The Imperial War Graves Commission (UK) was empowered to collect and record
the names of civilians who died >from enemy action during World War II. They
used information supplied by the Registrar-General and local authorities an
initial list of 43,000 names was compiled covering just the period of the
Battle of Britain in 1940 and the big air raids of 1940-41. It was agreed
that the final roll would be placed in Westminster Abbey once all the
hostilities were over. The seven-bound volumes contain printed details of
66,375 fatalities. Entries are not arranged chronologically but by county,
and within county by local government areas (many of which have changed
since 1945). The lists are then alphabetical by surname and give details of
the residential address, place of death and family relationship. One volume
covers deaths on board ship and deaths abroad (including civilian deaths in
prison camps).

The books are kept just outside the entrance to St George's Chapel at the
west end of Westminster Abbey. The books cannot be photocopied, but copies
of entries can be obtained >from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at 2
Marlow Road, Maidenhead, Berkshire, SL6 7DX (a charge is made). The
Commission's 'Debt of Honour Register', which includes all the names on the
Civilian War Dead Roll of Honor, can be searched via the internet at
www.cwgc.org

Another copy of the Roll is held by the Imperial War Museum and can be
consulted by appointment in the Museum's library.

The Roll of Honor for United States servicemen who died in air raids in the
United Kingdom is in St Paul's Cathedral, in the American Memorial Chapel
there.

To read more about this go to: http://tinyurl.com/mjgzste
Original url:
http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/people/civilian-war-dead-roll-of-honour-1939---1945

Thank you to Saul Issroff, President of the JGS of Great Britain for
alerting us to this interesting list of civilian names of WWII dead.

Jan Meisels Allen
Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee