This is the entrance to the cemetary which was built in 1964. Cannock chase with its steep rising pines and slopes is reminiscent of parts of Germany and this is why it was chosen as the site of the Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof, the cemetery which now contains the burials of the great majority of German servicemen who died in the UK during both world wars. I didn't realize this before I went there. I thought it was mainly German servicemen who died in and around this area of Staffordshire, but it goes far beyond that as a collective memorial (including the graves of the crews of the four airships shot down over the UK in 1916 and 1917)
"The cemetery contains the graves of 2,143 servicemen of the First World War and 2,786 of the second, concentrated here from all parts of the UK. Five of the dead from 1914-18 and ninety from 1939-1945 are unknown by name."
This door with its beautiful surrounding foliage almost feels like nature is trying to heal old wounds, at least as far as it can . Beyond is a reception area with information, and past that, leads to large, spartan room with a long bronze of a fallen soldier under a sheet, lain in the centre. It's quite a sombre way to enter the actual cemetery, walking up to the agonized figure, a reminder of the personal, individual cost of war. I'll post a picture of that tomorrow. It was a sunny day when I visited and as I looked around the graves, a busy group of school children arrived with backpacks and began making notes about the graves. I think they were recording them, or perhaps looking for specific people. I hadn't expected to see anyone here, and somehow I just wanted to be here alone, so I waited until they'd gone before taking any shots. Certain places you feel the need to be by yourself to take them in in your own way, in your own time. This was one of them for me. I found it quite moving that one of the graves had flowers recently placed upon it along with a handwritten German note. Somehow, it felt good to know that someone cared enough to travel and mark someone's life that they wanted to respect. They remembered him. Seventy years had made no difference in terms of fondness for the real person not the grave in a line of graves, the person behind the tragedy of the war they were sadly involved with, regardless of sides.
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Ps - There's a small selfie of myself reflected in glass behind the open door. I didn't notice this until looking back at the shot enlarged.
I had no idea there was a German military cemetery on Cannock Chase, you learn something everyday ! A very interesting story & am glad it is there & looked after.
This is amazing and touching...and I love the healing greenery. Your recount of this day was truly touching. I know I used that word twice...but it's the only word I have to describe it.
Your commentary adds to the photo, especially the word image of nature trying to heal old wounds. The fresh flowers on an old grave is a also a lovely sentiment.
Thanks for that insightful commentary. It's good to be reminded of the long-lasting impact of war and the enormous sacrifices made. And to have faces, not just numbers.
@tabbycat Yes, but the bodies were very much scattered around the country before then. They decided to move most of them (some stayed in situ) to a central place.
