During the two World Wars of 1914-18 and 1939-45, millions of lives were lost. The majority of the servicemen and women who died in those wars lie buried in the countries where they fell. Most of the members of the Commonwealth forces who died in Germany are buried in war cemeteries, which are maintained by the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission with the assistance and goodwill of the German people. Those whose graves are unknown are commemorated on memorials to the missing. These quiet resting places are dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives.
Stone walls and wrought-iron gates are a common feature on the perimeter of the Commission's cemeteries. At larger sites, you also find a shelter building where you are able to read an account of conflicts in the area and a history of the cemetery. In all but the smallest cemeteries, there is a register box containing an inventory of the burials and a plan of the plots and rows. In any cemetery with over 40 graves, you can find
The Cross of Sacrifice to represent the faith of the majority. The architect used a simple cross embedded with a bronze sword and mounted on an octagonal base. Cemeteries with over 1.000 burials have a
Stone of Remembrance. The geometry of the structure was based on studies of the Parthenon and steers purposefully clear of shapes associated with particular religions. Individual graves are marked by uniform headstones, differentiated only by their inscriptions. The vast majority of them are made of white-grey Portland stone.
Horticulture is an integral part of the cemetery design, to create an enviroment where visitors could experience a sense of peace in a setting, in contrast to traditionally bleak graveyards. The beds around each headstone are planted with a mixture of floribunda roses and herbaceous perennials. Low-growing plants are chosen for areas immediately in front of headstones, ensuring that inscriptions are not obscured. Also the absence of any form of paving between the headstone rows contributes to the simplicity of the cemetery designs.
COLOGNE SOUTHERN CEMETERY
Here rest 2.511 casualties from the First World War and 132 from the Second. Most of those buried here were soldiers who died as prisoners of war. The land which is consecrated by their graves has been acquired in perpetuity by agreement with the German people and the city of Cologne. So that their remains may be honoured for ever.
(www.cwgc.org)
Visit the Cologne Southern Cemetery, then you might be able to answer the following questions.
But please remember at all times:
- behave extremly well
- be courteous and respectful
- use your common-sense
1. The Commonwealth war grave plots in this cemetery commemorates 2.643 casualties. They served for the forces of different nations. How many of them were from Serbia? (use information board)
A=
2.
The Cologne Memorial commemorates twenty-five men who died during the Great War but the sites of whose graves are not known. How many of them were members of the
Durham Light Infantry?
B=
3. Individual graves are differentiated only by their inscriptions: regimental badge, rank, name, unit, date of death and age of each casualty is inscribed above an appropriate religious symbol. The regimental badge of the headstone at plot eighteen and row A.1. shows which number?
C=
4. The Commission cares for the graves and memorials of almost 1.7 million Commonwealth servicemen and women who died in the two world wars. One of them: Aircraftman
A.E. Newark, member of the Royal Air Force, died at April 1919. At which age?
DE=
5. At all cemeteries, there is a register box containing the inventory of the burials. Here you can find the (blue) visitors book to record your visit. For queries or comments you can call the
CWGC at their office located in Berkshire, UK. What are the eighth and fifth digits of the telephone number [without the (0)]?
FG=
The cache can now be found at:
50° 5F . (A+1)CE
06° 5(F*G) . BDC
Please tread carefully as you approach the box.