Christine Whelan FEO, November 10, 2022, VOL. 4 ISSUE 6

According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, the construction of war memorials and cemeteries to commemorate the fallen from the First World War was only completed in 1938 with the unveiling of the Australian Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. Their commitment expanded globally after the Second World War.

Today they care for war graves and memorials at 23,000 locations, in more than 150 countries and territories.

Over the years, their cemeteries and memorials have evolved naturally – aging but remaining true to their founding design and purpose.

Many of the cemeteries and memorials were designed by world-renowned architects, sculptors, and artists, and in recent years, the significance of this estate has been formally recognized in a number of countries as cemeteries and memorials are listed in increasing numbers or under consideration for World Heritage Site status.

The Heritage Strategy

With such recognition and protection comes additional responsibility. This is why the Commission has implemented a Heritage Strategy to guide its work for the future.

As explained on the CWGC’s site, the aim of the heritage strategy is twofold – to help their staff and public appreciate the inherent “value” of the sites in the wider historical, cultural, and commemorative context; and to ensure that any required intervention is identified well in advance, prioritized accordingly and, when implemented, is done sympathetically.

Rather than a process of continual replacement and renewal of materials — many of which, like headstones, are finite resources — the Commission seeks to conserve its structures, but remain true to its principle of commemorating the names of the fallen in perpetuity.

This means regularly carrying out Structural Condition Surveys of all their structures which not only identify current, past, and even future challenges but inform the longer term strategy for addressing structural needs and priorities.

The Commission’s conservation philosophy is underpinned by the following Heritage Principles:

• Equality of treatment of the dead and missing is of paramount importance
• The sites must have a sense of dignity and inspiration
• Commemorations must be legible
• The heritage value of the Historic Estate must be preserved for future generations
• The Historic Estate will be sustainably managed
• The cemeteries and memorials must look cared for

To help achieve these principles, the cemeteries are routinely visited and assessed. Once the needs for care are established, companies, who bid on the work to be done, are contacted.

Kirkpatrick Stoneworks

Kirkpatrick Stoneworks, with several locations in Southern Ontario including Fort Erie, has been contracted to work with two local cemeteries, the Ridgeway Old Memorial Cemetery on South Mill Road at the corner of Farr Road and Greenwood Cemetery on Thompson Road in Fort Erie.

Dorrie Jones of Kirkpatrick’s explained that, at this point, the Ridgeway cemetery has been completed while Greenwood is currently getting attention.

Ridgeway Old Memorial Cemetery

“Earlier in the year, we finished the restoration at the Ridgeway Memorial,” Dorrie spoke about the veteran’s section of the cemetery at the front by the cenotaph.

“There are many markers there that were sinking so we put them on crushed stone and placed the markers on top of bases so they wouldn’t sink anymore into the ground. They’re all done.

“We sandblasted the names on the cenotaphs. That took a lot to complete.”

She added about previous times, “We also did the lettering on the one at Mather Arch and the Alfred Storm Memorial in Crystal Beach.”

Greenwood Cemetery, Fort Erie

“Greenwood is giving us a little bit of a challenge because the area that we’re working in is quite wet and it stays wet,” Jones admitted.

“We’ve straightened, leveled, and cleaned a lot of markers and uprights. We still have some more work to do there that’s not going to get all done this year because of the weather. The tree roots have grown around so we’re trying to resolve some issues with them.”

Unknown Soldiers

Kirkpatrick Stoneworks also provided a community service by putting a stone in the Greenwood Cemetery, recognizing two unknown soldiers. “We donated the stone and our time.”

Dorrie described, “There was a run-down, wooden sign that somebody had put up years ago. It looked really nice but it got weathered. The letters were falling off. Instead of putting up another wooden sign, we put up a granite stone.

“It says, ‘Garden of Remembrance. The Royal Canadian Frontier Branch 71’, with two poppies and the Legion symbol on the front. It reads on the back, ‘Here lie the remains of an unknown British officer, also an unknown American soldier, who died in the service of their country in the War of 1812’.”

To learn more about the Commonwealth War Graves Commission you can visit www.cwgc.org