This talk, by Brian Joyce, a Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) volunteer speaker and retired military officer, will focus on the Yorkshire and Leeds contribution in the world wars with some poignant stories of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and are commemorated by the CWGC. 

He will give an insight into the history and role of the CWGC, from its inception, thanks to one man's vision, during the horrors of Work War One, through to the challenges it faced during the post-war years to create the cemeteries and build the memorials to the missing and show how this became a global commitment after World War Two.

The CWGC ensures that the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth that died in service, or because of conflict, are commemorated across 23,000 sites in over 150 countries, so that the human cost of war is remembered for ever.