Search Results

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 Cemetery Graves 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 26th April 2026 Steve ' Bus ter' Johnson CONTACT ME New South Wales, AUSTRALIA NEW BOOKS My seventh and eighth books have recently been published by Amazon / Kindle (4th February 2026 and 12th February 2026): The Cordwainer's Daughter - Copies can initially be purchased from Amazon in paperback or hardback and eventually from other on-line book stores. 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 Exploring the Legacy of Steve Buster Johnson Works Ma'Asker Al Raschid Cemetery, RAF Death from Bubonic Plague in Baghdad 1922 KORR and RAF Deaths in May 1941 during the Anglo-Iraqi War RAF Death from Typhoid in Iraq 1932 Who is Steve Buster Johnson? Unearthed 1945 Funeral Photograph at the Habbaniya War Cemetery Rare Photo of Habbaniya War Cemetery Entrance 2005 RAF Habbaniya Cantonment - First Ever Satellite / Diagram Overlay Image Habbaniya War Cemetery - First Ever Satellite / Diagram Overlay Image Mysterious Death at the British Defence Service Organisation, Baghdad, 1945 RAF Hinaidi Master Plan, Iraq Detailed Colour Map of RAF Habbaniya Cantonment, Iraq There was a technical issue on our end. Try again or refresh.

This page is for access to administrator only and should never be seen by visitors to this website Test Links For fantastic luxury house designs talk to Toby Johnson at Johnstone Johnson Design Studio 70 Squadron One Valve F RAF Front WW1 Schematic HT Trans Wind RAF Single 30 Sqn Con Wave Action Con Wave Nts 203 Sqn Cont Wv Tm RAF W TRN Long Wv Cr AC Depot H AC TRN 1918 RAF 1918 TR I Test From button Anchor 1 Anchor 2

A brief history of the RAF Armoured Car Companies from 1915 to 1932, during which time they (Nos 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6) supported the Royal Air Force bases in Mesopotamia. Control of the No 2 Armoured Car Company remained with the Royal Tank Corps when it moved its operations to India, joining seven other Royal Tank Corps Armoured Car Companies. No 1 Armoured Car Company (from the Tank Corps to the RAF) Page 9 of "An Introduction to Iraq" provides a brief history of the Armoured Car Companies, from 1915 when Amoured Car Companies 1 and 2 were part of the Tank Corps employed in fighting against the Turks in Mesopotamia in the Battle of Ctesiphon to 1935 when four new Armoured Car Companies, part of the Royal Air Force, were supporting the RAF in defending its landing grounds and bases as well as long distance reconnaissance. At the time of this publication (August 1935) the commanding officer of the No 1 Armoured Car Company RAF (re-formed in April 1930 as an amalgamation of RAF Armoured Car Companies 3, 4, 5 and 6) was Squadron Leader (later Group Captain) Ronald S Sugden, CBE, AFC. For more details on the formation of Nos 3, 4, 5 and 6 RAF Armoured Car Companies, please click HERE and if you would like a comprehensive account of the 'RAF ARMOURED CAR COMPANIES IN IRAQ 1921 - 1947' written by Dr Christopher Morris, I recommend that you read his article in the Royal Air Force Historical Society Journal No 48 .

Searchable database of the 290 graves at the Habbaniyah War Cemetery, Iraq Habbaniya War Cemetery Graves - Searchable Database This page gives access to an on-line table of all burials at the Habbaniya War Cemetery in Iraq. The data has been put together over many years by Dr Christopher Morris and the late Peter Burlton , who used to run the RAF Habbaniya Association. Dr Morris has kindly permitted me to reproduce the data shown in the table below. The burials are in alphabetical surname sequence and you can use the 'Search' function by entering text in the box at the top of the table. You can also scroll up and down the table or move your finger / mouse cursor left and right to view all of the columns. Where possible, the cause of death has been provided. Additional information will be added to the table as more research is carried out. You can scroll horizontally using the mouse or arrow buttons on your keyboard to access all of the columns. The table can be used in conjunction with the interactive plan of the Habbaniya War Cemetery whereby an image of the headstone of the person you have selected can be viewed. If you simply want to view all of the 290 headstone photos, you can view them Plot by Plot. My website is the only place you will find current photographs of the graves at the Habbaniyah War Cemetery.

This page shows the circuit diagram of a non radiating triple stage receiver, as used by the Royal Air Force in 1918. Royal Air Force 1918 Non Radiating Triple Stage Receiver This page shows the circuit diagram of a non radiating triple stage receiver, in use by the Royal Air Force in 1918.

30 Sqn, from its formation in 1914 until the end of WW1. It was a RAF squadron that served in Mesopotamia and during the 1920s was based at RAF Hinaidi, Iraq 30 Squadron Royal Air Force Page 3 of "An Introduction to Iraq" provides a brief history of 30 Squadron (one of the Royal Air Force squadrons to be based at RAF Hinaidi during the inter-war years). At the time of publication (August 1935) the commanding officer of 30 Squadron was Squadron Leader (later Air Vice Marshall) Arthur L Fiddament DFC. The aircraft in the background, Serial Number K4053, was a Hawker Hardy on charge with 30 Squadron.

This is a photo gallery of every type of aircraft flown by 6 Squadron Royal Flying Corps during WW1 as well as giving the technical specifications of each aircraft During the years of WW1, if you count every variant, 6 Squadron operated twenty four different types of aircraft! Quite an achievement over the relatively short period of four years, when new aircraft were constantly being developed in order to keep up with the technological advances made by the German air force. In the RAF these days, where most squadrons fly a single type - in the case of 6 Squadron the Eurofighter Typhoon - it is hard to imagine a single squadron flying fighters, bombers and reconnaissance aircraft all at the same time on a wide variety of missions. It was only when 6 Squadron was re-equiped with the Royal Aircraft Factory RE8 reconnaissance / bomber (this took place during the months of March and April 1917) that the squadron finally had on charge a single type of aircraft. Since then, the squadron has mostly maintained a single type philosophy, with two or three exceptions during the thirties and forties where it had two or three types of aircraft on charge at the same time. 6 Squadron Aircraft (1914 - 1918) Maurice Farman MF7 Longhorn Maurice Farman MF7 "Longhorn". The Longhorn was only flown by 6 Squadron in England, prior to the squadron being deployed to the Western Front on the 7th October 1914. Royal Aircraft Factory BE2 The early model BE2 (as opposed to the later variants) was only flown by 6 Squadron in England, prior to the squadron being deployed to the Western Front on the 7th October 1914 Length: 28' 4", Wingspan: 38' 8", Speed: 72.5 mph, Engine: 70 hp Renault V-8 Maurice Farman MF11 Shorthorn Maurice Farman MF11 "Shorthorn". The Shorthorn was only flown by 6 Squadron in England, prior to the squadron being deployed to the Western Front on the 7th October 1914. Length: 32' 4", Wingspan: 53' 5 1/4", Speed: 53 mph, Engine: 80 hp Renault V-inline Royal Aircraft Factory RE1 This RE1, one of only two RE1s built, was flown by 6 Squadron before the squadron went to France on 07/10/1914. It was used as a prototype, with changes progressively made to reduce weight as well as improve stability and manoeuvrability (ailerons instead of wing warping and increased dihedral etc) – changes that would later be incorporated into the BE2c. Royal Aircraft Factory RE5 The RE5 was only flown by 6 Squadron in England, prior to the squadron being deployed to the Western Front on the 7th October 1914 Royal Aircraft Factory BE8 This is a photo of an actual BE8 flown by 6 Squadron. Length: 27' 4 1/4", Wingspan: 37' 8", Speed: 70 mph, Engine: 80 hp Gnome Rotary Henry Farman F20 Henry Farman F20 Length: 26' 9", Wingspan: 44' 6", Speed: 65 mph, Engine: 80 hp Gnome Rotary Monosoupape Royal Aircraft Factory BE2a Royal Aircraft Factory BE2a Length: 28' 4", Wingspan: 36' 11 1/8", Speed: 74 mph, Engine: 70 hp Renault V-8 Bleriot XI-2 Bleriot XI-2 Length: 27' 10", Wingspan: 33' 11", Speed: 66 mph, Engine: 70 hp Gnome Rotary Martinsyde S1 Martinsyde S1 Length: 21' 0", Wingspan: 27' 8", Speed: 84 mph, Engine: 80 hp Gnome Rotary Royal Aircraft Factory BE2c Royal Aircraft Factory BE2c Length: 27' 3", Wingspan: 37' 0", Speed: 86 mph, Engine: 90 hp RAF 1a V-8 Royal Aircraft Factory FE2a Royal Aircraft Factory FE2a. This actual aircraft was flown by 6 Squadron, the photograph taken at the squadron's aerodrome at Abeele. Length: 32' 3", Wingspan: 47' 9"", Speed: 80 mph, Engine: 120 hp Beardmore 6 Cyl Bristol Scout C Bristol Scout C Length: 20' 8", Wingspan: 24' 7", Speed: 100 mph, Engine: 90 hp Le Rhone 9 Cyl Rotary Martinsyde G100 Elephant Martinsyde G100 "Elephant", used by 6 Squadron for field evaluation. Length: 26' 6", Wingspan: 38' 0", Speed: 104 mph, Engine: 120 hp Beardmore 6 Cyl Royal Aircraft Factory FE2b Royal Aircraft Factory FE2b. Length: 32' 3", Wingspan: 47' 9", Speed: 80 mph, Engine: 120 hp or 160 hp Beardmore 6 Cyl Royal Aircraft Factory BE2e Royal Aircraft Factory BE2e. The BE2e was similar to the BE2f (which used a BE2c fuselage) and the BE2g (which used a BE2d fuselage). Length: 27' 3", Wingspan: 40' 6", Speed: 90 mph, Engine: 90 hp RAF 1a V-8 Royal Aircraft Factory RE8 Royal Aircraft Factory RE8 Length: 27' 10 1/2", Wingspan: 42' 7" (upper), 32' 7 1/2" (lower), Speed: 103 mph, Engine: 140 hp RAF 4a V-12

Details of the Iraq Command Wireless Stations, with Hinaidi being the location for the Control W/T Station. The other Iraq wireless stations were based at Shaibah and Mosul, with Posts at Kirkuk, Muscat, Ser Amadia and Dhibban. Iraq Command Wireless Stations - 1935 Page 10 of "An Introduction to Iraq" provides a brief description of the Iraq Command Wireless stations, with Hinaidi being the location for the Control W/T Station. The other Iraq wireless stations were based at Shaibah and Mosul, with Posts at Kirkuk, Muscat, Ser Amadia and Dhibban. At the time of publication, (August 1935) the Chief Signal Officer was Squadron Leader (later Wing Commander during WW2) C K Chandler, MBE.

86 aerial photos (6 Sqn) taken before and after the Battle of Messines in June 1917, printed by No 2 Advanced Section Army Printing & Stationery Service (AP&SS) Battle of Messines - Aerial Reconnaissance Photos by 6 Squadron Royal Air Force This section of my website show the contents (43 pages, 2 photos per page) of an aerial dossier produced by 6 Squadron as part of its operations during WW1 over the Western Front. The photographic images (two to a page) show the effect of the allied bombardment before and after the Battle of Messines in June 1917 when the allies exploded 19 mines beneath the German lines on the ridge around Messines. Each of the 86 photographs is marked with a date and time stamp as well as mapping coordinates. If you know the name of the location you are looking for, select the appropriate images from the MESSINES sub menu, otherwise simply scroll through the images displayed in sequence immediately below the Aerial Photos Summary Chart . In late 2016, David Weekes kindly sent me part of his WW1 photographic collection from the UK so that I could use the photographs in my own personal research as well as help others gain knowledge regarding aerial warfare and photography on the western front during WW1. He also expressed the desire that the documents eventually be donated to the British National Archives. To date I have been unsuccessful in my attempts to have the 6 Squadron "The Battle of Messines" aerial photograph dossier, printed by the No 2 Advanced Section A P & S S - Army Printing and Stationery Services - included in the AIR 1 collection alongside other 6 Squadron documentation that has survived the test of time, the sole reason given to me being the fact that the document has never been processed by the Air Historical Branch. Rather than deny others access to these important historical photographs that provide a direct comparison of the landscape of the region around Messines before and after the British attack on the German positions on the morning of 7th June 1917. For anyone unfamiliar with the military gridding system used by the Allies during WW1, I have reproduced two images here, the first taken from my book, For God, England and Ethel (showing the coordinates of two artillery 'shoots' carried out by 6 Squadron aircraft) and the second a summary of the areas of the Western Front around Ypres and Messines that are covered by one or more of the 86 photographs. For anyone interested in seeing 'then' and 'now' photographs of the area around Palingbeek, I recommend you visit Hugh Shipman's website The Palingbeek Time Machine . Battle of Messines - 6 Sqn Aerial Photos Summary Chart 1/1

Four 6 Squadron aerial photos of Dammstrasse, each an area 500 x 500 yards, taken prior to and after the attack on Messines 6 Squadron Aerial Photos - Dammstrasse The two photographs on Page 8 were taken by an RE8 of 6 Squadron, part of the squadron's aerial reconnaissance operations over the Western Front during WW1. Both photographs were taken over Dammstrasse, east of St Eloi, as defined by the mapping coordinates 28. O. 3. D and 28. O. 3. C , each area measuring 500 yards square. The first photograph was taken on the 1st May 1917 and the second on the 12th June 1917, 5 days after the 19 mines were detonated beneath the German lines along the Messines ridge. 6 Squadron Aerial Photos - Dammstrasse / Pheasant Wood The two photographs on Page 19 were taken by an RE8 of 6 Squadron, part of the squadron's aerial reconnaissance operations over the Western Front during WW1. The photographs were were taken over Dammstrasse and Pheasant Wood, as defined by mapping coordinates 28. O. 9. D and 28. O. 9. B . The first photograph was taken on the 22nd March 1917 and the second on the 8th June 1917, 1 day after 19 mines were detonated beneath the German lines along the Messines ridge at the start of the Battle of Messines

AC1 John Maxton Ramsay, No 6 Armoured Car Company is approved by the JCCC in February 2025 as the 300th burial at Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery, Baghdad 300th Burial at Ma'Asker Approved I received a letter from the Head of the JCCC on the 5th February 2025 informing me: " . . . . . I am pleased to inform you that, following an adjudication board held on Thursday 29 January 2025, JCCC have agreed with your submission both that AC1 John Ramsay would have been buried in the cemetery now known as Ma’Asker Al Raschid, and that his grave would have been at what is now referenced as Plot 3, Row G, Grave 2 . . . . . . . . . The extensive and detailed evidence submitted by you has enabled this airman (or aviator to use the current RAF parlance) to have his final resting place recognised. For this we are grateful and appreciate the time, effort, and patience this has taken. As you are aware the cemetery has been very badly damaged and it is unlikely reinstallation of individual headstones will be attempted in the foreseeable future, but being able to confirm AC1 Ramsay’s grave reference means he will now be included in the Roll of Honour for the cemetery, and details included on any memorial erected to commemorate those who lie there. JCCC will now inform the CWGC so they can carry out any action required to recognise this decision. " I have included below a summary of the evidence I presented to the CWGC / JCCC / AHB / MoD John Maxton Ramsay 6 Armoured Car Company RAF Who Was John Maxton Ramsay And How/Where/When Did He Die? I first became aware of John Maxton Ramsay when I came across his RAF Casualty Card whilst researching a query from a 6 Squadron RAF veteran. The Casualty Card didn't specify the place of death, only the location of the authority who reported it, viz. RAF Air HQ, Baghdad, located within the cantonment at RAF Hinaidi. At first I was unable to find the "Returns of DEATH" until I searched for “Ramsey” instead of “Ramsay” and found an entry for “John Maxton Ramsey”. The surname of “Ramsey” was obviously a clerical error for when I compared the details of “Ramsey" against the birth certificate and the Casualty Card for “Ramsay", everything matched – the age at death “22 years and 45 days” works out as the same birth date as “Second day of June 1902”. The “Returns of DEATH” was unequivocal in stating that Ramsay died on the 17th July 1924 at the RAF British Hospital Hinaidi, part of a complex in the newly completed RAF Hinaidi Cantonment, located in buildings shared by the RAF AHQ and less than 1/2 mile from the Armoured Car Companies’ HQ (see diagram of Hinaidi Cantonment further down this page). Having found out where John Ramsay died, the next step was to find out where he was buried. At Which Cemetery Was John Maxton Ramsay Buried At the time of Ramsay’s death in July 1924, the RAF Armoured Car HQ and the No: 4 Armoured Car Company were both permanently situated within the cantonment of RAF Hinaidi, only ½ mile from the RAF hospital and less than a mile from the Hinaidi RAF Cemetery (aka Ma’Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery). The other Armoured Car Companies at that time operated out of various locations (Nos: 1 & 2 in Palestine - part of the Royal Tank Corps, No: 3 in Basrah, No: 5 in Mosul and No: 6 in Kirkuk). Burials for all but No: 3 Armoured Car Company deaths invariably took place at Ma’Asker Al Raschid, though at least one man from No: 4 Armoured Car Company (AC2 C R Crang from 'C' Section) was drowned at Basra in April 1925 and buried at the Basra (Makina) RAF Peace Cemetery. Between June 1922 and May 1935 there were 23 burials for Armoured Car Company personnel at Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF cemetery – see diagram below. In 1924 there were only two allied Military Cemeteries located in Baghdad, the Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery and the Hinaidi RAF Cemetery (name later changed to the Ma’Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery). According to the CWGC Roll of Honour for Iraq (recently made available on-line via the CWGC website), Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery holds the bodies of nine “NON WORLD WAR” deaths for RAF personnel (see below). l researched the deaths of each of these nine men and found that their burials took place between September 2021 and February 1922, the last burial more than two years before Ramsay died. The first burial at the newly completed Ma’Asker Al Raschid cemetery was the 27th December 2021, with a small overlap in the usage of the two cemeteries. There are several reason for the overlap. Four of the nine men died in the “23 British Stationary Hospital”, located in central Baghdad in what was formerly the Turkish Military Hospital buildings, before the General Hospital at RAF Hinaidi had opened. Three of the other deaths were the result of a mid-air collision between two RAF aircraft over Baghdad, another man died in the Mosul hospital and was transferred to Baghdad and the ninth death was of an RAF Captain who was killed in an ambush on the Turkish border whilst he was ‘attached’ to the RAF Iraqi Levies and his body transported back to Baghdad. John Maxton Ramsay’s name does not appear on this list. With Baghdad (North Gate) Cemetery ruled out as Ramsay's final resting place, I searched the whole of the on-line CWGC Iraq Roll of Honour as well as the Basra Memorial document for ‘J M Ramsay’ (and also for ‘J M Ramsey’) and couldn't find a match. As a matter of interest, for the name listed above Ramsay’s entry on the Military “Returns of Deaths” extract, a Corporal Frank Stuart Bolan whose death was also entered by the RAF Air HQ Baghdad on the same day, 24th July 1924. For him I did find a match. Dolan was reported to have died at the RAF Combined Hospital in Basrah and was buried at the Basrah (Makina) RAF Cemetery. Having exhausted every other avenue, I came to the only (and obvious) conclusion that AC1 John Maxton Ramsay was buried at the same cemetery as his contemporaries from 6 Armoured Car Company who lost their lives whilst serving with the Royal Air Force in Iraq – namely at the Ma’Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery. But where exactly was he buried? Where Was the body of AC1 John Maxton Ramsay Interred? According to the CWGC 1964 Burial Record Plan, at that time there were five vacant plots recorded at Ma’Asker: Plot 1 Row A Grave 13 Plot 1 Row D Grave 3 Plot 2 Row B Grave 1 Plot 3 Row G Grave 2 Plot 3 Row N Grave 8 Looking at the timeline of burials at Ma’Asker, all of these plots except Plot 3 Row G Grave 2 are in areas of the cemetery that were used for burials between 1928 and 1937, at least four years after John Ramsay’s death ( see diagram at the bottom of this page for the burial sequence of all 300 graves ). However, Plot 3 Row G Grave 2 fits the timeline perfectly, with the burial in Plot 3 Row G Grave 3 taking place 11 days before Ramsay’s death and the burial in Plot 3 Row G Grave 1 taking place four days after Ramsay’s death. If you look at the extract of Ma’Asker burials shown below, you will notice that between the 19th April 1924 and the 8th March 1925, five men from No: 6 Armoured Car Company were buried at that cemetery, including the then commanding officer of the company, Squadron Leader Jasper Cruickshank OBE. As final photographic proof, here is a photograph (taken in 1935) showing that Plot 3 Row G Grave 2 was not vacant and contained a headstone of similar design to that of the majority of headstones in the Ma’Asker cemetery. The photograph below was taken c1935 and is a wide-angled shot taken from near the south-eastern corner of Plot 3, looking towards the north-western corner of the cemetery. In the immediate foreground are two headstones whose details are clearly visible, for Sergeant William Stanley Woods ( Plot 3 Row M Grave 1 ) and Pilot Officer Jack Whitworth Wood ( Plot 3 Row M Grave 2 ). By examining the photo, it is a simple matter to count back seven rows from Jack Wood’s headstone to confirm that there is indeed a headstone in Plot 3 Row G Grave 2 . Note: If the body buried in Plot 3 Row G Grave 2 is not that of AC1 John Maxton Ramsay, then it means there is another fallen (and unknown) British serviceman who needs to be accounted for and honoured by the CWGC. So What Happened To AC1 John Maxton Ramsay’s Headstone? British war cemeteries in Iraq suffered greatly over time from the extreme climate of the region, with headstones weathering due to the wide temperature variance as well as water damage from heavy rains and the frequent flooding of the river Tigris. Vandalism also played its part, especially in periods of war and political unrest, with many headstones damaged or destroyed altogether. The CWGC has done an excellent job in replacing headstones and restoring cemeteries in Iraq when it is safe to do so, but it is inevitable that some burials might be overlooked, especially in abandoned cemeteries such as Ma’Asker. Last year, when I was compiling a database of headstone photographs for the recently restored Habbaniya War Cemetery, I discovered that one of the burials had been overlooked during the restoration process and that nothing now marked the grave of Norwegian sailor First Officer Magnus Kristiansen. Going through my archives I found a photograph of the original headstone for Kristiansen and understood why his grave might have been forgotten as the face of the headstone was badly eroded and almost illegible. I had to use special computer software to reveal what was written on the headstone (see the two images below that show the condition of the headstone and an artist’s impression of what it should have looked like). Perhaps something similar happened to the headstone of AC1 John Ramsay at some point between 1933 and 1964 when the official CWGC survey team deemed the grave ‘VACANT’ and John Ramsay’s name was forgotten. How Can AC1 John Maxton Ramsay’s Memory Be Restored? The first action by the Commonwealth War Graves should be to add “ RAMSAY, J M ” to the IRAQ ROLL OF HONOUR, page 273 for the MA’ASKER AL RASCHID RAF CEMETERY, under the category, ‘ Aircraftman 1st Class ’. In the longer term, when a memorial is erected at Ma’Asker for the 300 men, women (including one baby girl) buried there, or when the cemetery is restored and new headstones erected, AC1 John Maxton Ramsay must be included. NOTE: If physical evidence is deemed necessary to prove that human remains lie in Plot 3 Row G Grave 2 , it would be a relatively simple matter for a local contractor in Baghdad to excavate on behalf of the CWGC a shallow trench at the southern end of Row G. Two years ago when the concrete headstone bases of Plot 3 were examined, they were found to be intact (see photo below). Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery - Old and New Grave Numbering System The system of recording Plot numbers changed at some point between 1935 and 1965, but I have yet to determine whether this was intentional on the part of the CWGC or whether it was an oversight. However, this change is immaterial as it does not have an impact on the burial locations. Below is a copy of the official Ma’Asker Al Raschid Cemetery Burial record Plan that was produced in 1964 and updated in 1965. The layout and names of the burials are completely consistent with the many photographs that I have of the cemetery and the 300 graves contained in it. The only difference is that the sequencing of the grave numbers for the three Plots has been reversed (1 to 14 instead of 14 to 1). As to why this happened is unknown to me, but it makes no difference as all of the records currently held by the CWGC for Ma’Asker are consistent with the revised numbering system. Taking the grave of AC1 Ramsay as an example, his original burial location of Plot 3 Row G Grave 13 translated into Plot 3 Row G Grave 2 in 1965 and has remained the same ever since. All the records I have seen that are held by the CWGC are consistent with the new system. It is only old photos that show the original Grave numbering format (see grave photo below). Anchor 1

Amara War Cemetery contains 4,621 burials of the WW1, with more than 3,000 bodies brought to the cemetery after the Armistice. 925 of the graves are unidentified. Amara War Cemetery History of Amara War Cemetery In late 1914, in the early stages of the British Mesopotamian campaign to secure the Persian oilfields, the southern Iraqi city of Basra was seized. With the aim of eventually taking control of Baghdad, the allied expeditionary force (British and Indian) advanced up the river Tigris, reaching Amara on the 3rd June 1915 where a hospital centre was established. The advance towards Baghdad was short-lived, however, coming to an abrupt halt when the allied forces were surrounded and trapped by the Ottoman Turks between Amara and Kut in a siege of massive proportions. In what was later described as the worst defeat of the Allies during WW1, the whole of the allied forces surrendered to the Turks on the 29th April 1916, with the survivors forced to march in captivity to Eastern Turkey, losing thousands of men during the arduous journey from overwork and cholera. By that time, the burials at Amara had exceeded 4,000 and the number of medical units, constructed on both sides of the Tigris, had increased. By April 1917 there were seven general hospitals and a few smaller medical units based at Amara. In total there are 4,621 WW1 burials at the Amara War Cemetery, with more than 3,000 bodies brought into the cemetery after the Armistice and 925 of the graves unable to be identified. In 1933, every headstone was removed from the cemetery due to salts in the soil that were causing them to deteriorate. In their place a screen wall comprising nine panels (the central panel bearing only the name) was erected along the western perimeter, with the names of the buried engraved upon them, grouped by Service type and regiment. Note that Plot XXV is a Collective Grave, the individual burial places within this are not known. There are also seven non-war graves in the cemetery. Amara War Cemetery - Update 2025 Amara War Cemetery is situated in south-east Iraq, 230 miles SE of Baghdad, 100 miles NW of Basra and 320 miles from the Persian Gulf (GPS coordinates 31.84465 47.16047 ). Of the 4,621 burials recorded at Amara, the CWGC website database has identified 3,704 names of servicemen who lost their lives and were buried there. (Note that the number 3,704 is 8 names more than the official figure of 4,621 - 925 = 3,696). In looking at the database the only suggestion I have for the variation in numbers is the eight men whose rank was specified as 'Follower' (see extract below), though I'm not sure what this means. The cemetery at Amara has not fared well over time, with few identifiable features remaining. The Great Cross has all but been destroyed as has the War Stone and the headstones were removed in 1933 due to erosion caused by salts in the cemetery soil. With the road leading to the original entrance now cut off by a large carpark, access is effectively hidden from view, though there is a caretaker's gatehouse hut at the north-eastern corner of the cemetery. The screen wall has recently been repaired as several of the panels were missing or incomplete a couple of years ago. I have attached below photographs taken in 2021 by the (then) UK Defence Attaché to Iraq, Brigadier Adam McRae, which show some of the damage and also photographs taken by the local maintenance contractor in early September 2025, by which time significant repairs had been made to the screen wall. It can be seen that all 64 memorial panels are intact, as is the central section which bears the name of the Amara War Cemetery. There is very little evidence of the Amara (Left Bank) Indian War Cemetery, located to the immediate south of the Amara War Cemetery (see satellite image below). Bordered to its south by a water park, the Missan Fun-fair City, it is hard to imagine that the small area of wasteland is the final resting place of about 5,000 Indian graves. Amara War Cemetery - Now and Then Below are three images. The first is a diagram giving the location, shape and Plot / grave allocation, drawn to a scale that is specified at the bottom of the diagram. The second image is the present-day (2025) satellite view of the cemetery, showing that, apart from the north-west corner, the overall footprint remains the more or less the same, though the north-western corner has been cut off, possibly impacting the security of some of the graves in Plots XXV, XXVII, XXVIII and XXIII. In addition, half of the western perimeter wall has now taken up by the screen wall memorial. Below the first two images is a composite of the satellite photograph overlaid by the original plan. This will enable anyone visiting the cemetery to determine the exact location of any grave. Amara War Cemetery - Dimensions Using the Map developers website and tracing the approximate outline of the original cemetery on the satellite image, the Map Developers website calculated the area of the Amara War Cemetery to be 24,240 square metres or 260,921 square feet, equivalent to 6 acres or 2.42 hectares (see image immediately below). This figure compares favourably with the second composite image, where I determined the individual dimensions using the official scale on the Commonwealth War Graves diagram of the Amara War Cemetery to calculate the total area as being 24,489 square metres or 263,600 square feet , equivalent to 6.05 acres or 2.45 hectares . Using the scale on the CWGC plan, I calculated the length of the perimeter walls is 2,012 feet or 614 metres . Amara War Cemetery - Screen Wall 2022 In 2021 when the Defence Attaché from the UK Embassy in Baghdad visited the Amara War cemetery, the screen wall was found to be in disrepair, with several panels fallen from the wall and others poorly patched with cement in situ. Until recently it was not certain how things had changed since then, as it has not been deemed safe for Commonwealth War Graves Commission staff to visit the site. I have attached several photographs taken in 2021 and one of the Great Cross taken some years ago before it was deliberately blown up. Amara War Cemetery - Screen Wall 2025 In August and September 2025, I received several requests via this website for information regarding the present condition of the Screen Wall and also with regards specific names of the dead on the memorial panels. I approached the Area Director Africa & Asia at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to see if he could arrange for current photographs of the panels to be taken and he kindly asked the local contractor / caretaker to carry this out on the CWGC's behalf. From the photographs that came back I produced three composite photos that I have attached below. It can clearly be seen that significant restoration work has been carried out and that all of the 64 panels are now in place on the wall where they should be (numbered 01 to 64 from south to north). I have overlaid the first photograph with individual images of some panels. I will add more as and when I receive them. Amara War Cemetery - Existing Artefacts A small number of cemetery fragments are kept in the gardener's hut on the north-eastern corner of the cemetery. An old visitors' book and original cemetery documentation are also able to be viewed, including a comprehensive plan of the cemetery dated March 1919 as well as the official register of burials printed by the CWGC in 1930. If you ever get to visit the cemetery, the name of the Cemetery Manager is Mr Hasan Ahtif Mousa.