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7.7.4 Handling of Enemy Battlefield Dead – Burial and Cremation.7.7.4.1 Examination of Bodies Before Burial or Cremation. Parties to the conflictshall ensure that burial (whether on land or at sea) or cremation of the dead, carried outindividually as far as circumstances permit, is preceded by a careful examination, if possible by amedical examination, of the bodies, with a view to confirming death, establishing identity, andenabling a report to be made. 145An examination helps ensure that persons who are still living are not mistakenly buried orcremated. An examination also helps ensure that accountability information can be gathered andforwarded in accordance with other requirements. 1467.7.4.2 Burial on Land. Parties to the conflict shall further ensure that the deadare honorably interred, if possible according to the rites of the religion to which they belonged,and that their graves are respected, grouped if possible according to the nationality of thedeceased, properly maintained, and marked so that they may always be found. 147 The use ofcollective graves should be avoided. 148One-half of the double identity disc, or the identity disc itself if it is a single disc, shouldremain on the body. 1497.7.4.3 Burial at Sea. Burial at sea is contemplated by the GWS-Sea. Burial atsea shall be conducted honorably and, if possible, according to the rites of the religion to whichthe dead belonged.Where a double identity disc is used, one-half of the disc should remain on the body. 150On the other hand, if a single identity disc is used, then it should be collected and forwardedthrough the National POW Information Bureau along with other valuable articles. 151145 GWS art. 17 (“Parties to the conflict shall ensure that burial or cremation of the dead, carried out individually asfar as circumstances permit, is preceded by a careful examination, if possible by a medical examination, of thebodies, with a view to confirming death, establishing identity and enabling a report to be made.”); GWS-SEA art. 20(“Parties to the conflict shall ensure that burial at sea of the dead, carried out individually as far as circumstancespermit, is preceded by a careful examination, if possible by a medical examination, of the bodies, with a view toconfirming death, establishing identity and enabling a report to be made.”).146 Refer to § 7.6 (Accountability Information From the Enemy Military Wounded, Sick, Shipwrecked, and Dead);§ 7.7.3 (Preparation and Forwarding of Death Certificates and Lists of the Dead).147 GWS art. 17 (“They shall further ensure that the dead are honourably interred, if possible according to the rites ofthe religion to which they belonged, that their graves are respected, grouped if possible according to the nationalityof the deceased, properly maintained and marked so that they may always be found.”).148 Refer to § 9.34.3.2 (Burial).149 GWS art. 17 (“One half of the double identity disc, or the identity disc itself if it is a single disc, should remainon the body.”).150 GWS-SEA art. 20 (“Where a double identity disc is used, one half of the disc should remain on the body.”).151 Refer to § 7.7.2.2 (Forwarding Valuable Articles Found on the Dead).433