Our Organisation

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission honours the 1,700,000 men and women of the forces of the Commonwealth who died in the two world wars and ensures that their memory is never forgotten.

We are the organisation that cares for cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 locations in 153 countries.  Our values and aims, laid out in 1917, are as relevant now as they were almost 100 years ago.

The Commission's principles:

• Each of the dead should be commemorated by name on the headstone or memorial
• Headstones and memorials should be permanent
• Headstones should be uniform
• There should be no distinction made on account of military or civil rank, race or creed

Since our foundation by Royal Charter we have constructed 2,500 war cemeteries and plots, erecting headstones over graves and where the remains are missing, inscribing the names of the dead on permanent memorials. Over a million burials are now commemorated at military and civil sites in some 150 countries.

In this section you can find out about the history and work of our extraordinary organisation and the vital role we play in remembering the war dead.

Careers and employment opportunities

Office Details