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Finally, the text to follow the photos: During my recent holiday along the Western coast of Sweden, I more or less stumbled over a graveyard from WW I. The location could be found here: Google Maps On a tiny uninhabitated islet in the archipelago, 13 German sailors have been buried. Most of them perished in the Battle of Jutland (in German: Skagerrakschlacht or Nordseeschlacht) 31 May to 1st June 1916 – along with almost 9 000 German and British sailors. Some of them have a name on their headstones, but most are unidentified (German: Ein Unbekannter Deutscher Soldat.) Most attention has been given to the poet Johann Kinau (pseudonym Gorch Fock.) The title of his novel about the harsh life of deep sea fishing: Seefahrt Ist Not (Seafaring Is Anguish) is inscribed into his headstone. Two unidentified British Sailors were originally buried in the same graveyard, but their bodies were moved to the Kviberg cemetery in Gothenburg in 1961. Their headstones have been set aside and their names chiseled off, but the text Known Unto God is preserved. The tiny graveyard is meticulously built up surrounded by a stone wall, and very well kept. The wall incorporates a mailbox–like enclosure. Therein I found a recent letter signed by the crewmembers of two visiting German sailing boats. Their names did not indicate any connection to the deceased. However both had left their local yachting club flag in the box. I find it hard to imagine a more beautiful place for a graveyard. 94 years after the tragedy, it is still cared for with respect. Strangely, this kind of experience doesn’t provoke any sadness in me. Quite contrarily, I find consolation in the thought that if I have myself killed by enemy action during the weeks to come, in 94 years there might still be somebody tending to my grave.
Thanks for posting this. As you say: I find it hard to imagine a more beautiful place for a graveyard. 94 years after the tragedy, it is still cared for with respect. That much used epitaph: 'Sacred to the Memory of..' would really apply in this special setting. Tom.
Stormbird that is one immpresive cemetery what a beutiful place to be laid to rest, am glad you brought this to my attention.
There are no winners in any war , brave boys and men cut down , a place to ponder the stupidity of it all , RIP .
Hi Stormbird, thank you for posting these. I'm currently researching Portsmouth's WW1 Dead, and quite a few Portsmouth men were killed at Jutland - mainly on Invincible, Black Prince and Princess Royal. I think some of them are buried in Sweden.
Hello James, As you can read in my post #3 the two Britons originally buried in this graveyard were exhumed and moved to Kviberg in Gothenburg. If you want any photos from Kviberg, please tell me NLT than this Friday, as by pure chance I'm going for a trip to Gothenburg this very weekend. On the other hand, I had orginally Kviberg on my to-do list but it has been ticked off as "complete", some time during the last 8 months I guess. Please check with other headstone pic collectors (Ramacal, AndyBaldEagle, Spidge etc) if there actually is a complete set of headstone pics available already. If not I'll be happy to do yours. You might also wish to check this thread: http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/prewar/40211-cwgc-ww1-cemetery-fredrikstad-norway-please-read-question-about-german.html Lots of Battle of Jutland casualties there.
