This cache is placed just outside Marham Cemetery which includes a Commonwealth War Graves Commission Memorial. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) honours the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars, and ensure they will never be forgotten.
Marham cemetery itself covers 2 acres and was first used in 1941 when the land on which it lies was given by a local landowner to Marham Parish Council. Until June of that year the Royal Air Force Station at Marham had used the village churchyard at Holy Trinity Church for burials, but a new burial ground became necessary and this land, within sight of the fifteenth century church, was given with the proviso that a special section near the south-eastern boundary should be reserved for R.A.F. burials. This is now the War Graves Plot, and all save two of the 1939-1945 War graves are in it.
The total number of war burials in the cemetery is 56, and this figure is made up by 1 soldier and 26 airmen belonging to the forces of the United Kingdom; 13 airmen of the Royal Canadian Air Force; 3 airmen of the Royal Australian Air Force; 7 airman of the Royal New Zealand Air Force; 1 German soldier and 5 German airmen. The plot is on rising ground and in front of the entrance is semi-circular bed and the Cross of Sacrifice, which honours the servicemen buried here and the 17 who lie in Marham (Holy Trinity) Churchyard, stands beyond it. The RAF continues to use the cemetery, the last military burial being in 2006
The cache is located just outside the cemetery so there is no need to enter the cemetery to retrieve it, however if you do wish to visit the memorial it is beautiful and I know you will treat the area with respect. There is a footpath going past the cemetery and room for parking for a short time in front of the gate. Some stealth is required as this is just off the main (actually the only) road through the village and so does attract some traffic as well as frequent dog walkers and runners. The cache is magnetic and small so please bring your own pen, tweezers will be required to get the log.
This is my first hide so please be kind but any advice and constructive criticism is welcome.
If anybody would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let
Just-us-Two know first at justustwo1013@gmail.com so they can keep track of the memorial
numbers and names to avoid any duplication. There is a web page for the series
https://wmseries.wixsite.com/wmgc and a Facebook page, just search War Memorial
Geocaching.