Marking the gravesites of First World War veterans
Marking First World War Private Graves Grants Program is now open for applications.
More than 330,000 Australians left their homes and families to fight in the First World War, and 60,000 never returned. In the years and decades that followed, far too many of the 270,000 men and women who returned home were buried in unmarked graves.
Private George Thomas Wetzel was injured by an exploding shell after landing at Gallipoli. He returned home to Australia following the war and passed away in 1926. He was laid to rest in an unmarked private grave.
This was not uncommon for many men and women returning home after the First World War and were later buried in unmarked private graves, sometimes because they had no local family, or their families could not afford a headstone. While we don’t know why George Wetzel was laid to rest in an unmarked grave, communities around Australia are discovering he is not alone.
The Marking First World War Private Graves Grants Program aims to provide community recognition to those who served in the First World War and were later buried in unmarked private graves.
Because these men and women died of causes unrelated to their war service, they are ineligible for an official commemoration. However, the Australian Government recognises the great sacrifice made by this generation of Australians and honours their service to our country.
This grants program encourages applications from community groups or individuals to help identify and appropriately recognise the unmarked private graves of First World War veterans. Each eligible grave can receive a contribution of up to $620, an increase from the $450 contribution available last year, to enable formal recognition of the grave through a plaque or headstone, ensuring their service and sacrifice are not forgotten.
George Wetzel’s grave was identified by The South Australian Headstone Project, and they were provided funding to mark his grave from the Marking First World War Private Graves Grant Program. There are many others out there like Private Wetzel, waiting to be identified and appropriately recognised.
Applications for the current round of grants close on 5 November 2024.
Please visit GrantConnect for more information.
Before and after images of the grave of First World War veteran, Private George Thomas Wetzel.
Image courtesy of The Headstone Project SA (2023-4 Marking First World War Private Graves Grants Program recipient).