Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery Terschelling

After the outbreak of the Second World War the first war victims washed ashore at Terschelling already in August 1940. It concerned French soldiers who died during the Battle of Dunkirk. The amount of washed up bodies increased after the start of the bombings on Germany. In total 151 people were buried at the Commonwealth War Graves West-Terschelling during the war. After the war the French and American soldiers were excavated and transferred to respectively France and Margraten. Because of this right now 84 Allied soldiers are in the cemetery. It concerns 57 British, nine Australian, nine Canadian, four New Zealanders and 5 Polish soldiers. Of these 15 British and one Australian soldier are not identified. The setting up of the cemetery is uniform to other Commonwealth war graves. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is responsible to the maintenance of the war graves. On the cemetery the Cross of Sacrifice stands, a remembrance cross made of Portlandstone designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield. On the cross a bronze sword is placed. The cross stands symbol for the soldiers who died during the Second World War. Every year a remembrance of the dead takes place on 4 May.