News / Society
45 gravestones returned to Arnos Vale
The gravestones of 45 First World War heroes have been returned to their original positions in Soldiers’ Corner in Arnos Vale.
The task was undertaken by soldiers from the 266 (Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery) Battery, 104th Regiment Royal Artillery.
Although only forty-five gravestones have been returned, Soldiers’ Corner is in fact the resting place of 239 war heroes.
The newly reinstated gravestones had been in storage in the cemetery crypt, along with another nineteen which were in too poor condition to be returned – the whereabouts of the rest of the missing gravestones is a mystery.
UWE historian Charles Booth has been involved in researching the gravestones and soldiers in Arnos Vale; he said: “I’m delighted that the Cemetery Trust has decided to restore these grave markers to their original settings.
“Although it hasn’t been possible to put all of them in place, because of loss or damage, the effect will be to show Soldiers’ Corner as a place of military burial, rather than just a lawn and a list of names on a war memorial.
“I hope it will also be of consolation to relatives of the dead servicemen whose grave markers we have managed to replace.”
The move is part of Arnos Vales’ project marking the centenary of the First World War.
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