Hi, I would imagine it must be the local administrations who keep them up, because the Commonwealth War Graves Commission only commemorate the dead of the two world wars. >From the CWGC site: "The Commission only commemorates those who have died during the designated war years in service or of causes attributable to service. The war years are considered to be World War I 4 August 1914 to 31 August 1921 World War II 3 September 1939 to 31 December 1947" So whoever is doing it, all thanks to them. Phil Curtis On 5 June 2011 11:03, Eileen & Marty Russell <martruss@mailweb.co.za> wrote: > I am sure I read somewhere that the War Graves Commission put a lot of > effort into tracking down graves on outlying farms etc and re-interring the > remains in centralised locations where the memorials could be tended in > perpetuity instead of being at the mercy of changing landowners. > > Perhaps the politics of the time had something to do with it, not only > changing from USA to RSA but many of the colonies were seeking to throw off > British administration. The war graves I have visited elsewhere in Africa > have all been in the local cemetery, not out in the bush where the soldier > died and was probably first buried. Economics probably also comes into > it, it would surely be much cheaper to pay the local council than to try to > maintain graves scattered over a wide area. > > Whatever the reasons for bringing the graves together it must be said that > they are remarkably well maintained, and the cemeteries where you find them > are also above the local average - presumably the War Graves Commission > makes regular checks and this helps to keep up standards! > > Eileen > >