Cemetery re-dedication

The small English village of Compton Chamberlayne can be found just a short distance from Salisbury in Wiltshire.  During the First World War twenty eight members of the AIF, who died while stationed at nearby camps, were buried in the village burial ground.

On 26^th April the Compton Chamberlayne Burial Ground was re-dedicated. The local Village Council, through a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund UK, has recently upgraded access to the grounds and commissioned new entry signage and a memorial cairn.

The afternoon’s programme commenced with Colonel Peter Singh, Army Adviser, Australian High Commission, London unveiling the new entry stone before villagers and guests entered the cemetery.  The re-dedication service was conducted by local vicars, the Reverends John Staples and John Eade.  

The memorial cairn was then unveiled by Colonel Singh. Housed within the cairn is a visitors book and a collection of personal profiles of the 28 Australian soldiers buried at Compton Chamberlayne, compiled by Families and Friend of the First AIF member Chris Munro.

The day concluded with an afternoon tea of ANZAC biscuits and cookies in the shape of Australia in the village hall which is a converted World War 1 military hut from the near-by camps. Colonel Singh presented the Chairman of Village Council, Group Captain (Rtd) Sid Adcock, with a Digger Bear who will now live in the village hall.