Many may not realize that Kure Naval Cemetery in Hiroshima is not only a resting place for Japanese servicemen but also commemorates foreign sailors. Among them is George Tibbins, a 19-year-old British sailor who tragically fell overboard and drowned while en route to Kure in 1907. His death occurred during a time of close cooperation between the Imperial Japanese Navy and the British Navy under the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902.
That same year, the British Navy erected a memorial stone for Tibbins at Kure Naval Cemetery. Following World War II, the monument suffered damage at the hands of a few local citizens, likely due to post-war tensions. Yet the majority of Kure residents opposed this destruction. They came together to raise funds, rebuild the memorial, and even placed a protective metal cage around it to ensure it would be preserved for future generations.
Today, the grave is lovingly maintained by dedicated cemetery volunteers. Students from Nagasako Elementary School regularly offer flowers, and each year on the autumnal equinox, the Kure Naval Cemetery Preservation Society and Kure City hold a joint memorial ceremony to honor all those who gave their lives, including George Tibbins.
This grave stands as a powerful symbol of friendship and respect that transcends nationality—a reminder that even over a century later, compassion and remembrance can bridge nations and generations.
