Crumbling graves of Victoria Cross heroes ‘need protecting like listed buildings’

Posted on by Listify Me


  • A Conservative think-tank is proposing that maintenance of VC graves becomes a legal requirement
  • The proposed move would cost around £1million
  • The campaign will affect around 2,000 graves

By
Ben Ellery


PUBLISHED:

22:59 GMT, 27 October 2012


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UPDATED:

23:01 GMT, 27 October 2012


The country's most distinguished honour: A Victoria Cross medal

The country’s most distinguished honour: A Victoria Cross medal

Over the decades, hundreds of graves belonging to Victoria Cross (VC) war heroes have become neglected, with crumbling headstones and overgrown burial plots.

But this week a campaign will be launched calling for the final resting places of soldiers awarded the country’s most distinguished military honour to be given the same status as listed buildings.

The influential Conservative think-tank, The Bow Group, will publish a policy document proposing that the maintenance of Victoria Cross graves becomes a legal requirement. It also wants the same status to be given to the upkeep of graves belonging to recipients of the George Cross.

About 1,000 VC graves have fallen into neglect as blood lines die out, families become unaware of their existence, or else cannot afford to look after them.

The Victoria Cross Trust, which campaigns for proper respect and honour to be given to the graves, has welcomed the move to protect the burial plots and said it could provide a boom in ‘heritage tourism’.

Trust chairman Gary Stapleton said: ‘It is fantastic that we’ve come a step closer to enshrining in law the protection of graves belonging to people honoured for the highest act of valour. It will give people a sense of pride in the country and tell the whole world that we are proud of these men.

‘We want Victoria Cross graves to become like Grade II listed buildings, so they are always maintained and nothing can happen to them without permission.

We cannot do it on our own and need the Government’s help, but we don’t want the responsibility to lie completely with the Government, which often has to make savings when times are hard.’

The proposed move would cost about £1 million a year and be funded by contributions from the State, the soldiers’ regiments and donations from the public.

Conservative MP Patrick Mercer is among those supporting the campaign. ‘The Victoria Cross is our most prestigious decoration for gallantry and our fallen heroes need to have their memories preserved,’ he said.

About 1,000 Victoria Cross Graves have fallen into neglect as blood lines die out or families cannot afford to look after them (stock image)

About 1,000 Victoria Cross Graves have fallen into neglect as blood lines die out or families cannot afford to look after them (stock image)

There are 1,348 Victoria Cross burial plots but the Commonwealth  War Graves Commission maintains only those belonging to soldiers  who died in action in the First and Second World Wars – numbering 377. There are also 78 unmarked Victoria Cross graves and, under the new measures, the burial sites will be given a proper headstone.

In total, the campaign will affect about 2,000 graves, including those belonging to George Cross holders.

The Bow Group’s Nic Conner said: ‘It is a disgrace that there is no honour and respect for our bravest sons and daughters. To remember the graves and keep them in prime condition is to remember the story of our nation – they cannot be allowed to be forgotten.’

The Victoria Cross is the highest award for gallantry that a British and Commonwealth Serviceman can achieve. It dates back to 1854 when, during the Crimean War, The Times newspaper launched a campaign for a new bravery award.

 

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