Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery
On 16 October 1959, an agreement was concluded by the governments of the United
Kingdom and the Federal Republic of Germany concerning the future care of the graves of German nationals who lost
their lives in the United Kingdom during the two World Wars. The agreement provided for the transfer to a central
cemetery in the United Kingdom of all graves which were not situated in cemeteries and plots of Commonwealth war
graves maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in situ.
Auf diesem Soldatenfriedhof ruhen 2143 gefallene des ersten
und 2786 gefallene des zweitern weltkrieges von ihnen blieben unbekannt 5 gefallene des ersten und 90 gefallene
des zweiten weltkrieges.
In this German cemetery rest 2143 soldiers of the First World
War and 2786 of the Second World War. Among them 5 unknown of the former and 90 unknown of the latter.
All died on British territory.
The SL11, 03-09-1916. The L32, 24-09-1916. The L31, 02-10-1916.
The L48, 17-06-1917.
The first Zeppelin casualty of the First World War, the SL11. Shot down over
Cuffley, Hertfordshire.
The crew of the L32, shot down over South Green, Great Burstead, 24-09-1916.
The crew of the L31, crashed in Oakmere Park, now renamed Tempest Avenue, Potters
Bar.
The last Zeppelin airship downed over England, the crew of the L48. Crashed
at Holly Tree Farm, Theberton, Leiston, Suffolk.
The following images were taken in the Cannock Chase Commonwealth
War Grave Commision Cemetery, Which contains 286 First World War German burials. There are
also 29 burials of the Second World War.
All images and content Copyright © www.northernmemories.co.uk 1996-2011. All rights reserved.
DEUTSCHER SOLDATENFRIEDHOF CANNOCK CHASE
1914-1918. 1939-1945.
Following this agreement, the German War Graves Commission (Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgraberfursorge) made arrangements
to transfer the graves of German servicemen and civilian internees of both wars from scattered burial grounds to
the new cemetery established at Cannock Chase.
The inauguration and dedication of this cemetery, which contains almost 5,000 German and Austrian graves, took
place in June 1967.
From the M6, exit at Junction 11 and take the A460 towards Cannock town centre. From Cannock town centre take the
A34, Cannock to Stafford road. Follow for approximately 3 miles to roundabout, following signs for Rugeley. Turn
right after about 1 mile, then left at crossroads.
OPENING HOURS:
Summer Weekdays: 08.00 - 18.00
Summer Weekends: 10.00 - 18.00
Winter Weekdays: 08.30 - 16.00
Winter Weekends: 11.00 - 16.00 or dusk, whichever is earlier.
Set in a very peaceful and tranquil part of Staffordshire, this German cemetery is very different to all the others
I have visited. Instead of countless numbers of ground plaques, laid flat, this cemetery bestows headstones for
a great majority of the German fallen buried here.
An extremely well maintained area, in a tree lined setting.
If visiting this cemetery and also the nearby Cannock Chase Commonwealth War Grave Commission Cemetery, which also
contains the remains of German nationals, I would recommend a stay of at least three hours.
Car parking facilities for both cemeteries are available.
Contained in this cemetery are the remains of the four Zeppelin airship crews who were shot down over England during
the First World War.
"BEI IHREN KAMERADEN ZUR LETZTEN RUHE GEBETTET LIEGEN HIER DIE BESATZUNGEN VON VIER IM ERSTEN WELTKRIEG ÜBER
ENGLAND ABGESCHOSSENEN ZEPPELINEN VON DEN URSCHPRNÜGLICHEN BESTATTENUNGSORTEN POTTERS BAR GREAT BURSTEAD UND
THEBERTON WEREDEN DIE GEFALLENEN HIERER ÜBERFÜHRT. DIE TOTEN JADER BESATZUNG SIND IN EINER GRABSTÄTTE
IN SARKOPHAGEN BEIGESETZT".
"SIDE BY SIDE WITH THEIR COMRADES, THE CREWS OF FOUR ZEPPELINS SHOT DOWN OVER ENGLAND DURING THE FIRST WORLD
WAR HERE FOUND THEIR ETERNAL RESTING PLACE. THE FALLEN WERE BROUGHT HERE FROM THEIR ORIGINAL BURIAL PLACES AT POTTERS
BAR, GREAT BURSTEAD AND THEBERTON. THE MEMBERS OF EACH CREW ARE BURIED IN CASKETS IN ONE GRAVE".
