Organizations Related to WW1 Remembrance, Research and Study
- Battlefield Guides & Tours
- War Grave Agencies
- Photographic & Biographical Archive Projects
- Remembrance Societies, Associations and Projects
- Academic Study
Battlefield Guides and Tours
The International Guild of Battlefield Guides
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greatwar.co.uk is a Supporter of the International Guild of Battlefield Guides.
The Guild, its members and supporters dedicate their expertise and knowledge towards the achievement of the highest standards of excellence in the practice of guiding on the battlefields. See our page for contact details to find out more information about the Guild and recommended guides:
Battlefield Tour Companies
A growing number of companies and individuals offer guided visits to show people around the battlefields. The types of tours range from private guided tours, where you are responsible for your own transport to the battlefields and accommodation there, to tours tailored by a guide to suit your personal requirements, to an all-inclusive tour for a group of adults or students.
See a list of tour companies and guides, many of whom are members or supporters of the Guild of Battlefield Guides:
WW1 Battlefield Tour Companies
WW1 Battlefield Tour Companies for Students & School Groups
War Grave Agencies
The American Battle Monuments Commission
Military Forces of the United States of America
The American Battle Monuments Commission was established by an act of Congress in March 1923 to construct and maintain memorials in the United States and in foreign countries where U.S. armed forces have served since 6th April 1917.
American Battle Monuments CommissionBelgian Military Graves
Military Forces of Belgium
The Belgian Ministry of Defence is responsible for the care and maintenance of Belgian military graves. A database of the records of Belgian war dead is held at the Dokumentatiecentrum at the In Flanders Fields Museum in Ieper (Ypres).
Dokumentatiecentrum at In Flanders Fields MuseumCommissariato Generale
Military Forces of Italy
The Italian war graves agency was founded in 1919.
Commissariato GeneraleCommonwealth War Graves Commission
Military Forces of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, South Africa
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is responsible for 1.7 million graves and memorials thoughout the world. It records and maintains the graves and memorials of members of the Commonwealth countries who died in both World War One (WW1) and World War Two (WWII). The organization also has extensive records of where the cemeteries and memorials are and who is buried or mentioned in them.
Commonwealth War Graves CommissionMinistère des Pensions
Military Forces of France
Le Ministère des Pensions is the French war graves agency which cares for the French military cemeteries from the 1914-1918 war to the present day. There are 265 cemeteries in France classed as “nécropoles nationales” - national cemeteries - for those who have died for France, “Mort pour la France”.
Office of Australian War Graves (OAWG)
The organization of the OAWG is within the Department of Veterans Affairs. With regard to the commemoration of those who served their country, the OAWG has three roles, these being:
- to maintain military cemeteries and war graves in individual plots in Australia and the region.
- it will commemorate veterans who die after the war where their death is attributable to their service in the war
- it will build and maintain national Australian memorials in battlefield locations outside Australia.
Website: www.dva.gov.au
Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge (VDK)
Military Forces of Germany
The work of the Volksbund or VDK is officially carried out on behalf of the German government although the Volksbund is still funded by donations from the German people and the members of the association.
Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge (VDK)Photographic & Biographical Archive Projects
Australian War Graves Photographic Project
The Australian War Graves Photographic Archive (AWGPA) aims to procure a digital photograph of every single Australian casualty commemorated on a war grave throughout the world.
Australian War Graves Photographic Project
British War Graves: War Graves Photographs
This is a project led by Mick McCann and other volunteers to establish an archive of photographs of British war graves in the United Kingdom and around the world. Photographs of the graves are supplied free of charge.
Website: www.britishwargraves.co.uk
Lijssenthoek Project
The project has been set up for the construction of the new visitors' centre (opened in September 2012) at the British and Commonwealth Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery south of Poperinge, Belgium. The project is also working to compile a database of details for the 10,000 identified casualties in the cemetery.
For more information see our page at:
Lijssenthoek Project: Visitors' Centre & Database
The Maple Leaf Legacy Project
Website: www.mapleleaflegacy.ca
New Zealand War Graves Project
Website: www.nzwargraves.org.nz
South Africa War Graves Project
Website: www.southafricawargraves.org
Thiepval Database Project
This project aims to compile a photographic and biographical database for all the 72,000 names commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing on the Somme battlefield.
For more information and how you can help see our page at:
United Kingdom National Inventory of War Memorials (UKNIWM)
This project is supported by the Imperial War Museum (London). The aim of the project is to list and locate over 100,000 war memorials in the United Kingdom.
For more information see our page at:
United Kingdom National Inventory of War Memorials (UKNIWM)
The War Graves Photographic Project
A voluntary project to create a photographic record of every British and Commonwealth war grave and memorial inscription from the First World War.
The War Graves Photographic Project
Remembrance Societies, Associations and Projects
Families & Friends of the First AIF (FFFAIF)
An association “Dedicated to Digger Heritage”, preserving the memory of all those who fought with the Australian Imperial Force in 1914-1918.
Families & Friends of the First AIF (FFFAIF)
Friends of the Somme
The Friends of the Somme supports the work carried out by The Somme Association. This is an association established to preserve the memory of the Irishmen and women who served in the First World War. For contact details see our page about The Somme Association:
The Gallipoli Association
Formed by a veteran of the 1915 campaign in the Dardanelles to further the Remembrance of the men who fought in it.
The Gallipoli AssociationThe Great War Society (UK)
The Society is a Living History group with the aim to provide an opportunity for practical research into uniforms, weapons, equipment and training of Great War soldiers from Armies of the Allies and Central powers.
The Great War SocietyKhaki Devil
A company founded by collectors of equipment and uniforms which provides First and Second World War historical advice for film and television. It also provides a service for schools and amateur dramatic societies working to a tight budget.
Khaki DevilLa Boisselle Study Group
A major project to carry out an exciting archaeological study at a battle site on the Somme battlefield.
The LMS-Patriot Project
This charity is involved with building a new, Royal British Legion endorsed, steam engine called “The Unknown Warrior” in memory of all who fell in the Great War. The new Patriot class engine is due for completion before the 100th anniversary of WW1 armistice in 2018.
The LMS-Patriot ProjectLast Post Association
The Last Post Association is responsible for arranging and sounding the daily ceremony of Last Post at the Menin Gate Memorial in Ieper (Ypres), Belgium.
National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire
A memorial arboretum created for the nation as a living tribute to the armed and civil services of the United Kingdom. For more information see our page about the National Memorial Arboretum at:
The Not Forgotten Association, London
A charity founded in 1920 to offer leisure and entertainment opportunities for First World War Service and ex-Service men and women who had been injured in the line of duty. The Not Forgotten Association still provides support in the same way for men and women who suffer injury or disability during or after their Service in the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force.
Over the Front
Founded by the League of World War One Aviation Historians to accumulate, preserve and publish data about aerial activity of World War I.
Royal British Legion - The Somme Branch
The Royal British Legion Somme Branch (Registered Charity No. 219279) is based on the Somme battlefields. Membership of the branch is open to all within the eligibility guidelines of Royal British Legion membership.
For information about the branch, its activities and membership visit the branch website at:
Website: www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/somme
Siegfried Sassoon Fellowship
The Siegfried Sassoon Fellowship was formed in 2001. A range of events take place each year, organized by the Fellowship to honour, study and remember him. There is an annual conference, opportunities to join tours to visit the battlefields where he fought, a bi-annual publication called Siegfried's Journal.
For information about the Siegfried Sassoon Fellowship and how to join as a member see the website at:
Website: www.sassoonfellowship.org
The Somme Association
The Somme Association was formed in 1994 to manage the Ulster Memorial Tower Somme battlefield memorial and Visitors Centre there. It is based at the Somme Heritage Centre near Belfast and carries out research to preserve the memory of the Irishmen and women who served in the First World War. For more information about the Somme Association see:
War Memorials Trust
The War Memorials Trust protects and conserves over 100,000 war memorials in the United Kingdom. The Trust is a charity, relying on grants, donations and volunteers to carry out the necessary work of preserving many hundreds of memorials to both military and civilian individuals. Without this work and care many war memorials across the United Kingdom will be in danger of falling into disrepair, may be damaged and forgotten. For more information about the work of the War Memorials Trust, its education programme and how you can help see our information page and links to the organization at:
War Poets Association
The War Poets Association focuses on the life and work in the historical context of the experience of war from 1914. Work by poets of all nationalities is studied. For membership details, events and biographical information about war poets and their work see the website at:
Website: www.warpoets.org
The Western Front Association (WFA)
The Association aims to further interest in the period 1914-1918, to perpetuate the memory, courage and comradeship of those of all sides who served their countries in France and Flanders and their own countries during the Great War.
The Western Front Association (WFA)
The Western Front Association (WFA) Somme Branch
Visitors to the Somme battlefields and anyone living in the locality are welcome to attend WFA Somme Branch meetings.
For information about the WFA Somme Branch, contact, events and meetings see our page at:
The Western Front Association (WFA) Somme Branch
The Wilfred Owen Association
The Wilfred Owen Association was established in 1989. It exists to commemorate the life and work as one of the great English war poets.
Website: www.wilfredowen.org.uk
The World War One Historical Association (US)
The WW1HA was established in 2011 by the merger of The Great War Society (US) and The Western Front Association U.S. Branch. It provides members with two regular publications, a free e-newsletter, meetings, an annual seminar and tours from the United States to the Western Front battlefields.
The World War One Historical AssociationAcademic Study
Centre for First World War Studies, University of Birmingham
Established on 11th November 2002 the centre has an aim to provides academic courses and events for staff, graduates of Birmingham University and the general public to further their knowledge of and interest in the First World War.
Centre for First World War StudiesInternational Society for First World War Studies
A Society to bring together postgraduates and more established academics who study the First World War.
International Society for First World War StudiesRelated Topics
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See our pages about advice and information for visiting the Western Front battlefields and how to find information to research the subject before you visit or find records of a relative who served in the First World War:
Visiting the Western Front Battlefields
WW1 Research and Sources of Information
Tracing World War 1 Family History
Acknowledgements
FFFAIF logo: by kind permission of FFFAIF
Last Post Association logo: by kind permission of the Last Post Association.
The Not Forgotten Association logo: by kind permission of The Not Forgotten Association.
The Western Front Association logo: by kind permission of The Western Front Association.