Tombstone monuments for soldiers of the United Kingdom

Coordinates: 55.723160 21.111669

Object address: Vitė cemetery (near Pušyno street 33), Klaipeda, Lithuania

Municipality: Klaipėda

The historical Vitė cemetery is the burial place of A. Bunting and J. W. Crockson, who died in Lithuania during World War I in 1917 and 1918. These are the only two Great British soldiers, who have died on Lithuanian soil during World War I. However, the memorial tombstones are placed as a symbol and not at the actual burial location.

It is surely known that Bunting is buried in the Vitė cemetery, but the exact location within its territory is unknown. A memorial stone to Crockson is placed next to tombstone to Bunting’s supposed grave.

“When the English were drawing back from Klaipėda during World War I, Bunting was badly wounded and he was being treated in the hospital. His best friend stayed with him in Klaipėda. He wrote a letter to Bunting’s wife, so that she would not worry as he stayed with her husband in Klaipėda and is helping in taking care of him. During that time, she gave birth to Bunting’s son, but Bunting himself never received an opportunity to see his son because he died in the hospital of the port city. He was buried in Vitė cemetery. It is interesting to note that around ten years ago, Bunting’s great grandson sent a copy of this letter to Klaipėda and it is being preserved in the Lithuania Minor History Museum” (Klaipėda, June 18th, 2013).

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