World War One: Every Man Remembered Database Launched

The Royal British Legion is working with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to keep alive the memory of those who fell in the First World War, for future generations. The goal is to commemorate every man and woman from across the Commonwealth who fell. A total of 1,117,077 service personnel from what was then the British Empire died in the war, which began in 1914.

The Every Man Remembered database allows anyone to commemorate relatives or someone they knew, or find a person for whom no-one has yet left a tribute. The legion called it the “greatest act of remembrance” to mark the centenary. Once you have made your decision on who you wish to remember, you can then commemorate them with a personal dedication and if you make a donation to The Royal British Legion, you will receive a special commemorative certificate.

The people being remembered came from the UK and numerous parts of the British Empire – from which the Commonwealth emerged – including Africa, Australia, India and the West Indies.

You can read more and also look at or contribute to the Every Man Remembered Database at


Yes the Commonwealth emerged from the British Empire. Please don’t forget Canada in your list. We lost over 60,000 in World War I. For a country less than 50 years old (as an independent nation), that was an enormous contribution. Many, many more returned physically and emotionally scarred. Our troops were the first to be exposed to the dreaded “mustard gas” at Ypres, in the spring of 1915, where they charged THROUGH the German lines to get away from the gas earning the title “laddies from hell” as they fought in kilts to the skirl of bagpipes. They had enlisted and gone to the front so quickly that enough trousers could not be sewn fast enough. Wounded soldiers threw themselves onto the barbed wire so their buddies could use their bodies as a bridge to cross the wire and continue the charge. Maybe we deserve the nickname “Crazy Canucks”.


I rather think that should read “ladies from hell” (and no speculation that the bagpipers were playing the “Gay Gordons” either! 😉 ).

In all seriousness, I am disappointed that this initiative seems to be something of a duplication of the Imperial War Museum’s “Lives of the First World War” which was announced not so long ago. The IWM is attempting to log online something about all those who served the British cause in some capacity during WW1, not just those recorded as fatalities by the CWGC. As such it will be more inclusive and lead to good research online, IMO.


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