Searching for an Ancestor's Resting Place

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Are you searching for an ancestor or relative killed during world conflict? This talk will assist those researching war grave and memorial archives.

This presentation will assist anyone searching for an ancestor or relative who died during world conflict.

It will cover how to find an ancestor and some tips on researching war grave and memorial archives. Since there are 23,000 war memorials and war cemeteries around the world, this is not an easy task. In our local area alone, war graves include Western Cemetery at Herne Hill (23 graves), Geelong Eastern Cemetery (44), Colac (18), as well as smaller locations such as Queenscliff Civil (5), Mount Duneed (2), Winchelsea (2) and even Lorne (1).

Part of this presentation will cover a personal journey in the formation and construction of Ambon War Cemetery and the care of 75,000 graves in Australian territories. Many of the men buried at Ambon were in Australian Military Service, however not all died during battles. Some did not survive the brutal prisoner of war camp Tan Touy, on which the War Graves Commission has since built a War Cemetery.

This presentation will be delivered by Carole O'Neill on Remembrance Day in Kim barne thaliyu / Geelong Heritage Centre Reading Room, Level 3 Geelong Library & Heritage Centre, 51 Little Malop Street Geelong on Wadawurrung Country.

Image: Ambon War Cemetery, photo courtesy of Carole O'Neill.

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