St. Helier War Cemetery - St. Helier, Jersey - Veteran Cemeteries on Waymarking.com

The Channel Islandswere the only parts of the British Isles that were occupied during WWII. This cemetery is dedicated to men from the Allied Forces that were washed ashore on the island of Jersey.

This is the only Commonwealth War Grave Commission cemetery where each grave is marked by a wooden cross rather than the usual Portland Stone. Their website tells us the cemetery's story.

"There are 40 Commonwealth burials of the 1939-45 war here, 26 are unidentified sailors of the Royal Navy, the 12 named sailors are from H.M.S. Charybdis, sunk on 23rd October 1943 by enemy action. There is 1 Commonwealth burial of the 1914-18 war here. Uniquely, each of the graves is marked by an oak cross, specially cut by Jersey craftsmen, from an oak tree which was presented by Lady Stewart, a local woman who had lost her son in the First World War. The cemetery itself “was dedicated on the 26th November 1943 as a resting place for the bodies of Members of the Allied Forces recovered within the Bailiwick during the Second World War.” After the end of the Second World War, the Commission planned to replace the crosses with the usual Portland headstones, and erect a Cross of Sacrifice, but the local people and the Jersey authorities requested that the original wooden crosses and layout remain, their arguments being eloquently summed up by Admiral Sir Randolph Nicholson (Lieutenant Governor of Jersey 1953-1958) “I feel that this cemetery is more than a small war cemetery. It is to the Islanders who lived here during the years of the German occupation an expression of something which they were able to do in spite of German interference when all other means of helping their country were denied to them. As such, they cherish it, it’s something personal to the Island, and maintain it with a care which I know would be appreciated by the relatives of those who lie there. As such, I feel that it should be preserved in the form in which it was originally laid out.” The Commission took these views on board, and in February 1955 formally gave approval for the cemetery to remain in its original layout, with the wooden crosses in place on the graves – where they still remain today." link

There is a commemorative stone marking the cemetery.

THIS CEMETERY WAS DEDICATED ON
THE 26th NOVEMBER 1945 AS A
RESTING PLACE FOR THE BODIES
OF MEMBERS OF THE ALLIED FORCES
RECOVERED WITHIN THE BAILIWICK
DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR

Date cemetery was established: 11/26/1945 Visiting hours: 8:00am - 9:00pm Website pertaining to the cemetery: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:
Please submit a photo(s) taken by you of your visit to the location (non-copyrighted photos only). GPS photos are also accepted with the location in the background, and old vacation photos are accepted. If you are not able to provide a photo, then please describe your visit or give a story about the visit.

We would also like to hear about any of your deceased family members who may be laid to rest in the cemetery.

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