Institutionalization of Military Graves of Great Britain in the XIX Century

The article analyzes how during the XIX century British war graves became a state duty, and the care and maintenance of military cemeteries became associated with patriotism. The article also discusses how, when, where and why the British government and the public began to appreciate fallen soldiers and believe that they deserve a decent burial regardless of their rank or achievements in battle. It was concluded that contrary to the general ideas that the cult of memory was created after the First World War by the Imperial Commission on Military Graves, the Crimean War of 1853-1856 was a key moment in changing the views of the British on military graves. During this conflict, for the first time in modern European history, the belligerents on both sides buried the dead in specially designated graves.