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Overview...this is one thing that we can do now to help preserve the memories and remember their sacrifice
The graves of deceased military personnel, including those who served with Bomber Command, are generally maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Graves are also maintained and visited by family members, friends of family and other individuals that feel it is important to remember and maintain the graves of lost personnel.
In order to enhance the care provided to the graves of 625 Squadron air crew who were lost during World War II, the Grave Care Volunteering System is intended to enable individuals to take on the role of helping to maintain the graves and perhaps lay some flowers at the grave site as part of the care visit.
The report below provides a listing of the grave sites for the 389 air crew that were lost by 625 Squadron of which 83 air crew have no known grave and are commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial. For those air crew listed at the Runnymede Memorial, the grave care could just include some flowers and a card with the air crew member's information.
The report below also contains a clickable link to the air crew member's record in Find-A-Grave (FAG). It is recommended that you download and install the FAG app (available for iOS and Android). When the FAG record is launched in the App, there is often the GPS location of the grave as part of the record. By clicking on the GPS location using your mobile device, the FAG app in conjunction with Google Maps will help you navigate to within a meter of the grave location. If you visit the grave and the GPS location has not been added to the record, please stand near the grave and tap the GPS button on the record to store the GPS location as part of the FAG record.
The report also provides a "Grave Care Status" for each grave and the name of the individual who has taken on the role of providing grave care.
Please note that the filters on the report below are cross-referenced when one or more filters are used.
In order to view additional information about air crew graves and to view a map of the cemeteries where 625 Squadron air crew are buried or commemorated, please click here.
Once you have visited a grave or memorial, please take a couple of minutes to use the Grave Care Update System so that the Grave Care System can be updated.
Process To Assume Care For A Grave(s)
If you would like to take on the grave care role for one or more graves, please check the report below to determine if the grave(s) already has a volunteer providing care. If the grave(s) do not have someone assuming care for the grave(s), please send an email to the 625 Squadron Webmaster at: 625squadron@gmail.com
In your email, using the information from the report, please provide the:
first and last name of the air crew member;
the air crew member's Service Number;
your first and last name;
your connection with the air crew member.
Upon receipt of your email, the Grave Care Database will be updated to reflect that you have assumed the grave care for the air crew member(s).
Grave Care - Do's and Don'ts
Grave Care - Do's and Don'ts
The graves of military personnel who were citizens of a Commonwealth member country are officially cared for by the Commonweath War Graves Commission (CWGC) or by a department in the government of the country of which the personnel was a citizen. When grave stones require a deep cleaning or repair, these authorities have the expertise and resources to carefully and professionally maintain graves.
The 625 Squadron Grave Care is intended to provide a "light maintenance" approach which could include the following:
removal of any debris from the grave site,
a general tidy up of the grave including the trimming of grass around the grave,
a brushing of the grave stone with a soft, non-abrasive brush (using no solvents or cleaners, use some fresh water only if available),
placing of flowers at the grave,
placing the flag of the air crew's home country,
grave stones that are tilting should not be straightened. This would be undertaken by the appropriate authority for the grave when required.
If you have attended a grave that is maintained by the CWGC and feel that it requires additional care or repair, you can send a request to the CWGC by clicking here.
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