Repatriations.
ancientaviator62,
Yes, in former times the principle was that the British soldier was buried where he fell, and, in the glorious words of Rupert Brooke (?):
"There is some corner of a foreign field
That will be forever England" (hope I've got that right).
It was then impossible to bring them home (although Nelson was pickled in a barrel of brandy for the purpose). There were so many of them, they were too far away, it would take far too long, they didn't have the transport anyway.
It so happens, in my next Post which will shortly appear, that it wasn't all plain sailing, even as late as '55.
Danny.