Muslim Burial Ground, Horsell Common
The Muslim Burial Ground, Horsell Common was the original resting place of two dozen Muslim soldiers who died during World War I and World War II. It measures about 30 metres (98 ft) by 30 metres and is located at grid reference TQ016599 in the southeast corner of Horsell Common about 100 metres off Monument Road. It is a Grade II listed building.
Large numbers of men from the Indian subcontinent fought on the Western Front during World War I. Some of those who were injured were moved to hospitals on the English south coast including Brighton. Of those, nineteen Muslims died and were buried here. The site was chosen for its proximity to the Shah Jahan Mosque, at the time, the only mosque in England. A further five men who died during World War II were buried here.
In the 1960s the site was becoming subject to vandalism so in 1968 the bodies were transferred to the Military Cemetery at Brookwood. The monument was restored in the 1990s as a result of financial support from Woking local, Paul Weller.[1]
[edit] Referencers
- ^ Martinson, Jane. 'Muslim cemetery finds a saviour Punk rocker's gift gets restoration out of a jam, The Guardian 12 December 1993
[edit] External links
- A Muslim trail in Woking on the untoldLondon website
- Details from listed building database (290780) . Images of England. English Heritage.
- Other photos including the extensive interpretation board at the site
