Trincomalee War Cemetery
Trincomalee War Cemetery
4.5
About
Trincomalee is a seaport on the north-eastern coast of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and was formerly a naval station. After the fall of Singapore it became a naval base of importance to our command of shipping in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. The cemetery was originally the Combined Services Cemetery, but was taken over by the Admiralty from the military authorities in April 1948 for use as a permanent naval cemetery. On the withdrawal of United Kingdom Forces from Ceylon it became the property of the Ceylon Government who have granted the Commission security of tenure in perpetuity. Save for a few post-war and non-war graves it is purely a war cemetery, and service war graves were transferred to it from Trincomalee (St. Mary) Churchyard; Trincomalee (St. Stephen's) Cemetery, Kottadi Cemetery, Jaffna; and Vavuiyna Combined Cemetery. A special memorial commemorates a naval man buried in Trincomalee (St. Stephen's) Cemetery whose grave could not be found. The non-war graves are those of men of the Merchant Navy whose death was not due to war service, and of civilians, of whom some were employees of the Admiralty; while the post-war graves were dependents of servicemen, civilian employees of the Admiralty and dependents of such employees.
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4.5
289 reviews
Excellent
188
Very good
77
Average
18
Poor
6
Terrible
0
Alex
London, UK22 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
Beautifully maintained Commonwealth war cemetery. Well worth a walk around the 364 headstones. The groundsmen can give some background so worth chatting to them. Really easy walk from the hotels and hostels.
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tracy S
Newmarket, UK168 contributions
Sept 2019
Went here to pay respects to people killed in world war 2 met a fascinating man told us all about the history of the place and how it was his dads job before his and passed down to him how his dad and princess Anne planted a tree .
The gardens are very very well kept and looked after well
The gardens are very very well kept and looked after well
Written 11 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PauSerraBou
Province of Barcelona, Spain740 contributions
Sept 2019 • Couples
There are 13 different nationatities buried in this place. Young people who died during WWII and who's now resting in peace there. Not impressive as a monument but at least poignant to see tombs so far away from people's home land.
Written 3 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
APYE
Thames Ditton, UK150 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
Good to know the history behind the involvement of Sri Lanka in the war. Also the Japanese bombed the harbour on Trinco.
Written 13 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ericnjan
Bolton, UK16 contributions
Oct 2018 • Couples
This peaceful cemetary is beautifully kept by the staff. It has 364 graves, and many do not contain bodies having never been recovered. This includes British, French, Dutch forces, but also Muslim and Indian members of the forces - it shows what a truly allied force was out here and 'fought for our futures'. Very moving to walk around the graveyard, any visit pays tribute to the fallen.
Written 5 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pete B
Greater London, UK102 contributions
Sept 2018 • Couples
Popped past on the way to Trinco. Absolutely lovely and the caretaker will show you around. Very proud man whose father also ran the site. He knows all there is to know about the site and more.
Ask to see all the record book documentation including letters from visitors. It is quirky and nice to see.
A great way to honour those who died in the war, both military and civilian.
Ask to see all the record book documentation including letters from visitors. It is quirky and nice to see.
A great way to honour those who died in the war, both military and civilian.
Written 28 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lancashirescott
Lancashire, UK179 contributions
Sept 2018 • Solo
The War Cemetery is just north of Trincomalee, it’s not very big but you can’t really miss it, it’s on the right heading north.
There are apparently 303 WW2 graves and other Merchant and non war graves.
There are flowers, cacti, and other type of plants in between and around the graves and they really look well with differing colours, the site is really very well looked after. I spoke with a caretaker of the site he told me a lot of the graves where men from an aircraft carrier that was sunk by Japanese forces out of Batticaloa.
This is an excerpt from amazinglanka.com
“The Trincomalee cemetery was originally the Combined Services Cemetery, but was taken over by the Admiralty from the military authorities in April 1948 for use as a permanent naval cemetery. On the withdrawal of United Kingdom Forces from Ceylon it became the property of the Ceylon Government is today maintained by the Ministry of Defense on behalf of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The cemetery records 303 world war II causalities. Save for a few post-war and non-war graves it is purely a war cemetery, and service war graves were transferred to it from Trincomalee (St. Mary) Churchyard; Trincomalee (St. Stephen’s) Cemetery, Kottadi Cemetery, Jaffna; and Vavuiyna Combined Cemetery. A special memorial commemorates a naval man buried in Trincomalee (St. Stephen’s) Cemetery whose grave could not be found.
The non-war graves are those of men of the Merchant Navy whose death was not due to war service, and of civilians, of whom some were employees of the Admiralty; while the post-war graves were dependents of servicemen, civilian employees of the Admiralty and dependents of such employees.”
It’s worth a visit just to remember.
There are apparently 303 WW2 graves and other Merchant and non war graves.
There are flowers, cacti, and other type of plants in between and around the graves and they really look well with differing colours, the site is really very well looked after. I spoke with a caretaker of the site he told me a lot of the graves where men from an aircraft carrier that was sunk by Japanese forces out of Batticaloa.
This is an excerpt from amazinglanka.com
“The Trincomalee cemetery was originally the Combined Services Cemetery, but was taken over by the Admiralty from the military authorities in April 1948 for use as a permanent naval cemetery. On the withdrawal of United Kingdom Forces from Ceylon it became the property of the Ceylon Government is today maintained by the Ministry of Defense on behalf of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The cemetery records 303 world war II causalities. Save for a few post-war and non-war graves it is purely a war cemetery, and service war graves were transferred to it from Trincomalee (St. Mary) Churchyard; Trincomalee (St. Stephen’s) Cemetery, Kottadi Cemetery, Jaffna; and Vavuiyna Combined Cemetery. A special memorial commemorates a naval man buried in Trincomalee (St. Stephen’s) Cemetery whose grave could not be found.
The non-war graves are those of men of the Merchant Navy whose death was not due to war service, and of civilians, of whom some were employees of the Admiralty; while the post-war graves were dependents of servicemen, civilian employees of the Admiralty and dependents of such employees.”
It’s worth a visit just to remember.
Written 15 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amaya Lanka Tours
Ragama, Sri Lanka142 contributions
May 2018 • Business
That is a 2nd World war cemetery on the war time many Dutch ,British and sri lankan peoples also died war time now that bodys barried in that cemetery for visit anyone .
Written 5 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jacob F
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK58 contributions
June 2018 • Friends
Very well maintained WWII cemetery, very beautiful flowers. Well worth a visit to pay your respects to those lost during the war. British, Dutch, Indian and Sri Lankan graces, amongst other allies. Cemetery is small and only needs 15-20 minutes.
Written 1 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SonMonty
Forfar, UK59 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
We find this place quite by accident, and stopped to have a look.
Mr Vasantharajah was kind enough to show us around at such short notice.
He is very knowledgable about those buried in the cemetery, and about WW2, and made our visit very interesting.
The cemetery is wellmaintained and kept in immaculate condition.
He is very proud to show photos of Princess Anne who has visited the cemetery and takes great pleasure in showing you his letters of commendation from a variety of dignitaries.
A worthwhile experience.
Mr Vasantharajah was kind enough to show us around at such short notice.
He is very knowledgable about those buried in the cemetery, and about WW2, and made our visit very interesting.
The cemetery is wellmaintained and kept in immaculate condition.
He is very proud to show photos of Princess Anne who has visited the cemetery and takes great pleasure in showing you his letters of commendation from a variety of dignitaries.
A worthwhile experience.
Written 17 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
In the port of Trincomalee there used to be a small cemetery which included personnel from the British Royal Navy. Does this cemetery still exist?
Written 30 September 2018
GrandDedale
Wellington, South Africa
Yes, it does still exist and we visited it in June
Written 28 December 2018
Hoeveel Nederlanders liggen er begraven?
En waren dat Nederlanders uit de voormalige Indonesische kolonie?
Written 25 May 2018
Volgens mijn herinnering liggen hier 6 nederlanders begraven; of ze uit de voormalige Indonesische kolonie waren durf ik niet te zeggen.
Written 27 May 2018
Sir, this cemetery is nothinig to do with sri lankan soldiers or tamil freedom fighters, purely british soldiers grave yard with tourist attraction
Written 17 October 2015
Its not meant to be? And there are Sri Lankan, Indian, Italian, New Zealand, All the allied forces who fought to save the world from being taken over by Japan.
Written 7 January 2016
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