Lae War Cemetery, Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Lae District, Papua New Guinea

Lae War Cemetery is a Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintained site holding thousands of marked graves from World War II servicemen. The headstones are arranged in rows and bear names, military units, and often religious symbols.

Lae and Salamaua were bombed by 100 Japanese planes on 21 January 1942, and 3,000 troops landed on 7 March; Lae then served as a Japanese base for the southward drive stopped at Ioribaiwa Ridge. The cemetery was dedicated in 1944 by Lieutenant-General Sir Leslie Morshead, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission took responsibility in 1947. It holds over 2,800 burials, most from the 1943 Salamaua–Lae campaign, including 426 Indian soldiers captured in Malaya and Hong Kong.

The cemetery reflects Commonwealth military traditions through uniform headstone designs and personal inscriptions that honor each fallen soldier. The layout shows how different nations shared the responsibility of remembrance at this site.

The cemetery is open to visitors during set hours and provides information about the soldiers interred there. You can research family connections and learn details about individuals by using the registration system available on site.

The site holds fallen service members from several Commonwealth nations including Australia, Britain, and New Zealand, resting together in one place. This multinational burial ground reflects the shared burden of Pacific operations across different armies.