Staff from a military charity in Falmouth, Cornwall have spent time doing maintenance work on graves belonging to those who died serving in the Armed Forces during the First and Second World War. 

The Falmouth Packet reports that several gravestones in St Gluvias cemetery in Penryn were in need of a clean-up due to weathering and moss growth and so Turn to Starboard stepped in. 

Staff members spent their time scrubbing at the headstones and thoroughly cleaning them up to honour the fallen heroes and ensure that their names were visible once again. They also attended the plots, removing weeds and trimming back plants. 

According to Squadron Leader and founder of the charity Shaun Pascoe (retired), the Falmouth brand of the Royal Air Force Association (RAFA) spoke to them after a member of the public reported that the graves needed some TLC. 

He told the news provider: “RAFA asked for our support after being informed that some Commonwealth war graves in the cemetery looked like they weren’t being attended to. After hearing this, some our staff members and volunteers decided to form a group to clean up the gravestones and surrounding area to restore them.

“In the meantime, the RAFA branch has contacted the Commonwealth War Graves Commission who were not aware of two of the graves, and are now looking into replacing two of the headstones.

He also added: “One of the headstones was particularly sad in that we noticed he had fallen two days before the end of the Great War. With Remembrance Sunday taking place next week it seems fitting that we stand with the Royal British Legion and take time to remember.”

The charity Turn to Starboard help those in the military who have been affected by operations, giving them some therapy by taking them sailing. It is partnered with RAFA as well as a number of other national military charities, including Help for Heroes.