Army Cadets Receive Training for Veterans’ Grave Restoration

Cadets from the Army in South Yorkshire have received training focused on the upkeep of Commonwealth war graves and the burial sites of veterans who received the Victoria Cross. The Victoria Cross Trust has been providing this training to cadets in Doncaster and Sheffield, instructing them on how to locate and document graves, assess their state, and contribute to the Trust’s restoration initiative. Vicki Brooks, an Army cadet volunteer and the group leader for the initiative known as Eyes On, Hands On, expressed her desire for the program to become a lasting legacy. She stated: “It’s important we keep their names alive, because if we lose our veterans and we’ve got no stories from World War One and World War Two, it just becomes another page in a book.” The Eyes On, Hands On program was established in 2019 by the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation (CWGF), which serves as the charitable division of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). This program has enlisted and educated over 2,000 volunteers throughout the UK, who collaborate with the CWGC to inspect war graves at more than 12,500 sites. The CWGF reported that the cadets’ contributions were so commendable that the organization opted to revise its policy to formally collaborate with youth groups moving forward. Ms Brooks noted that this presented a significant chance for cadets seeking unique experiences, with numerous participants engaging in the project as a component of their Duke of Edinburgh Awards. She further explained: “On top of going and checking the condition, cleaning the graves, doing all the records and pictures, they’re doing a research project on the side of it.” “As long as the veterans’ names are alive, they will never be forgotten.” The Victoria Cross Trust operates as a charitable organization dedicated to ensuring the remembrance and upkeep of the graves belonging to Victoria Cross recipients. This award represents the highest military honor bestowed upon members of the British armed forces who demonstrate supreme courage, an act of self-sacrifice, or profound dedication to duty while facing the enemy. The Army Cadet Force is a youth organization, sponsored by the Army, catering to individuals aged 12 to 17.