The Post-War Years

With the end of the war, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission assumed ownership of the burial ground and care of the graves in 1921. At this time the burial ground had a yellow gravel path, an iron gates at the entrance and two benches inside. [1]

In addition to the original WWI era graves, during WWII 5 new graves were added to the burial ground. A Muslim pilot in the RAF and 4 Muslim soldiers from the British Indian Army stationed in England were also buried there. [2]

Due to its isolated location away from the main road and surrounded by large trees, the Muslim burial ground experienced vandalism in the 1960’s. After consultation with the Woking mosque, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission decided to remove all of the bodies and graves in 1968 and moved them to the Brookwood Military Cemetery in Surrey, [3] where the other 25 WWI Muslim soldiers had initially been buried earlier.

With the removal of the graves, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission relinquished ownership of the property to the local Horsell Common Preservation Society. [4]

Unfortunately over time the burial ground has continued to experience further vandalism and deterioration and is in serious need of restoration given its historical significance. Unlike the Chattri Memorial, no annual ceremony is held there and to date no funding or interest for major renovations of the Muslim Burial Ground have materialized.

Footnotes

1. Syed Neaz Ahmad & Tina Cockett, The Shah Jehan Mosque & The Muslim Burial Ground, http://www.victorynewsmagazine.com/4ShahJehanMosque.htm

2. Tina Cockett, The Muslim Burial Ground, Horsell Common Preservation Society, display panel

3. Horsell Common Preservation Society, “The Muslim Burial Ground – Horsell Common”, A Breath of Fresh Air, Summer No. 19