Commonwealth War Graves in Iraq
6 Squadron RAF, WW1 Aviation and My Books
CWGC Cemeteries in Iraq, WW1 Aviation & 6 Sqn RAF
The original purpose of my website was to promote my books and 6 Squadron RAF, but in recent years I have spent most of my time promoting the cause of restoring British military cemeteries in Iraq, in particular the long-abandoned Commonwealth War Graves maintained Royal Air Force Cemetery at what was once RAF Hinaidi, namely the Ma'Asker Al Raschid cemetery in Baghdad. Seven years of research has enabled me to become an authority on this and other British cemeteries in Iraq. With the co-operation of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission I am also able to provide visitors to my website information that will not be found anywhere else, particularly photographs of the 77 identifiable headstones (complete and fragmented) that still exist at Ma'Asker and photographs of all of the 290 headstones at the Habbaniyah War Cemetery.
The Royal Air Force took over control of all British Forces in Iraq in October 1922, requiring a bigger RAF station than its old HQ in Baghdad West. The new site, named RAF Hinaidi, was established in the south of the city, eight miles south-east of Baghdad West, on the eastern bank of the River Tigris. To protect the low-lying land from flooding, a bund was constructed around the perimeter of the cantonment, eight and a quarter miles in length and surrounding an area of 2,500 acres. RAF Hinaidi was operational from 1921 until January 1938, by which time all British operations had been moved to RAF Dhibban, later renamed RAF Habbaniya.
Throughout the operational life of RAF Hinaidi, most British servicemen and women who died in Iraq were buried at the Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery, located at the south-western corner of the cantonment. The land upon which RAF Hinaidi stood was handed over to the Iraqi government in January 1938 with the exception of the cemetery grounds which remained the property of the British Ministry of Defence. It was agreed that the cemetery would be maintained in perpetuity by the Imperial War Graves Commission, name later changed to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Sadly, over the next eighty years, the cemetery (since renamed the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery or more simply the Rasheed Cemetery) containing 300 graves gradually fell into disrepair and by 1975 was abandoned altogether by the CWGC (click HERE for a timeline of the cemetery).
I first became aware of the appalling condition of the Ma'Asker RAF Cemetery in 2018 whilst researching the death of a WW1 'ace' pilot who was killed in 1922 taking off on a mission from RAF Hinaidi. He was buried in the cemetery, half a mile from where his Bristol FB2 Fighter crashed. At the end of 2021, thanks in the main to the support and perseverance of the British Embassy staff in Baghdad, particularly Defence Attaché Brigadier Adam McRae, a new wall was constructed around the cemetery, with a contract put in place to pay for a caretaker. Sadly, though approval was given in December 2022 for the local contractors who built the new cemetery wall to commence Stage 2 of the restoration (moving the remaining headstones to one side, tidying up the site and repositioning the seventy-seven 77 surviving headstones), this work was suspended by the JCCC (Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre) until such time the CWGC/MoD/JCCC could come to a decision as to what restoration works should be carried out at Ma'Asker and the appropriate timeframe, especially given the delicate political situation in Iraq. Click HERE for the full story.
On the 26th July 2025 I was informed by the Area Director Africa & Asia at the CWGC that a local Iraqi contractor had won the contract for the first phase of restoration and that work on site would commence in the 'near future'. Sadly there has since been a hiccup in the process and alternative arrangements are being discussed. However it is still anticipated that work will commence before the end of 2025. . . . . . . . . . . . After delay upon delay I had a telephone conversation with the Area Director Africa & Asia on the 15th December 2025 which at face value was very disappointing but upon reflection is the only way in which progress will ever be made at Ma'Asker, namely to start afresh with the project and hire a local (viz. living in Baghdad) Iraqi project manager who will be the 'hands-on' manager for the restoration works at Ma'Asker and all of the other CWGC sites in Iraq. With the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) currently not recommending travel to Iraq, no employee of the CWGC is permitted to go to Ma'Asker, though a civilian like me can take that risk if he or she so chooses. It is hoped that an Iraqi project manager will be hired early in 2026 and that a contract for the first phase of restoration will be drawn up as a matter of priority. At least, this is the plan.
I expanded my website in January 2024 to include a section devoted to the men and women who are buried at the Habbaniyah War Cemetery, 55 miles west of Baghdad. The cemetery was originally part of RAF Dhibban, later known as RAF Habbaniyah. I have added details of each of the 290 people buried there, including the location and a photograph of every individual grave.
If you want to see headstone photographs for the 290 burials at the Habbaniyah War Cemetery,
they will only be found on my website
For more information on the history of RAF Habbaniyah, take a look at the RAF Habbaniyah Association website or send me a message via the CONTACT tab at the top of this page as I have access to most of the now disbanded RAF Habbaniyah Association's archives.
These two sections of my website are recent additions and were completed on the 2nd October 2025. They will be expanded over time as more information and photographs come to hand.
The original purpose of my website was to document the early years of 6 Squadron. This evolved from my first book, For God, England & Ethel, the story of my grandfather who served with 6 Squadron on the Western Front during WW1. I also wanted to display some of the research material that didn't end up in the book. The website has expanded a lot over the past twenty years but 6 Squadron still plays a major part, with sections on the 6 Squadron journal, the Tin-opener, the squadron's move to Mesopotamia after WW1, the role it played in Italy during WW2 in 1944, Facts & Figures on the squadron's early operations, the types of aircraft on charge during that time, numerous WW1 photos, the 6 Squadron Roll of Honour as well as profiles of several 6 Squadron pioneers.
My website also contains photographs covering WW1 and the inter-War years, with an emphasis on 6 Squadron Royal Flying Corps (later Royal Air Force). There is also a section with 43 pages of high definition aerial photographs (two to a page) taken by 6 Squadron aircraft in May and June 1917, before and after the Battle of Messines. Recently added are images of WW1 maps and photographs as well as copies of every page of my grandfather's WW1 wireless training document.
Updated 11th March 2026
NEW BOOKS
My seventh and eighth books have just been published (4th February 2026 and 12th February 2026):
The Cordwainer's Daughter - Copies can now be purchased from Amazon in paperback or hardback.
Rigger's Notes for WW1 British Aircraft - pdf file can be viewed for free or the book can be purchased from Amazon at a low cost, in paperback or Ebook format
Frequently Asked questions
What books have been written by Steve Buster Johnson?
Steve Buster Johnson has to date (March 2026) written and published eight books on a variety of subjects, both fiction and non fiction. His first book, 'For God, England & Ethel' is the dramatised true story of his grandfather's time serving with 6 Squadron Royal Air Force on the Western Front during WW1. The second book, 'Seven Days in April' is a murder mystery fictional story, set on the Western Front in a Royal Air Force squadron during WW1. The third book, 'Leaning on a Lamp Post' is an autobiographical / biographical novel set in England, spanning one hundred years and two world wars. The fourth book, 'A Man of Many Letters' is a self-help book on how to live and succeed with ADD, ADHD, OCD, ODD and other mental disorders, based on Steve Buster Johnson's personal experiences over more than seventy years. The fifth book, 'Rising from the Western Front' is non-fiction and is the true story of the early days of 6 Squadron Royal Air Force when it was based at Abeele in Belgium, fighting on the Western Front during WW1. Included in the book are full details of aircraft on charge with the squadron as well as details of every major operation and casualties inflicted upon squadron personnel. Steve Buster Johnson's sixth book is the true story of a successful motorcycle racer who enlisted in WW1 as a despatch rider before training as an observer and serving with 6 Squadron Royal Air Force before being killed in aerial combat in March 1916. The story is constructed around letters written by Graham Price to his family back in England and contains numerous photographs and contemporary images of that time. The seventh book is the biographical story of the early life of Steve Buster Johnson's grandmother, Ethel Pocock. Entitled 'The Cordwainer's Daughter', the book contains many previously unpublished facts of the Victorian era in England, with family links to famous men of the time, including the author Charles Dickens and the politician Lloyd George. The most recent book, published in February 2026 is called, 'Rigger's Notes on British WW1 Aircraft' and is a facsimile of a notebook kept by a Royal Air Force chief mechanic who compiled a detailed training document he used as a basis for the course he ran during WW1 for new mechanics who had recently joined the British Royal Air Force.
Where can I purchase a Steve Buster Johnson book?
You can purchase books written by Steve Buster Johnson, including 'For God, England & Ethel' and 'Leaning on a Lamp Post,' from online retailers like Amazon. If you have any questions, please reach out to him through the Contact page on this website.
Where can I find photographs of headstones at the Ma'Asker Al Raschid and Habbaniya RAF Cemeteries in Iraq?
My website is the only place you will find headstone photographs for these two CWGC Cemeteries. My website also has photographs of memorials for the fallen at other British cemeteries in Iraq.
What efforts are being made to restore the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery?
The Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery is undergoing restoration efforts with the involvement of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. My ongoing advocacy aims to ensure that the cemetery is maintained and preserved to honor the memory of the British servicemen and women buried there. The latest news is that arrangements are being made to employ the services of a local (viz. Iraqi) project manager who will be able to manage the contractors who will carry out the next stage of restoration. Currently CWGC employees are not permitted to travel to Iraq and this makes it difficult to manage the project, especially the sensitive issue of not disturbing the remains of the 300 people buried at Ma'Asker.
Can I visit British war cemeteries in Iraq?
Due to security concerns, visiting British war cemeteries in Iraq is challenging, though not impossible. However, you can explore detailed information and photographs of these cemeteries on my website, allowing you to pay your respects virtually. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need assistance.
Why are there so many sections and sub-menu options on your website?
I started this website 20 years ago while researching for my first book, 'For God, England & Ethel', about my grandfather's service with 6 Squadron Royal Flying Corps during WWI. Many findings didn't make it into the book, so I created the website to share them. As my knowledge and involvement with the 6 Squadron RAF Association grew, so did the website. Over time, I published more books and expanded the site's topics. The biggest change came in 2018 when I discovered an abandoned RAF Cemetery in Baghdad, leading to my ongoing restoration efforts. The website grew as I took on more projects and received more queries. While the site is extensive, it contains unique information not found elsewhere. I hope visitors understand the depth and breadth of the content.
What inspired you to research 6 Squadron RAF and British war cemeteries?
My research into 6 Squadron RAF and British war cemeteries began with my first book, 'For God, England & Ethel', which chronicles my grandfather's WWI service. As I uncovered more information, I felt compelled to share it. My passion intensified after discovering the neglected RAF Cemetery in Baghdad, sparking my ongoing war grave restoration efforts.
From the skills I have developed in researching service records and manner/place of death of RAF personnel during WW1 and 'between the wars', will I offer this service to members of the public and if so, will there be a charge for this service?
In the twenty years since I retired I have helped hundreds of people and organisations in researching the military history of a member of the British Forces (mostly the Royal Air Force but sometimes the British Army) who died service. In many cases I have been able to determine the cause of death and the final resting place of the body where these details have been lost over time. Many times I have been told that I've solved a mystery in a matter of days that had taken family members decades of frustration in not being able to find the answer. I have never and will never charge for this service as the satisfaction in helping to solve mysteries is reward enough. Over the years I have been presented with a number of difficult challenges, some of which have led to unexpected results. Here are a few of the more unusual examples:
I discovered three WW1 heroes who kept their bravery from the families and unintentionally debunked five self-proclaimed WW1 RAF heroes who used their 'fame' in order to advance their careers or family respect (I left it up to the families concerned as to what if anything they would do with my findings). I identified the hitherto unknown final resting place for five RAF servicemen, in Iraq, France and England as well as identifying a missing headstone for a Norwegian sailor in a CWGC War Cemetery in Iraq. However, two of the most gratifying projects resulted in the surprise reunification of extended family members.
If you feel I could help you with your research into finding out what happened to a close or distant family member who lost their life while in the service of the British Armed Forces, all it takes is to send me a message via the Contact page on my website
What role did 6 Squadron RAF play in WWI?
6 Squadron RAF was pivotal in aerial reconnaissance and artillery spotting during WWI. Their intelligence gathering was crucial in shaping key battles on the Western Front, significantly contributing to the success of numerous military operations.
How can I request help with researching a relative's military service?
You can request help by sending me a message through the Contact page on my website. Please provide as much information as possible about your relative, including their full name, service number, and any known details about their service. I will do my best to assist you in uncovering their military history.