Delville Wood Cemetery, Somme, France. © Brian Harris

Manchester’s Imperial War Museum North is showing a photographic display celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC).

Running at The WaterWay gallery until March 9 2008, Remembered: The History of the Commonwealth War Graves brings together some 40 compelling images by award-winning photographer Brian Harris.

They capture the power and tranquillity of places of rest and memorials and stand as a moving tribute to the men and women from throughout the Commonwealth who have given their lives.

Chungkai War Cemetery, Thailand. © Brian Harris

The CWGC was founded by Royal Charter in 1917 and pays tribute to the 1,700,000 men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars at over 23,000 sites and 150 countries.

It has constructed 2,500 war cemeteries, erecting headstones over graves or inscribing the names of the dead on permanent memorials.

“It is all too easy to take remembrance for granted but were it not for the work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, remembrance as we know it would not exist,” said Air Chief Marshall Sir Peter Squire, Vice Chairman CWGC and Chairman of the Trustees of the Imperial War Museum.

Rancourt Military Cemetery, Somme, France. © Brian Harris

“Our aim is to remember the fallen but in this 90th anniversary year of the Commission’s founding, we also hope that those who honour their memory will not be forgotten.”

Major General Sir Fabian Ware, founder of the CWGC, originally called upon some of the leading talents of the period to design all aspects of the cemeteries and memorials.

These ranged from Arthur Hill, assistant director of Kew Gardens, Sir William Garstin, chief engineer of the Aswan Dam, to architects Sir Edwin Lutyens, Sir Herbert Baker and Sir Reginald Blomfield, along with Charles Aitkin, Director of the National Gallery of British Art, gardener Gerturde Jekyll.

Delhi Memorial (Indian Gate), New Delhi, India. © Brian Harris

Rudyard Kipling was used as literary advisor for the wording of the memorials, with his inscriptions including ‘Their Name Liveth for Evermore’ and ‘A Soldier of the Great War/Known unto God’.

Sir Frederick Kenyon, then director of the British Museum, coordinated all aspects of design and construction.

Remembered celebrates the efforts of those who believed the war dead should be remembered fittingly and in perpetuity, picturing some of the most significant and memorable heritage sites of the 20th century.