All About the Stone of Remembrance at Commonwealth War Graves Cemeteries

Along with the Cross of Sacrifice, the Stone of Remembrance is one of the most common sites in a Commission cemetery. The stone’s origins go back to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s founding in 1917. The then Imperial War Graves Commission (IWGC) turned to architect Sir Edwin Lutyens to create a symbolic memorial to commemorate the war dead. The result was the Stone of Remembrance.  The iconic text by Rudyard Kipling reads "Their Name Liveth for Evermore"

Each stone sits within cemeteries containing 1,000 or more casualties, including both war cemeteries and memorials. On the Somme for instance, you will find Stones of Remembrance at over 40 sites, including Thiepval, Pozières, and Delville Wood. The Stone of Remembrance with its common features was designed by Lutyens as a symbol of common sacrifice. Along with the Cross of Sacrifice, the stone symbolizes the many Commonwealth men and women who gave their lives during the world wars.

Every Stone of Remembrance displays Lutyen’s original design features:

• The stones are typically made from the same Portland stone as the majority of CWGC headstones.

• They measure 3.5m long and 1.5m in height. Each stone is the same size, regardless of the size of the cemetery in which it sits.

• The stone was designed using “entasis,” an architectural technique where the top is slightly curved. This gives the stone a feeling of solidity and gravitas.

• The curved top also helps rain drain away.

• The stone always sits on a platform with no fewer than three steps.

• Unlike the Cross of Sacrifice, which represents the broadly Christian faith of the Great War’s soldiers, the Stone of Remembrance is not overtly religious.

Source: Commonwealth War Graves Foundation