Story Signs

A CWGF grant enables the placing of carefully curated stories into selected Commonwealth War Graves cemeteries in France, Belgium and the Netherlands for key times of year, using high quality temporary signs.  

Left to right: Headstone of D. Laing with information sign placed to the lower left of his grave marker; right shows the same format but for Sapper R Davies.

We have recently been able to place story signs on war graves in select Commonwealth War Graves sites in France, Belgium and the Netherlands, during anniversaries or other times of high visitor numbers.

Featuring carefully selected stories of those we commemorate, next to their headstones, over their final resting places, these signs help bring to life the men and women behind the name on the headstone.

Man in a blue hoody and jeans reads a casualty story sign placed next to a war grave in a CWGC cemetery.

Feedback from visitors has been overwhelmingly positive. Many have shared how meaningful it is to learn about the individual behind the headstone, transforming a name and date into a story of courage and sacrifice.

This is a powerful way of connecting visitors to the Commonwealth’s fallen of the World Wars in their places of commemoration, and often showcase stories shared with us via For Evermore, our stories portal.
 
Beautifully designed and made, featuring a photograph of the person, and in two languages, the signs fit effectively into the stunning horticulture of our sites. They can easily be moved or removed by our gardeners when they need to maintain border planting.

From left to right: Close up of story sign with details and photograph of Private N, Higgins place next to Private Higgins' headstone; on the right, we see the headstone of Canadian Gunner W. Chatter with an inforamation sign placed in the headstone's plant border featuring Gunner Chatter riding a motorcycle.

While we encourage everyone to download the For Evermore mobile app to explore selected cemeteries virtually, these physical signs allow visitors to meet some of those we commemorate without any need for devices. 

Visitors can simply discover them as they walk around, and they can even form a miniature tour if you wish to find all the stories, which are strategically placed around each cemetery. 

CWGF’s grant will enable to provision of 70 more of these highly effective story signs in cemeteries like Tyne Cot in Belgium and Thiepval Anglo-French Cemetery in France, joining those set out during D-Day anniversary periods in Normandy and at Arnhem.
 
Look out for them on your visits in 2026!