War headstones revamped
Visitor Mathieu Bultez inspects a newly engraved headstone at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission workshp in Arras, France.
Precision work to keep the names of those who sacrificed their lives during the First World War immortalised in stone is under way as part of plans to mark this year’s centenary of the conflict.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which has a cemetery in Harrogate, is making sure all of its headstones across 153 countries are in pristine condition, re-engraving those that need it or replacing those past the point of repair. Of a survey of 470,000 headstones, some 50,000 First and Second World War stones have already been found in need of replacement. Headstone production manager Mike Diaz said the increased target has prompted more staff to be taken on.