Walk through any Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery and the brief inscriptions at the base of any headstone, masterpieces of compact emotion, will tell you of love, joy, grief, pride, hope and despair. 
They have a strange genesis.   During the war there was an understandable ban on the repatriation of bodies.  But when this was confirmed after the Armistice there was an outcry  Not only were the families not to be allowed to bring their dead home, they were not allowed to choose their own headstone. The State had decided on a uniform shape, the one  that is familiar to all of us. 
Many of the bereaved did not agree and complained.  But the Commission was determined that the cemeteries should speak with one voice, presenting the image of one army that fought together in a common cause, with no difference between a general and a private soldier. 
It was agreed that the headstone could have an inscription of no more than 66 letters at 31/2 a letter, chosen by the families.  
The one we have chosen is about as simple and as poignant as it gets. And Affordable at 3 1/2 a letter.    " Aged 17  years RIP. "    It belongs to Private Hugh Aubrey Cockerton of the Cambridgeshire Regiment. 
[ LETTER dated 10 September 1916 ]
The writer of that letter a Captain Adams was killed six days late
And the gallant youngster he wrote about, Private Hugh Cockerton, died of gas poisoning on 2[nd] October before anything could be done to send him home. A Miss Cockerton, perhaps his sister, chose the inscription after the war making sure that from now on there should be no mistake about his age.
I hope we can keep the name of Hugh Cockerton with us this evening. "Age 17 Years. RIP " 
 

