COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION

Founded by Royal Charter in 1917, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) commemorates the 1.7 million men and women of the commonwealth forces who died in the two world wars. CWGC cemeteries, burial plots and memorials are a lasting tribute to those who died and can be found at almost 23,000 locations – in 153 different countries around the world. The Commission’s task is also to maintain the records of those they commemorate, ensuring that the location of individual burials, or names on memorials, can always be identified. The cost of the work is shared by the member governments – Australia , Canada , India, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom – in proportions based upon the number of their graves.

Never Such Innocence is delighted to be partnered with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on the Salonika Remembers project alongside the British Council.

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Never Such Innocence

Never Such Innocence is a registered charity (number 1156148) in England and Wales and is a unique project fitting into the wider series of 2014-2018 centenary activities. Our aim is to ensure young people nationally are inspired, informed and included in the centenary activities.

The charity takes its name from Philip Larkin’s famous poem MCMXIV, which reflects on the changes caused by the First World War. The driving force behind Never Such Innocence is Lady Lucy French, great-granddaughter of Field Marshal Sir John French who commanded the British Expeditionary Forces from 1914-15.

The launch of Never Such Innocence was kindly hosted at Australia House in May 2014 with a gala dinner and theatrical performance, blending poetry, prose and music from the Great War, compiled by Dr Martin Stephen. Since our inception we have been dedicated to engaging the nation’s children in the First World War centenary through learning, poetry, art and music.

T: 0207 836 2603
11 Slingsby Place, London,
WC2E 9AB

Never Such Innocence.
Registered Charity Number 1156148 Company Number 8680319

🌟 "How can we put an end to conflict? “🕊✨ Kanniesh K., our Young Ambassador from Malaysia, has explored this heartfelt question through his powerful artwork. Kanniesh’s piece calls on us to reflect on the impact of war and the importance of peace efforts. 📝Participate in the competition and express your vision for a world without conflict. Translation of the content: Main text (top): "How can we put an end to conflict?" Lower text: Never Such Innocence Young Ambassador

The artist of this new great competition entry shared: "The phrase "free women" can be interpreted in various ways, often symbolizing the liberation and empowerment of women across different societies and contexts. It highlights the ongoing struggle for gender equality, where women seek freedom from societal constraints, economic dependence, and discrimination. This movement encompasses diverse issues such as access to education, reproductive rights, equal pay, and the ability to make personal choices without fear of judgment or violence. The journey toward true freedom for women involves dismantling patriarchal structures and fostering a world where women can thrive as equal participants in all spheres of life. As more voices join the conversation, the vision of a world where all women are free becomes increasingly attainable." Visit our website at neversuchinnocence.com to learn more and take part in the competition. We encourage you to tackle the important question: How can we prevent future wars? Let your ideas inspire change!

🌟 Meet Valentino.C. from Italy, a passionate advocate for peace and a Young Ambassador for Never Such Innocence! 🇮🇹✨ It was an absolute delight to welcome him to the office as he and his family came to London for a trip! He has been an amazing advocate at his school! Valentino invites all poets, artists, musicians, and speakers to participate in the international contest. Share your creativity and message of peace by responding to the question: "How Can We Prevent Future Wars?" Translation of the content: “Poets, artists, musicians, and speakers... I invite you to participate in the international contest proposed by Never Such Innocence. Express yourselves creatively and share your message of peace, responding to the question: "How Can We Prevent Future Wars?”

🌟 This Remembrance Month, we reflect on the moving words of “Eleven,” a poem by Sally S. “I have a huge passion for learning about both World Wars - ever since I was a child, I have been captivated by the subject. While thinking about what could be written, I decided to focus on those lost in the First World War and their ancestors. I have personal connections to the First World War through my great uncle who was stationed nearby, which made me interested in how I could connect this to the present. As a child, I always felt it was unfair that we never talked about those who helped Britain from countries under British control. I used to ask my mum, ‘Why can’t I do something about this? Why don’t we talk about these people in school?’ Reflecting on this made me realize that it’s up to our future children to use their knowledge of the world’s cruelty to stop it - to prevent early deaths and halt wars. Trust the youth, as I would have wanted.” For more details and to join the competition, visit our official website at neversuchinnocence.com. We invite you to answer the crucial question: How can we prevent future wars? You might consider using the theme of remembrance as a starting point! 🌍🕊