| Vestre Gravlund | |
|---|---|
| |
 | |
| Details | |
| Established | 1902 |
| Location | |
| Country | Norway |
| Coordinates | 59°55′54″N 10°41′50″E / 59.93167°N 10.69722°E / 59.93167; 10.69722 |
| Size | 60 acres (24 ha) |
| Find a Grave | Vestre Gravlund |
Vestre Gravlund is a cemetery in the Frogner borough of Oslo, Norway. It is located next to the Borgen metro station. At 60 acres (0.24 km2), it is the largest cemetery in Norway. It was inaugurated in September 1902 and also contains a crematorium (Vestre krematorium) and chapel (Gravkapellet).[1]
The grave chapel was constructed in granite and clay stone and was designed by architect Alfred Christian Dahl (1857–1940). It was built in 1900 and consecrated in 1902. In the foundation wall, it has stained glass that was designed by artist Oddmund Kristiansen (1920–1997) in 1970.[2][3]
This cemetery is registered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as "Oslo Western Civil Cemetery". Plot 60 contains war graves of 101 British Commonwealth service personnel of World War II. Most were airmen shot down raiding the occupied Oslo Airport at Fornebu. Most of the others were killed in air crashes during Allied landings, 43 lives being lost on Liberation Day alone (10 May 1945).[4]
The Cross of Sacrifice monument was unveiled during November 1949. The presiding officer was by General Otto Ruge, who had commanded the Norwegian Army at the time of the German invasion in April 1940. Opposite to the cross the citizens of Oslo erected a memorial to Commonwealth servicemen who died on Norwegian soil during the liberation of Norway. The memorial is in form of a kneeling figure of a mourning naked woman and was unveiled during June 1960 by King Olav V of Norway.[4]
