Inscriptions On A Soldier's Headstone
Sticking with the military theme, this week's article is about the inscriptions on headstones. I decided to write this article when researching records from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. I then decided to look into it.
The family of the deceased soldier would have to pay 3 1/2d per character, with a maximum of 66 for a personal inscription. Which is about £1.26 per letter in today's money. This cost is why there are many graves without any personal message.
This is an example of what the letter to the family would look like:
Dear Sir or Madam,
The Imperial War Graves Commission desire to make preparation for the
erection of a headstone in....CEMETERY Hooge Crater over the grave of:-
details of deceased, regiment, date of death,
Plot X Row X Grave X
The headstone will have engraved on it the naval or military inscription,
the badge of the deceased's naval or military unit, and an emblem of his
religious faith.
The Commission would be obliged if you would kindly assist them by saying
whether the above particulars, name, initials, honours, etc., are correct,
in order that the naval or military inscription may be absolutely accurate.
A space " a " is provided on the opposite page for any corrections you may
desire to make.
If you wish the age to be engraved will you give particulars in the space on
the opposite page after the word AGE.
In addition. a space has been reserved at the foot of the headstone, below
the emblem of religious faith for the engraving, at your own expense, of a
short personal inscription or text of your own choice.
It is regretted that special alphabets, such as Greek, cannot be accepted.
The length of the inscription is limited by the space available on the
headstone, and should in consequence not exceed 66 letters, the space
between two words counting as one letter.
For instance if you choose 12 words, the total number of actual letters
should not exceed 55, there being 11 spaces between the words.
If you desire to use this space will you kindly write (clearly) the
inscription or text you select in the space " b' opposite.
A claim for the amount due from you in respect of the engraving of the
selected inscription, will be sent to you In due course. The present price
is 3 1/2d. per letter, but this may be subject to future fluctuations of
cost.
Unless you express a wish to the contrary in the space " c " opposite, a
cross will be engraved in the centre of the stone,
Yours faithfully,
FABIAN WARE,
Major General,
Vice-Chairman.
IMPERIAL WAR GRAVES COMMISSION
The inscriptions did vary from soldier to soldier, but this is my favourite from a relative:
A SILENT THOUGHT
A SECRET TEAR
KEEPS HIS MEMORY
EVER DEAR
This is found on Lance Sergeant Charles Henry Shire's headstone, who was killed in action at the Battle of Arras on the 29 April 1917. It had 47 characters and therefore would have cost 13 Shillings and 8 1/2 Pence - or in today's money £59.22.
So overall it would have cost a lot of money to add a private message and at a time when it would have been hard to get that money together. But the charge seems to have been made voluntary.
If you have found a inscription that you would like to share, feel free to comment.
Published: 13 November 2014
The family of the deceased soldier would have to pay 3 1/2d per character, with a maximum of 66 for a personal inscription. Which is about £1.26 per letter in today's money. This cost is why there are many graves without any personal message.
This is an example of what the letter to the family would look like:
Dear Sir or Madam,
The Imperial War Graves Commission desire to make preparation for the
erection of a headstone in....CEMETERY Hooge Crater over the grave of:-
details of deceased, regiment, date of death,
Plot X Row X Grave X
The headstone will have engraved on it the naval or military inscription,
the badge of the deceased's naval or military unit, and an emblem of his
religious faith.
The Commission would be obliged if you would kindly assist them by saying
whether the above particulars, name, initials, honours, etc., are correct,
in order that the naval or military inscription may be absolutely accurate.
A space " a " is provided on the opposite page for any corrections you may
desire to make.
If you wish the age to be engraved will you give particulars in the space on
the opposite page after the word AGE.
In addition. a space has been reserved at the foot of the headstone, below
the emblem of religious faith for the engraving, at your own expense, of a
short personal inscription or text of your own choice.
It is regretted that special alphabets, such as Greek, cannot be accepted.
The length of the inscription is limited by the space available on the
headstone, and should in consequence not exceed 66 letters, the space
between two words counting as one letter.
For instance if you choose 12 words, the total number of actual letters
should not exceed 55, there being 11 spaces between the words.
If you desire to use this space will you kindly write (clearly) the
inscription or text you select in the space " b' opposite.
A claim for the amount due from you in respect of the engraving of the
selected inscription, will be sent to you In due course. The present price
is 3 1/2d. per letter, but this may be subject to future fluctuations of
cost.
Unless you express a wish to the contrary in the space " c " opposite, a
cross will be engraved in the centre of the stone,
Yours faithfully,
FABIAN WARE,
Major General,
Vice-Chairman.
IMPERIAL WAR GRAVES COMMISSION
The inscriptions did vary from soldier to soldier, but this is my favourite from a relative:
A SILENT THOUGHT
A SECRET TEAR
KEEPS HIS MEMORY
EVER DEAR
This is found on Lance Sergeant Charles Henry Shire's headstone, who was killed in action at the Battle of Arras on the 29 April 1917. It had 47 characters and therefore would have cost 13 Shillings and 8 1/2 Pence - or in today's money £59.22.
So overall it would have cost a lot of money to add a private message and at a time when it would have been hard to get that money together. But the charge seems to have been made voluntary.
If you have found a inscription that you would like to share, feel free to comment.
Published: 13 November 2014
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*Note - No copyright infringement was intended. If there is a breach in copyright contact me through the 'Contact' section so it can be removed. All photos are Copyright © 2014 Harry Clarke. All Rights Reserved. The photo on the 'Home' page for this article is courtesy of Charles Scoones.