Search Results

This 2019 satellite image of the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery (formerly the Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery and now known simply as the Rasheed Cemetery) has been overlaid with the outline of the 1964 Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) official plan of the cemetery, complete with grave allocation of the 299 burials. This photograph will be useful in Phase 2 of the restoration, as it shows the exact position of the headstone concrete bases, upon which the existing and replacement headstones will be erected.

In the course of my research into the early days of 6 and 8 Squadrons Royal Flying Corps I was given three photographs by the late Richard Price, great nephew of Lt Graham Price, a 6 Squadron observer. The photo with the propeller blade ‘marker’ shows the grave of Sergeant Benjamin Frederick Barnard (a fitter/rigger with 8 Squadron) who was killed by a spinning propellor whilst starting a BE2c on the 15th August 1915 at the Squadron’s base at Marieux. He was buried at Louvencourt Military Cemetery, about 4 miles ESE of the aerodrome, in Plot 1, Row C, Grave 1. 8 Squadron squadron had only arrived that day at Marieux, having moved up from its previous base at Vert Galand aerodrome. I have attached copies of the three photographs, taken shortly after the death of Sgt Barnard. I have also attached smaller images with comments to show the relative positions when compared with the present-day CWGC cemetery layout.

A recent query concerned Flying Officer Ellis Reid, a pilot who served with No 1 (Fighting) Squadron during the time the squadron was based at RAF Hinaidi in Iraq between April 1921 and November 1926 (at which time No 1 Squadron was disbanded). F/O Reid was with No 1 Squadron for less than two months before he was killed in a flying accident on the 12th November 1942 and buried at the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery, Baghdad in Plot 3 Row H Grave 5. Here is a summary of his brief service record. On the 29th March 1922 Ellis Reid was elected as a member of the RAE (Royal Aero Club of England). On the 9th November 1922 as a Flight Cadet on his way from Hendon (RAF Cranwell) to RAF Duxford, he was obliged to force land his Avro 504K Serial E3320 at Newmarket, but was not injured and completed his journey later that day. On the 19th November 1922 he was granted a permanent commission as a Pilot Officer. One month later, on the 19th December 1922, he was awarded the Aviator’s Certificate No: 7939 and posted to No 2 Squadron, based at Farnborough, UK. On the 26th March 1923 he was 'dangerously injured' in the crash of Bristol Fighter Serial J6593 when he stalled the aircraft on a left-hand turn during a solo training flight and spun into the ground at Farnborough aerodrome. On the 14th June, while still serving with No 2 Squadron, P/O Reid was again injured in flying accident at Croydon whilst flying an aircraft belonging to the Royal Aero Club. His passenger, Pilot Officer Frank Edward Nuttall (also of No 2 Squadron) was also slightly injured and they were both taken to the Purley Cottage Hospital for treatment. On the 8th February 1924, P/O Reid was posted to the RAF Base at Leuchars in Scotland. On the 19th May 1924 he was promoted to Flying Officer and on the 18th September 1924 posted to 1 Squadron, at that time based in RAF Hinaidi, Baghdad. On the 12th November 1924, whilst on an unauthorised flight in a converted dual-cockpit Sopwith Snipe F2499 belonging to No 1 Squadron with Lt W H E Cotter of the Royal Inniskilliing Fusiliers as passenger, he got into a spin at too low an altitude and failed to recover before crashing into the ground on the RAF Hinaidi aerodrome. F/O Reid was killed outright and Lt W H E Cotter suffered serious and life-threatening injuries. Ellis Reid was the son of Colonel Ellis Ramsay Reid (who died in 1918) Helena Kate Reid (who died in July 1924) and was only 22 at the time of his death. RIP Headstone for Flying Officer Ellis Reid No 1 (Fighter) Squadron, Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery, Baghdad

The full extent of the tragic story of the Marks family only became known recently when Ron Workman (the grandson of Leonard Marks) sent me photos of Leonard Marks’ funeral and headstone. In the late nineteen-twenties Leonard Marks was a civilian electrician working for the Royal Air Force in the Works & Building Depot at RAF Hinaidi, Baghdad. At that time RAF Hinaidi was the centre of operations for all British Forces (Army, Navy and Air Force) in Mesopotamia, present day Iraq. Leonard lived on base with his wife Marie who gave birth to their daughter, Phoebe, on the 6th November 1928. Sadly, Phoebe died when she was only eight months old on the 17th July 1929 and was buried in the cemetery within the grounds of the RAF Hinaidi cantonment. At that time the cemetery was named the Hinaidi RAF (Peace ) Cemetery but the name was later change to the Ma’Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery. It is not known how Phoebe lost her life but Marie gave birth to another daughter some time between 1929 and 1934 and named her Dorothy. On the 11th September 1934 a local native employee was in dispute regarding pay with a fellow Works & Building Depot civilian contractor James White, when he pulled out a pistol and fired a number of shots, fatally wounding James White and seriously wounding Leonard Marks who happened to be working nearby. James White died that day and Leonard Marks succumbed to his injuries on the following day, the 12th September 1934. Leonard Marks was buried next to James White in the same cemetery as his daughter Phoebe, less than twenty yards away from her grave. Though the Marks family history is still being investigated, I am not yet aware as to how and when Marie Marks and her daughter Dorothy returned to England nor when Dorothy got married and gave birth to Ron. I have reproduced here photos of Leonard Marks’ funeral procession (with his wife Marie following the coffin carrying a wreath) and his headstone, the latter also showing part of Phoebe’s headstone in the background. I have also attached a press cutting describing the incident and a present-day photograph of Phoebe's headstone. Sadly, Leonard Marks' headstone is not one of the 74 headstones (out of 300 burials) that has survived decades of neglect at the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery.

Earlier this week an article was published in the New Yorker  magazine, written by staff writer Ed Caesar. The article, entitled THE FIRST WORLD WAR, IN SHARP FOCUS , tells the story of Captain Ewart Vincent Tempest, who served in the British Army during WW1 as the intelligence officer for the 1/6 th Battalion of the West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales Own), an infantry regiment in the British Territorial Forces. Before you ask what relevance this has to my website, I should add that there was a brief mention in the story of a fellow 1/6 th  Battalion officer who was officially listed as being K illed I n A ction on the 6 th  January 1918, but upon further investigation was found to have been killed in a flying accident involving two 6 Squadron aircraft. Why would an army officer who had not transferred or been seconded into the Royal Air Force (i.e. as a pilot or an observer) be flying in the first place. The man’s name, Walter Alexander Scales, rang a bell with me as I remembered mentioning his death in my book, Over the Western Front , and I thought the events leading up to the tragic event were worth recording here to reach a wider audience.   During WW1, 6 Squadron was always referred to as an ‘Army Cooperation’ squadron, since most of its duties (apart from bombing) involved day-to-day cooperation with various operational units of the allied army. From October 1914 until November 1917, 6 Squadron was based in the northern sector of the Western Front, in close proximity to Ypres, but when the Battle of Cambrai was planned by the Allies, the squadron was moved south to the Somme valley. Here are two extracts from my book, Over the Western Front,  explaining what happened at the Battle of Cambrai and the consequences this had for 6 Squadron.   ‘The reason for moving 6 Squadron south to Bertangles was for its aircraft to support the cavalry in the attack at Cambrai which commenced on the morning of the 20 th November, though this was contingent upon the success of the British tanks in clearing a path across which the cavalry would advance. In the event, though great advances were made before noon, by the end of the day, weather and mechanical failure bogged down the advance so much that the cavalry was unable to be used to effect and 6 Squadron was not called to take part. Pending further instructions, the men were ‘confined to camp’ until the 23 rd November, by which time it was clear that 6 Squadron would not be required. In an unprecedented move, one that was never to be repeated for any other squadron, it was decided that 6 Squadron would take on an instructional role in educating senior officers of the other military Arms in the capabilities and limitations regarding the Royal Flying Corps role in its army cooperation capacity.'   'Moving from supporting 2 nd  (Corps) Wing, II Brigade, 6 Squadron now came under the control of HQ RAF and would remain so until the 20 th  July 1918. The plan was to run consecutive four-day courses over a five month period, each course attended by twenty-four officers between the rank of Brigadier and Staff Captain, with one month dedicated to each of the five British Armies. Almost immediately, all of the 6 Squadron observers were transferred to other squadrons since they were no longer needed. The rear cockpits of each RE8 (eighteen aircraft in total) would in future be occupied by the officers under instruction. With the squadron no longer operational, preparations were made for the first intake of army officers, planned for mid-December. Bertangles aerodrome was capable of accommodating two squadrons, so 6 Squadron took one side of the aerodrome and the other side was used for the running of the courses and the accommodation of the army officers.’   Captain Scales attended one of the first courses (probably the third) run by 6 Squadron and the pilots at that time were still getting used to flying in close proximity to other aircraft, albeit friendly ones. This is evidenced by the fact that in the month of January 1918 alone, four aircraft were written off in accidents, with five men killed and two men injured. The first accident was the costliest and involved Captain Scales. Here is another extract from my book.   ‘Captain Robert Reeder and 2 nd  Lt Frederick A Egner were killed when their RE8s, Serials B5035 and B6493, collided in mid-air on the 6 January during an instructional flight. Their army officer passengers, Captain Walter Alexander Scales of the West Yorkshire Regiment and Major Richard Nagle Ford of the Royal Fusiliers, were also killed.’   From eye witness accounts it appears that both aircraft were conducting a similar exercise, that of using a fixed gunsight to shoot at a ground target, when the crew of one of the RE8s lost sight of the other aircraft until it was too late and they collided in mid-air. None of the men survived the resulting crash at Molliens-au-Bois and their bodies were transported 14 miles north to the Doullens Cemetery (Extension No 1) where they were buried side by side, with Ford and Scales in IV.A.10 and IV.A.11 and Reeder and Egner in IV.A.12 and IV.A.13. Due to the secrecy afforded to the Army officer training initiative run by 6 Squadron between December 1917 and March 1918 it is hardly surprising that the deaths of the two army officers were officially recorded as “Killed In Action”. With Captain Scales’ father already dead I wonder if his mother was ever informed of the real cause of her son’s death. It is likely we will never know the answer to that question. Captain Walter Scales (nicknamed "the babe" in the British Army and simply Alex in pre-war civilian life) attended Bradford Grammar School from 1903 to 1909. Nick Hooper (former Head of History at the BGS) wrote an excellent biography of him along with biographies of another 120+ 'old boys' and has given me permission to add a link to Scales' biography in this News post. Shown below are two photographs of Captain Scales, reproduced here from the 2016 Battlefields Tour brochure with the kind permission of Tricia Restorick. The first photograph was taken at Vignacourt in April 1916 and the second (a group photo of 6 Battalion men) shows a youthful Walter Scales sitting in the middle of the group resting on his cane. Captain Walter Scales MC, 1/6 Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment Group of men from 1/6 Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment (Cpt Walter Scales MC with cane)   It is interesting to note that 6 Squadron suffered no further casualties (to its men or to any of the course attendees) until the courses were terminated on the 20 th March 1918 at the surprise commencement of the German Spring Offensive. The squadron was ordered back to strength as a matter of urgency (requiring 18 new observers to replace those who were sent away in November 1917) so that it could be put under the direct command of HQ and used for ‘special duties’.   I have attached photographs of British Army officers who attended two of the instructional courses at 6 Squadron, though I do not have a date for either of them. The photograph taken in the snow must have been for one of the first courses as I can count twenty-four attendees. Perhaps Captain Scales is amongst them. Note the heavy clothing to combat the freezing temperatures in the open cockpits of the Royal Aircraft Factory RE8. For more information of this event and in particular more background details on Captain Robert Reeder, Walter Scales' pilot that fateful day, click HERE to be redirected to the appropriate page on this website. If you would like to read an article in the Telegraph Argus newspaper on Captain Scales, click HERE .

Charles Henry and Eliza Harriet Pocock Whilst researching for my next book, the true story of the early life of my grandmother Ethel Pocock, who was brought up in Rochester, Kent in the Queen Victoria era, I came across a surprising link between my great-grandparents Henry and Elisa Pocock and Charles Dickens. Not only did Henry Pocock look after Charles Dickens' bee hives, he measured and made shoes for Charles Dickens and also played cricket with Charles Dickens and others on the land behind Gad's Hill Place, Dickens' house. The matches started at 5:00 and finished at 8:00 am, after which everyone including Dickens would repair to the Sir John Falstaff pub across the road and enjoy a breakfast of bread and cheese, washed down with mugs of ale. Then, the men would disperse and go about their normal daily business, my great-grandfather to his shoe and boot making shop. Apparently Dickens had a cricket song that was sung after every match and the words and tune were passed down to my great-uncle Will Pocock OBE. Sadly the tune has not survived but I have added the words below. “This world is like a game of cricket, Rolling on from day to day. We are players placed upon it— Sometimes bowled right clean away. So keep your arm and eye both steady, Watch your chances one by one. Don’t strike the ball ’til you are ready, Then be careful how you run.” My great-grandmother Eliza Harriet Pocock occasionally had tea with Charles Dickens and it is family folklore that she first met Dickens as a small girl whilst running home in the pouring rain. Charles Dickens happened to be passing by in his carriage and he asked his driver to stop and pick up the girl so that he could drive her home. If this story is true, Charles Dickens might well have been instrumental in my grandparents getting to know each other.

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

A recent query required me to identify the servicemen who were buried at the RAF Cemetery in Baghdad 'between the two World Wars'. The cemetery, now called the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery but originally named the RAF Hinaidi Peace Cemetery, is the final resting place of three hundred airmen, soldiers and seamen of the British forces including a number of civilians working for the Royal Air Force, who died in the service of their country in the nineteen-twenties and nineteen-thirties. The attached diagram may be of interest to others. In summary, 15 officers and NCOs of the British Army who were attached to the RAF Iraq Levies , died between December 1921 and January 1931 in Iraq and were buried at Ma'Asker (short name "Rasheed"). Out of the 300 burials, 24 men of the six RAF Armoured Car Companies and HQ died between June 1922 and May 1935 and were buried at Ma'Asker. For more details see also the page on this website that provides a breakdown of burials by service type (including those of the Armoured Car Companies and those attached to the RAF Iraq Levies. Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery, Baghdad, highlighting Armoured Car Company and Attached to RAF Levies Deaths - 1921 to 1935

When Ben Soppett recently toured Iraq, visiting many CWGC cemeteries he made a point to stop at the WW2 Polish War Cemetery at Khanaqin, a cemetery jointly maintained by the Polish and British governments. Though almost nothing remains of the cemetery (see my website for more details) Ben did spot a carving made in the face of a sandstone cliff. Clearly it has been significantly eroded by the desert winds over the years but there are sufficient characters and numerals to determine that it was carved by a Polish soldier on the 14th July 1942. As to his name and unit, not even AI can come up with a consistent answer, which is a shame. Anyway, Ben has given me permission to include these photos on my website. Sandstone Carving at Khanaqin Polish War Cemetery - 1942 Sandstone Carving at Khanaqin Polish War Cemetery - 1942 Sandstone Carving at Khanaqin Polish War Cemetery - 1942

In January 2024 I was informed by the Area Director Africa & Asia at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission 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. Progress after that was slow, 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. In March 2025, the Area Director Africa and Asia provided me with an update on the restoration project: ​ " . . . 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 the ir review, and we now await their response " ​ On the 23rd May 2025 I requested an update from the CWGC, informing me that the MoD has approved the proposal and that quotes are currently being sought from local (Iraqi) contractors for the flood mitigation ground works and anticipated that said works will be completed by the end of this (northern hemisphere) summer. I'll update this blog and also my home page as and when I receive further news. Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery satellite Photo overlaid with original cemetery plan Floodwater remnants in Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery, Baghdad

With the kind assistance of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission I am now able to share details and specific grave locations for the seventy-one (71) men buried at the Basra (Makina) RAF Cemetery. Forty-six graves are for Royal Air Force personnel, nine graves for men of the Royal Navy, three from the British Army, five from the Indian Army and eight civilians. As the cemetery is for deaths that were 'between the wars', the grave locations are not available on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, though the names of the fallen do appear in the on-line Iraq Roll of Honour (click on the following link to view the ROH https://www.cwgc.org/non-commemoration/rolls-of-honour/ and look at pages 153 and 154). I have just completed a section to my website (Sep 2025) that is dedicated to the Basra (Makina) RAF Cemetery and the 71 men buried there. As a sample, I have attached to this post a summary chart that shows the names of the buried, their dates of death and the exact location of each grave. To see the full section on my website, use this link https://www.stevebusterjohnson.com/basrawarcemetery/basra-raf-cemetery

The Story Behind the Grave Janette Swales recently reached out to me with a heartfelt request. She shared photos of her great-grandmother's brother, Private James William Palmer. He tragically lost his life on the 27th of November, 1922, while serving with the Norfolk Regiment in Iraq. His final resting place is the RAF Hinaidi Peace Cemetery, now known as the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery. Janette was eager to know if I had any photographs of James Palmer's grave. She also wanted to learn more about the circumstances surrounding his death. Unfortunately, I couldn't provide answers to either of her questions. However, I was able to show her where his grave is located in a wide-angle photograph of the cemetery taken back in 1933. A Glimpse into the Past Janette also provided me with a photograph of the original headstone, which I have included below. It's a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who served. For a more detailed account and additional photographs, please click on this link to the OLD BURIAL & HEADSTONE PHOTOS page on this website. The Importance of Remembering It's vital to remember the stories of individuals like Private James William Palmer. Each soldier has a unique tale that contributes to the broader narrative of our history. By sharing these stories, we honor their sacrifices and keep their memories alive. The Role of War Cemeteries War cemeteries serve as solemn reminders of the cost of conflict. They are places of reflection and remembrance. The RAF Hinaidi Peace Cemetery is no exception. It holds the memories of many brave service members who gave their lives in service to their country. Preserving History As we delve into the past, it's essential to advocate for the preservation of these sites. They are not just graves; they are historical landmarks that tell the stories of bravery and sacrifice. Efforts to restore and maintain these cemeteries ensure that future generations can learn about and appreciate the sacrifices made by those who came before us. Research Assistance If you're seeking information about British military personnel, I’m here to help. My goal is to provide free research assistance to anyone interested in uncovering the stories of their ancestors. Whether you're a military historian or a family member looking to connect with your past, I’m dedicated to helping you find the information you need. Conclusion In closing, I want to express my gratitude to Janette for sharing her family's story with me. It’s a reminder of the personal connections we have to our history. Each photograph, each grave, tells a story worth remembering. Let’s continue to honor these brave souls and ensure their legacies live on. --- If you have any questions or need assistance with your research, feel free to reach out. Together, we can keep the memories of our heroes alive.