South Africa War Graves Project
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Iraq

List updated August 2, 2015

Country Total = 34

11 names on 1 memorial; 23 graves in 5 cemeteries

Completed = 11 (or 32.35%)

Cemetery
SA War Dead #
SA serving in Non-SA units War Dead #
Rhodesian serving in Non-Rhod. units War Dead #
Total
Status - Complete, Underway, Part Done
Volunteer
Amara War Cemetery
.
5
.
5
.
.
Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery
1
7
.
8
.
.
Basra Memorial
.
10
1
11
Complete
Darren Evans / A Beattie
Basra War Cemetery
.
2
2
4
.
.
Habbaniya War Cemetery
1
1
1
3
Part Done (2 of 3)
Anton van Staden and Obie Oberholster
Mosul War Cemetery
.
.
3
3
.
.
Country Total
34

AMARA WAR CEMETERY

THE COMMISSION STRONGLY ADVISES THAT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE SHOULD BE CONTACTED BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO VISIT IRAQ. Their details are as follows: Travel Advice Unit Consular Division Foreign and Commonwealth Office Old Admiralty Building London SW1A 2AF Tel: 0207 008 0232/0233 Fax: 0207 008 0164 Website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/ Opening Times: Monday to Friday 09.30 - 16.00 Amara is a town on the left bank of the Tigris some 520 kilometres from the sea. The War Cemetery is a little east of the town between the left bank of the river and the Chahaila Canal. Amara was occupied by the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force on 3 June 1915 and it immediately became a hospital centre. The accommodation for medical units on both banks of the Tigris was greatly increased during 1916 and in April 1917, seven general hospitals and some smaller units were stationed there. Amara War Cemetery contains 4,621 burials of the First World War, more than 3,000 of which were brought into the cemetery after the Armistice. 925 of the graves are unidentified. In 1933, all of the headstones were removed from this cemetery when it was discovered that salts in the soil were causing them to deteriorate. Instead a screen wall was erected with the names of those buried in the cemetery engraved upon it. Plot XXV is a Collective Grave, the individual burial places within this are not known. There are also seven non-war graves in the cemetery.

Name: BERTHON, LEONARD TINNE
Initials: L T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment: Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Age: 41
Date of Death: 25/01/1917
Additional information: Son of Capt. Charles Harrison Berthon and Anna (his wife), of Paignton, Devon; husband of Anna Ethel Berthon. Also served at Gallipoli.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: XIX. H. 15.

Name: CLARK
Initials: E D
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment/Service: Cheshire Regiment
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Date of Death: 15/02/1917
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: XXVII. B. 2.


Name: HOPWOOD, EDWIN JOHN
Initials: E J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lieutenant
Regiment: East Lancashire Regiment
Unit Text: 10th Bn. attd. 6th Bn.
Age: 47
Date of Death: 09/04/1916
Additional information: Son of E. J. and Julia Noel Hopwood, of Guernsey.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: XVI. K. 2.


McKENZIE, Private, JOHN VICTOR, 201094. 2nd/4th Bn. Devonshire Regiment. Died of wounds 5th April 1917. Age 19. Son of John William and Bessie Edith McKenzie, of 37, Barnardo Rd., St. Leonards, Exeter. Born at Kimberley, South Africa. XIII. F. 4

Name: PALFREY
Initials: R
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment: Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Age: 29
Date of Death: between 04/04/1916 and 05/04/1916
Additional information: Son of Thomas and Harriet Lydia Palfrey, of Hergest Court, Kington, Herefordshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: XIII. L. 12.

BAGHDAD (NORTH GATE) WAR CEMETERY

Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery is 800 metres beyond the North Gate of the City of Baghdad on the south-eastern side of the road to Baguba. THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE SHOULD BE CONTACTED BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO VISIT IRAQ. Their details are as follows: Travel Advice Unit Consular Division Foreign and Commonwealth Office Old Admiralty Building London SW1A 2AF Tel: 0207 008 0232/0233 Fax: 0207 008 0164 Website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/ Opening Times: Monday to Friday 09.30 - 16.00

CHRISTIAN, Private, J, C/273217. Cape Corps, S.A. Forces. 27th August 1942. Age 18. Son of Henry D. Christian and Annie Christian, of Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa 23. B. 11

DUGGAN, Private, HAROLD DENIS, 7478. 2nd Bn. Norfolk Regiment. 11th July 1916. Age 21. Son of the late Denis Duggan. Born at Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. XXI. S. 8

GATTENS, Lieutenant, CHARLES, 63rd Sqdn. Royal Air Force. 15th June 1919. Age 27. Son of John and Catherine Gattens, of Mallard St., Kensington, Johannesburg, South Africa. XX. D. 8

GIBSON, Lieutenant, FREDERICK JAMES, 6th Bn. The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. 28th December 1920. Age 30. Son of Marguerite Gibson, of "Braefoot", 2, Bruce Rd., Southsea, Portsmouth, and the late Frederick Chapman Gibson. Born at Kimberly, South Africa. XIII. F. 14

Name: HARVEY, THOMAS
Initials: T
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment: King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment)
Unit Text: 3rd Bn.
Age: 32
Date of Death: 29/04/1917
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: X. G. 9.

HERON, Sapper, JAMES, 160610. 300th Electrical and Mechanical Coy. Royal Engineers. Died of pneumonia 19th December 1917. Age 31. Son of Alexander Heron, of 144, Old Dutch Rd., Durban, South Africa. Born at Perth. XII. H. 15

HOOKER, Private, ALFRED WILLIAM, G/15401. 2nd Bn. Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). 28th October 1918. Age 30. Husband of Annie Hooker, of 128, Caxton St., East London, South Africa. XVIII. F. 1/29

VISICK, Corporal, H C, 200043. 1st/4th Bn. Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. 31st August 1916. Age 23. Son of Albert and Mary Hannah Visick, of Evaton Station, Transvaal. Born at Falmouth, Cornwall, England. XXI. G. 41.

BASRA WAR CEMETERY

THE COMMISSION STRONGLY ADVISES THAT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE SHOULD BE CONTACTED BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO VISIT IRAQ. Their details are as follows: Travel Advice Unit Consular Division Foreign and Commonwealth Office Old Admiralty Building London SW1A 2AF Tel: 0207 008 0232/0233 Fax: 0207 008 0164 Website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/ Opening Times: Monday to Friday 09.30 - 16.00 Basra is a town on the west bank of the Shatt-al-Arab, 90 kilometres from its mouth in the Persian Gulf. The cemetery is about 8 kilometres north-west of Basra. During the First World War, Basra was occupied by the 6th (Poona) Division in November 1914, from which date the town became the base of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force. A number of cemeteries were used by the MEF in and around Basra; Makina Masul Old Cemetery was used from December 1914 to October 1916 and the Makina Masul New Extension was begun alongside the old cemetery in August 1917. These two sites, enlarged later when more than 1,000 graves were brought in from other burial grounds, now form Basra War Cemetery. The cemetery now contains 2,551 burials of the First World War, 74 of them unidentified. The headstones marking these graves were removed in 1935 when it was discovered that salts in the soil were causing them to deteriorate. The names of those buried in the graves affected are now recorded on a screen wall. The cemetery also contains the Basra (Tanooma Chinese) Memorial, commemorating 227 unidentified casualties of the Chinese Labour Corps who were attached to the Inland Water Transport during the First World War. A panel in their memory was added to the screen wall when it became evident that their graves in Tanooma Chinese Cemetery could no longer be maintained. During the Second World War, Basra was the scene of fighting from 2 - 7 May 1941 when Iraqi forces were driven from the town, which then became a base for Commonwealth forces. Basra War Cemetery was used once again and after the war, further graves were brought in from other burials grounds in Iraq and Iran. There are now 365 Second World War burials in the cemetery. In addition, there are 37 war graves of other nationalities, many of them Polish, and 16 non-war burials. Directly opposite Basra War Cemetery is the Basra Indian Forces Cemetery containing burials of both wars, and the Basra Cremation Memorial commemorating Indian casualties of the Second World War whose remains were cremated in accordance with their faith.

FLETCHER, Second Lieutenant, W H A, 11th Bn. attd. 7th Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment. 2nd July 1916. Age 32. Son of William and Ellen Fletcher, of Ratel Rivier, Elim, South Africa. VI. T. 18

Name: LOWRY, HENRY COOKE
Initials: H C
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Captain
Regiment: Army Veterinary Corps
Age: 32
Date of Death: 11/07/1916
Additional information: Only son of the late James Lowry, J.P., of Magheramorne, Co. Antrim.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: III. M. 20.


Rhodesia Other Units

HESLOP, Private, HAVELOCK JOSEPH, 61413. 38th Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Motors) formerly (10964) The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. 29th October 1918. Age 20. Son of Bertha E. Heslop, of Broken Hill, North Rhodesia, and the late Thomas Heslop. Born at Altrincham, Cheshire. I. S. 7.

PERKINS, Second Lieutenant, JOHN THOMAS, EC/5780. 107 Rly. Works. Coy. Indian Engineers. 10th August 1942. Age 57. Husband of Hilda Blanche Perkins, of Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia. 7. G. 7.

HABBANIYA WAR CEMETERY

Habbaniya is about 65 kilometres west of Baghdad. The cemetery, enclosed by a high brick wall, is within the former R.A.F. cantonment, which is now an enclosed military area. THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE SHOULD BE CONTACTED BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO VISIT IRAQ. Their details are as follows: Travel Advice Unit Consular Division Foreign and Commonwealth Office Old Admiralty Building London SW1A 2AF Tel: 0207 008 0232/0233 Fax: 0207 008 0164 Website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/ Opening Times: Monday to Friday 09.30 - 16.00

LOVEMORE, Leading Aircraftman (Pilot U/T), ROBERT ST CYPRIAN NUTCOMBE, 774054. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 12th September 1940. Age 21. Son of Norman Baillie Lovemore and Constance Mary Nowell Lovemore, of Knysna, Cape Province, South Africa. 4. C. 7

PENN, Lieutenant (Pilot), WILLIAM BROUGHTON, 78595V. South African Air Force formerly of 3rd Bn. Transvaal Scottish, S.A. Forces. 3rd April 1945. Age 21. Son of Henry S. Penn, and of Violet A. Penn, of Benoni, Transvaal, South Africa 6. C. 2

Rhodesia Other Units

WEBLEY, Leading Aircraftman, ROY RODNEY, 779040. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 12th September 1940. Age 20. Son of William Henry and Beatrice Abbey Webley, of Avondale, Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia. 4. C. 6.

MOSUL WAR CEMETERY

THE COMMISSION STRONGLY ADVISES THAT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE SHOULD BE CONTACTED BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO VISIT IRAQ. Their details are as follows: Travel Advice Unit Consular Division Foreign and Commonwealth Office Old Admiralty Building London SW1A 2AF Tel: 0207 008 0232/0233 Fax: 0207 008 0164 Website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/ Opening Times: Monday to Friday 09.30 - 16.00. Mosul is the most northerly town in Iraq. Mosul War Cemetery is 1.5 kilometres west of the town on the main road to Aleppo. The war cemetery adjoins the civil cemetery, which can only be entered through the war cemetery. During the First World War, Mosul was the headquarters of the Turkish Sixth Army. The town was entered by Commonwealth forces on 3 November 1918 under the terms of the Armistice with Turkey and a garrison was quartered there. It also became a minor hospital centre. Mosul War Cemetery contains 191 burials from the First World War, only six of them identified, all of them Indian forces. In addition, there is a special memorial to one casualty of the United Kingdom forces buried at the time in a vault in Mosul French Dominican Church. During the Second World War, Mosul was again occupied by Commonwealth forces from June 1941 to the end of the war. Additional ground was acquired for the cemetery by the military authorities for the burial of men who died of illness or through accident while serving with PAIFORCE. After the war, graves were brought into this permanent cemetery from Mosul Civil Cemetery, Kirkuk British Military Cemetery and Kirkuk Muhammadan Cemetery, where maintenance would not have been possible. The cemetery now contains 145 Second World War burials. In addition, there are two non-war graves and 13 non-war Consular burials.

GOLDSTEIN, Sapper, FRED, 1945144. 56 Field Coy. Royal Engineers. 9th January 1943. Age 29. Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Goldstein, of Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia. 2. C. 7.

LOCK, Pilot Officer (Pilot), GERALD EDWARD ROBERT, 68821. 237 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 20th March 1942. Age 33. Son of Edward Percy and Gertrude Lock, of Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia; husband of Dorothy Margaret Lock, of Bulawayo. 1. C. 11.

SIMMONDS, Flying Officer (Pilot), PETER HUGH SWAYNE, 81020. 237 Sqdn. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 14th April 1942. Age 28. Son of Hugh and Irene Simmonds, of Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia; husband of Catherine Simmonds. 1. D. 1.

 

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