War Graves Commission urges Huntingdonshire residents to discover stories of those who died in First World War

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has launched a new initiative to get people in Huntingdonshire to visit war graves and discover the stories behind the names of those who died in the First World War.

In Huntingdonshire, there are more than 130 war graves and commemorations to those who died during the First World War and more than 300 in total including those from the Second World War.

One of these graves is that of Private Arthur See who died of his wounds inflicted during the Battle of the Somme after arriving home to receive medical treatment. He was 25 years old when he died on April 14, 1917, and was the son of James and Emily See, of Globe Lane, Alconbury.

Arthur is buried at All Saints Church in Ellington.

The commission’s initiative, named the Living Memory Project, is encouraging communities to discover, explore and remember the war grave heritage on their doorstep.

Hugh Dennis, ambassador for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, said: “I’d urge everyone to get involved in this initiative so we never forget those who died during the Great War and are buried and commemorated so close to us on the home front.”

Funding and resources are available to help groups identify a war grave near where they live. This can be to help towards researching about some of those buried locally and to stage a commemorative event.

Any community group interested can register now by e-mailing livingmemory@cwgc.org or visiting www.cwgc.org/livingmemory