CWGC War Graves Week Tours 2026 - Shorncliffe Military Cemetery - Tour 1

Join the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for a free tour of Shorncliffe Military Cemetery. Tour 1 will focus on the work of the CWGC and the cemetery and will be led by one of our experienced volunteer tour guides.

Our tours are free to the public, but if you would like to support us then please consider donating to our charity The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation (CWGF).

https://foundation.cwgc.org/donate/

MEETING POINT is inside the gate. Cemetery what3words location is neatly.beaten.spenders.

A beautiful cemetery provides the setting for an introductory tour that travels the world, crosses the generations and shows the diversity of service in both world wars with references to British, Canadian, Chinese and South African service personnel as well as civilian deaths. Throughout the tour the history and role of the CWGC is explored.

As well as many graves pre-dating 1914, Shorncliffe Military Cemetery contains a total of 471 First World War burials, more than 300 of which are Canadian. China, South Africa, America, Australia, Portugal and the UK are among other nationalities commemorated here. There are 81 burials from the Second World War, including 1 unidentified British soldier from 1940, an American pilot and 1 Polish soldier.

The tour will last approx. 90 mins and covers about 700 metres on grass with uneven ground. Some paths are quite steep.

Access to the main part of the cemetery is by a recently restored sloped path. There are benches available in places on the tour.

Limited parking is available on site, there is currently no public transport nearby.

There are no facilities or toilets on site. Please bring water if required.

Only assistance dogs are allowed on site.

Please dress appropriately for the weather and wear suitable footwear.

Please note there can be last minute cancellations. This can be due to various reasons including illness, site issues and weather. We will email you as soon as we can but this could include the morning of the tour, so please check your emails prior to leaving for the tour.

The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation (CWGF) aims to actively engage all communities with the work of the CWGC by telling the inspiring stories through education and outreach projects.

The CWGF is an independent charity registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales (1171947) and Scotland (SC051982).

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