Join us for a tour of Dover (St James) Cemetery.
Our tours are free to the public, but if you would like to support us then please consider donating to our charity The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation (CWGF).
https://foundation.cwgc.org/donate/
MEETING POINT: Dover St James Cemetery Entrance - meet inside entrance gates (Old Charlton Road). Tours will start promptly, please be there in plenty of time.
Caution: There are three other cemeteries in close proximity- Jewish, Charlton and St. Mary's, all with the same address. St. James's is furthest from the town end of Old Charlton Road and is on right side.
During the First World War, Dover was a port of embarkation for troops bound for the Western Front and between August 1914 and August 1919 some 1,300,000 Commonwealth sick and wounded were landed there.
There are 387 identified burials of the 1914-1918 war here. In addition there are 19 unidentified burials, 9 of whom can be named as victims of the Zeebrugge Raid, and these 9 are inscribed on a Special Memorial on the Cross of Sacrifice in the Zeebrugge Plot.
In 1940, Dover was the headquarters for the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk and nearly 200,000 of the 366,000 British and Allied troops brought back during the operation were landed there. Most of the 356 Second World War burials are contained in a special war graves plot at the far end of the cemetery.
The site is varied. Wheelchair access is possible for part of tour only but it does involve a steep hill on road. Off road is steep hillside with rough ground and roots. There is parking on-site, but there are no facilities or toilets.
Note there are four cemeteries in this locality.
Please dress for the weather and wear suitable footwear.
The Commonwealth War Graves Foundation (CWGF) aims to actively engage all communities with the work of the CWGC by telling the inspiring stories through education and outreach projects.
The CWGF is an independent charity registered with the Charity Commission of England and Wales (1171947) and Scotland (SC051982).
