brimacombe Posted 14 October , 2008 Share Posted 14 October , 2008 As I'm sure most of us are aware, the Basra War Memorial and Cemetery have been almost destroyed over the past years and little remains of this once pristine burial ground. A number of the men I am researching at present were members of 1/6th Devons and lost their lifes whilst fighting through Mesopotamia etc. Whereas i have been gathering photographs of the graves of many of the men who are recorded on Holsworthy's War Memorial this is, for obvious reasons, not possible for those buried in Basra. The next best thing would be some good photographs of the cemetery etc prior to its destruction - which is where i hope someone might be able to help.. I'd be eternally grateful if anyone could help me by forwarding some pictures of Basra Cemetery. My email is Fingers crossed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Seymour Posted 14 October , 2008 Share Posted 14 October , 2008 It is interesting to see the solution which CWGC has come to on its website over the current inaccessibility of the Basra Memorials but presumably the Commission holds photos of the memorials at an earlier date. Would it be worth getting in touch with CWGC? With best wishes, David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brimacombe Posted 14 October , 2008 Author Share Posted 14 October , 2008 Thanks David Yes you're right, the memorial books are at least a temporary measure, apparantly there are plans to erect a new memorial (not sure where, I can't recall where I read the article). I will contact the CWGC to see what they have to say, though, I'm sure the reply might include a statement like 'the cost of reproducing these images will be...' but, you're right, it's certainly worth a go! Kindest regards Shawn PS: Having trawled through the net I was surprised to find very few pictures or articles relating to Basra.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Stephens Posted 14 October , 2008 Share Posted 14 October , 2008 Hi Shawn I contacted the CWGC with a similar question regarding archive photographs of the memorial in June last year. I think they may have misunderstood my enquiry, as the response I got was: "I am afraid that it is not possible to supply a picture of the Basra Memorial at this time. Regrettably, the political climate is such that we are unable to take photographs in Iraq." I'm afraid I never got back to them again, so to this day don't know if any older photos survive. If you choose to try yourself and meet with more success than I did, I would be very interested in the results if you don't mind sharing them. Thanks and good luck Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agh57 Posted 14 October , 2008 Share Posted 14 October , 2008 There were a few recentish photos I found on the net when looking a while back. My Great Uncle is commemorated on the memorial but I've never seen a picture of it up close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterinkent Posted 14 October , 2008 Share Posted 14 October , 2008 I have a number of pictures of the two parts of this cemetry taken in 2003. Someone asked about copies on here before which I offered but never came back with their email address. If you want scans pm me your email address and when I am next home I will send copies . At the time I contacted the CWGC and after some issues getting past the minions who said it was all in hand and they would soon have theri own chaps visitingI spoke to a senior chap. At that time they had clear plans to restore all four cemetries in Iraq as soon as conditions allowed. I guess that is still the case. Apparently this was actually in hand and agrred with Saddam but for obvious reasons events got in the way. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ralphjd Posted 14 October , 2008 Share Posted 14 October , 2008 If you put Basra in the search topic of Documents, photos etc you will find a couple of the Memorial posted by Marco on 22 12 2006. Ralph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterinkent Posted 14 October , 2008 Share Posted 14 October , 2008 Remember the Basrah War memorial was moved in 1991 I think and is still very much intact. The cemetry on the other hand is very close to the centre of town and near the river. It was used as a mortar base plate area for attacks on the Shatt Ala Arab hotel and Basrah Palace aand became a decidedly dodgy area. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brimacombe Posted 15 October , 2008 Author Share Posted 15 October , 2008 Hi Peter Thanks for that - I've sent you a message with my details Kind regards Shawn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommie Posted 15 October , 2008 Share Posted 15 October , 2008 Shawn, Sorry no Pictures of the panels you want. December 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoons Posted 15 October , 2008 Share Posted 15 October , 2008 If anyone comes across a photo of this man's grave I would be grateful for a copy Name: DWYER Initials: M L Nationality: United Kingdom Rank: Corporal Regiment/Service: Army Pay Corps Age: 37 Date of Death: 24/11/1920 Service No: 5037 Additional information: Son of Patrick and Mary Dwyer, of 14E, Byton Rd., Tooting, London. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: II. K. 22. Cemetery: BASRA WAR CEMETERY \Spoons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spidge Posted 15 October , 2008 Share Posted 15 October , 2008 Hi Peter, Email is on the way. Cheers Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest manxflyer Posted 16 April , 2009 Share Posted 16 April , 2009 Peter Hi. I am new to the forum and don't seem to be able to PM anyone at the moment?? My great-grandfather was killed in Mesopotamia in 1920 at the Battle of Hillah and is on the Basra memorial. I wondered if you might have pictures of Panels 31 and/or 64 please. Panel 31 is on the left hand side behinf the main obelisk and panel 64 is on the right hand wall as you face the memorial. His name is Pte George Naylor, 2nd Bn Manchester Regiment. Died 24/7/1920. Service No: 3513843. Many thanks. Karl (manxflyer) manxflyer@tiscali.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennill Posted 26 June , 2010 Share Posted 26 June , 2010 I am anxious to obtain a photo - no matter how old - of the grave of Private Thomas George Pashby who died of disease on the 11th September 1915 and is buried in Basra. Any help greatlyu appreciated. Thank You Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kawasaki Posted 5 September , 2010 Share Posted 5 September , 2010 Hi My great Uncle was killed in Iraq in april 1916 he is buried in Basra Memorial Cemetary panel Number 12 if anyone has any photographs or details Regards Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan_NW Posted 6 September , 2010 Share Posted 6 September , 2010 Some older pics of the memorial... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan_NW Posted 6 September , 2010 Share Posted 6 September , 2010 And some newer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan_NW Posted 6 September , 2010 Share Posted 6 September , 2010 Some more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan_NW Posted 6 September , 2010 Share Posted 6 September , 2010 another... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonathan_NW Posted 6 September , 2010 Share Posted 6 September , 2010 And a final one. I can't for the life of me remember the name of the Gent who sent the photo's to me to give him the credit he is due. Sad to see the memorial is in such a sorry state. I do have some pictures of various panels, mainly the Lancashire Regiment's but unfortunately not for any of the requests here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFayers Posted 7 September , 2010 Share Posted 7 September , 2010 Thanks for posting the images Jonathan, From a distance the memorial doesn't appear to be in too bad shape - but close-up it's clearly a different story. An RGA man I've been researching who was formerly in 5 Siege Battery RGA during WWI is on the memorial (he died serving with 5 [Medium] Battery in 1920). In one of your photos it looks like the Royal Garrison Artillery(?) panel is in especially poor condition. All the best Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFayers Posted 7 September , 2010 Share Posted 7 September , 2010 Yes, just checked CWGC - the smashed panel in post #17 is that for the RGA (Panel 4 and / or 61); I can just make out the inscription for Gunner Albert Oddy. Clearly there's no good in me ever hoping to get a photo of Bdr Sidney Aldworth's inscription! Such a shame the memorial's in this state. All the best Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safediver Posted 1 February , 2011 Share Posted 1 February , 2011 A long shot as the last post was a while ago now, but I would be grateful for any photos which include details of Private William Henry Earl 1/4 Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry died 26 May 1916. According to CGWC he's on panels 20 and/or 63 of the Basra Memorial Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Majors Batman Posted 1 February , 2011 Share Posted 1 February , 2011 I had heard from a reliable source that when Saddam had the memorial moved to its present desert location he omited to instruct the Clerk of Works to excavate for suitable foundations, which does not bode well for it remaining as a solid structure, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksdad Posted 2 February , 2011 Share Posted 2 February , 2011 what a sorry sight to see this great monument in such disrepair Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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