Saturday 20 August 2016

Botley Cemetery



I visited this cemetery a number of years ago when I was having my car serviced. On my way home from work I had passed it many times and always wondered what the place was like. This is one of four cemetery's which burials still take place, so far I have been to three of them. There also are another couple no longer in use like Osney Cemetery near Oxford Station


The entrance to Botley Cemetery







After going past the gatehouse you are soon into the cemetery 







































and not far away is the chapel which is used for services, the building on the left was most likely the mortuary when the site first opened, I think the gardeners use it now





View of the whole chapel












Did not realise I had a photo of a black traffic cone






Looking along a line of trees showing parts of the cemetery which are unused










This is the Sands memorial for this cemetery, the others I visited have them as well




I might add it stands near and are where there are a lot of Children's graves


















The cemetery on the whole













does not have that many large impressive Memorials              















like other cemetery's I have been to
There are mostly headstones crosses and smaller memorials











Not long after taking a photo of the coved cross I visited the Commonwealth War Graves


I had see  it from the A34 when we drove past many times







But I was not prepared  for so many graves, I might add it was the first large War Grave Cemetery I had visited















I found it very hard to comprehend at first







The cross of Victory and memorial wall with so many wreaths










Young men from different part of the commonwealth are buried here






































This arbour holds the list of men and women buried at the cemetery 







They are not only from the commonwealth, the graves above were our enemy but given the same honour of laying alongside those they fought












different countrymen laying side by side together in death


I left felling very humble and privileged to have spend a few moments walking round the cemetery with then. RIP




I walked back through the rest of the cemetery looking at the odd grave with the headstone laid down













and angel watching over the dead


and with a final look left thinking I may well pop back again someday for another look around.

Have a peaceful Weekend










6 comments:

  1. Interesting. It all looks relatively modern.

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  2. Hello Bill, Even viewed through a computer screen those war graves halted me in my tracks. Simple stones ranked together shout out a loud message which 'we' still fail to hear. Poignant and powerful.

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  3. The military graves and the angels are quite impressive. Another great job, Bill.

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  4. i enjoy the time of day you took these shots, is great for the shadows and what not. way cool. ( ;

    http://hike2forty.blogspot.com/2016/08/820-inspired-sunday.html

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  5. Lovely building. I think most of us have no real idea about the ravages of war. It looks a bit over-whelming.

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  6. Great shots! We have some cemeteries in Virginia and Maryland that follow a similar style.

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