Montrose cemetery reveals secrets

Staff from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission have recently carried out renovation work to improve the appearance of war graves within Sleepyhillock Cemetery in Montrose, Angus.

132 war graves are contained within this cemetery, dating from both World Wars. CWGC staff, with help from Angus Council, carried out work on herbaceous borders and turfed areas.

Montrose played an important part in guarding Britain's shores during the First and Second World Wars and its strategic importance - positioned between between the Royal Navy's bases at Scapa Flow and Rosyth - was identified at an early stage by the War Office, which established the UK's first operational air station on the outskirts of Montrose in 1913.

Most of the casualties buried at Sleepyhillock served in the air forces, both British and Commonwealth, but army and naval casualties are also buried there. 39 of the graves date from the First World War, with 93 from the Second World War. Of the Second World War casualties, 85 are British or Commonwealth, with 8 Polish graves.

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Tags:

• War Graves Commission
• war graves
• First World War
• WWI
• WW1
• Second World War
• WWII
• WW2
• Montrose
• Sleepyhillock
• Angus RAF