World War I graves

[hardy49]

During WW2 were any of the British war cemeteries in France damaged or was there an unwritten understanding that they should be left alone ?

[Mosaic]

What a brilliant question.
I know that in Lille, statues such as 'les fusilles' were pulled down by the occupying Germans - not heard anything about the cemeteries though.

[heathfield]

Seems the graves were respected by the Germans. There's a blog about it here...

[heathfield]

Where? Here!!...

http://theminiaturesp...ards/msg.mv?id=197088

[Philtaz]

I recall reading somewhere of a story during WW2 of a German soldier urinating on the Menin Gate.
He was subsequently shot by a German officer.

[Philtaz]

Roughly a third the way down in this link:
http://www.jacqueline...m/essays-skylarks.php

[hardy49]

Thank you for your help - it was something that had been bugging me.Just goes to show that there was respect for some things at least

[Philtaz]

Glad to be of service.
I believe it's an unwritten rule among soldiers of any nation that war graves/cemeteries would never be dessecrated at will.
Combatants in conflicts tend to respect other buried combatants.

[pusskin]

i was lucky enough to go to oak Dump Cemetury in Belgium 2 yrs ago to visit my Grandads grave from 1917. We also stood at Menin gate and it was so very very touching! Everything was so emmaculately kept and looked after well .