In this blog I am going to write about the, The Unknown Warrior buried in Westminster Abbey. During the duration of the First World War, the actually figure of those that were killed cant not be truly known. Figures from the Commonwealth War Grave Commission state that were 887,858 war dead for the UK and Colonies. This figure also includes the British Mercantile Marine and conscripted civilian labourers from Asia and Africa.
Every family around the UK was affected and lost someone. After the war, life changed. The First World War, was the first conflict where the dead were remembered. The last major conflict in Europe was the Napoleonic War (1793-1815), where the dead were gathered up stripped - the uniform could have been reused - and thrown into a pit, along dead horse and any other animals that the army used. The dead were then covered over with quicklime and the pits filled over. They were quickly forgotten about
Soldiers that were killed were buried with their comrades where they fought and died.
After the war, 1920, when Rev. David Railton wrote to the Dean of Westminster to proposing the burial of an unknown soldier from the battlefield of France "amongst the kings"
November 7th 1920 six bodies were exhumed and each were placed in a plain coffin, and covered by a Union Jack flag. The chosen one was picked by Brigadier Wyatt, the other five were taken away for reburial.
November 8th the preparations of the Chosen One were carried out. The coffin was placed in a casket of oak, made from trees from Hampton Court Palace. The coffin was banded with iron. The top bore medical crusader's sword, personally chosen by the King, George V.
The coffin travelled back to the UK on-board the HMS Verdun.
The morning of 11th November 1920, the coffin travelled from Victoria Station to Westminster Abbey, the route passed Hyde Park Corner, The Mall, Whitehall and the newly erected Cenotaph, unveiled by the King. The coffin then entered Westminster Abbey via the West Nave
The coffin was interred soil from each of the major battlefields were placed in the grave.
The grave was capped with black marble first picture and featured the inscription by Herbert Edward Ryle,
Beneath this stone rests the body
Of a British warrior
Unknown by name or rank
Brought from France to lie among
The most illustrious of the land
And buried here on Armistice Day
11 Nov: 1920, in the presence of
His Majesty King George V
His Ministers of State
The Chiefs of his forces
And a vast concourse of the nation
Thus are commemorated the many
Multitudes who during the Great
War of 1914 – 1918 gave the most that
Man can give life itself
For God
For King and country
For loved ones home and empire
For the sacred cause of justice and
The freedom of the world
They buried him among the kings because he
Had done good toward God and toward
His house
around the edges are four New Testament quotations
The Lord knoweth them that are his (top; 2 Timothy 2:19)
Unknown and yet well known, dying and behold we live (side; 2 Corinthians 6:9)
Greater love hath no man than this (side; John 15:13)
In Christ shall all be made alive (base; 1 Corinthians 15:22)
Its the only gravestone that cannot be walked on.
The following year, October 1921, America bestowed the Unknown Warrior the highest medal, the Medal of Honor, which hangs on a nearby pillar, along with the bell from HMS Verdun. November 1921, the American Unknown Solider was awarded a Victoria Cross.
During the course of the final route taken and the service with the Abbey there were thousands of people.