A guided tour of Commonwealth war graves in Douglas Borough Cemetery will take place on Monday 23 June at 18:30 as part of the island’s commemorations for the 80th anniversaries of Victory in Europe (8 May 1945) and Victory over Japan (15 August 1945). The event is the first time the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) has brought its national programme of cemetery tours to the Isle of Man.
What visitors will see
Participants will walk among the headstones of servicemen and women from both world wars, learning the individual stories behind the names and the work the CWGC still undertakes to maintain every plot. Douglas Cemetery contains Commonwealth burials from the First and Second World Wars as well as civilian internees, making it one of the island’s most important heritage sites.
UK & Isle of Man context
The Douglas tour is part of a wider CWGC initiative that began with War Graves Week (2–11 May) and continues across the summer in towns and cities throughout England, Scotland and Wales. In parallel, the CWGC’s travelling “For Evermore” mobile exhibition, complete with its symbolic Torch for Peace, is criss-crossing the UK, sharing stories of the fallen and encouraging the public to contribute their own family memories. The Torch for Peace is not visiting the Isle of Man this year.
Why 2025 matters
Eighty years on, the dual milestones of VE and VJ Days mark the end of the Second World War across all theatres. The CWGC says the anniversary year is a chance to remind new generations that “each one of those we commemorate were people like us, with their own ambitions, hopes and dreams”, and to highlight the craft skills still required to conserve more than 23 000 cemeteries and memorials in 153 countries.
Quote
“This year is unique. We want Manx residents to discover the extraordinary stories on their own doorstep and to share them so they live on for generations,”
Simon Bendry, CWGC Director of Education, Engagement & Volunteering.
How to attend
- Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance.
- Book online via Eventbrite: https://eventbrite.co.uk/e/cwgc-tours-2025-douglas-cemetery-isle-of-man-tickets-1345109281069
- Meeting point: main gates, Douglas Borough Cemetery, at 18:20 for a prompt 18:30 start.
- The tour lasts about 75 minutes; suitable footwear is advised.
Further information
Full details of all CWGC talks, tours and the For Evermore roadshow are available at https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/events-tours-and-talks/.
Disclosure: The author of this article, Michael Josem, is conducting the tours in question and is a volunteer for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.