By Kirklees Armed Forces TV –
“History is not just a date on a page; it is a story that belongs to all of us.”
In this episode of Kirklees Armed Forces TV, host Dr Milton Brown welcomes Elizabeth Smith, Public Engagement Coordinator with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).
Since 2017, the Commission has been the driving force in ensuring the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth who died in the World Wars are never forgotten.
But how do you keep a global mission relevant to a local neighbourhood in West Yorkshire?
Elizabeth shares her unique perspective on bridging the gap between massive historical events and our local cemeteries and memorials.
We explore how remembrance is evolving to meet the next generation and how volunteers are the true “lifeblood” of keeping these legacies breathing.
Key highlights
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Local Landmarks: How to see your local war cemetery or memorial through a new lens.
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Engaging the Youth: Bridging the gap for younger generations who have no direct link to the World Wars.
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A Personal Touch: How the CWGF supports veterans and families for whom these sites are deeply sacred.
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The Power of Volunteering: Discovering the vital roles available for those who want to help preserve history.
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The Evolution of Memory: How the Commission is modernising the way we commemorate the fallen.
The work of the CWGF reminds us that remembrance is a living, breathing act. It’s about more than just stone and bronze—it’s about the human stories that connect us all.
Explore more & get involved
🔗 Learn about the Foundation: https://www.cwgc.org/
🔗 Follow Kirklees Armed Forces TV: https://kirkleeslocaltv.com/kirklees-armed-forces-tv/
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By sharing these stories, you help ensure that those who gave their lives are never forgotten.
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One Comment
Margaret Eldridge
Wow. Wonderful interview with Elizabeth Smith. I have been fortunate enough to have been in contact with and have met her personally at Stonefall Cemetery where she greeted me from Canada and assisted me in finding my just turned 20 year old RCAF father’s CWGC grave.
She helped me link the puzzle together before I travelled to Stonefall and also put me in touch with someone from Harrogate who attends the candlelight service and places poppies and flowers on my fathers grave on his birthday , death date and Remembrance Day, and he also does similar for some other Canadian families.
A month from now I will be returning with a granddaughter to Stonefall and she will see where her great grandfather is laid to rest along with all the other CWGC casualties and she will pass the torch on to remember to the younger generation.