KORR and RAF Deaths in May 1941 during the Anglo-Iraqi War

Though many stories of valour have been told regarding the Anglo-Iraqi War in 1941 and the brief siege of RAF Habbaniya that lasted from the 2nd May until the 31st May when the base was finally relieved, not many people are aware as to the high loss of life experienced by the 1st Battalion of the Kings Own Royal Regiment (KORR) and the Royal Air Force during that time. From the total of sixty-five deaths, twenty-nine were men from the KORR and thirty-six from the RAF. At the time of the Anglo-Iraqi War, the KORR was part of the 10th Indian Infantry Division. The highest ranked officer from the KORR was a major and the highest from the RAF was a group captain. A wooden plaque was later erected at RAF Habbaniya in memory of the sixty-five men who died for their country thousands of miles away in Iraq and a photograph of the plaque is attached to this post.

Memorial to honour the sixty-five men of the KORR and RAF who died in 1941 during the Siege of Habbaniya, Iraq

Anglo-Iraqi War - KORR Losses

Pte J J Short, Pte N Fitzpatrick, Pte W Butler, Pte W Campbell, Pte V Rogers, Lt J Thompson, Pte W Levell, Maj P H F Evans, Pte W Fleming, Pte J D Benson, Pte J J Rooney, Pte J Adshead, L/Cpl E L Classon, Pte L Gabbert, Pte R Jones, Pte C Wilson, Pte R Wilson, 2 Lt C J Hodgson, Pte W G Jones, Pte G Bilsborrow, Pte F Vallery, Pte J L Yates, L/Cpl W Kirby, Pte G A Owen, L/Cpl J Quinn, CSM J Maguire, Pte W Smith, Pte J McNulty and Pte F Bailey.

Anglo-Iraqi War - RAF Losses

AC1 L G Cripps, F/Sgt A E M Prickett, WO E V Girdwood, LAC E W Mace, F/Sgt A G Couch, LAC J Smith, Cpl G E Skinner, LAC R S Skelton, LAC G I Robertson, F/Off D H Walsh, F/Sgt H Brattan, F/Sgt P G Osborn, AC2 M Lynch, Cpl H C Johnson, W/Cdr J C Shakeshaft, LAC H E Minor, F/Off G D F Herrtage, (acting) Gp Capt R Jope-Slade, F/Sgt H D Rowe, LAC N A Moore, S/Ldr W R McCleery, F/Sgt J Bishop, LAC P H Shepherd, Cpl W Cummings, LAC J D Richards, F/Sgt G Furney, Sgt G F Humber, Sgt A Gordon, AC1 V M Everix, P/Off P R Gillespy, LAC L J Blackhall, P/Off J S H Fairweather, P/Off I McG Pringle, Sgt D W Robinson, F/Lt Sir R A T MacRobert and Sgt C T Dennett.

It is interesting to note that Flight Lieutenant Sir Roderic Alan MacRobert was one of three MacRobert brothers who lost their lives in WW2. Their mother, Lady MacRobert, set up the MacRoberts Trust, donating millions of dollars to the RAF and sponsoring a perpetual 'Sir Roderic' aircraft at 6 Squadron RAF since 1941 as Sir Roderic flew with 6 Squadron before being posted to 94 Squadron.