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Chapter 17

Ministry of Defence Policy on World War

and non-World War Graves

Members of the Armed Forces who died during either of the two World Wars, from 4 August 1914 to 31

August 1921, and 3 September 1939 to 31 December 1947 are buried in official World War graves. The
graves of Service personnel who died after 1947 are categorised as non-World War graves. The definition

of non-World War graves also encompasses the graves of those Service dependants who died overseas
while accompanying Service personnel, and are buried in military cemeteries.

The MOD’s commitment to the maintenance of Service graves is largely determined by the age of the
grave. 1

a. Pre-World War I. Before World War I, the burying of the deceased was traditionally a function of the

Ship or Regiment to which they belonged. No formal assistance was offered by the, then, Admiralty
or War Office, and only a limited number of such graves are maintained at MOD’s expense.

b. World War 1 and 2. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) was established and is

funded to provide a permanent official commemoration for those who died in the two World Wars.
It maintains in perpetuity the graves and the official memorials which commemorate those who

have no known graves. The CWGC’s principle of non-repatriation of war dead was implemented for

both World Wars so that those who fought and fell together could be honoured together. The UK
Government, one of the six Commonwealth member countries supporting the CWGC, contributes

over 78% of the funding for this work which is proportionate to the UK’s number of war dead.

c. The Inter-War Years. Between 1 September 1921 and 2 September 1939, responsibility for Service
burials reverted to the pre-1914 arrangements whereby Ships, Regiments and Units buried their

own dead without central assistance. However, dependent on Service, some casualties were provided
with an official headstone and, in some instances, they received a Service (as distinct from a private)

funeral. Exceptionally, these relatively few graves are maintained at public expense.

d. 1948 and beyond. Since 1 January 1948, it has been the MOD’s policy that if a member of the Armed

Forces dies in service, their next of kin are offered the opportunity of the individual having a Service
funeral and official headstone, to be maintained in perpetuity at public expense.

i. Service personnel and, if serving overseas, their accompanying dependants, who died post 1

January 1948, were buried in non-World War graves locally or could be repatriated at private
expense for a private funeral.

ii. In 1963, the UK Government’s policy of non-repatriation changed and if Service personnel or

their accompanying dependants died whilst serving in North West Europe, next of kin were
allowed the choice of repatriating and burying the body at public expense or two relatives

travelling out to attend the Service funeral overseas.

iii. In 1967, the policy was extended to cover the rest of the world.

1 Ministry of Defence – Commemoration: war graves. https://www.gov.uk/support-for-war-veterans#commemoration-
war-graves

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