COMMEMOCOMMEMORATION OF COMMONWEALTH
SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN

Introduction
Almost 1.7 million Commonwealth servicemen and women died in the two world wars. They came from all parts of the Commonwealth and their graves and memorials are looked after by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at some 23,000 locations in 150 countries.

Sometimes it is difficult for us to picture such huge numbers, or to imagine the proud veterans at our remembrance services as the young men and women who sacrificed so much for our freedom. But it helps if we remember that those who served, and those who died, were in the prime of life and shared the same hopes, dreams and interests as young people today.

Many were keen sportsmen and women and some were, or had the potential to become, elite athletes. This leaflet, by looking at who these men and women were and where they are commemorated, will show how we remember an event or a person from history and how we can relate that to the present. When reading the leaflet, ask yourself what hopes and dreams we share with the people featured.

How similar are they to the aspirations of athletes competing today? People like Hari Kant, for example, who represented Canada at field hockey in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Hari said:- “I share the extreme gratitude towards those that fought for our freedom during
the past century. It is because of their sacrifice that I'm able to compete in such an event as the Commonwealth Games.”

Why does Hari feel so strongly about the importance of remembrance? What does he share with those sportsmen and women commemorated by the Commission? Remember to look at how many different sports they participated in and how many different countries they came from.

A moment’s rest from the fighting. An Indian soldier about to shoot during a game of field hockey Before the dangers of smoking were widely known, collecting cigarette cards, especially those depicting famous people, was a popular hobby Commonwealth Information

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