How to search for war graves
CWGC - Commonwealth War Graves Commission records for Nottingham Road Cemetery.
Background:
On 21 May 1917, the Imperial War Graves Commission (IWGC) was established by Royal Charter. The Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) was appointed its President. In 1960 the name was changed to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It is funded by six member governments: Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK. The annual budget is in the region of £60million. The CWGC is a global organisation, caring for war graves at 23,000 locations in more than 150 countries and territories. It commemorates almost 1.7 million individuals, ensuring that all the Commonwealth men and women who died during both world wars are commemorated in a manner befitting their sacrifice. Details of the work of the organisation can be found on their free website which allows users to search for any of those who died due to military action between 4 August 1914 to 31 August 1921 and also 3 September 1939 to 31 December 1947. The website provides a great deal of information on how to research, including research guides.
Below is our own simple guide to using the CWGC site:
Click here to open the user guide in a separate PDF file.
Go to the main site: www.cwgc.org
Select the option FIND RECORDS, then chose the Find War Dead option.
It is possible to search on any number of fields. If you have just one search criteria, e.g. last name Smith. You will have an unmanageable list as can be seen below. There is an option to download the list, whatever the size.
Clicking on more details by a particular name, will take you to a further screen providing more information concerning the individual. It is possible to download a certificate to print and in many cases the Grave Registration and Headstone details. The Headstone details show the name and address of the next of kin who selected the inscription to appear at the bottom of the stone.
It is also possible to find details of all those buried in a particular cemetery by choosing the additional field Cemetery or Memorial.
This list includes all CWGC burials in the cemetery, not all will have a CWGC headstone. Some will have Private (Family) Memorials.
It is possible to find details about the locations of cemeteries where there are CWGC burials.
Select VISIT US on the home page, then Find Cemeteries and memorials, it is possible to search online or using the CWGC app.
This gives details of all sites in Derbyshire.
Selecting a particular location provides further information
It is then possible to find information relating to those buried there.
If you wish to learn about those commemorated who live near you. The post code search is useful., which is found on the front page of the website.
Entering the post code for Nottingham Road Cemetery DE21 6FN will show
Good luck with your research.