From the fragments of three headstones held in the Diyala Museum museum in eastern Iraq, all that remains of the 545 WW2 burials at the Polish War Cemetery at Khanaqin in the Diyala region of Iraq, I have been able to identify the fallen. Two of the dead served with the Polish Army and one with the Indian Army. The men are Corporal Z Piechocki of 5. Baon. Sap, Rifleman J Lastowski of 5. Baon C. K. M. and Signalman Muhammad Juma of the Indian Signal Corps. In total, 400 Polish men, 102 Indian men and 3 Arabs were buried at Khanaqin. For more information, look at the Khanaqin section on this website. Remaining headstones at the Khanaqin Polish War Cemetery, Diyala, Iraq

I recently received permission to include on my website a video taken of a row of graves at the Khanaqin (Polish) War Cemetery as well as several photographs taken of headstone remnants which have been preserved and now reside at the Diyala Museum under the care of the museum's director, Mr Majed. I am currently developing a section on my website under the heading KHANAQIN and will include the video and photographs as well as the history and current status of the abandoned and mostly destroyed cemetery. My understanding is that care and maintenance of the Khanaqin War cemetery is the joint responsibility of the United Kingdom (viz. the Commonwealth War Graves Commission) and Poland, since the majority of graves are for Polish servicemen who were killed in WW2. A request for help in securing and maintenance of the cemetery was made in January 2025 on behalf of the Diyala Museum and I will update my website with news as and when I become aware of any progress. As an introduction to the subject, I carried out my own research on the location and dimensions of the cemetery, to gauge how it compared with another CWGC maintained military cemetery in Iraq that has "fallen between the cracks" with regards maintenance, viz the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery in Baghdad. Surprisingly, the style, grave density and level of devastation were remarkably similar as can be seen from the attached photo. In summary (you will have to wait for me to finish the main article for full details), the total burial area at the Khanaqin WAR Cemetery is approximately 5,635 square metres, averaging 10.40 square metres for each of the 542 burials. This compares favourably with an average of 10.66 square metres for each of the 300 graves at the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery. For anyone wanting to find the location of the Khanaqin War Cemetery using Google Maps or Google Earth, the coordinates are: 34.3131708, 45.4206485, in north-east Iraq, close to the border with Iran. Dimensions of the Khanaqin War Cemetery, marked on a satellite image Satellite View of the Khanaqin War Cemetery, Diyala, Iraq

For those interested in knowing the original design and grave layout for the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery (formerly known as the Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery), here is a 1964 diagram that was produced by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission - Southern Region in 1964. It shows that the cemetery had two entrances as well as a small building just to the south of the western entrance, designated as "gardener's quarters". Apparently, the same man (an Iraqi local) tended the graves for many years.

The location and current images of the abandoned Khanaqin Polish Military Cemetery in the Diyala region of central Iraq, close to the border with Iran. Khanaqin (Polish) War Cemetery This section of my website is under development and will be added progressivley over the next few weeks. In the meantime please read the following two news posts: Location and size of Khanaqin War Cemetery, Diyala, Iraq Surviving headstones at the Khanaqin War Cemetery, Diyala, Iraq The Khanaqin War Cemetery is the final resting place of 545 (five hundred and forty five) soldiers, comprising four hundred and thirty seven (437) who were serving with the Polish forces, one hundred and two (102) with the Indian forces and three (3) Arab Legion fighters. I have attached below an Excel spreadsheet containing the names of each of the men who were buried there. For greater detail, visit the Commonwealth War Graves Commission page for the Khanaqin War Cemetery Memoria l at the Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq. Khanaqin_Burial_Names.xlsx Location The cemetery is located This section of my website is under development and will be updated gradually over time The Current State of Khanaqin War Cemetery This section of my website is under development and will be updated gradually over time

The plight of the abandoned Hinaidi RAF Peace cemetery (now known as Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery, the early years of 6 Squadron on the Western Front and in Mesopotamia, the books of Steve Buster Johnson, and facts, photos and statistics pertaining to early military aviation and Royal Air Force casualties. 6 Squadron Royal Air Force - The Early Years 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. RAF Hinaidi, Baghdad, IRAQ 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. Ma'Asker Al Raschid (Hinaidi) RAF Cemetery Throughout the operational life of RAF Hinaidi, most British servicemen and women from all arms of the British Forces who died in Southern Iraq were buried at the Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery, located at the south-western corner of the RAF 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. The cemetery was to 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 71 surviving headstones ), this work was suspended by the JCCC (Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre) until such time the CWGC/MoD/JCCC were able to 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. In January 2024 I was informed by the Area Director Africa & Asia at the CWGC that a site survey had been carried out at the Ma'Asker Cemetery, yielding enough information for the CWGC and the MoD to determine the scope and timing of the next phase of restoration. No further progress has been made since then, primarily due to the difficult security situation in Baghdad where it is not considered safe for CWGC employees to gain access to the site. Twelve months later in January 2025, costings were finally determined for the next stage of restoration, including flood mitigation works and the erection of a small temporary memorial. On the 1st March 2025 I was informed by the Area Director Africa and Asia at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission that: " . . . In relation to the ongoing preparation work for Ma’Asker we have made some progress. Developing the proposal for the next phase of renovation took a little longer than anticipated, however, a proposal has been sent to the MOD this week for their review, and we now await their response " On another matter pertaining to the burials at Ma'Asker, in early 2023 I found compelling evidence of another burial (the 300th) at the Ma'Asker Al Raschid Cemetery, namely AC1 John Maxton Ramsay of the 6th Armoured Car Company, RAF. Click HERE for details. I immediately forwarded my findings to the Commemorations & Licensing, JCCC on the 5th April 2023 as the CWGC will only update their records if/when the JCCC and Air Historical Branch corroborate my finding. With nothing forthcoming thirteen months later in May 2024, I spent two weeks of further research to change what I considered 'compelling' evidence into 'conclusive' evidence, in the form of a second photograph (that clearly shows Ramsay's headstone) as well as the official Military Death Notice confirming that Ramsay died in the RAF Hinaidi General Hospital, a mere 900 yards from the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery. After a further nine months, I was relieved to receive a letter from the Head of the JCCC on the 5th February 2025 informing me: " . . . . . I am pleased to inform you that, following an adjudication board held on Thursday 29 January 2025, JCCC have agreed with your submission both that AC1 John Ramsay would have been buried in the cemetery now known as Ma’Asker Al Raschid, and that his grave would have been at what is now referenced as Plot 3, Row G, Grave 2 . . . . . . . . . The extensive and detailed evidence submitted by you has enabled this airman (or aviator to use the current RAF parlance) to have his final resting place recognised. For this we are grateful and appreciate the time, effort, and patience this has taken. As you are aware the cemetery has been very badly damaged and it is unlikely reinstallation of individual headstones will be attempted in the foreseeable future, but being able to confirm AC1 Ramsay’s grave reference means he will now be included in the Roll of Honour for the cemetery, and details included on any memorial erected to commemorate those who lie there. JCCC will now inform the CWGC so they can carry out any action required to recognise this decision . " This confirms that John Ramsay is the 300th grave at Ma'Asker. I have added my latest research to the Ramsay page on my website. Habbaniya War Cemetery I expanded my website in January 2024 to include a section devoted to the men and women who are buried at the Habbaniya War Cemetery, 55 miles west of Baghdad. The cemetery was originally part of RAF Dhibban, later known as RAF Habbaniya. I have added details of each of the 290 people buried there, including the location and a photograph of every headstone . If you want more information on the history of RAF Habbaniya that isn't covered on the pages of my website, take a look at the RAF Habbaniya Association website or send me a message via the CONTACT tab at the top of this page as I have access to some of the RAF Habbaniya Association's archives. Khanaqin War Cemetery The section of my website for the Khanaqin War Cemetery is under development and should be completed in May 2025. Photographs and Statistics on WW1 Military Aviation 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 . Steve ' Bus ter' Johnson New South Wales, AUSTRALIA CONTACT ME My Books To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key. Updated 12th May 2025 Recent News / Blog Topics Khanaqin War Cemetery - Location and Dimensions 9 Three Remaining Headstones at Khanaqin War Cemetery, Iraq 15 Old Map of Basingstoke Town and Waterways 28 6 Squadron Vampires at RAF Shaibah, Iraq 38 HM Troopship Dorsetshire 1927 18 Crash of 6 Squadron BE2d March 1917 8 Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery - Grave Utilisation 15 Flying Officer Ellis Reid No 1 Squadron RAF 11 Farewell Dinner for LXX (70) Squadron October 1934 14 Additional Burial Details at Ma'Asker Cemetery 42 Graves of Leonard and Phoebe Marks at Ma'Asker 14 Ma'Asker Al Raschid Cemetery - Scottish Regiment Deaths 20

This page shows photographs of every headstone in Plot 5 of the Habbaniya Military Cemetery Plot 5 Headstones - Habbaniya War Cemetery This page contains photographs of the seventy-three (73) headstones in Plot 5 of the Habbaniya War Cemetery. The photographs appear below in Row and Grave sequence but can also be accessed directly by clicking on the name of the person of interest by via the cemetery diagram page. The background image for this page (visible on all devices except mobile 'phones) is a wide-angle photograph taken of Plot 5 at Habbaniya. Anchor 1 Anchor 2 Anchor 3 Anchor 4 Anchor 5 Anchor 6 Anchor 7 Anchor 8 Anchor 9 Anchor 10 Anchor 11 Anchor 12 Anchor 13 Anchor 14 Anchor 15 Anchor 16 Anchor 17 Anchor 18 Anchor 19