Record

CWGC - Records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- 1 - Historic Archive
  - 1 - Part 1 - Work of the Commission in Connection with First World War Deaths
    - 16 - Ceremonies, Pilgrimages And Visits To Cemeteries

Unique ID	CWGC/1/1/16/5
File Number	WG 250/1/1/1 PT.1
Title	France And Belgium - Placing Flowers On Graves - Capt. H.H. Chanter
Multimedia
Description	Main topics: activities of The War Graves Wreath Co. (Capt. H.H. Chanter); advertising of commercial wreath-laying facilities; accusations of fraudulent conduct; attempts to control commercial wreath-laying; including action in Parliament; letters of enquiry and complaint from the public (to War Office and Ministry of Pensions; as well as IWGC); IWGC assistance with wreath laying; charges against Chanter (from IWGC staff and Saint Barnabas Pilgrimages); conducted visits to graves for relatives.
Content Note	Including: File of press cuttings re YMCA wreath service; IWGC announcement on return of wooden crosses to relatives; Saint Barnabas Pilgrimages; blessing of wreaths. Press statement and cutting re clandestine exhumations and faulty registration of Canadian grave; 20 July 1921. Reports of wreaths laid in cemeteries in France and Belgium at Christmas 1921:- 17-18 Jan. 1922. Letter mentioning Saint Barnabas Hostels wreath-laying facilities; 9 Apr. 1924. Letter mentioning return of wooden cross to relative; 22 Oct. 1924. Letters from relative agreeing that wreaths are unnecessary due to care of graves; 24 Dec. 1924 and 24 Mar. 1925. War Graves Wreath Co. circulars (1 with note re recipients confusion); 16 Mar. 1925 & 29 Sep. 1927. Letters making case against Chanter; 8 June 1925. Legal Dept. report on current situation re commercial wreath-laying and photographing graves; 20 Jan. 1928. Letter from R. Blomfield complaining about trade cards on wreaths at Menin Gate; 20 Nov. 1928. 2 envelopes containing photos by Chanter; 1 mounted as sold. Permits to lay wreaths in cemeteries; 10 Aug. 1929 and 6 Aug. 1930. Circular and order form re British Legion wreaths for Tyne Cot memorial; and IWGC circular re rules for wreath-laying; with letter of complaint; 2 Nov. 1929. Memoranda re legibility of name panels on memorials; and photography; 13 Oct. 1930.
Date	20/7/1921 - 16/12/1930
Extent	1 file
Collection	Archive
Category	Archive
ArchNote	SEE ALSO FILE CON 167.