Taukkyan War Cemetery

Описание: Information from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website:

Taukkyan War Cemetery is the largest of the three war cemeteries in Burma. It was begun in 1951 for the reception of graves from four battlefield cemeteries at Akyab, Mandalay, Meiktila and Sahmaw, which were difficult to access and could not be maintained. The last was an original Chindit cemetery containing many of those who died in the battle for Myitkyina. The graves have been grouped together at Taukkyan to preserve the individuality of these battlefield cemeteries. Burials were also transferred from civil and cantonment cemeteries, and from a number of isolated jungle and roadside sites. Because of prolonged post-war unrest, it was some time before the Army Graves Service were able to complete their work, and many such graves disappeared. However, when the task was resumed, several hundred more graves were retrieved from scattered positions and brought together here.

The cemetery contains 6,374 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 867 of them unidentified.

At Taukkyan War Cemetery you will find the Rangoon Memorial, which bears the names of almost 27,000 men of the Commonwealth land forces who died during the campaigns in Burma and who have no known grave. The memorial was designed by H.J. Brown, ARIBA and unveiled by Gen. Sir Francis Festing, GCB, KBE, DSO on 9 February 1958.

You will find the Taukkyan Cremation Memorial, which commemorates more than 1,000 Second World War casualties whose remains were cremated in accordance with their faith, and the Taukkyan Memorial, which commemorates 46 servicemen of both wars who died and were buried elsewhere in Burma but whose graves could not be maintained.

In the 1950s, the graves of 52 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War were brought into the cemetery from the following cemeteries where permanent maintenance was not possible: Henzada (1); Meiktila Cantonment (8); Thayetmyo New (5); Thamakan (4); Mandalay Military (12); Maymyo Cantonment (22).

Visiting the site:

The cemetery, which is open daily 0700-1700, is in Taukkyan in Mingaladon township, on Highway No 1 (Prome Road). It is 21 miles north of Rangoon (an hour’s drive) and 11 miles from the airport (half an hour). The coordinates are North 17º02'08.24" and East 96º07'55.28". Wheelchair access is available but may be via an alternative entrance. (For further information on wheelchair access, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s enquiries section can be reached on 01628 507200.)