The Commonwealth War Graves Commission. La Commission des sépultures de guerre du Commonwealth. David Kettle CMM, CD, DD, QHC B Gen(R`td)

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1 The Commonwealth War Graves Commission La Commission des sépultures de guerre du Commonwealth David Kettle CMM, CD, DD, QHC B Gen(R`td)

2 Canadian Agency Horticulture 2011

3 AIM To provide an overview of the horticultural support of the war graves of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission under the auspices of the Canadian Agency

4 Gertrude Jekyll designed cemeteries to create an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity

5 MEMBER-GOVERNMENTS / PAYS-MEMBRES Costs proportional to # of war dead / Coûts sont proportionnel au nombre de morts de guerre U.K. Canada Australia New Zealand South Africa India 78.43% 10.07% 6.05% 2.14 % 2.11 % 1.20 % R.-U Canada Australie Nouvelle- Zélande Afrique du Sud Inde

6 COMMISSION S MANDATE ENCOMPASSES NOTRE MANDAT COMPREND 1,700,000 Commonwealth War Dead (760,000 no known grave) morts de guerre du Commonwealth ( aucune sépulture connue) 150 Countries / pays 2,500 Commission owned war cemeteries cimetières de guerre de la Commission 23,000 Burial grounds sites d inhumation 200 Memorials / mémoriaux

7 COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION The Americas Head Office & Outer Area, UK UK Area Northern Europe Area France Area Western Mediterranean Area Australia South Africa New Zealand

8 COMMEMORATION MANDATE / COMMÉMORATION - MANDAT To mark and maintain the graves of the members of the forces of the Commonwealth who died during the two World Wars, to build and maintain memorials to those who have no known graves and to keep records and registers of the war dead

9 Reviers (Beny Sur Mer)

10 Agira, Sicily

11 Canadian Agency of the CWGC Comprises 32 Countries Canada: 2,810 Cemeteries 18,000 War Dead United States: 468 Cemeteries 990 War Dead Caribbean: 52 Cemeteries 597 War Dead Central America: 5 Cemeteries 28 War Dead South America: 19 Cemeteries 123 War Dead

12 Total Number of Major Horticultural Sites Canada: 55 horticultural sites United States: 7 horticultural sites Caribbean: 3 Horticultural sites

13 Challenges to Horticultural Support Within the Canadian Agency of the CWGC No Commission cemeteries or gardening staff. The territory covered by the Canadian Agency is Vast 41,000,000 sq kms. Which is over 3 times the land mass of Europe or just a little smaller than Asia. A wide range of climates - every climate imaginable. So what works for a cemetery in St. John s Newfoundland will not work in Miami Florida or Nassau.

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15 Plant Hardiness Zones

16 Plant Hardiness Zones South America

17 World Plant Hardiness Zones

18 Horticulture in the Canadian Agency No Commission Cemeteries or gardening staff. We must work with Contractors. Dependent on expertise of local Contractors. The majority of cemeteries only have one or two war dead. Even where there are larger numbers of war dead they are often not grouped into plots compatible with horticultural support.

19 Horticultural Levels 1. Voluntary/Community Care: 1-2 graves small $ - no flowers. The majority of hort dispersements are from this level: 60% of cemeteries but 3% of budget. 2. Enhanced care larger cemeteries specific/special care no flowers 13 % of cemeteries and 14% of the budget. 3. Floral embellishment: 37 % of cemeteries but 83% of the budget.

20 Voluntary/Community Care Provides basic care keeps site from being overgrown by weeds, Grass, and brush. Demonstrates that someone cares.

21 Enhanced Care Provides extra/special care that is above and beyond the perpetual care afforded to other plots in the cemetery.

22 Direct Floral Enhancement Represents 69% of floral enhancement

23 Direct Floral Enhancement

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25 Direct Floral Enhancement

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29 Direct Floral Enhancement

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33 Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver, BC

34 Direct Floral Enhancement

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47 Direct Floral Enhancement

48 Indirect Floral Enhancement Represents 31% of floral enhancement.

49 Indirect Floral Enhancement

50 Indirect Floral Enhancement

51 Direct Floral Enhancement

52 Direct Floral Commemoration

53 Direct Floral Commemoration

54 Indirect Floral Enhancement

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