Royal Naval Cemetery

Royal Naval Cemetery (once known as Naval and Military Cemetery) is a cemetery on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. The site overlooks Portland Harbour, and is found below the main entrance to the Verne Citadel (HM Prison The Verne). As the name suggests, the graveyard holds deceased servicemen and officers of Portland's Royal Navy which was stationed at the island until 1995. The cemetery holds 140 identified casualties in total to date, and is owned by the Ministry of Defence. There are other cemeteries designated the "Royal Naval Cemetery" at various other locations associated with the Royal Navy, such as the Royal Naval Cemetery (sometimes also referred to as The Glade) on the island of Ireland, location of the Royal Naval Dockyard in the Imperial fortress British Overseas Territory of Bermuda (yet other cemeteries have similar designations, such as Royal Navy Burying Ground, in Halifax, Nova Scotia). The cemetery was first laid out during the 19th century. With the establishment of a naval base at Portland Harbour, and the Verne Citadel fortification, a number of fatalities began to occur. Burials of World War I (1914–1918) total 65, where 5 remain unidentified. The majority of World War II (1939–1945) graves are together in the Church of England section, near the Cross of Sacrifice. Of the buried, 10 are unidentified, whilst there are burials for 1 Norwegian Merchant Navy seaman and 12 German airmen. The cemetery remains well looked after to date and features a small amount of newer burials of recently deceased servicemen.