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World War One Heilsberg prisoner of war cemetery restored World War One Heilsberg prisoner of war cemetery restored
(about 5 hours later)
Headstones commemorating 39 UK soldiers who died at a German prisoner of war camp during World War One have been erected in northern Poland.Headstones commemorating 39 UK soldiers who died at a German prisoner of war camp during World War One have been erected in northern Poland.
The men were held alongside thousands of Russians at the Heilsberg prisoner of war camp and died in 1918.The men were held alongside thousands of Russians at the Heilsberg prisoner of war camp and died in 1918.
They were buried in a nearby cemetery, but after it deteriorated in the 1960s, they were remembered with a memorial 75 miles away.They were buried in a nearby cemetery, but after it deteriorated in the 1960s, they were remembered with a memorial 75 miles away.
Now the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has rebuilt the cemetery.Now the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has rebuilt the cemetery.
Following an appeal by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), four of the soldier's families have come forward.Following an appeal by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), four of the soldier's families have come forward.
Steve Mannion, the great nephew of Gunner James Grier, who lived in Alderney, in the Channel Islands, said that up until now the family, from Kent, had only been able to visit a WW1 memorial in Alderney. Steve Mannion, the great nephew of Gunner James Grier, who lived in Alderney, in the Channel Islands, said that up until now the family, from Rainham, Kent, had only been able to visit a WW1 memorial in Alderney.
"He (Grier) was captured and really badly looked after by his captors, dying at the age of 19, so he really hadn't experienced any life at all," Mr Mannion said."He (Grier) was captured and really badly looked after by his captors, dying at the age of 19, so he really hadn't experienced any life at all," Mr Mannion said.
The nephews of Pte William Gordon Jones, Gordon and Wyn Jones, from Llanfyllin, a small village in Wales, are attending a rededication ceremony at the Lidzbark Warminski cemetery on Friday.The nephews of Pte William Gordon Jones, Gordon and Wyn Jones, from Llanfyllin, a small village in Wales, are attending a rededication ceremony at the Lidzbark Warminski cemetery on Friday.
Gordon Jones was put in touch with the CWGC by amateur historian Pauline Page-Jones, after she saw the CWGC's website appeal.Gordon Jones was put in touch with the CWGC by amateur historian Pauline Page-Jones, after she saw the CWGC's website appeal.
Mr Jones said: "We were delighted when we heard the news from the commission as we had on many occasions considered trying to locate our uncle's grave.Mr Jones said: "We were delighted when we heard the news from the commission as we had on many occasions considered trying to locate our uncle's grave.
"Thanks to the CWGC, we will now have a chance to attend the ceremony and to pay our respects to our father's brother.""Thanks to the CWGC, we will now have a chance to attend the ceremony and to pay our respects to our father's brother."
Between August and December 1918, 39 British prisoners of war died at the Heilsberg camp, which was then in part of Germany.Between August and December 1918, 39 British prisoners of war died at the Heilsberg camp, which was then in part of Germany.
It is likely their deaths were a result of insufficient food, overwork or one of the diseases that swept through the overcrowded and insanitary camps.It is likely their deaths were a result of insufficient food, overwork or one of the diseases that swept through the overcrowded and insanitary camps.
The nearby Lidzbark Warminski cemetery was used to bury the British and Russian prisoners of war who died at the camp.The nearby Lidzbark Warminski cemetery was used to bury the British and Russian prisoners of war who died at the camp.
After the war the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission marked the graves with a Cross of Sacrifice and headstones.After the war the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission marked the graves with a Cross of Sacrifice and headstones.
'Touch the past''Touch the past'
Peter Francis, from the CWGC, said: "During the 1960s the cemetery deteriorated at Lidzbark and access to the site became very difficult, so we took the decision to commemorate the men at Malbork Commonwealth War Cemetery.Peter Francis, from the CWGC, said: "During the 1960s the cemetery deteriorated at Lidzbark and access to the site became very difficult, so we took the decision to commemorate the men at Malbork Commonwealth War Cemetery.
"In recent years, that situation has completed turned around and so we have been able to get back into the cemetery and we sent a team from our operations in Belgium to Poland."In recent years, that situation has completed turned around and so we have been able to get back into the cemetery and we sent a team from our operations in Belgium to Poland.
"Although it is not possible to identify the individual grave locations, we know the area where they are buried and this has been levelled and we've installed 39 brand new headstones and something the commission calls a Duhallow Block.""Although it is not possible to identify the individual grave locations, we know the area where they are buried and this has been levelled and we've installed 39 brand new headstones and something the commission calls a Duhallow Block."
Mr Francis added: "To be able to restore the graves, to give their families somewhere to go and pay their respects, is something very important.Mr Francis added: "To be able to restore the graves, to give their families somewhere to go and pay their respects, is something very important.
"You can physically go and touch the past and pay your respects and honour those men and women who died in a conflict 100 years ago.""You can physically go and touch the past and pay your respects and honour those men and women who died in a conflict 100 years ago."