Ohlsdorf Cemetery, Commonwealth Plots

The Commonwealth Plots are a cemetery sector containing 2,565 military graves arranged in uniform rows with white limestone headstones bearing military emblems and personal inscriptions. Each stone displays the name, rank, and country of origin of the service members buried there.

The section originated during World War I, initially holding approximately 300 deceased Allied prisoners of war. After 1923, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission centralized military burials across multiple locations, causing this sector to expand significantly.

The grounds serve as a meeting place for remembrance, where visitors from different nations gather to honor military personnel who died far from home. People spend quiet moments here reflecting on sacrifice and loss across generations.

The plots are located near Chapel 12 within the larger Ohlsdorf Cemetery and include a Hall of Remembrance for quiet reflection. Visitor pavilions with guest books are available for those wishing to record their thoughts or pay respects.

Among the 1.889 graves from World War II, the section holds several decorated military officers of notable rank and distinction. These burials reflect the international nature of the conflict, bringing together service members from multiple nations in a single resting place.