Royal Marines Tidy Up War Graves Campaign Gets Underway On Isle Of Wight

Former Royal Marines on the Isle of Wight are spending the next 75 days tidying up 458 war graves on the Island.

The campaign is happening now to mark the 75th anniversary of the charity that supports former Marines, The Royal Marines Association.

The group of ten men, from the Island’s branch of the charity, includes Chairman Martin Lovel and Reverend Tony Richards who is the Chaplin of St Blasius Church, Shanklin, he is also a former PO stalker in the Royal Navy.

They will tidy up the Common Wealth war graves across 45 Island cemeteries.

Terry Goodwin, Branch Secretary of the charity on the Isle of Wight, told Isle of Wight Radio:

“This is the first time the Marines Association Branch on the Island has decided to tidy up war graves on the Island…

“We also want to encourage children to produce one flower each which will create a flower bed that will be displayed in Shanklin Chine. The plan is to have a flower bed there for Remembrance Sunday, all the children on the Island are invited to make one.”

To donate to the charity which supports former Royal Marines on the Island, go to https://rmaiow.com/

The following cemeteries will see their war graves tided:

• BONCHURCH (ST. BONIFACE) CHURCHYARD, Casualties  3
• RYDE (BINSTEAD) CEMETERY, Casualties  8
• NEWTOWN (HOLY SPIRIT) CHURCHYARD, Casualties 1
• WROXALL CEMETERY,  Casualties  2
• CHALE (ST. ANDREW) CHURCHYARD, Casualties  2
• ST. HELENS CHURCHYARD, RYDE, Casualties  8
• BEMBRIDGE (HOLY TRINITY) CHURCHYARD EXTENSION, Casualties 6
• CARISBROOKE CEMETERY, Casualties  32
• SHORWELL (ST. PETER) NEW CHURCHYARD, Casualties  5
• SANDOWN CEMETERY, Casualties 10
• SHANKLIN CEMETERY, Casualties  18
• SANDOWN (CHRIST CHURCH) CHURCHYARD,  Casualties 19
• TOTLAND (ST. SAVIOUR) ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHYARD, Casualties 8
• WHIPPINGHAM (ST. MILDRED) CHURCHYARD, Casualties  7
• BRADING UNITED REFORMED CHURCHYARD, Casualties  1
• BRADING (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD, Casualties  4
• THORLEY (ST. SWITHUN) CHURCHYARD, Casualties  1 
• TOTLAND BAY (CHRIST CHURCH) CHURCHYARD, Casualties  4
• VENTNOR CEMETERY, Casualties  29
• YARMOUTH (ST. JAMES) CHURCH CEMETERY, Casualties  4
• ARRETON CEMETERY, Casualties  1
• COWES (KINGSTON) CEMETERY, Casualties  15
• COWES (NORTHWOOD) CEMETERY, Casualties  34
• KINGSTON (ST. JAMES) CHURCHYARD, Casualties 3 
• PARKHURST MILITARY CEMETERY, Casualties  83
• NEWPORT (ST. PAUL’S) CEMETERY, Casualties  8
• RYDE (BINSTEAD) CEMETERY, Casualties  3
• BROOK (ST. MARY) CHURCHYARD, BRIGHSTONE, Casualties  4
• CALBOURNE (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD, Casualties  2
• GODSHILL (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD, Casualties  1
• HAVENSTREET (ST. PETER) CHURCHYARD,  Casualties 2
• SHALFLEET (ST. MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL) CHURCHYARD, Casualties  1
• WHITWELL (SS. MARY AND RADEGUND) CHURCHYARD, NITON Casualties 1
• WOOTTON (ST. EDMUND) CHURCHYARD, NEWPORT, Casualties  1
• NITON BAPTIST CHAPELYARD, Casualties  1
• WHITWELL NEW BURIAL GROUND, Casualties  3
• NEWPORT CEMETERY, Casualties 11
• FRESHWATER (ALL SAINTS) CHURCHYARD, Casualties 19
• GATCOMBE (ST. OLAVE) CHURCHYARD, casualties 2
• NEWCHURCH CEMETERY, Casualties 1
• NITON (ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST) CHURCHYARD, Casualties 4
• OAKFIELD (ST. JOHN) CHURCH CEMETERY Casualties 15
• RYDE (ASHEY) CEMETERY, Casualties 3
• RYDE BOROUGH CEMETERY, Casualties 52
• ST. LAWRENCE CHURCHYARD, VENTNOR, Casualties 1