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Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery with grave date sequence between Dec 1921 and Dec 1937. Breakdown of graves by service plus changes to the CWGC grave referencing. Ma'Asker Al Raschid Cemetery Burial Sequence / Analysis by Service Comments on Burial Sequencing Methodology and Complete Change at Unknown Date The Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery (formerly the Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery) was operational from Dec 1921 to Dec 1937, when control of all British forces in Iraq was at RAF Hinaidi. Only the western half of the land set aside for the cemetery was ever used and this was divided into three plots. Plots 1 and 2 were of equal size, each with four rows of fourteen graves, whilst Plot 3 occupied the northern half of the cemetery, with fourteen rows of fourteen graves. With the entrance to the cemetery in the centre of the north wall, the first Plot used for burials was Plot 3, followed by Plot 1 (first burial in April 1929) and finally Plot 2 (except for Plot 2, Rows C and D). The CWGC has always referenced each of the 300 graves at Ma’Asker according to its Plot Identifier (1, 2 or 3), Row Identifier (A to N) and Grave No (1 to 14), as specified in the official Commonwealth War Graves 1964/5 plan of the Ma'Asker Al Raschid Cemetery (see below). However, the original flow of grave numbers (North-South) was changed at some point between 1937 and 1964 to South-North. the reason for this has yet to be determined. Anchor 1 The cemetery diagram below shows the approximate burial sequence of the 300 men and women who were buried at the Ma'Asker Cemetery. Note that the 225th burial (located in an isolated grave between Plots 1 and 2) was for Sir Gilbert Clayton, British High Commissioner to Iraq at the time of his death in 1929. The grave numbering sequence is based upon the Date of Death as inscribed on every headstone, since no records have survived at the CWGC for the individual Dates of Burial. Every grave on the chart is coloured to indicate either the applicable branch of the British Military or whether the burial was for an RAF contractor or civilian. Empty grave sites are marked with an 'X'. By examining the numbering sequence according to the Date of Death on the Burial Sequence diagram there appear to be many anomalies. Some of the minor differences would most likely be due to the fact that the Date of Burial was days or weeks after the Date of Death, (depending upon where the death took place) whereas other inconsistencies, especially in Plot 2 Rows C and D, appeared to be random. The questions I’ve addressed in this paper are: 1 Is there proof that grave locations were left vacant and if so, why did this happen? 2 Why were burials reversed for the first four graves in Plot 3 Row D? 3 Why did burials in Plot 2 Rows C and D seem random, with 'Dates of Death' ranging from 1922 to 1929 4 What is the reason for apparent grave sequencing anomalies in Plots 1 and 3? 5 When was the grave numbering system (1 to 14) changed from 'North-South' to 'South-North'? 1 Is there proof that grave locations were left vacant and if so, why did this happen? On the 1965 official CWGC Plan of the Ma’Asker Cemetery (see above) there are five burial locations marked as ‘Vacant Grave Space’. After taking into account the Vacant Grave Spaces in Plot 3 Row G Grave 2 and Plot 2 Row B Grave 1 are respectively the final resting place of AC1 John Maxton Ramsay and the last remaining empty space in Row B (immediately following the 300th and final burial at Ma’Asker on the 19th December 1937), this number becomes three, viz: Plot 1 Row A Grave 13, Plot 1 Row D Grave 3 and Plot 3 Row N Grave 8. Plot 1 Row A Grave 13 I have been unable to find the reason why this burial location remained vacant for the life of the Ma’Asker Cemetery but have found photographic evidence that this probably was the case (see photo below). In the row behind the headstone for AC1 David Oldfield, who died on the 20th August 1930 and was buried in Plot 1 Row B Grave 11, there is a headstone for Sergeant George Garlinge, who died on the 16th June 1929 and was buried in Plot 1 Row A Grave 12. It is evident in the photograph that the grave to the right (or north) of Sergeant Garlinge’s grave was still vacant more than a year after Sergeant Garlinge died, so it is likely that it has remained vacant ever since. Plot 1 Row D Grave 3 I have been unable to find the reason why this burial location remained vacant for the life of the Ma’Asker Cemetery but have found photographic evidence that this was probably the case (see photo below). LAC Robert Raw died on the 2nd June 1935 and was buried in Plot 2 Row A Grave 3. As his death was more than one year after the Vacant Grave Space was left in Plot 1 Row D Grave 3, shown empty immediately behind LAC Raw’s headstone in the photograph, it is likely it has remained vacant ever since. Plot 3 Row N Grave 8 I have been unable to find photographic evidence nor the reason why this burial location might have been left vacant for the life of the Ma’Asker Cemetery. The graves on either side of Plot 3 Row N Grave 8 were only eighteen days apart, at least according to the ‘Date of Death’, so that does not give us any clues. Perhaps there was a rock beneath that particular location. We will never know unless new photographic evideince comes to light. 2 Why were burials reversed for the first four graves in Plot 3 Row D? In researching the deaths for Sequence Nos 51 and 52 (see photo below) I noticed that the two men died on the same day in the crash of a Vickers Vernon. Further research revealed that the aircraft crashed whilst taking off from Kirkuk, some 170 miles north of Baghdad, before bursting into flames. The bodies of AC1 Albert Milne and Flt Lt Robert Holme arrived at RAF Hinaidi at the same time. They would have been buried side by side except for the fact that the first vacant grave site was Plot 3 Row C Grave 1 (the southern end of the Row C). Rather than bury Flt Lt Holme at the northern end of Row D in Grave No 14 in a separate ceremony, it was decided to bury him in Row D Grave No 1 , less than three yards away from the grave of AC1 Milne. At this point the normal burial sequence could have been resumed, except for the fact that a third man, Flt Lt Alfred Messenger, who happened to be the pilot of that same Vickers Vernon, was also injured in the crash. He sadly succumbed to his injuries twelve days later and his body transported back to RAF Hinaidi, but not before another man had been buried in the cemetery, next to the grave of Flt Lt Holme. Consequently, Flt Messenger was buried in Row D Grave 3 . For some reason, another burial took place out of sequence before the normal ‘status quo’ was restored and the next burial was made in Row D No 14. 3 Why did burials in Plot 2 Rows C and D seem random, with 'Dates of Death' ranging from 1922 to 1929 Even a cursory glance at the burial sequencing chart on Page 2 will reveal a significant difference in the way burial spaces were utilised in the last two rows of Plot 2 (Rows C and D) compared to the rest of the Ma’Asker cemetery, as the ‘Dates of Death’ for the 23 men buried in these rows result in a seemingly random sequence. For example, the earliest Date of Death is February 1922 (Row D Grave 2) and the latest in September 1929 (Row D Grave 3), an interval of 7 ½ years, yet the men are buried side by side. However, an analysis of the circumstances behind the 23 deaths tells a different story. Though I could find no details for 4 of the burials, all but 2 [see Note below] of the remaining 19 deaths took place at distant locations, with 13 at Mosul, 2 at Sulaimaniya, 1 at Kirkuk and 1 in the Trans-Jordan region. To add administrative complication to what was intended to be a cemetery where burials were carried out in chronological order, several of the men who died at Mosul were initially buried at the Mosul cemetery and later their bodies were exhumed, transported the 260 miles to RAF Hinaidi and reinterred at Ma’Asker. To give one example, below is a photograph showing the graves of 3 RAF personnel, Sgt Pilot Charles Dicks, AC2 Edward Barber and Flying Officer Rupert Pontifex. The bodies of the three men were initially buried side by side at Mosul but reinterred some months later at Ma’Asker at different dates, with their new graves separated as a result. In summary, I would suggest that Rows C and D of Plot 2 at Ma’Asker were reserved for burials that were out of the ordinary in terms of chronology. NOTE: There are plausible reasons as to why the two men who apparently died at RAF Hinaidi ended up being buried in Plot 2, one in Row C and the other in Row D. The first man fell into the Tigris and was washed away, with no information recorded as to when or where his body was recovered, so the time delay could have been significant. The second man died just 3 days before the death of Sir Gilbert Clayton and a burial so close in time to Sir Gilbert’s grave/memorial service would have interfered with the ceremonial event for the latter. 4 What is the reason for apparent grave sequencing anomalies in Plots 1 and 3? If you disregard the 23 graves in Plot 2 Rows C and D (see above 3 Why did burials in Plot 2 Rows C and D seem random . . . . ) there are 277 other graves at Ma’Asker that need to be examined. In looking at the grave sequencing for Plots 1, Plot 2 (Rows A and B) and Plot 3, there are approximately 13 sequencing anomalies. This number is surprisingly low when you consider the fact that many of the deaths did not take place in and around Baghdad. In carrying out further research, I was able to identify 38 instances where the place of death was a significant distance from Baghdad and would naturally result in a burial date much later than the 'Date of Death', used by myself for the purposes of the sequencing diagram as that was the only date available to me. Shown below is a map of Iraq highlighting the areas where men who were buried at Ma’Asker actually died. Transportation of bodies was often fraught with danger and delays, so it is hardly surprising that burials would appear to be out of sequence when the only information we have today is the ‘Date of Death’. In summary, I would suggest that if we were ever able to find archival material that provided the actual dates for every burial at Ma’Asker, the only anomalies would be in Plot 2 Rows C and D. 5 When was the grave numbering system (1 to 14) changed from 'North-South' to 'South-North'? It can see seen in many photographs of the completed Ma’Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery that the grave numbering system for each Row was originally ‘1’ to ‘14’ from North to South, yet in the official CWGC Plan of the cemetery released in 1964 and updated in 1965, the grave numbering system is clearly shown as being ‘1’ to ‘14’ South to North (refer to diagram above). After raising the issue with the CWGC, sadly there apparently remains no documentation in the CWGC archives that explains why the change was made and when that change took place. Fortunately, this does not have any impact on who was buried and when, as only the most recent grave numbering system is used currently – by myself and the CWGC. Shown below is a photograph of the Ma’Asker cemetery that shows graves with the original grave number marker.

Database of the 45 RAF officers who were buried at the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery between Dec 1921 and Dec 1937 including their full service details. Ma'Asker Royal Air Force Burials (1922 to 1937) - Officer Service Details Of the 197 RAF personnel buried at the Ma' Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery (Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery), 43 were officers. Listed below, in chronological order of date of burial, are the service details and honours for each of these officers as well as the various RAF units each man served with during his RFC / RAF career and the burial Plot, Row and Grave number. You can either scroll through the data or search by entering a character string in the space provided. For anyone wishing to download the complete database containing the service details for each of the 43 RAF officers buried at Hinaidi, I have attached a pdf file below. To use the 'Search' function, enter either a single word / number or a character stream between double quotes, e.g. "6 Sqn".

Plan of Abeele aerodrome between 1916 and 1917 and aerial photos of airfield taken in 1916 and 2008, home of 6 Squadron for much of WW1 Abeele Aerodrome (1916 - 1917) From 6 Squadron official records as well as diaries, early photographs and various other sources, I have been able to determine the approximate size and shape of the Royal Flying Corps aerodrome at Abeele, as well as the locations of the hangars and huts that were used by the various squadrons based there during 1916 and 1917. I have reproduced below the diagram I built up when researching for For God, England and Ethel as well as two photographs of Abeele, one taken in 1916 and the second in 2008, showing that little has changed to the countryside over the intervening years.

Details of the Royal Air Force Stations exisiting in Iraq in 1935, with stations at Hinaidi, Basrah, Shaibah and Mosul, and wireless posts at Kirkuk and Muscat. Royal Air Force Stations, Iraq Pages 14 to 17 of "An Introduction to Iraq" provide details of the individual Royal Air Force Stations that existed in Iraq in 1935, with stations at Hinaidi, Basrah, Shaibah and Mosul as well as wireless posts at Kirkuk and Muscat. Additional information is given on the various amenities on each station with useful background details on the environs of Baghdad as well as cities and towns including Ctesiphon, Babylon, the Holy Cities, Basrah, At Ma'gil, Shaiba, Makina, Ur, Abadan and of course Mosul.

History and photos of Commonwealth Cemeteries in Iraq (Ma'Asker, Habbaniya, Basra and Khanaqin), Six Squadron Royal Air Force, WW1 Aviation and books written by Steve Buster Johnson 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. 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 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. Habbaniyah War Cemetery 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. Khanaqin War Cemetery and Basra / Amara War Cemeteries 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. 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. 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 . Updated 4th March 2026 Steve ' Bus ter' Johnson CONTACT ME New South Wales, AUSTRALIA 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 Recent News / Blog Topics Ma'Asker Cemetery Grave Remembered - No 7 Aircraft Depot RAF Hinaidi Ma'Asker Al Raschid Cemetery Grave Remembered - No 6 Ma'Asker RAF Cemetery Grave Remembered - No 5 Ma'Asker RAF Cemetery Grave Remembered - No 4 Ma'Asker RAF Cemetery Grave Remembered - No 3 Unveiling the Literary Works of Steve Buster Johnson: A Deep Dive into History and Heritage Habbaniyah War Cemetery Grave Remembered No 2 Rigger's Notes for British WW1 Aircraft Ma'Asker RAF Cemetery Grave Remembered - No 2 Ma'Asker RAF Cemetery Grave Remembered - No 1 Habbaniyah War Cemetery Grave Remembered - No: 1 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.

This is a diagram of all 300 burials at Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery, with names highlighted for the 30 family queries (up to mid 24) and existing headstones. Queries Received for Specific Burials at Ma'Asker RAF Cemetery The table below shows the name and grave location for each of the 300 burials at the Hinaidi / Ma'Asker RAF cemetery. The names with a black background are for those men whose families have enquired after their graves (31 as at March 2024 though dozens more have been received since but as yet updated on this chart). The names displayed in pale blue are the 71 headstones (complete or damaged) that were able to be identified at the cemetery during between October 2021 and November 2023. Note that the number of identifiable headstones has reached 76 as at November 2025. A

Royal Flying Corps book containing training notes on the Continous Wave Receiver Mk III - Changing telephone note - as used by my grandfather during 1918 Royal Air Force 1918 MK III Continuous Wave Receiver - Notes This page taken from a Royal Flying Corps book provides more information on the note in the telephone on a MK III Continuous Wave Receiver, as used by the RAF in 1918 during WW1. The booklet was produced by my grandfather and used for training during 1918.

Extract from 'Over the Western Front', written by Steve Buster Johnson, detailing aircraft on charge, major actions and 6 Squadron casualties during WW1. 6 Squadron WW1 Facts 5 Extract from my book Over the Western Front April 1917 Aircraft on Charge with 6 Squadron beginning April 1917 (Abeele, Belgium) 7 BE2e, 6 RE8, 4 BE2g and 1 BE2f – Total 18 BE2e A2746, BE2e A2752, BE2e A2759, BE2e A2768, BE2e A2781, BE2e A2848, BE2e A2858, RE8 A3197 RE8 A3198, RE8 A3215, RE8 A3226, RE8 A3438, RE8 A4195, BE2g 6278, BE2g 7130, BE2g 7160, BE2g 7175, BE2f 2555 Additions BE2g 6281, RE8 A3169, RE8 A4197, RE8 A4198, RE8 A111, RE8 A3228, RE8 A3448, RE8 A4196, BE2e A2762 RE8 A3231, RE8 A4211, RE8 A4206, RE8 A4210, RE8 A91, RE8 A3194, RE8 A3214, RE8 A3248, RE8 A4243, RE8 A4594 Struck off Charge / Transferred / Returned to Aircraft Park BE2e A2759, BE2e A2752, BE2e A2848, BE2e A2858, BE2g 6281, BE2g 7130, RE8 A3197, BE2g 6278, BE2e A2768 BE2e A2762, BE2g 7160, BE2e A2746, BE2e A2781, BE2g 7175, BE2f 2555, RE8 A3228, RE8 A4195, RE8 A3169 Aircraft on Charge with 6 Squadron end of April 1917 (Abeele, Belgium) 19 RE8 – Total 19 RE8 A91, RE8 A111, RE8 A3194, RE8 A3198, RE8 A3214, RE8 A3215, RE8 A3226, RE8 A3231, RE8 A3248, RE8 A3438 RE8 A3448, RE8 A4196, RE8 A4197, RE8 A4198, RE8 A4206, RE8 A4210, RE8 A4211, RE8 A4243, RE8 A4594 6 Squadron Casualties – April 1917 KIA / DOW, POW, WIA, Died Acc / Illness, Inj Acc / Illness 1 (19 Total), 0 (4 Total), 1 (12 Total), 0 (7 Total), 0 (12 Total) Full details of 6 Squadron's share of Royal Air Force casualties during WW1 can be found at the end of the book. The weather in April was a distinct improvement over the recent winter months and 6 Squadron machines took part in several bombing raids concentrated on enemy railway lines, trains and ammunition dumps. Most of the raids were during the day but some were carried out at night. In addition to daytime artillery observation missions, 6 Squadron aircraft carried out several successful night-time flash reconnaissance sorties, using zone calls to direct allied artillery on to enemy gun flashes as well as moving trains. By the 14th of April, the task of converting the squadron from the ageing BE2c to the RE8 was completed, involving the unusually high number of thirty-seven aircraft movements in and out of the squadron over a single month. This total was never surpassed by the squadron in the whole of WW1, though August 1918 came close with thirty-six movements and both September 1917 and October 1918 had thirty-four aircraft movements. An equal number of aircraft (eighteen) left the squadron during the chaotic months of August 1918 and October 1918 as took place in April 1917, but for far more sinister reasons than simply being exchanged for newer models. The changeover to the new type did not come without problems, however, as four brand new RE8s, Serials A3197, A3228, A4195 and A3169, were struck off charge in accidents due to pilot error or through mechanical and structural problems, on the 7th, 27th, 28th and 30th April respectively. The destruction of A3169 was through no fault of its 6 Squadron pilot, as the aircraft was struck whilst parked by one of the sheds by an FE8 scout of 41 Squadron that was coming in to land. On the positive side, an observer in one of the new RE8s out on photographic escort duties on the 26th April succeeded in driving down an enemy aircraft out of control, an unusual feat for a reconnaissance-bomber and one which resulted in Flight Sergeant Alan Cardno being ‘Mentioned In Despatches’. Of the remaining fourteen aircraft movements out of the squadron during April, thirteen were transferred to other squadrons and one, a BE2e Serial A2752, was wrecked after suffering engine failure on take-off on the 4th April and crashing on to a railway line. BE2e Serial A2759 was transferred to 4 Squadron on the 3rd April, Two days later, BE2e Serial A2848 was transferred to 8 Squadron, BE2e Serial A2858 to 13 Squadron and BE2g Serial 6281 to 12 Squadron. On the 7th April, BE2g Serial 7130 was transferred to 13 Squadron. On the 11th April, BE2g Serial 6278 was transferred to 12 Squadron, BE2e Serial A2768 to 2 Squadron and BE2e Serial A2762 to 4 Squadron. On the 12th April, BE2g Serial 7160 was transferred to 8 Squadron, as were BE2e Serial A2746 and BE2e Serial A2781. On the 13th April, BE2g Serial 7175 was transferred to 4 Squadron. On the 14th April, BE2f Serial 2555 was transferred to 8 Squadron. Not recorded in the above figures is the addition of a detachment of RE8s that came from 42 Squadron to Abeele during April (the actual number of aircraft involved and the duration of the attachment with 6 Squadron is unknown). There was one fatality at 6 Squadron during the month, when Air Mechanic 1st Class Walter H Bond died of gunshot wounds and a badly fractured femur on the 2nd March. Further details are not recorded, but it is likely he was flying as an observer and was injured during a mission. The only other casualty was Captain J G Selby, who was wounded by ground fire on the 6th April during a night-time bombing mission when he dropped two 112 lb bombs on a train travelling on the Menin-Verviq line. Test Links Page

Additional details (Buzzer in Earth lead) of aircraft transmitter Type W as used in 1918 by the RAF RAF 1918 Aircraft Type W Transmitter - Part 2 This page provides more details as to the action of the aircraft Type W transmitter, as used by the RFC / RAF in 1918 during WW1. It is taken from a Royal Flying Corps book produced by my grandfather and used by him in training wireless to air force trainees.

The story of RAF Hinaidi, from its foundation in 1921 until it was handed over to Iraq in 1937 (excluding the land upon which the Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery stands) RAF Hinaidi - A Brief History In October 1922, the Royal Air Force took over command and control from the British Army of all British Forces in Iraq. This decision was made on the grounds that it would be far cheaper to patrol the region from the air, by increasing the number of Royal Air Force squadrons and Armoured Car Companies now under its direct control instead of relying purely on ground troops to maintain peace in the region. Such a radical change in the Royal Air Force’s organization meant that the new infrastructure required would far exceed the capabilities of the RAF base at Baghdad West. To allow for growth into the future, an area of flat land seven miles east of Baghdad West, on the east bank of the River Tigris, was selected for the new base and this became known as RAF Hinaidi. 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 encompassing an area of approximately 2,500 acres. Though construction would take several years to complete, No 1 Squadron, the first of many, moved into its new home in April 1921. Over the sixteen year operational life of RAF Hinaidi, a total of seven RAF Squadrons were based there at one time or another, as were the Armoured Car Companies, the Iraqi Levies, RAF contactors and civilian employees. At its peak, the population of RAF Hinaidi reached 9,000 and the facilities provided for those who worked and lived there came to include three clubs (two for officers), playing fields, a swimming pool, tennis courts, squash courts, a golf course, a ‘point to point’ course, a large stadium, three churches, a college with library and a post office. The final piece of the jigsaw in bringing every organizational Unit into RAF Hinaidi was in December 1928 when the Air Headquarters and all its staff was moved from the old British Residency in the centre of Baghdad into one block of the RAF General Hospital, which had been built along the western perimeter of the cantonment on the bank of the River Tigris. The role of the squadrons based at Hinaidi was varied, encompassing all aspects of reconnaissance, bombing, ground attack in cooperation with Armoured Car Companies and transportion (e.g. people, equipment, mail). Actions, to name a few, included the repelling of Turkish forces from Kurdistan, restoring local order against Sheikh Mahmond of Sulaimania and Ahmad of Barzan and the evacuation of Karbul. Flying in a desert region came at great risk to the pilots and gunners, with sand causing frequent engine failure and extreme heat buckling wings and causing fabric glue to fail. As many men died as a result of accidental crashes as would in battle. Between December 1921 and December 1937, two hundred and ninety-nine servicemen and RAF contractors lost their lives and were buried in the Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery (later renamed the Ma’Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery but now known simply as the Al-Rasheed Cemetery). Their deaths were caused by a variety of events – in action, by accident, through illness and in a few instances, as a result of suicide or murder. Serving in the unfamiliar, harsh and unrelenting climate of Iraq was not easy, especially in the early nineteen-twenties when facilities provided at Hinaidi were very basic. By the time ownership of the RAF Hinaidi cantonment and most of its infrastructure was handed over to the Iraqi Government in February 1938, the RAF’s centre of operations in Iraq had already been moved to a new site at Habbaniya, fifty miles to the west of Baghdad. However, it was stipulated in the handover document that the cemetery grounds would remain the property of the British Ministry of Defence and maintained in perpetuity by the Imperial War Graves Commission. Many of the graves at Hinaidi are for decorated WW1 veterans from the Royal Air Force and the British Army as well as for diplomats and political officers, the most prominent diplomat being Brigadier-General Sir Gilbert Clayton, British High Commissioner to Iraq at the time of his death in September 1929. Sir Gilbert was instrumental in Iraq being accepted into the League of Nations, though he did not live to see the results of his achievements. Of the forty-three Royal Air Force pilots buried at Hinaidi, twenty-three were WW1 veterans, sharing between them twenty-six medals and citations. Four of the decorated veterans had achieved ‘ace’ status during their WW1 service prior to re-joining the peacetime Royal Air Force, often at a significantly lower rank. Two had once commanded their own squadrons. Among the senior officers buried at Hinaidi were two commanding officers (Squadron Leaders) of the No 6 Armoured Car Company as well as a Station Commander and a Wing Commander from the RAF HQ. During the construction of the perimeter wall at the Ma'Asker al Raschid Cemetery, photographs were taken of every headstone found on the cemetery grounds. A few headstones were in perfect condition and more or less in their original setting, whilst others, though complete, had been knocked over and moved to other parts of the cemetery. There were also a large number of damaged and incomplete headstones, with some fragments too small to be able to match the grave to which they belonged. Nevertheless, seventy-seven (77) of the original three hundred (300) headstones were able to be confirmed. It is possible that this number may increase, as there are many more headstone fragments buried under the rubble, especially as the south-east corner of the cemetery has in recent years been used as a makeshift access road to the nearby Al-Rasheed Air Base. The recent erection of the cemetery wall and security gate, coupled with Commonwealth War Graves signage, has hopefully halted the appalling deterioration of the cemetery. This project represents a huge step towards ensuring the ongoing security of the bodies of the men and women buried at Ma'Asker. However, in order to afford the men and women who gave their lives for their Country the honour and respect they deserve, more needs to be done. With details now available as to the name, service unit and grave location of every man, woman (and an eight-month-old baby girl) buried at Al-Rasheed, the next step is to have all two hundred and ninety-nine headstones re-made by the CWGC in Europe and erected at Al-Rasheed as time, resources and political climate allows. Click HERE to go to the section on the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery and HERE to read more about the day-to-day life at RAF Hinaidi.

This page shows the circuit diagram of a dual valve receiver, as used by the Royal Air Force in 1918. It also gives details of HT transformer windings Royal Air Force HT Transformer Windings for a Dual Valve Receiver This page shows the circuit diagram of a dual valve receiver, in use by the Royal Air Force in 1918. It also gives details of HT transformer windings

This page gives the location, grave details and photos of the Basra and Amara War Cemeteries. It also shows an aerial view and a detailed plan of the cemetery Basra Cemeteries and Amara War Cemetery Basra War Cemetery There are several Commonwealth cemeteries (for armed forces personnel as well as civilians) contained within or in close proximity to the Basra War Cemetery. There is also the Basra Memorial which is located 15 miles south-east of the Basra War Cemetery and 6 miles west of Shaibah, honouring 40,633 members of the Commonwealth Forces who died in Mesopotamia during WW1 and whose final resting place is unknown. The diagram below of the Basra War Cemetery shows the size and location of the main burial ground as well as the RAF Peace Cemetery and the Civil Cemetery. On the southern side of the 'British Army Cemetery Street' (the main road linking Basra and Shatt-al-Arab) lies the Basra Indian Forces Cemetery and contained within that cemetery is the Basra Cremation Memorial, commemorating 1,032 soldiers of the army of undivided India who died in Iraq and Iran during the Second World War. Click on one of the links below if you have an enquiry specific to one of these locations RAF (Makina) Peace Cemetery Basra Memorial Amara War Cemetery, Below are GPS links for all of the Basra cemeteries as a satellite view as well as links to the Commonwealth War Graves web site giving details for most of the casualties. Note: The CWGC website does not provide any details of the 71 burials at the Basra RAF Cemetery, but they are all listed here on my website. Satellite Images and Links to CWGC Website for Casualties Basra War Cemetery GPS: 30.53014 47.8205 2,890 CWGC Casualty Details Basra Makina RAF Cemetery GPS: 30.53202 47.82001 71 CWGC Casualty Details (though 0 are listed) Basra Memorial GPS: 30.41163 47.54582 40,663 CWGC Casualty Details Basra Makina Civil Cemetery GPS: 30.53195 47.82015 268 CWGC Casualty Details (only 2 - Merchant Navy Sailors) Basra Indian Forces Cemetery GPS: 30.528611 47.819445 280 CWGC Casualties Basra Cremation Memorial GPS: 30.52916 47.82005 1032 CWGC Casualty Details Anchor 1