Cambridge American Cemetery

Operated by the American equivalent of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the American Battle Monuments Commission, the American Cemetery at Madingley outside Cambridge is on land donated in 1943 by the Harding family of Madingley, later confirmed by Cambridge University after the estate changed hands. The land has been gifted in perpetuity. The cemetery was dedicated on 16th July 1956. 

The cemetery contains the graves of 3,811 US War Dead. A further 5,127 names are recorded on the Wallls of the Missing. Most of these casualties died in the strategic air bombardment of north-western Europe, or in the Battle of the Atlantic. Casualties susequently located, recovered and identified are marked with a rosette next to their names on the Walls.

Two notable casualties commemorated here are Lieutenant Joseph Patrick Kennedy Jr, US Navy, elder brother of US President John F Kennedy; and Lieutenant Colonel Leon Robert 'Bob' Vance US Army Air Force, recipient of the Medal of Honour.  Winners of the Medal Of Honour have a gold star to the left of their name on the Walls of the Missing. Please see the biography pages for both men for further details, links can be found at the bottom of the page. 

The site occupies 30.5 acres of land and includes a Chapel and a VIsitor Centre.