Despite being a relatively small organisation, the CWGC has a remarkable mission: to ensure that those who died in military service during the World Wars, are commemorated with dignity and respect. Through its work, the stories and sacrifices of the dead are preserved so that the human cost of war is never forgotten.

The origins of the CWGC can be traced to Fabian Ware, a commander with the British Red Cross during the First World War. Disturbed by the number of soldiers who were dying without any formal record of their burial places, Ware successfully lobbied for his unit to become a dedicated organisation responsible for caring for the war dead. This work involved locating missing bodies, recording burial sites, and where appropriate moving graves into permanent cemeteries where they could be properly maintained and visited.

Before the establishment of the CWGC in 1917, responsibility for remembering those who died in war largely rested with families and friends. The creation of the Commission transformed this approach. Like The Open University, the CWGC operates under a Royal Charter, although the Commission predates the University by many decades. The CWGC continue their work today through educational activities as well as their role in maintaining sites around the world. 

Few organisations can claim such extensive expertise in preserving the memory of those who have died in conflict, or such a far-reaching global presence. Yet the work of the CWGC is rooted in something deeply personal: the human need to remember and honour those we have lost. For many people, memorials take the form of photographs, flowers, toys, religious symbols, or other personal items that help loved ones remember those who have died. The CWGC’s responsibility is to commemorate members of the armed forces through headstones, memorials, and markers, including those whose bodies were never recovered or whose burial locations remain unknown.

In addition to maintaining cemeteries and memorials, the CWGC preserves detailed historical records that can be searched by researchers, family historians, and members of the public. At the time of writing, the Commission cares for more than 1.1 million graves, ensuring that the human cost of war and conflict is remembered in perpetuity.

Every headstone tells a personal story. Whether commemorating those who died in conflict or remembering our own loved ones, having a place to reflect can play an important role in experiences of grief, loss, and bereavement. The CWGC's work reminds us that remembrance is not only about the past; it is also about how individuals, families, and communities respond to loss and maintain connections with those who have died.