Progress at Ma'Asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery, Baghdad

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