Commonwealth War Graves in our Cemetery
Did you know that there are 129 soldiers, sailors and airmen, men and women, buried in Dean Road and Manor Road Cemetery? You can easily spot them because most have a Commonwealth War Graves headstone and on each one is a badge showing what regiment or service they were in.
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| This is the headstone for J S Horsley of the York and Lancaster regiment, it has the rose for Yorkshire and Lancashire on it. Private Horsley’s headstone can be found in Section J in Manor Road Cemetery. |
A good place to see a group of headstones together is in the plot of 22 Commonwealth War Graves just inside the entrance to the cemetery from Fieldside. This little part of our cemetery is looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commision (CWGC) and the grass is always neatly cut and the plants well attended.
Here are three examples from those 22.
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| This first one was in the Royal Corps of Signals, can you see the messenger god Mercury in the badge? | This one is the Royal Artillery, can you see the cannon in the badge? The latin words around it are Ubique quo fas et gloria ducunt and mean Wherever right and glory lead. | This final example is a Royal Air Force badge , with a flying eagle in the middle and Per ardua ad astra written around it . It means Through adversity to the stars. |
Can you spot the headstone that stands out as being different from the others; this is for a man from Holland and he crossed the North Sea to join the Royal Air Force.
During the Second World War the Royal Air Force took over some hotels in Scarborough where new recruits could stay and get some basic training. Bruijne was at the Grand Hotel when he became ill and sadly died in hospital. He is buried far from his home in Holland but his final resting place is well cared for.
Another airman who was at the Grand Hotel was Alf Wight who is more generally known by the name James Herriot, the author of the All Creatures Great and Small books. Scarborough was not far from his home in Thirsk and Alf would sometimes sneak away to see his wife and family. Luckily for him he was never caught!
You will sometimes see an inscription at the base of the headstone. These are words chosen by the family, and tell of love, grief and hope.
Can you see what the family wanted on the headstone for R A Messruther, with the Royal Navy anchor badge on? It is :
“GUARDED BY A LOVING HAND WE’LL MEET AGAIN IN THAT GLORIOUS LAND”
There are other inscriptions to find amongst the 22 headstones and on the many more headstones scattered around the Cemetery. Perhaps you will find a favourite badge or inscription.
Not all servicemen and women who died have a CWGC headstone, families could choose to have a private one and there are many in other parts of the cemetery.
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| This one for Sapper Fred Barrett. His memorial is in Section K. | Here is another one to be found in the border of Section W. |