What a great idea. "An IT expert has fitted a barcode to his father's gravestone which when scanned reveals the story of the war hero's part in the Arctic Convoys of the Second World War. Developer Joe Davies used QR code technology to install the barcode on the headstone, giving those who visit former Merchant Seaman Charles Davies's final resting place, an interactive guide of his life. Anyone with a smartphone or tablet computer can scan the barcode, which then takes them to a specially created memorial webpage on the site Forever Missed. Mr Davies died last year at the age of 91. The former seaman took part in the Arctic Convoys, dubbed the Suicide Missions by many taking part, and survived the infamous PQ17 'journey to hell'. His son came up with the idea to tell his father's life story in this unique way, after using the technology to tell people in public parks more about the plants and trees. Mr Davies, of Bridgend, South Wales, said: 'After using the codes to tell people more about plants it struck me how easy it would be to use it tell people about what an incredible life my father had. 'I had the code and website address engraved on to a plaque which could be attached to the headstone’s plinth. 'I made some inquiries and there were no issues about this code going on the headstone. 'So when we had it made I asked the stonemason if they could cut out an indentation so the plaque could be set in place.' The webpage tells how Charles James Davies was born, one of seven children, in 1921 near Pontypridd in South Wales. It goes on to reveal how he survived some of the darkest days of the Second World War, being hunted by German U-boats." http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2532589/Son-installs-QR-code-fathers-gravestone-people-read-survived-infamous-Arctic-Convoys-Second-World-War.html#ixzz2pJ8IluKI
