sought to disrupt this trade, leading to significant casualties. The CWGC Bombay (Mumbai) Memorial commemorates more than 2,000 sailors who died while serving in Eastern waters in the First World War and have no known grave. Australia and New Zealand Operating out of Australian and New Zealand harbours, the Royal Navy saw action in the Asia and Pacific theatre during both world wars. The CWGC New Zealand Naval Memorial and CWGC Sydney Memorial commemorate naval forces with no known grave. 6 7

5 MEMORIALS TO THE MISSING HOW ARE ROYAL NAVAL CASUALTIES OF THE WORLD WARS COMMEMORATED? Most sailors who died have no grave but the sea At the outbreak of war in 1914, the Royal Navy was the most powerful of the British Empire s armed forces. Known as the Senior Service, it was one of the world s greatest military institutions. Since Nelson s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, the navy had formed the basis of British influence around the globe. Consequently, men and women were eager to serve in this prestigious service. Whether serving aboard submarines or battleships, minesweepers or merchant vessels, sailors made major sacrifices during both world wars, contributing to ultimate victory. The CWGC commemorates more than 90,000 servicemen and women of the Royal Navy and other naval forces of the then-british Empire who died during the First and Second World Wars. Such was the global reach of the Royal and merchant navies that their graves are found all over the world from north Russia to South Africa, from America to the Far East, but the commemoration of those who fell as a result of the war at sea posed particular problems for the CWGC. Servicemen and women who died on land, had memorials raised close to the battlefields on which they had fought and died. However, of the 44,000 British Empire service personnel of the Royal Navy who died during the First World War, the majority were lost at sea, either in battle or by being committed to the deep in a traditional naval sea burial. Above: The Grand Fleet at sea during the First World War. Copyright IWM Q Originally the Admiralty opposed listing the names of those who died at sea on the memorials but relented due to the scale of the losses and the stance of the CWGC. An Admiralty committee recommended that the three manning ports (principal UK naval bases, Chatham, Plymouth and Portsmouth, to which ships and sailors were officially linked) should each have an identical memorial of unmistakable naval form, an obelisk. The memorials were designed by CWGC architect Sir Robert Lorimer, with sculptures by Henry Poole. After the Second World War the naval memorials were extended to provide space for commemorating the naval dead of that war. As each site is different, the extensions are not identical. Above: Sir Reginald Blomfield showing drawings of the Menin Gate to King George V during his pilgrimage in May Right-hand column Top: The architectural plans for the Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Middle: Portsmouth under construction. Bottom: Portsmouth Naval Memorial today. From the Broad Fourteens to Coronel, from Jutland to the Dardanelles, they lie scattered beneath the waters, over which, through the victory won by their sacrifice, the ships of Britain still sail to the uttermost ends of the earth. Their mortal remains we could not commit to the earth: their memory and their names we can immortalise. While this stone stands and while our race abides they will not cease to live. HRH The Prince of Wales at the unveiling of Chatham Naval Memorial

6 Portsmouth Naval Memorial Chatham Naval Memorial Plymouth Naval Memorial Unveiled on the Hoe by HRH Prince George in 1924, the Plymouth Naval Memorial commemorates more than 21,200 servicemen and women who died during the World Wars. Over 7,200 of these individuals served during the First World War. It also bears the names of many sailors from across the Commonwealth including nearly 1,800 of the Royal Australian Navy, 225 of the South African Navy, 40 Newfoundlanders, 16 Royal Indian Navy sailors and 370 members of the Naval Forces of Ceylon, Burma, Malaya, Hong Kong, Fiji, Kenya, Nigeria, the Gold Coast and Sierra Leone. The Second World War Extension was unveiled on 29th April 1954 by HRH Princess Margaret. Unveiled in October 1924 by the Duke of York, the future George VI, the memorial sits on the Southsea Common overlooking the promenade. The obelisk at the centre of the memorial commemorates 9,600 service personnel who died serving with the Royal Navy during the First World War and have no known grave. Around the obelisk is the Second World War Extension, which commemorates nearly 15,000 Royal Navy personnel (unveiled 29th April 1953 by HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother). Overlooking the town, the Chatham Naval Memorial was unveiled by the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VIII) on 26 April It commemorates more than 8,500 sailors of the First World War. Surrounding it is the Second World War Extension, which commemorates 10,000 Royal Navy personnel (unveiled October 1952 by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh). Tower Hill Memorial Britain s war efforts in the World Wars also depended on civilians serving on merchant vessels in the Merchant Navy. More than 17,000 men lost their lives while serving with the mercantile marine during the First World War and close to 36,000 in the Second World War. Similar to the war dead of the Royal Navy, those who lost their lives serving in the Merchant Navy largely have no known grave. The CWGC built the CWGC Tower Hill Memorial to commemorate them. The memorial was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Mary in After the Second World War, architect Sir Edward Maufe designed an extension to commemorate those who died. The sculptures are by Sir Charles Wheeler. MAPPING THE MEMORIALS AND OTHER ROYAL NAVAL COMMEMORATIONS IN THE UK In addition to three principal naval memorials to those lost at sea, CWGC graves of mariners who died of their wounds, or who were killed in coastal waters can also be found on land. Many are isolated, or found within the churchyards of coastal villages and towns, close to where their bodies were recovered. Others can be found where naval hospitals were based. Queensferry Cemetery Rosyth played a key role during the First World War. Of the 180 servicemen buried at Queensferry, most were sailors. A new naval medical facility was created during the conflict, and hundreds of men were treated at the site and at the nearby military hospital at Craigleith. Some of those who failed to recover were laid to rest here, as well as at least 40 sailors killed during the Battle of Jutland or who died as a result of their wounds. Plymouth (Ford Park) Cemetery More than 960 Commonwealth servicemen and women of the two world wars are commemorated here, over 760 of whom died during the First World War. Service personnel can be found throughout the cemetery and under many kinds of markers, including the standard CWGC headstones. Three-quarters of the servicemen buried here were members of the Royal Navy, and many of their graves are marked by distinctive slate Admiralty headstones. ACTIVITY: Search for the cemetery on The casualty records will tell you more about these servicemen and women PFP Research someone s story Visit their grave FOREWORD LRNC QC HRNC Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery Scapa Flow, at the heart of Orkney, was the home of the Royal Navy s Grand Fleet in the First World War. Sailors began to bury their comrades here in This is the final resting place of more than 440 Commonwealth sailors, including several of those who died of wounds sustained during the Battle of Jutland, along with 13 German sailors who died when their ships were interned here after the Armistice. GC Grimsby (Scartho Road) Cemetery The Auxiliary Patrol, which later became the Royal Naval Patrol Service, operated out of Grimsby. Trawlers were used for minesweeping operations and antisubmarine patrols, as local fishermen knew the waters well and their boats were ideal for the task. In all, more than 670 fishing vessels were lost over the course of the war. Over 100 men of the Royal Naval Reserve were buried here during the war years. Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery Gosport was home to many factories and military facilities, along with Haslar Naval Hospital. Funeral processions marched down the road known as Dead Man s Lane to this cemetery. Among those buried here are the crew of the submarine L55, lost in Russia in 1919 and brought back in Share your experience and discovery on social media or with your local community 10 11

7 HOW WAS PLYMOUTH SIGNIFICANT TO THE ROYAL NAVY DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR? Plymouth was an important naval base and manning port before, during and after the First World War. The city was a vital source of resources for the Royal Navy with Devonport Dockyard building the ships and the city providing the sailors to serve on them. PLYMOUTH REMEMBERING THOSE WHO NEVER RETURNED Joining the Royal Navy was an attractive option for volunteers from port towns like Plymouth and the industrial working class elsewhere. Life at sea was tough, but largely comparable to working conditions in factories, coal mines or docks. Pay was good, and it was regarded as a chance to see the world. For young officer recruits, the naval service was a respected and established career path. Naval personnel served in all manner of vessels, from enormous battleships to small tugs. They performed many different roles, from the stokers in the engine rooms to specialist navigators, engineers or gunners. Plymouth families would wave goodbye to their men from the Hoe and Devil s Point, then wait patiently for their return. Top of page: HMS Tiger was built in Plymouth. Completed in 1914, she was the largest and fastest ship in the Royal Navy fleet upon the outbreak of the First World War. Copyright IWM SP I674. Left: A naval recruitment poster of the First World War glamourising life on board. Original image created and published by the United Kingdom government. Image source Library of Congress, call number POS - WWI - Gt Brit, no On 30th May 1916, one of the momentous dates for the naval war, the British Grand Fleet put to sea, intercepting the German High Seas Fleet at Jutland in the North Sea the following day. More than 100,000 men - serving aboard 250 ships - fought at Jutland. Over a few brutal hours, some 8,500 servicemen were killed. The battle did not result in a decisive victory for either side. The British kept the status quo, maintaining control of the seas and their tight blockade of Germany but failed to destroy the German fleet. Top of page: Unveiling of the CWGC Plymouth Naval Memorial in Plymouth still remembers the Sacrifice at Jutland made by the community Commander Ian Shepperley RN of Devonport paid tribute to the men and naval families of Plymouth who suffered as a result of it. It was important for the city because of the 1,600 brave souls who died, sacrificing themselves for us and our future. Large areas of the city were heavily affected by the deaths because so many of the crews of Plymouthbased warships lived here

8 PERSONAL STORIES HMS Amphion was the first British warship to be lost in the war, hitting a mine during action in the North Sea in August She sank with the loss of 150 men, of whom 140 are commemorated on the CWGC Plymouth Naval Memorial, including Able Seaman Victor McKey from Birmingham. He was 21 years old when he died. Able Seaman McKey s story and photos were submitted to us by his family. HMS Monmouth was sunk with all hands on 1 November 1914 at the Battle of Coronel, which took place off the coast of Chile. 737 men were lost, of whom 671 are commemorated on the CWGC Plymouth Naval Memorial, including the captain, Frank Brandt, and Commander Spencer Forbes. Forty year-old Commander Forbes (pictured) was from Hampshire. WHAT KIND OF ACTION DID MEN COMMEMORATED ON PLYMOUTH NAVAL MEMORIAL TAKE PART IN DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR? Men from Plymouth families and sailors based there could serve on ships and naval bases worldwide in defence of the British Empire and its sea lanes. Whether it was hunting down German vessels on the High Seas far from Britain at the war`s outbreak in 1914, participating in the great battle at Jutland in 1916 in the North Sea, maintaining the relentless naval blockade of Germany or defending merchant shipping from German U-boats, British sailors commemorated in Plymouth made their contribution to ultimate victory in Above: The Royal Navy. Remembrance service Portsmouth CONTINUE YOUR RESEARCH In addition to the CWGC website ( where you can find out more about naval casualties and where they are commemorated, there are extensive resources for individuals looking to continue their research into the history of the Royal Navy during the First and Second World Wars. The National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth has a number of informative exhibits. Learn more about visiting the historic dockyard and the museum at: Left: Victor McKey (Image courtesy of Mark Hone). Right: HMS Amphion. Picture Credit IWM Q HMS Indefatigable was sunk at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916 with the loss of 1,016 men, 789 of whom are commemorated on the CWGC Plymouth Naval Memorial. They include the captain, Charles Sowerby, and Stoker 1st Class Robert Francis Kitt. Robert Kitt was from Cornwall and 20 years old when he died. Left: Stoker 1st Class Robert Francis Kitt. IWM HU Right: HMS Indefatigable. Picture Credit - National Museum of the Royal Navy 2011/ Left: Commander Spencer Forbes. IWM HU Right: HMS Monmouth. Picture Credit IWM Q HMS Defence was sunk at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May men were lost when the Defence exploded. 725 of the ship s officers and crew are commemorated on the CWGC Plymouth Naval Memorial, including the captain, Stanley Ellis, and Able Seaman Andrew Potts. Andrew Potts was from Belfast and 30 years old when he died. Left: Andrew Potts - IWM HU Right: HMS Defence. Picture Credit - National Museum of the Royal Navy 2011/

9 Josephine Carr Commemorated on CWGC Plymouth Naval Memorial WHAT DID THE WRENS DO IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR? Josephine Carr was the first Wren to die as a result of enemy action. She was the daughter of Samuel and Kathleen Carr who lived at 4 Bethesda Road, Cork, Ireland. She enlisted in the WRNS on 17 September 1917, and worked as a shorthand typist. Top of the page: Plymouth Weston a SQ Wren river pilots studying charts in the Second World War. Copyright IWM A Above: WRNS First World War Poster IWM Art.IWM PST Like the CWGC, the Women s Royal Naval Service (WRNS) was established during the First World War, in The WRNS was a volunteer force designed to free men for active service. Very quickly the women became known as Wrens. At the peak of its operation during the war, it reached the strength of some 5,500 women. The service was disbanded in Women s important contribution to the war was not forgotten however; it played a role in women attaining the limited right to vote in 1918 and the strong camaraderie between the women endured. The WRNS were revived at the beginning of the Second World War. The responsibilities of the WRNS expanded to include radar plotters, weapons analysts, range assessors, electricians and air mechanics. The WRNS remained active until they were integrated into the Royal Navy in In total, 23 Wrens during the First World War are commemorated by the CWGC. The Association of Wrens also keeps a Book of Remembrance at St. Mary-le-Strand Church in London to commemorate their fallen comrades. The WRNS suffered fewer casualties than other services because the women mainly served in posts ashore, emphasized by their slogan Never at Sea. Nevertheless, as manpower shortages continued and women demonstrated their versatility and adaptability, many more found themselves being transported to postings further afield, often crossing dangerous waters. On 10 October 1918, she and two fellow Wrens boarded the mail ship SS Leinster, to travel to Holyhead. She was seen last by Wren Maureen Waters sitting in the Reading Room at the time that the ship cast off. Shortly after leaving Dublin Bay, the Leinster was hit twice by torpedoes fired by the German U-Boat, U-123. The Leinster sank in eight minutes. Over 500 of the 700 passengers and crew died in the icy waters of the Irish Sea. Some of the dead were recovered and laid to rest in Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin. Josephine s body was never recovered and she is commemorated on panel 31 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial. Can you find personal stories of the women commemorated on the CWGC Naval Memorials? To learn more about the WRNS and their upcoming events, please consult the following sources: There are also two exhibitions that will run until the end of and The information in this section was created in partnership with the Association of Wrens and the Royal Navy, we thank them for their support. Above: Josephine Carr. Copyright IWM WWC N

10 HOW YOU CAN TAKE PART IN OUR PROJECT FOR THOSE IN PERIL The three CWGC Naval memorials, including the one at Plymouth, hold huge significance for many people. Collectively, they encapsulate the memory of thousands of service personnel who paid the ultimate price of warfare and represent the huge sacrifice made by the men and women of the Royal Navy during both world wars. Today, the memorials are visited by family members and descendants, tourists and local people. They are central to Armistice Day services and are significant landmarks, part of local heritage. Many visitors however, know very little about the history of these memorials. In CWGC s centenary year and during the centenary of First World War, we ask for your help in telling the stories of these important memorials and the individuals they commemorate. Communities across the UK have local connections to make. We ask you to research, remember and share the stories of those with no known grave, whose names are engraved in perpetuity on CWGC Naval memorials along the South coast. Photos at top: Living Memory Project Ideas for community groups and individuals Research Using our website, you can find a list of those commemorated on the memorial. You can refine your search to look for connections to your city or town, by using the Advanced Search tool. You can use local records and archives to develop your research further. You may wish to focus on a particular date, or perhaps tell the story of women on the memorial. There are servicemen and women from across the world, remembered on CWGC Naval Memorials in the UK. What can you discover? Remember Create a diary entry, a poem or a presentation about the individual you have researched. Visit the CWGC memorial or local war graves, lay flowers or make your own biodegradable wreath. Organise a community vigil and read the name of your casualty. Hold a local event to share your findings and make the story of your serviceman or woman known. 3. Share Share their story and your act of remembrance. What did you do? How did you remember? Visit to find out how you can share your research with our community. We ask you to take a photograph and share your activity on social media: #CWGC #Forthoseinperil so we can share your participation to inspire others and support us in raising awareness of this important memorial. In November, we will gather all participation and project documentation to create a snapshot of the collective research and remembrance from this project, demonstrating the community support in remembering, during the centenary of the CWGC and the centenary of the First World War, to those with no known grave. So it s important that you capture your work! Above: Plymouth Naval Memorial unveiling,

11 IDEAS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE AND FAMILIES CREATED BY MK HEROES, PLYMOUTH: Photography You can photograph the name you have researched, you can take a picture of your group laying flowers or presenting your research to an audience. If your research has inspired artwork, poetry or music photograph it and share it on Twitter and upload your best photograph to the template provided, be creative! Ideas for teachers You can use the simple search function on the CWGC website and the information within this booklet, to tell the story of Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the story of the memorial, in a classroom session as a pre-visit activity. Ask each student to select a name and explore why that individual was chosen. Presentations can be prepared on the memorial and how we remember those with no known grave. Students may wish to prepare a reading, poem, diary entry or their research, to read at the memorial or in an assembly or remembrance event. Take a photograph and share your work #CWGC #Forthoseinperil or community@cwgc.org Themes for discussion: Such was the global reach of the Royal and merchant navies that their graves can be found from north Russia to South Africa, from America to the Far East. Yet, most sailors who died have no grave but the sea, and their names are inscribed on naval memorials erected along the shorelines from which they sailed. What can you discover about other CWGC memorials to the missing? How do people commemorate the war dead in other countries? Do they have a flower or symbol of remembrance? Comparing the experience of visiting a cemetery to a memorial can offer powerful themes for discussion. Exploring themes of equality and the founding principles of the CWGC can spark engaging dialogue and debate about attitudes 100 years ago and contemporary responses to commemoration. Designing a memorial or wreath, calculating the ages of those commemorated on the Memorial using CWGC online records, are ideas that have been used by schools. Teachers can contact community@cwgc.org for advice and tips on enhancing a group visit to a CWGC cemetery or memorial. Top left: Living Memory Project Top right: St. Michael s School, Kent and Diversity House. Bottom: Wreath made by children for Southampton Hollybrook Memorial. Top and Middle: Unveiling of the CWGC Plymouth Naval Memorial in Bottom: Royal Navy recruits at Portsmouth, Copyright IWM Q Write a letter to a loved one as if you were on-board a ship Take a photo of your family at a war memorial near your school or home Paint a poppy on a pebble and make your own poppy paper weight Design a gingerbread man as a soldier, sailor or airman Design a medal for a Service person and describe what it is for Make a poster with key information about the Great War Create bunting with some/all of the flags of the countries that were involved in the War Create a front page of a newspaper to celebrate the end of the Great War What were the roles of women during the Great War? Build a den at home as if it would be your cabin on a ship Make a list of the ships used in the Battle of Jutland How many casualties of the Great War have their names on your local war memorial? Tip- Look on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission s website Some battleships in The Great War were camouflaged in dazzling patterns. Can you create a dazzling pattern design of your own? Please tell us about your project: community@cwgc.org You can send in your work on the template provided. Below: Remembrance Day Plymouth Naval Memorial. Photo credit MK Heroes

12 RESEARCH TIPS The Commonwealth War Graves Commission s online records are a great place to start researching those who lost their lives at sea in the First World War. At you will find a database which includes details of: FUN FACT: The globe at the top of the Plymouth Naval Memorial has a dent. The dent was the result of a barrage balloon hitting it during an air raid in the Second World War. Names, service details, and dates of death Place of commemoration In many cases, details of next-of-kin These records were provided to CWGC by the Admiralty after the end of the First World War, and next-of-kin were contacted by the Commission in order to check personal details and properly commemorate the dead. We continue to amend our records on the basis of new information. Finding a Particular Group Using the [Unit] field, you can find people who died while serving in a particular ship e.g. Indefatigable You can also narrow your search by other criteria, such as dates of death and rank. Our database also includes details of those who served with Australian, Canadian, Indian, New Zealand and South African naval forces, as well as the merchant marine. Finding a Link to your Community Using the Additional Information field in our database, you might be able to find people whose next-of-kin lived near you. Other Resources For more detailed information about casualties, including biographies, service records and other personal details, you will need to explore records held by other organisations, including the National Museum of the Royal Navy, the National Archives, or the Imperial War Museum. Your local library or records office will also hold useful books and resources, and will often provide free access to online resources. Here are a few ideas for continuing your research: Online Genealogy Services There are several commercial websites which collate public records held by the National Archives and other official bodies, including census returns. Relevant documents for naval personnel include: Indexes to deaths in the armed forces ( ) and Maritime war deaths ( ) Royal Navy First World War Lives at Sea A database searchable by name, service number and other criteria. This is a joint project between The National Archives, The National Maritime Museum and the Crew List Index Project with the help of a global team of volunteers. The National Archives (Kew) Visitors to the National Archives at Kew are able to consult certain records not available online. Lists and registers of deaths in the Royal Navy and Royal Marines ( ) records officers and ratings who died during the First World War. Details include the ship s name, the cause of death and next-of-kin. Lives of the First World War Hosted by the Imperial War Museum, this resource contains crowd-sourced material about the lives of those who served in the First World War, including naval personnel. Top of page: Laying of the wreath at the Plymouth unveiling in Top: Chatham Naval Memorial. Bottom: Plymouth Naval Memorial

13 SHARE PRESS AND MEDIA, RAISING AWARENESS OF CWGC AND THE MEMORIALS Media guidelines for the FTIP pack Social Media Share your discoveries with others via social, printed and online media. Facebook and Twitter are good ways to share news, raise awareness of your local site and engage others in your community. To raise awareness of the war graves here in the UK we are encouraging everyone who takes part to share their discoveries with others. Whether via social media, newspapers, local radio, TV, or online, telling other people what you ve done is an important contribution to remembering and championing. In this section you ll find details on how to go about this, and get advice from the CWGC media team. Above: HMS Colossus at anchor at Scapa Flow with other ships of the Grand Fleet Copyright IWM SP Facebook Interact with other groups via the CWGC Facebook page. commonwealthwargravescommission/ Post the latest details of your project and discuss your plans with others. The CWGC Facebook team will be looking for stories to share with the wider community of its 29,000 followers on the main CWGC Facebook page: commonwealthwargravescommission Twitter Twitter is perfect for sharing quick updates. Try and include images as it s a great way to get your tweets noticed. However, please ensure you have appropriate permissions in place before sharing any images on social media. If photographing young people or vulnerable adults you will need written consent from parents, guardians, schools or supporting institutions before publishing the images. If you want us to see your post, make sure you tag us in! The official Twitter handle The hashtag we are using for the overall project is #ForThoseInPeril. By including this in your tweet, users will be able to click on it and link your work with the wider initiative. If you have any questions, or would like to discuss how to make the most of your project on social media, please community@cwgc.org Opposite page: Plymouth Naval Memorial, UK, 29 July The Press To help with local press we have produced a press release template which is available upon request. Please community@cwgc.org When writing your release or speaking with a journalist, think about the story you re trying to tell. Make sure it s newsworthy your information should be new, noteworthy, and relevant. Journalists love human interest stories and your project is a perfect opportunity to tell a very good one. Tell them about why you got involved in For those in Peril What you got out of the project and any interesting stories and images you found about the war casualties. Always contact the press a few days before any event, remembering to check the newspaper/other media s deadlines. Weekly papers normally go out after print for a Friday, so a Thursday would not be a good day to organise an event and expect the press to turn up. Be prepared Journalists will ask questions. Make sure you have thought of a few answers and also have some resources you can share e.g. photos or research. Photos Pictures are a great way to tell a story. Think about capturing good quality images of your event and group in action. If the press can t make your event, take some good photographs yourself remembering to ask those in the picture for their permission and resend the press release with an update on how the day went and some photos. Photograph Permission Please ensure you have appropriate permissions in place before sharing any images on social media or with the press. If photographing young people or vulnerable adults you will need written consent from parents, guardians, schools or supporting institutions before publishing the images. Make yourself available Provide contact details such as an address or contact number on your press notice. When you receive a call or a message from a reporter, get back to him or her as soon as you can, otherwise you might miss their deadlines. What if I don t know the answer? If you need to refer the journalist to the CWGC, please pass on our media@cwgc.org 24 25

14 SUPPORT US CWGF Supporters The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation (CWGF) engages communities with the stories of the war dead across the globe. It educates the next generation about making their contribution, enabling them to become custodians of the future. How can you help us? Join our pals! The CWGF Supporters scheme helps fund our work around the world and keeps you in touch with what we re doing. Your 30 a year donation helps us share the CWGC story: Engaging communities Informing new generations Enabling young people to play their part Sign up today: The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation (CWGF) is an independent charity registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales (charity number ). The CWGF supplements the core funding provided to the CWGC by member Governments for the maintenance and preservation of the cemeteries and memorials to the fallen of two world wars. Opposite page: Relatives read list of survivors after the sinking of HMS Oak, Oct Copyright IWM HU

15 The Commonwealth War Graves Commission For more information contact: The Community Engagement Team Visit: Instagram: commonwealthwargraves facebook.com/commonwealthwargravescommission snapchat: thecwgc Unless otherwise stated, the images used in the pack are the property of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. All photos credited as Living Memory 2016, from Living memory project in Partnership with Big Ideas Company.