MEMBERS of the Probus Club of St Austell heard Tony Smith give a talk on the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Such war graves trace their origins back to 1815 following the Battle of Waterloo when looting took place from soldiers killed in battle, not only for possessions but also teeth because of the demand for false teeth in an era when many people's own teeth were bad.

Mass graves had been used traditionally for war victims but during the First World War maintained cemeteries were created and Sir Fabian Ware brought in a recording system for individuals buried including all ranks, not only officers as was previously the case.

Early grave markers were wooden inscribed crosses. They were superceded by white Portland headstones of uniform design but with national or regimental badges or emblems at the top, followed, where known, by the individual's registration number, rank, name, service and religion.

The Menin Gate cemetery at Ypres was originally designed to allow for 65,000 names but this proved insufficient and an extension was created to include another 50,000 names.

Locally, St Austell cemeteries have 31 memorials for those who died in the two world wars and seven for those who perished because of air raids.

The First World War graves date from 04/08/1914 to 31/08/1921 and the Second World War graves from 03/09/1939 to 31/12/1947, the completion dates being longer than the wars because of the length of time it took for all the peace treaties to be signed.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has 1.7-million headstones on its lists and maintains 1.1-million of these.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Probus club, call secretary John Dearing on 01726 844368 or lunch secretary Hugh Walker on 01726 844950.