Talk:Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

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[edit] Previously unsectioned comments

The idea of a Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, was first conceived in 1916 by the Reverend David Railton, who while serving as an army chaplain on the Western Front had seen a grave marked by a rough cross, which bore the pencil written legend 'An Unknown British Soldier'.

He wrote to the Dean of Westminister in 1920 proposing that an unidentified British soldier from the battlefields in France be buried with due ceremony in Westminister Abbey "amongst the kings" to represent the many thousands of Empire dead. The idea was strongly supported by the Dean and the then Prime Minister Lloyd George. There was initial opposition from King George V and others but a surge of emotional support from the great number of bereaved families ensured its adoption. Arrangements were placed in the hands of George Nathaniel Curzon who prepared in committee the service and location.

The body was chosen from four bodies draped with Union Flags at the chapel at Ste Pol near Arras, France on the night of 7th November, 1920 by Brigadier General L.J. Wyatt and Lieutenant Colonel E.A.S. Gell. The Body was placed into a coffin and sealed. The following morning a multi-denominational service was held for the soldier who's coffin bore the legend 'A British Warrior who fell in the Great War'.

The Coffin was then taken to Boulogne under guard by French soldiers and placed aboard HMS Verdun, Marshall Foch saluted the coffin as it rested on the Quayside before loading. As the flotilla carrying the coffin closed on Dover Castle it received a 19 gun Field Marshall's salute.

On the morning of the 11th November, 1920 the Coffin was loaded onto a gun carriage of the Royal Horse Artillery and drawn by 6 horses through through immense and silent crowds. The route followed was Hyde Park Corner, The Mall, and to Whitehall where the Cenotaph was unveiled by King George V. The Cortege was then followed by King, Royal Family and ministers of state to Westminster Abbey, where the Coffin was borne into the West Nave of the Abbey flanked by an honour guard of 100 holders of the Victoria Cross. The coffin was then interred with soil from each of the main battlefields and covered with a silk pall. The Armed Services then stood as honour guard as an estimated one and quarter million mourners filed past during the seven days before the tomb was closed. The ceremony appears to have served as a form of catharsis for collective grief on a scale not previously known.

The grave was then capped with a black marble stone featuring an inscription composed by Dean 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

From Tomb of the Unknown Warrior article

[edit] Gilleleje, Denmark

There's a grave in my hometown [1] for an unknown French Soldier from WW2. Is it notable enough for inclusion? Mikkel 02:43, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Details of War Memorial in Melbourne deleted

I've deleted

"Much work goes into some Tomb Of the Unknown Soldier memorials, for example, the War Memorial in Melbourne, Australia, has a small hole cut into the roof above the tomb (which is a large granite stone set into the floor). On the 11th minute, of the 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month (11:11 AM, November 11th), a ray of light shall pass over the inscription 'Lest We Forget', engraved on the stone in gold, during this the Last Post is played by a bugler. Over 5000 mathematical calculations were conducted so this would occur, and it is said that it will continue for 1000 years. As a side note, a light is placed in the hole and at 11:11 AM every day, it will artificially pass light over the inscription, whilst a taped recording of the last post is played, the light is removed for the 11th November ceremony, and a real bugler plays, this artificial ceremony is so visitors can experience this without having to attend on the 11th november, which is often restricted."

because it seems that this should be in a more specific Wikipedia article. Motmot 19:11, 24 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Deletion of speculation that no more tombs would be built

I deleted this section wherein it was stated that no more tombes were lokely to be built because 1) It was personal speculation 2) It was proven incorrect in that the New Zealand tomb was erected in 2004, well after DNA advances 203.211.101.50 22:40, 28 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Merge discussion with Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Guard Identification Badge

  • Disagree - a military badge should have its own article. — MrDolomite • Talk 14:42, 15 March 2007 (UTC)
  • Disagree per MrDolomite and also because this article is general and international in scope, as such this proposal ought to be directed towards Tomb of the Unknowns - the US article.
Xdamrtalk 15:54, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

I think that we can end this now. 4-0 against, without even the proposer voicing his support.

Xdamrtalk 23:20, 16 March 2007 (UTC)

  • Disagree They need there own pages. Crested Penguin 23:47, 17 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Cathedral

I changed Cathedral to abbey in the first paragraph. Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral are 2 different things and the abbey ISN'T a cathedral.

Padsley 10:07, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Mercie of freedom from katie dodge

A journey of emotions lead solders to a life unthinkable, Escaping the lives they once had where cowardly actions ain't aloud... The volunteers of bravery makes memories that will scar them for a lifetime, but still they seek-out into the dusk of the devils sand box with a rifle in hand and their rucksack on there back. Fighting proudly for the freedom of others as they reach there location. They stand there ground. There hearts pure and there souls are bulletproof. They clear away any thoughts they may have of their love ones. Firing sounds covering the silence. We are American warriors with a message of freedom. Secrets for survival becomes an emotional rage of horrifying adventure. These are the forgotten heroes that fight upon us, as the stream blue sky becomes a cloud of gray they still don't hesitate to use there knowledge. Brave is what they are. For some it's only a matter of time until they're standing with God looking down upon those who survived. The rest lives on with the memories of being victimized by the war. These are the secrets of unknown heroes who risked everything for the freedom that we take advantage of...

 Dedicate: to the unknown soldiers

   By:Katie Dodge 29
    of Maine  —Preceding unsigned comment added by 64.179.86.98 (talk) 23:48, 18 May 2008 (UTC)