Garlands Joke Shop
Coventry
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16 of 25
Thu 10th Apr 2025 8:03pm
On 18th Mar 2025 2:49pm, Wearethemods said:
I have contacted the CWGC and submitted the following...
I've just been past Mr Webb's gravestone and there's been no change, so I think I may contact the CWGC as well to encourage them to clean up the grave. Hopefully another person commenting about it may spur them on.

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Coventry People -
Joseph Thomas Webb
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Wearethemods
Aberdeenshire
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17 of 25
Fri 11th Apr 2025 9:27am
Hi Garlands, this is the automated response I received from CWGC which states allow 20 'working' Days for a response or longer in some cases. The time limit, (from 18th March), is next week, so I was going to leave it till then before contacting them again. By all means get in touch with them as well if you think it will help. Transcript below -
Your Enquiry 00162042
Thank you for contacting the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Our commitment in responding to your enquiry in full is 20 working days, however due to the complexity of some requests the response times may be longer.
You might find answers and useful information on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
CWGC Customer Services Team
Tel: 01628 507200
Opening Times: Monday to Thursday between 9.00am-5.00pm and Friday 9.00am-4.30pm. (excluding public bank holidays).
Full details of our data protection and privacy policy are available on our website.
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Coventry People -
Joseph Thomas Webb
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argon
New Milton
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18 of 25
Fri 11th Apr 2025 10:17am
Par for the course.
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Coventry People -
Joseph Thomas Webb
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Garlands Joke Shop
Coventry
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19 of 25
Fri 11th Apr 2025 8:00pm
On 11th Apr 2025 9:27am, Wearethemods said:
Hi Garlands, this is the automated response I received from CWGC which states allow 20 'working' Days for a response or longer in some cases. The time limit, (from 18th March), is next week, so I was going to leave it till then before contacting them again. By all means get in touch with them as well if you think it will help....
Thanks @ Wearethemods, very much appreciated.
Perhaps I'm not allowing them enough time, just seemed so long ago that we last spoke about this.
If I do see the grave cleaned up I'll be sure to let you know 
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Coventry People -
Joseph Thomas Webb
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Wearethemods
Aberdeenshire
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20 of 25
Sun 20th Apr 2025 9:49am
Hi Garlands, I've been on holiday since 11th April, and during my absence I have received an e-mail response from CWGC. I am unsure how to post it on the Forum, so if you can private message me with your e-mail address, I will send it to you so maybe you can do the 'honours'.
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Coventry People -
Joseph Thomas Webb
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Garlands Joke Shop
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21 of 25
Sun 20th Apr 2025 9:52am
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Garlands Joke Shop
Coventry
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22 of 25
Sun 20th Apr 2025 11:03am
Here is the email that @ Wearethemods received in regards to Mr Webb's gravestone.
Email:
From: Enquiries <----------->
To: ------------
Sent: Thursday 17 April 2025 at 09:42:57 BST
Subject: RE: CWGC Enquiry Acknowledgement Website Enquiry Form
Dear [[@Wearethemods]] ,
Many thanks for contacting the enquiries team at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and taking the time to let us know of the condition of the headstone of Stoker Joseph Thomas Webb. I would also like to apologise for the delay in responding to your enquiry.
I would like to explain that we are no longer using chemical biocides to clean the headstones, but a product that feeds off the algae that grows on the stone. Unfortunately, this takes a longer period to work, so our headstones may not look to be up to the usual expected standard. They may also have seasonal greening, which will naturally dry off with the spring sunshine. The headstone of Stoker Webb is also under the crown of a mature lime tree, which would encourage the growth of lichen and algae.
I have informed the Regional Manager of your concerns, and I know that he will arrange for a site inspection at the earliest opportunity, or arrange for one of our Eyes On Hands On Volunteers (EOHO) to clean the headstone in the interim of a site visit.
I would like to thank you for your shared commitment to ensuring the correct and fitting commemoration of those who served, and if I can be of any further help in the meantime, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Kind regards,
*****
Customer Service Advisor
Thanks for getting this response @Wearethemods 
Hopefully the grave will look more presentable soon.
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Coventry People -
Joseph Thomas Webb
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Garlands Joke Shop
Coventry
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23 of 25
Wed 23rd Apr 2025 9:12pm
In the Coventry archive,
the WW2 Roll of the Fallen lists Mr Webb:
---Joseph Thomas Webb, Stoker 1st class, Royal Navy, NHS "Europa".
Born 15th of June 1921, at Coventry.
Resided 25 Honeyfield Road.
Employed Sir W. G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Ltd.
Enlisted April 1941.
Killed in Action- 12th of May 1943 at Lowestoft.
Buried Coventry Cemetery.
Mentioned in despatches---
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Coventry People -
Joseph Thomas Webb
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Garlands Joke Shop
Coventry
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24 of 25
Tue 3rd Jun 2025 9:46am
I wrote another email to the CWGC, in addition to @Wearethemods' email, as the grave still looked rather unkept as of 2 weeks ago.
I've just recieved a response. It's similar to the one @Wearethemods' but with some more differences:-
Email:
From: Enquiries <----------->
To: ------------
Sent: Tue 3 Jun at 09:02 BST
Subject: RE: CWGC Enquiry Acknowledgement Website Enquiry Form
Dear [[@Garland's Joke Shop]], Thank you for your enquiry and your patience while we have been dealing with a high volume of cases.
I am sorry you found the CWGC headstone marking the grave of Stoker Joseph Thomas Webb in Coventry (London Road) Cemetery not in the condition you were expecting.
Greening/discolouration of the CWGC headstones is common, especially during prolonged periods of cold and wet weather. In warmer and sunnier periods, the enzymes we use, clean the headstones slower while they are kinder to the flora and fauna around them. Please keep in mind that additional cleaning is not recommended as it can damage the stone and promote even more rapid greening. You may wish to read about our sustainable way of caring for our headstone and structures in the link below:
Headstone cleanliness & legibility | CWGC
Sustainable headstone care | CWGC
In terms of cleaning Commission headstones, we advise that nothing more than a soft brush and plain water be used, and certainly no detergents or abrasive substances.
Your comments will be copied to the Area Operation Team for information and action, where necessary, to make sure that standards are met.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention.
Kind regards
*******
Customer Service Advisor
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Coventry People -
Joseph Thomas Webb
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Garlands Joke Shop
Coventry
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25 of 25
Thu 12th Jun 2025 11:31pm

20 October 1943 (Coventry Evening Telegraph)

2 May 1944 (Coventry Evening Telegraph)

2 May 1945 (Coventry Evening Telegraph)

12 May 1947 (Coventry Evening Telegraph)
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Coventry People -
Joseph Thomas Webb
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