My name on my tombstone 2

The noted hunter James T Whitehead killed 99 bears: 'We hope he has
gone to rest.'

Mordaunt humour may not always raise a laugh in a cemetery.

Some gravestones are very informative - all grist to the family historian's mill. This one even lists friends of the deceased and gives a brief biography.

Details of how the deceased met his end are sometimes supplied, including on this stone for Thomas Barrow, Master of the Sloop Two Brothers, 1752:

Gravestone, Bosham Church, Sussex. 'In memory of Thomas , son of Richard and Ann Barrow, master of the sloop Two Brothers who by the breaking of the horse fell into the sea and was drown'd October the 13th 1759 Aged 23 years'. Note that a 'horse' is a specific rope used in the rigging of sailing ships. (Photo Peter Cook on flickr.)


In the 18th c they often got down to the bare bones of the topic:







R I P

QR codes on gravestones

It’s now possible to embed a QR (Quick Response) code in a gravestone: by scanning the code with your smart phone you can view biographical information about the deceased - not only text but photographic and video material.

Some people think this is cool. I’m not sure that it isn’t taking technology too far, invading a sacred precinct – disturbing the dead, who, incidentally, may or may not be related to you.

No doubt the companies marketing the embedded QR code idea will find plenty of takers. But where will it all end? Do we want interactive media available via our loved ones’ gravestones? Will the next step be virtual floral bouquets? Hyperlinks to Facebook or Twitter pages are already on offer.