LONELY WAR GRAVES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 199, 17 May 1919, Page 8

LONELY WAR GRAVES

BODIES TO BE EEMOVED TO CEMETERIES. Scattered over the battlefields of France and Flanders aro thousands of lonely graves in which British soldiers were hastily buried. But they aro not to lie alonu for over. Under an agreement between Great Britain and France isolated bodies aro being exhumed with a view to reinterment in military cemeteries. Tho French Government naturally wish this policy carried out in order that no moro land than is necessary phall Ixj occupied ns graveyards and also that nono of tho graves shall be lost. Tho Imperial War Graves Commission is recognised by tho French Government as tho sole British authority charged with the care of British soldiors' graves in Franco. Tho commission is authorised to lay out cemeteries, to erect monuments, and carry out planting in them and to seleot persons to take charge of theui. To represent it in France the commission is establishing a Franco-British committee composed of four honorary members—two British and two French, and twelve official members—six British and six French, who are to bo appointed for threo years. Able Seaman T. M. J. Trcdrea writes that in a graveyard'near Heyst, Belgium, ho has seen tho gravo of an English petty officer among German graves marked "Obor Matrosen (English) J. A. Mayers," with the dato April 23, 1918, tho day of tho 6torming of tip Zcebruggo mole. Another grave is marked; "Here lio 8 English officers, 7 English 6oa soldiors (marines), 2 English seamen, and 2 English stokers." Both graves aro in fairly good condition with overgreens growing on thorn.