Commonwealth War Cemeteries in Iraq
6 Squadron RAF, WW1 Aviation and My Books
RAF Habbaniya - Detailed Maps and Official Plans
With the kind permission of Dr Christopher Morris, ex president of the now defunct RAF Habbaniya Association, I am able to include on my website detailed maps and plans of RAF Habbaniya, centre of operations for all British Forces in Iraq between October 1936 when 30 Squadron took residence as part of the process of moving operations from RAF Hinaidi to RAF Habbaniya (handover completed January 1938) and the 31st May 1959, when the Royal Air Force withdrew from Iraq after the 1958 revolution.
RAF Habbaniya - Official General Site Plan 1947
RAF Habbaniya - Official Plan 1954 - Road Names & Buildings
RAF Habbaniya - General Plan - Surveyed 1957
RAF Habbaniya Cantonment - Now and Then Overlay Image
The following two composite satellite images show the area that was once occupied by the RAF Habbaniya cantonment and the Habbaniya War Cemetery (the cemetery situated on the eastern side of the cantonment) overlaid with the original official Commonwealth War Graves Commission plans. It is interesting to note that as has been found with the area in southern Baghdad that used to be the cantonment for RAF Hinaidi, much of the road systems and infrastructure is still there.
Habbaniya War Cemetery - Satellite Image Overlaid with Official CWGC Cemetery Plan
The exact location of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Habbaniya War cemetery is 33°22'52.79"N, 43°35'30.34"E DMS and a good quality 2025 Google Earth image can be seen by entering these coordinates. The condition of the 290 graves and the headstones is good, as 289 of the headstones War Graves Commission plans. It is interesting to note that as has been found with the area in southern Baghdadwere re-made and re-installed in their correct positions when the cemetery was restored by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in 2019. The 300th headstone (for a Norwegian sailor) has yet to be made in Belgium and installed in its original location.
