From the beaches of Gallipoli to the deserts of North Africa, from the Western Front in Europe to the jungles of Burma, Commonwealth personnel fought in nearly every major theatre of the conflicts.
Today their sacrifice is commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which honours the men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died during the two world wars.
The Commission commemorates around 1.7 million servicemen and women who died while serving with Commonwealth forces between 1914 and 1947.
Their graves and memorials are located at more than 23,000 sites across over 150 countries and territories, reflecting the truly global nature of the conflicts.
We commemorate. Together.
Stories of Commonwealth service
Behind every name recorded in war cemeteries and memorials lies a human story — of courage, loss, and service. The experiences shared in this film reflect the diverse contributions of people from across the Commonwealth who served during the world wars.
From war to cooperation: the rise of multilateralism
The devastation of two world wars reshaped international relations and strengthened the desire among nations to prevent future global conflict.
The evolution of the modern Commonwealth
The years after the Second World War also saw the transformation of the Commonwealth itself.
As countries across Asia, Africa and the Caribbean gained independence, the organisation evolved from a group of dominions into a voluntary association of equal and independent states.
