Brisbane local Rick Macchetta says it “hit him in the heart” when his great uncles – veterans of the world wars – were given military commemorations on their unmarked civilian graves.

But it was only possible because of a government funded headstone project that has just suffered major funding cuts, delaying recognition for an estimated 12,000 WW1 veterans interred in civilian cemeteries nationally.

This is the latest instalment in a special 4BC Drive investigation raising awareness of cuts to the Private Graves Grants program.

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