ranville war cemetery

Beautifully looked after cemetery with little notes at many graves from family members which give a personal nature to the cemetery

As no doubt all of these cemeteries are. Row after row of beautifully kept white gravestones. Many many so young. Many many unknown. So sad and moving. A good experience and brings home just how much people gave and suffered for the sake of others. We are so grateful

We visited this cemetery with the intention of finding this soldier's grave. His grave is in the adjacent churchyard and not with the war graves.Indeed a beautiful and tranquil place. I recommend a meal or snack at the cafe next door to the small Carrefour in the village of Ranville.

This was the first cemetary we visited, early in the morning, very peaceful as it should be. A fitting resting place for those brave men

Mixed emotions, pride but also a realization that these were just ordinary men with all the human traits who combined to achieve momentous things to put an end to evil. At an age when most of us were wrapped up in our own petty concerns they gave their lives as our young men are still doing. Double your efforts to make sure that all future sacrifices are worthy of their name and make their sacrifice meaningful. A quiet serene place of reflection.

both peacefull and very well looked after it is a credit to the British War Graves Comission as are all the resting place of our soldiers that we have visited during our visit to Normandy

My sister and I, and our husbands, traveled to Ranville War Cemetery to see our uncle's grave. He was killed there in July 1944 and, sadly, no other family members had ever been able to visit. Even without a relative to honor, the impact of this immaculately kept, quiet place is well worth a visit. The ceremony being performed by school children while we were there only added to our experience. A visit to the church adjacent to the cemetery is also well worth your time.

I found visiting the Ranville War Cemetery a very moving experience. It was very well tended, immaculate grass.

The first war cemetery I ever visited. There is no way you should be able to walk into a cemetery surrounded by a 3ft wall and have all noise cease...but you do. Beautifully kept, and haunting when you read the headstones. Gratitude and sorrow in equal measure.

A peaceful and moving experience to visit where these brave, heroic men are resting forever. So privileged to have visited this place - RIP

The Ranville War Cemetery is set in a small village, and is next to the church. It is a beautiful place and there are over a thousand soldiers buried here. It is a sobering feeling when you see how young the men were who died and how many died, be it by parachute or glider. Also among the named are the unnamed too. It is sad to see these stones marking the homes of men and women who died and no family to mourn them.I have found in the other war cemeteries we have visited a wonderful feeling of calm and peace. A stark contrast to how the men had died no doubt, but it gives you a great respect for all who gave their lives in giving us our liberty!

If you are into WW2 its a must visit. Den Brotheridge's grave is in the actual church yard, not the main cemetery. I always like to pay my respects when I see a CWGC cemetery.

A different feel to the larger British cemetery at Bayeux and US cemetery at Omaha, more peaceful and tranquil. So so emotional and sad, but feels like a fitting tribute to those that rest here.

We visited this cemetery on the 6th June to celebrate the 70th anniversary truly moving occasion it's kept in very good order and congratulation to the war graves commision for that

If you have visited the Pegasus Airborne Memorial Museum and the Merville gun battery then a visit to the cemetery at Ranville is well worth it to remember those that did not survive the momentous events to secure the British and Canadian flank of the Normandy invasion beaches.The cemetery is well-cared for and tranquil. There is a stone cross with bronze plaque with the Airborne emblem on it and, simply, June 1944. The rows of Portland stone grave markers each tell their story of a life taken in the conflict. There are over 2,500 burials including over 300 German graves. Look out for Pvte Robert Johns who enlisted aged 14 and died aged 16 in the fighting around Merville. Also paratrooper & dog handler Emil Corteil (plot 1A, row G) who jumped with his dog, 'Glen' on 6th June. Both were killed by "friendly fire" and are buried together. Their picture can be seen at the Pegasus Airborne museum. There are also the graves of eight captured British airborne troops who were shot by the enemy at Chateau de Grangues. Follow the path into the churchyard where there are more gravestones of interest including Lt. Den Brotheridge the first fatal casualty of the attack on Pegasus Bridge.