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In February 1923, Vickers Vernon aircraft from 70 Squadron took part in transporting 500 troops to Kirkuk, for them to drive away Kurdish forces that had taken over the outskirts of Kirkuk. Pictured here is Vickers Vernon Mk I, J6883 in the process of loading troops. This mission was the first of its kind in airlifting soldiers in a conflict. This photograph was taken by the then Pilot Officer (later Air Commodore) David W F Bonham-Carter and is reproduced here with the kind permission of Jim Cownie, his grandson. For more on 70 Squadron's operations at RAF Hinaidi, click HERE . 70 Squadron Vickers Vernon Mk I Serial J68883 airlifting troops to Kirkuk in February 1923

As a writer and researcher I make it a habit of avoiding anything to do with AI as its wordy output often sounds authoritative but is invariably incorrect when it comes to the actual details. Having read the following blog suggestion created by AI, I considered that it might be worth publishing the text verbatim as it gives a pretty good background to the story behind the allied cemeteries in Iraq. What is does not address however, are the British Military cemeteries that have fallen between the cracks with regards their maintenance by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission simply because the deaths occurred during conflicts in the eighteen years 'between the wars', viz from 1st September 1921 to the 2nd September 1939. When I first started exploring the history of British military involvement in Iraq, I was struck by something I hadn’t given much thought to before: the British war cemeteries scattered across the country. These cemeteries are more than just resting places for fallen soldiers; they are silent storytellers, guardians of memory, and poignant reminders of the sacrifices made far from home. Today, I want to take you on a journey through the historical importance of British war cemeteries in Iraq, sharing insights that might deepen your appreciation for these solemn sites. Why British War Cemeteries in Iraq Matter British war cemeteries in Iraq hold a unique place in history. They are physical markers of the complex and often turbulent relationship between Britain and Iraq, especially during the two World Wars and subsequent conflicts. These cemeteries serve as a testament to the bravery and sacrifice of British service members who fought in harsh and unfamiliar conditions. One of the most significant aspects of these cemeteries is their role in preserving history. Each headstone tells a story - of a life cut short, of battles fought, and of families left behind. For military historians and genealogists, these cemeteries are invaluable resources. They provide concrete evidence of where and when British forces were active, and they help piece together the broader narrative of military campaigns in the region. Moreover, these cemeteries are places of reflection and respect. They remind us that war is not just about strategies and outcomes but about human lives. Visiting these sites can be a deeply moving experience, offering a chance to connect with history on a personal level. British war cemetery in Iraq with rows of white headstones British War Cemeteries Significance in Historical Context Understanding the significance of British war cemeteries in Iraq requires a bit of historical context. During World War I and World War II, Iraq was a strategic location for the British Empire. The Mesopotamian campaign in WWI, for example, was a brutal and challenging theatre of war. Many British soldiers lost their lives due to combat, disease, and harsh environmental conditions. The cemeteries established during and after these conflicts were designed not only to honour the dead but also to maintain a record of their sacrifice. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) played a crucial role in this, ensuring that the graves were properly maintained and that the names of the fallen were inscribed with dignity. These cemeteries also reflect the geopolitical shifts in the region. As Iraq moved from British mandate to independence, the cemeteries remained as enduring symbols of a shared, if complicated, history. They remind us that the legacy of war is not confined to battlefields but extends into the landscapes and communities where these soldiers rest. The Role of Preservation and Restoration One thing I’ve learned is that preserving these cemeteries is no small task. The harsh climate of Iraq, combined with decades of political instability, has taken a toll on many of these sites. This is where advocacy and active restoration efforts become vital. Steve Buster Johnson, for instance, is a passionate advocate for the restoration and preservation of British war cemeteries in Iraq. His work highlights the importance of maintaining these sites not just as historical landmarks but as places of honour and remembrance. Preservation efforts often involve cleaning, repairing headstones, and ensuring that the cemeteries remain accessible to visitors and researchers. For families of British service members, these cemeteries are often the only tangible connection to their ancestors’ sacrifices. Restoration projects help keep that connection alive, allowing future generations to pay their respects and learn about their heritage. Restoration work on a British war cemetery in Iraq How to Use British War Cemeteries for Research and Remembrance If you’re a genealogist or a military historian, British war cemeteries in Iraq can be a goldmine of information. Here are some practical tips on how to make the most of these sites: Plan Your Visit Carefully - Check the accessibility and security situation in the area. Some cemeteries may require special permission to visit. Use Online Resources - The Commonwealth War Graves Commission website is an excellent starting point. It provides detailed records of those buried in British war cemeteries worldwide. Document Your Findings - Take photos, notes, and GPS coordinates. This can help you build a comprehensive record for your research or family history. Connect with Local Experts - Sometimes local historians or caretakers have valuable insights and stories that aren’t recorded elsewhere. Respect the Site - Remember, these are places of remembrance. Approach with respect and sensitivity. For those who cannot visit in person, many organizations, including Steve Buster Johnson’s online resource, offer free research assistance. This can be a lifeline for families seeking information about their loved ones. Why These Cemeteries Should Matter to Us All You might wonder why British war cemeteries in Iraq should matter beyond the immediate circles of historians and families. Well, these cemeteries are part of a global story about conflict, sacrifice, and memory. They remind us that history is not just about dates and battles but about people. In a world where the past can sometimes feel distant, these cemeteries bring history to life. They encourage us to reflect on the cost of war and the value of peace. They also highlight the importance of preserving history in all its forms - from grand monuments to humble headstones. By supporting efforts to maintain and restore these cemeteries, we honour not only those who served but also the shared human experience that connects us across time and place. Keeping the Memory Alive: A Personal Reflection Visiting a British war cemetery in Iraq is a profoundly moving experience. Standing among the rows of white headstones, you can’t help but feel a connection to the past. It’s a reminder that history is not just something we read about in books - it’s something we live with, something that shapes our present and future. I encourage you to explore these sites, whether virtually or in person. Dive into the stories they hold, and consider how you might contribute to preserving this important heritage. After all, remembering is an act of respect, and respect is the foundation of understanding. If you want to learn more or need help with research, don’t hesitate to reach out to resources like Steve Buster Johnson’s website, which aims to be the definitive online resource for the history of 6 Squadron RAF and British war cemeteries in Iraq. Thanks for joining me on this journey through the historical importance of British war cemeteries in Iraq. I hope it’s sparked your curiosity and deepened your appreciation for these remarkable sites. Until next time, keep exploring and honouring the past!

Another photograph has come to light of Leading Aircraftman Sidney Ivor Kerslake who lost his life on the 5th July 1925 when the Lancia Royal Air Force Armoured Car in which he was driving overturned due to a puncture at Baiji, 85 miles south of Mosul. The lates photograph was sent to me by Phil Smith, whose grandfather knew Sidney's father. In comparing this photograph with the others on my website ( https://www.stevebusterjohnson.com/lac-sidney-kerslake ) I would say that it was taken shortly after Sidney gained his observer 'wings' in 1921 when he was nineteen years of age (with the Armoured Car Companies being part of the Royal Air Force, even ground observers were recognised by being awarded the single wing, just like their air force counterparts who observed from the air. Phil Smith is of the opinion that the other man in the photograph is Sidney Kerslake's younger brother as there is a definite familial resemblance.

Thanks to photographs taken by Ben Soppitt when he visited the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery on his visit to Baghdad a few days ago, I have been able to identify another three headstones, albeit it in damaged and incomplete condition. This takes the number of identifiable headstones up to 73 (seventy-three), out of the total number of 300 graves. The newly discovered headstones are for Sergeant Pilot Herbert Victor Hudson of 30 Squadron (buried in Plot 1, Row C, Grave 7), Corporal Arthur J Carless of 70 Squadron (buried in Plot 3, Row G, Grave 3) and Sergeant William Stanley Woods of the Royal Air Force Headquarters, Baghdad (Plot 3, Row M, Grave 1). Note: As at 13th November 2025 there are now 77 identifiable headstones at Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery. To view all seventy-seven headstone images visit   this page on this website .

From a recent photograph taken at the Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery, I have been able to confirm the identity of the 77th headstone, that of LAC Ralph R Fuller of 77 (Bomber) Squadron who was flying as observer in a Vickers Victoria Serial Number J8919 when he had the misfortune to fall out of the aircraft when the door opened in mid-air on the night of the 7th October 1931. To view all seventy-seven headstone images visit this page on this website .

My good friend and fellow researcher Annemie Morisse, who lives in Poperinge, Belgium, has unearthed a 1918 map that not only identifies the exact locations of the allied aerodromes at La Lovie, Proven, Abele and Poperinge, but also the area covered by each of the airfields. The sites of the four aerodromes have been the source of much controversy over the past few years, especially as many WW1 enthusiasts have been attempting to visit the locations as part of organised tours of the western front trenches and battlefields. I have reproduced the map below. If anyone has difficulty matching the sites to the current maps, please contact me and I will give you detailed directions.

Following a request from a number of people who have read my book 'Leaning on a Lamp Post', I am including here a composite map of the town of Basingstoke (UK), being a black and white 1894 map of the city superimposed on a colour photograph of the same area, courtesy of Google Earth. A great deal of research went into the section of the book that took place in Basingstoke during 1910, especially in the area around the old wharf (now the bus station). It is interesting to see just how many outstanding heritage buildings were demolished to make way for the Basingstoke shopping centre, an act of vandalism in my opinion that would never be passed today.

By sheer good fortune, and thanks to David Weekes who offered me some of his photographic collection from WW1, I have become the custodian of an official document produced by 6 Squadron Royal Flying Corps shortly after the Battle of Messines in June 1917. The document (unique as far as I know and only recently come to light after almost 100 years) comprises some 86 aerial photographs of the area around the Messines ridge, taken between December 1916 and the days immediately prior to the attack on 7th June 1917, as well as of the same areas after the bombardment and detonation of 19 mines beneath the German positions. I have created a summary chart of the areas covered by the photographs (see attached). If anyone would like to see a copy of one or more of the photographs, you can reach me via the 'Contact' page. Update 16/03/17 - Due to lack of interest from the British National Archives re my offer to have the document added to the AIR 1 collection at Kew, I have decided to digitise all 86 images and gradually add them to my website (and also to my Pinterest account) under the menu item 'Messines'.

Here is a copy of the review of my latest book, as it appears in the C&CI journal for Spring 2019 50.079: OVER THE WESTERN FRONT - 6 Squadron Royal Flying Corps by Steve 'Buster’ Johnson. FeedaRead.com Publishing. 276pp, 215x280mm, Softback, Illustrated. ISBN 978-1-935881-67-4 The author's grandfather served with 6 Squadron in France and Belgium from November 1915 to January 1918, His service was as an ordinary airman who specialised in working with wireless equipment. The squadron helped pioneer the use of wireless in France before the creation of the HQ WT Unit, which became 9 Squadron. Fred Johnstone, the grandfather, was posted to 6 Squadron because of his expertise with wireless equipment. He served with the unit for over two years until illness led to a home posting at the Flowerdown wireless school as an instructor. The book is in two distinct halves. The first is a month-by-month summary of the diary kept while in France. As the author explains, diary entries were obviously regarded as being very personal and so were entered in both cryptic and coded forms. Simple reproduction of them would mean nothing to the reader and so the author has synthesised their content. The result works well and the diary entries are a combination of information about day-to-day life in the squadron and the personalities involved. The latter include both flying and ground crews. The photographic illustrations come from a variety of sources. Quite a number are those that had belonged to Fred Johnstone and show the men and women he knew. Others are contemporary postcards of locations mentioned while aeroplane shots come from present day collections, including CCI. The author demonstrates his knowledge of all things 6 Squadron in the second part of the book. This is a month-by-month summary of the squadron's strength and losses. For completeness, it covers the period October 1914, when the unit joined the BEF, to December 1918. Tabulations for each month give serial number information for machines on charge at the beginning of the period, on charge at the end, those struck off and new additions. A further table shows the month's casualties by cause. The accompanying text gives further information about casualties and details of any unit movement. Appendices give information of the unit's aeroplane establishment for selected months, a breakdown of the turnover of machines by cause, a summary of casualties by cause and short biographies of four 6 Squadron aircrew, two pilots and two observers. This book provides a lot of what anyone might need to know about 6 Squadron's aeroplanes and operations and casualties. The only thing really missing is a detailed personnel roster. Exceptional value for the price of a couple of pints of beer.

I have recently received several enquiries regarding the various aerodromes occupied by 6 Squadron and 4 Squadron RFC/RAF during their time on the Western Front as well as an enquiry as to the present-day site of what was once the WW1 RAF airfield at Abeele, a village on the Belgian French border (in fact the border runs through the centre of the main street). As Abeele aerodrome was occupied by both 6 Squadron and 4 Squadron between May 1917 and November 1917, I thought it would be useful to post an image that shows aerial photographs of Abeele aerodrome, one taken in 1916 and the other, a Google Maps image c2023. I have also added diagrams which show the layout of the aerodrome in 1917 when 6 and 4 Squadrons were both stationed there. The details on the main diagram shown below were gradually built up after visits to the Public Records Office in Kew, viewing the operational records of 4 and 6 Squadrons and reading several personal diaries kept by men who were stationed at Abeele. and were used by me in the writing of three of my books, 'For God, England and Ethel', 'Seven Days in April' and 'Over the Western Front'. Abeele RAF Aerodrome, WW1

I made the mistake of using AI to write a News story and was amazed by the rubbish it produced below. However, I will keep it here for a while to perhaps discourage other people from trusting AI. I also did a Google search on some of the types of research that I carry out on a regular basis and was amazed at how wrong AI can be - but with such authority! By changing the order of words in a search using AI I can also receive entirely different results. If you are conducting any kind of serious research and want information you can rely on, I personally recommend you do not use AI. When I first stumbled upon the work of Steve Buster Johnson, I was immediately drawn in by his passion for preserving history. His dedication to the stories of 6 Squadron RAF and British war cemeteries in Iraq is nothing short of inspiring. If you’ve ever wondered how one person can make such a difference in keeping military history alive, then you’re in for a treat. Let me take you on a journey through Steve’s biography and legacy, sharing what makes his work so vital and how it continues to impact families and historians alike. Steve Buster Johnson Biography: A Life Dedicated to History Steve Buster Johnson’s story is one of commitment and heartfelt advocacy. From an early age, he was fascinated by military history, particularly the stories of British service members who served in challenging theatres like Iraq. His interest wasn’t just academic; it was personal. Steve understood that behind every name on a war memorial, there was a story waiting to be told. What sets Steve apart is his hands-on approach. He doesn’t just write about history; he actively works to preserve it. This includes advocating for the restoration of neglected war cemeteries in Iraq, ensuring that the final resting places of British soldiers are treated with the respect they deserve. His efforts have brought attention to sites that many had forgotten, turning them into places of remembrance and education. Steve’s biography is also marked by his generosity. He offers free research assistance to families seeking information about their relatives who served in the British military. This service has been a lifeline for many, providing closure and connection to their heritage. Restored British war cemetery in Iraq The Importance of Preserving 6 Squadron RAF History One of Steve’s key focuses is the history of 6 Squadron RAF. This squadron has a rich and complex past, with members who served bravely in various conflicts. Steve’s work helps keep their stories alive, not just as names in a book but as real people who made sacrifices. He has compiled detailed records, photographs, and personal accounts that bring the squadron’s history to life. This is invaluable for military historians who want to understand the squadron’s role and impact. It also serves genealogists tracing family histories, providing them with a clearer picture of their ancestors’ military service. Steve’s dedication to 6 Squadron RAF goes beyond documentation. He actively campaigns for the preservation of memorials and sites connected to the squadron, ensuring that future generations can learn from and honour their legacy. 6 Squadron RAF badge representing the squadron's heritage How Steve Buster Johnson Supports Families and Researchers One of the most touching aspects of Steve’s work is his support for families of British service members. Many families face challenges when trying to find information about their loved ones who served overseas, especially in less well-known theatres like Iraq. Steve offers free research assistance, guiding families through archives, military records, and cemetery databases. His knowledge and connections make it easier for people to uncover stories that might otherwise remain hidden. This service is not just about facts; it’s about helping families connect with their history and find peace. For genealogists and historians, Steve provides a treasure trove of resources. His website and outreach efforts make it easier to access detailed information about 6 Squadron RAF and British war cemeteries. This openness and willingness to share knowledge is a hallmark of his legacy. Archival military documents used for research on British service members Practical Tips for Preserving Military History Locally Inspired by Steve’s work, you might be wondering how you can contribute to preserving military history in your own community. Here are some practical steps you can take: Visit Local War Memorials - Take the time to visit and document local memorials. Photograph them, note their condition, and share your findings with local historical societies. Engage with Families - Reach out to families who may have stories or memorabilia related to military service. Oral histories are invaluable. Volunteer for Restoration Projects - Many cemeteries and memorials need hands-on help. Look for local or national groups involved in restoration. Use Online Resources - Websites like stevebusterjohnson offer free research tools and guidance. Educate Others - Share what you learn through blogs, talks, or social media to raise awareness. By taking these steps, you help keep history alive and honour those who served. Why Steve Buster Johnson’s Legacy Matters Today In a world that often rushes forward, Steve Buster Johnson reminds us to pause and remember. His work is a bridge between past and present, connecting us to the sacrifices and stories of British service members. For military historians, genealogists, and families, his legacy is a beacon of hope and respect. Steve’s advocacy for the restoration of war cemeteries in Iraq is particularly important. These sites are not just graves; they are symbols of courage and loss. Preserving them ensures that history is not forgotten or erased by time and conflict. Moreover, Steve’s open-handed approach to sharing knowledge and assisting families sets a standard for how history should be preserved - with kindness, dedication, and accessibility. If you want to explore more about his work or seek assistance, visiting stevebusterjohnson is a great place to start. Exploring Steve Buster Johnson’s legacy has been a rewarding experience. His passion and dedication offer a powerful example of how one person can make a lasting impact on preserving military history. Whether you’re a historian, genealogist, or simply someone who values remembering the past, Steve’s work invites you to join in the effort to honour those who served and keep their stories alive.

As part of researching the section I am developing for my website on the subject of the Amara War Cemetery in Iraq, I wanted to see what if anything remained of the original cemetery before it was virtually destroyed. To do this, I took a recent satellite image of the cemetery and its environs and overlaid it with the lines of the original plan. The image below is the result. Apart from many of the lines marking the various Plots being visible, the only objects visible from the air are the bases of the War Stone and the Central Cross of Remembrance. Update 3rd October 2025: I have just completed the Amara War Cemetery section of my website. Amara War Cemetery - Satellite image with overlay of original cemetery plan