Vice-Chairman of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to visit Christchurch

Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire will be visiting Christchurch,
tomorrow, Wednesday October 24 to inspect war graves of WW1 and WW11.

There are 109 "true war graves" at Bromley, two at Ruru, two at
Woolston, five at Lyttelton Public Cemetery, one at Lyttelton Anglican
Cemerety, one at Teddington, and 49 at Sydenham Cemeteries.

"True war graves" are the graves of serving members of the forces who
died during wartime, or shortly afterwards, from war related causes,
says Sally Paterson, Christchurch Council's Cemeteries Administrator.
"They are distinct from the graves of the war veterans buried in the
services areas of cemeteries around New Zealand, although some of the
war graves may be in these areas," she says.

The New Zealand Government acts as agent for the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission in caring for these "true war graves".

Established by Royal charter in 1917, the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission pays tribute to the 1,700,000 men and women of the
commonwealth forces who died in the two world wars.

Since its inception, the Commission has constructed 2,500 war cemeteries
and plots; erecting headstones over graves and in instances where the
remains are missing, inscribing the names of the dead on permanent
memorials.

More than one million casualties are now commemorated at military and
civil sites in 150 countries.

Sir Peter, accompanied by his wife Lady Carolyn and various members of
the RSA and Margaret Marks, Senior Advisor, War Graves and Monuments,
Ministry for Culture and Heritage will be at Bromley Cemetery.
Location: Corner Keighleys Road and Linwood Avenue
Date: Wednesday October 24, '07
Time: From 10am till 10.20am