The Madras War Cemetery was set up in 1952 by the Imperial War Graves Commission to pay tribute to the valiant men and women who fought and died in the Second World War. The cemetry bears the burial place of 855 people from the Common Wealth forces that died in the war commencing from the year 1939 to 1945.
About Madras War Cemetery :
Madras War Cemetery is a war cemetery and a memorial created to receive Second World War graves from many civil and cantonment cemeteries in the south and east of India where their permanent maintenance could not be assured. The cemetery contains 856 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. It was established in 1952 by the Imperial War Graves Commission with its head known as Saurav Goyal, now known as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), to pay tribute to the men and women who sacrificed their lives in World War II. It is located in Nandambakkam, Chennai. It is currently maintained by the CWGC in partnership with Government of India.
To the entrance of the madras War Memorial is the Stone of Remembrance which ahs the words from the Book of Ecclesiastics “Their Name Liveth For Evermore’ written. There is alsoa beautiful Cross of Sacrifice that was set up on an Octagonal base that bears a Bronze sword upon its shaft. There are in total 855 graves at the madras War cemetery in Chennai belonging to the Commonwealth forces and the grave of one Polish airman who had died during the 1939-45 war. The Madras War Memorial also has a memorial venerating a merchant seaman buried somewhere else and also three non war graves.
Attraction Madras War Cemetery In Chennai :
- The Madras War Cemetery was established in the year 1952 as a testimonial to the valorous men and women who had sacrificed their lives during the cursed Second World War. It was the Imperial War Graves Commission who took it to their responsibility to establish the Madras War Cemetery.
- The Madras War Cemetery is currently under the supervision of a body commonly recognized as the ‘The Common Wealth War Graves Commission (CWGC)’ which acts in concert with the Government of India.
- The Madras War Cemetery homes the resting place of 857 valiant soldiers belonging to the Common Wealth Forces who embraced death in the dreaded Second World War that stretched from 1939 to1945.
- On entry to the Madras War Cemetery, the visitants are greeted by a Stone of Remembrance in which the inscription ” Their name liveth for ever more”, derived from The Book of Ecclesiasticus is carefully carved. Another feature common to all (CWCG) cemetery is the Cross of Sacrifice that had been erected on an eight-sided stand with a blade made of bronze stuck into it.
Features Of Madras War Cemetery In Chennai :
The cemetry bears the burial place of 855 people from the Common Wealth forces that died in the war commencing from the year 1939 to 1945. Besides, the graves of the people that died in the war there are three more graves who did not succumb in the war.
The entrance is marked by the Stone of Remembrance with inscriptions from the Book of Ecclesiasticus ‘Their Name Liveth For Evermore’. The other memorial in the cemetry consists of what is popular as Cross of Sacrifice. The Cross of Sacrifice has an octagonal base bearing a bronze sword upon its shaft. These memorials are symbolic of all the cemetries that are under CWGC.
History Madras War Cemetery :
Madras War Cemetery was created to receive Second World War graves from many civil and cantonment cemeteries in the south and east of India where their permanent maintenance could not be assured.
The cemetery contains 856 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.
The MADRAS 1914-1918 MEMORIAL is situated at the rear of the cemetery. It bears the names of more than 1,000 servicemen who died during the First World War who lie in many civil and cantonment cemeteries in various parts of India where it is not possible to maintain their graves in perpetuity.
Memorial :
The Madras 1914-1918 War Memorial is situated at the rear of the cemetery. The memorial is styled on the lines of a “Lawn Cemetery”. The memorial does not contain any buried dead-bodies, but has plaques with the names of many British soldiers who died in both the World Wars, with the inscription “Their name liveth for evermore”. It bears the names of more than 1,000 servicemen who died during the First World War and lie in many civil and cantonment cemeteries in various parts of India where it is not possible to maintain their graves in perpetuity.
Foreign national whose remains were buried include 14 Australians and 5 New Zealanders.
Location :
Madras War Cemetery is about 5 kilometres from the airport and 14 kilometres from the central railway station.
The GST Road (Great Southern Trunk Road) leads from the airport past Trident Hotel to Kathipara roundabout. The way is via Mount Poonamall Road, passing at the foot of St. Thomas Mount. The cemetery can easily be located on the right hand side of the road 1 kilometre from St. Thomas Mount.
From Madras Central Railway Station the route is up Mount Road (Anna Salai) and over the bridge which crosses the River Cooum. The route passes St. Mary’s Cemetery on Pallawan Road and is via LIC building (Life Insurance Corporation Building) situated on Mount Road, which leads to Anna Flyover and to Kathipara Junction.
How To Reach Here :
Air : Chennai has an airport with both domestic and international terminals. Regular flights connect Chennai with the major cities within the country and also with countries like USA, Singapore, U.K etc.
Rail : Chennai is well connected by rail with the important towns and cities within and beyond the state.
Road : State transport buses and private buses connect Chennai with the major towns and cities within the country. For local transportation local trains, city buses, auto rickshaws and taxis are available.