Historical grave identification
Our records of past burials were written by hand over many years and have now been typed into a register. Those records name the people laid to rest here, but most do not say exactly where each grave is.
What we are doing
- Visiting each zone. The Kabrastan is divided into zones A to N along its walkways. Our team is walking each zone in turn.
- Confirming grave numbers. Each zone is numbered from Grave 1. Where a grave already shows a number we record it; where it has none, an authorised member of staff gives it the next number for that zone.
- Reading the markers. We note the name and dates exactly as they appear, even where spellings differ from our register.
- Matching with care. A team member proposes which register entry belongs to each grave, and a different, authorised person checks the evidence. A similar spelling alone is never enough.
- Publishing only what is verified. Only once the office has approved a result does it appear in Find a Grave.
This is a long exercise and it will take time. If you cannot find a loved one yet, their grave may not have been reached or confirmed.
How families can help
If you know where a relative is buried, or have a photograph of the marker, a burial document, or the correct spelling of a name, you can share it privately with the office. Your information opens a review case. Only authorised staff can change the official record, after checking it.