Home Letter - Imperial War Graves Commission

Letter - Imperial War Graves Commission

Object

Letter

Production date

1953

Object number

1994.120

Physical Description

White paper, black print letterhead of Imperial War Graves Commission. Typed letter informing Lillian Gill of the removal of her husband's grave from Mandalay War Cemetary to Taukkyan War Cemetary.

Associated Person

Gill, Lillian

Associated Place

Dimension

Width: 203mm
Height: 330mm

On display?

No

Inscription

TELEPHONE: Bourne End 394 ….
TELEGRAMS: IMPERL, Wooburn Green
IMPERIAL WAR GRAVES COMMISSION,
WOOBURN HOUSE,
WOODEN GREEN,
HIGH WYCOMBE
BUCKS,
27th October 1953
London Office:
32, GROSVENOR GARDENS,
LONDON, S.W.1.
Ref__________________
Dear Madam,
On the 15th August 1950 the following announcement was
published in the Press:-
“The Imperial War Graves Commission have given long and
earnest consideration to the question of how beat they can carry
out their duty of providing for the permanent marking and care
of the war graves in Burma.
Of the six cemeteries established by the Army, those
at Akyab, Meiktila, Mandalay and Sahmaw are, under present
conditions, so remote that satisfactory construction and
maintenance could not be carried out; nor could relative visit
them except with great difficulty.
The Commission have therefore decided to move the graves
from these four cemeteries to a new cemetery near Rangoon. This
will be constructed on traditional lines and maintained by their
own staff. The graves from each battlefield cemetery will be
grouped together, and on the now site will be built the memorials
to the mon of the Indian Army whose remains were created.
The other two cemeteries in Burma - those at Thanbyuzayat
and Rangoon - will be constructed where they are.
The work will start in the autumn and two next-of-kin
will, in all cases, be notified of the now grave locations.
Owning to conditions in Burma the Commission were unable to
procced with these transfers as early as had been hoped, but they
have now been completed with care and reverence under the supervision
of the Commission’ staff.
I am therefore directed to advise you that the grave of
the late 5337800 Private W. Gill, Royal Berkshire Regiment,
has boon transferred from the Mandalay War Cemetery, and that its
location is now as under:-
Taukkyan War Cemetery, Rangoon, Burmn,
Plot XVIII Row G Grave Number 17
In due course the grave will be permanently marked by a
bronse plaque memorial.
Yours faithfully,

Secretary
Mrs. I.L. Gill
112 Aragon Road,
Morden Park,
MORDEN,
Surrey