War Graves in Iraq

Discussion in 'War Cemeteries & War Memorial Research' started by spidge, Oct 22, 2009.

  1. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Photos required required from Cemeteries and Memorials in Iraq from WW1 and WW2. If you can assist with my project or know someone that can I would be most grateful.

    ADAMS, FRANCIS LUKE Air Mechanic 1st Class 44 POW 1/08/1916 23 AFC Australian XXI. W. 8. BAGHDAD (NORTH GATE) WAR CEMETERY Iraq Badhdad

    CURRAN, DAVID Air Mechanic 45 16/06/1917 39 AFC Australian Nisibin Mem. 227. BAGHDAD (NORTH GATE) WAR CEMETERY Iraq Badhdad

    MUNRO, JAMES Air Mechanic 47 13/10/1916 23 AFC Australian XXI. X. 11. BAGHDAD (NORTH GATE) WAR CEMETERY Iraq Badhdad

    RAYMENT, WILLIAM CHARLES Air Mechanic 49 11/11/1916 24 AFC Australian XXI. O. 22. BAGHDAD (NORTH GATE) WAR CEMETERY Iraq Badhdad

    LORD, WILLIAM HENRY Air Mechanic 1st Class 23 13/07/1916 22 AFC Australian XXI. O. 32. BAGHDAD (NORTH GATE) WAR CEMETERY Iraq Baghdad

    SUBLET, MONTROSE EDWARD Flight Sergeant 406582 244sq 15/07/1943 28 Royal Australian Air Force Australian Coll. grave 8. J. 2-3. BASRA WAR CEMETERY Iraq Basra

    PARKER , CHARLES ALBERT Second Lieutenant 19/02/1918 Unknown RFC United Kingdom 111. K. 11. BASRA WAR CEMETERY Iraq Basra

    BURN, WILLIAM WALLACE ALLISON Lieutenant 30/07/1915 24 New Zealand Staff Corps New Zealand Addenda Panel. BASRA MEMORIAL Iraq Basra (Born Australia)

    CANNELL , HUGH FEATHERSTONE CAMERON Lieutenant 75sq 31/10/1918 25 RAF Indian Panel 44. BASRA MEMORIAL Iraq Basra

    MERZ, GEORGE PINNOCK Lieutenant 30/07/1915 23 AFC Australian Panel 43 and 65. BASRA MEMORIAL Iraq Basra

    SOLEY, THOMAS Corporal 10 1/06/1916 Unknown AFC Australian Panel 43 and 65. BASRA MEMORIAL Iraq Basra

    WILLIAMS, LEO THOMAS Air Mechanic 1st Class 16 13/07/1916 Unknown AFC Australian Panel 43 and 65. BASRA MEMORIAL Iraq Basra

    BRITTEN, FRANK TERRY Flying Officer 403553 208sq 29/01/1943 29 Royal Australian Air Force Australian 2. B. 5. MOSUL WAR CEMETERY Iraq Mosul

    KEER, JOHN ARCHIBALD Flight Sergeant 407366 52sq 13/10/1942 28 Royal Australian Air Force Australian 2. D. 7. MOSUL WAR CEMETERY Iraq Mosul

    Until 1997 the Basra Memorial was located on the main quay of the naval dockyard at Maqil, on the west bank of the Shatt-al-Arab, about 8 kilometres north of Basra. Because of the sensitivity of the site, the Memorial was moved by presidential decree. The move, carried out by the authorities in Iraq, involved a considerable amount of manpower, transport costs and sheer engineering on their part, and the Memorial has been re-erected in its entirety.

    The Basra Memorial is now located 32 kilometres along the road to Nasiriyah, in the middle of what was a major battleground during the first Gulf War. The Panel Numbers quoted at the end of each entry relate to the panels dedicated to the Regiment served with.

    Historical Information: The Basra Memorial commemorates more than 40,500 members of the Commonwealth forces who died in the operations in Mesopotamia from the Autumn of 1914 to the end of August 1921 and whose graves are not known.
    No. of Identified Casualties: 40655

    memorial 032.jpg

    British Memorial 01.jpg

    British Memorial 02.jpg
     
  2. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Iraq is a really dangerous place however I was lucky enough to get the WW2 graves at Habbaniyah from some Australian soldiers who were there. Although the headstones were smashed they are still legible.
     
  3. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Any chance you can share any of the pics Spidge? I'd be interested in seeing the condition of the cemetery.

    Cheers
    Andy
     
  4. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Hi Drew,

    Your wish is..............................!!!

    Fig 2 - General shot looking South.JPG

    Fig 14 - RAAF Graves the first three headstones lying on the.JPG


    Cheers

    Geoff
     

    Attached Files:

    Pieter F likes this.
  5. TomTAS

    TomTAS Very Senior Member

    Hi Geoff,

    Did they get them all I have one in there too ???

    Cheers
    Tom
     
  6. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    Attached Files:

  7. pauldawn

    pauldawn Senior Member

    does anyone know if its planned to put things right with these graves? The worst of the troubles in Iraq are over now so surely theres a plan to put this right.
     
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Thanks Geoff


    The worst of the troubles in Iraq are over now so surely theres a plan to put this right.

    According to the Media
     
  9. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    does anyone know if its planned to put things right with these graves? The worst of the troubles in Iraq are over now so surely theres a plan to put this right.

    From CWGC website:

    "Whilst the current climate of political instability persists it is not possible for the Commission to manage or maintain its cemeteries and memorials located within Iraq. Alternative arrangements for commemoration have therefore been implemented and a two volume Roll of Honour listing all casualties buried and commemorated in Iraq has been produced. These volumes are on display at the Commission's Head Office in Maidenhead and are available for the public to view. The Commission continues to monitor the situation in Iraq and once the political climate has improved to an acceptable level the Commission will commence a major rehabilitation project for its cemeteries and commemorations. "

    CWGC :: Cemetery Details
     
  10. geoff501

    geoff501 Achtung Feind hört mit

    Can't remember where these were from and lost website link
     

    Attached Files:

  11. Jonathan Ball

    Jonathan Ball It's a way of life.

    Until 1997 the Basra Memorial was located on the main quay of the naval dockyard at Maqil, on the west bank of the Shatt-al-Arab, about 8 kilometres north of Basra. Because of the sensitivity of the site, the Memorial was moved by presidential decree. The move, carried out by the authorities in Iraq, involved a considerable amount of manpower, transport costs and sheer engineering on their part, and the Memorial has been re-erected in its entirety.

    The Basra Memorial is now located 32 kilometres along the road to Nasiriyah, in the middle of what was a major battleground during the first Gulf War. The Panel Numbers quoted at the end of each entry relate to the panels dedicated to the Regiment served with.

    Historical Information: The Basra Memorial commemorates more than 40,500 members of the Commonwealth forces who died in the operations in Mesopotamia from the Autumn of 1914 to the end of August 1921 and whose graves are not known.
    No. of Identified Casualties: 40655

    Sorry to say but it's in a pretty poor state of repair. Hopefully one day in the future things will be put right..

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  12. pauldawn

    pauldawn Senior Member

    Thanks Geoff




    According to the Media

    well, yes i agree.
     
  13. pauldawn

    pauldawn Senior Member

    Can't remember where these were from and lost website link

    thanks for that geoff. reassuring to know cwgc is on the case - not that i thought for one minute that they wouldnt be! cheers.
     
  14. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    If I'm not mistaken the chap in the European DPM was the battalions RSM in Iraq 2003-I remember him chasing a truck down the road in Basra on foot waving his Browning at some skip rats
    http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=56513&d=1310578236
     
  15. spidge

    spidge RAAF RESEARCHER

    The Australian officer took GPS coordinates of the Australian graves for future reference.
     
  16. Nick Simmons

    Nick Simmons Junior Member

    Here's some i took when i was playing in the sand pit:
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    These are unfortunately all that i could ever take. I would have dearly loved to photograph each and every unit/name there, but it was never wise to hang around in one place for too long at that time.

    You may notice that i have a RWK cap badge in my helmet. Never left home without it and it's still in my helmet now.
     
    dbf likes this.
  17. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Nice pics - What Telic were you on?
     
  18. Nick Simmons

    Nick Simmons Junior Member

    Nice pics - What Telic were you on?

    I did Telic 3 and 4 back to back mate. Mid october 2003 to the end of November 2004
     
  19. Roxy

    Roxy Senior Member

    Welcome aboard, Nick.

    Nice photos.

    Roxy
     
  20. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    I did Telic 3 and 4 back to back mate. Mid october 2003 to the end of November 2004

    :lol: You must have been loving the LSSA then !
     

Share This Page