Terry Denham Posted 29 June , 2006 Share Posted 29 June , 2006 The memorial will not be restored. CWGC has declared that it is no longer a fitting memorial to commemorate those inscribed there. The Commission will decide, at some future date, how best to commemorate these men. Temporarily, they are keeping a special register of the names available to view at Maidenhead. They will wait some time before making a decision hoping that the in-country situation stabilises. This waiting period could be very long. They would hope to build a new memorial within the country itself. Presumably, this decision was taken on the grounds that repair would cost more than new build and not be as satisfactory. There are precedents when memorials to the missing have been replaced by CWGC with new ones due to political and war situations within a particular country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neil Clark Posted 29 June , 2006 Share Posted 29 June , 2006 Thank you Terry for providing that information about the Basra Memorial. I have a special interest in this monument because many local men from Ashford are commemorated on it (mainly 5th Buffs men). Has anyone any photos of The Buffs panel?????? Thanks is also due to Tom for posting these excellent photos. Glad you made in home in one piece! Tell yer mates still over there that wer'e thinking of them all... Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 29 June , 2006 Share Posted 29 June , 2006 Hopefully, a new memorial can be built in Iraq one day but who knows.... Another possibility is that a memorial could be built in the safer surroundings of Brookwood (only a supposition on my part). The Aden Memorial had to be abandoned in the 1960s when independence and subsequent security problems descended on that country and a new one was built in Egypt. However, that was a much smaller structure. CWGC is quite prepared to wait considerable time for local problems to stabilise as is evidenced by their long wait for the cemeteries in Lebanon to be restored - or those in former East Germany. Also, they have only just been able to erect the Baku Memorial in Azerbaijan commemorating those missing from the WW1 Caucasus operations. They are still patiently waiting to erect a new WW2 memorial in Sudan to commemorate local troops who died there. Patience is definately a virtue when your given timescale is 'in perpetuity' ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommie Posted 4 July , 2008 Author Share Posted 4 July , 2008 The Great War I was There Part 30 How the Memorial used to Look. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KevinEndon Posted 4 July , 2008 Share Posted 4 July , 2008 THE BOOK Some of the entries Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick ODwyer Posted 4 July , 2008 Share Posted 4 July , 2008 Does anyone have a photo of the 14th Hussars' panel by any chance I would love it in High Res if possible: to hussars[symbol for at]which.net Many thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corporal Chris Posted 5 July , 2008 Share Posted 5 July , 2008 THE BASRA MEMORIAL The Basra Memorial bears the names of more than 40,500 members of the Commonwealth forces who died in the operations in Mesopotamia from the autumn of 1914 to the end of August 1921 and whose graves are not known. Until 1997 the Basra Memorial was located on the main quay of the naval dockyard at Maqil, on the west bank of the Shatt-al-Arab, about 8 kilometres north of Basra. Because of the sensitivity of the site, the Memorial was moved by presidential decree. The move, carried out by the authorities in Iraq, involved a considerable amount of manpower, transport costs and sheer engineering on their part, and the Memorial has been re-erected in its entirety. The Basra Memorial is now located 32 kilometres along the road to Nasiriyah, in the middle of what was a major battleground during the first Gulf War. CWGC Basra Memorial Whilst in Iraq this Easter, I had the privilege to visit the Basra War Memorial, I was lucky enough to take some photos, the only panels that I was able to picture were: The Wiltshire Regiment, Manchester Regiment Officers, Royal West Kent's, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, Middlesex Regt, Kings Royal Rifle Corps, Oxford & Bucks Light Infantry Junior Ranks, as time was tight. I will happily Post any of the photos. Tom Tom, I was delighted to see your post as I did not expect to get any views of the Basra Memorial. I have a Royal Field Artillery man commemorated at Basra. Could you send me a copy of the general view of the memorial (column and panels)? If you could e-mail me on chris.anne1@ukonline.co.uk I will let you have my address. Many thanks and welcome back! Regards, Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilkie2381 Posted 27 September , 2009 Share Posted 27 September , 2009 Tom, I was delighted to see your post as I did not expect to get any views of the Basra Memorial. I have a Royal Field Artillery man commemorated at Basra. Could you send me a copy of the general view of the memorial (column and panels)? If you could e-mail me on chris.anne1@ukonline.co.uk I will let you have my address. Many thanks and welcome back! Regards, Chris. Chris a few photos I took this month (sep 2009) of the approach to the Basrah memorial. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilkie2381 Posted 27 September , 2009 Share Posted 27 September , 2009 Chris, The approach to the memorial from the rear. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilkie2381 Posted 27 September , 2009 Share Posted 27 September , 2009 Chris, Not very exciting I would agree but the photos do show the area is generally clean and the memorial is not totally falling down. Paul PS I have got a picture of the field Artillery panel but two of my mates are stood in front of it so not all the complete panel can be seen. If you want a copy let me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilkie2381 Posted 27 September , 2009 Share Posted 27 September , 2009 A part of the front of the Basrah memorial. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilkie2381 Posted 27 September , 2009 Share Posted 27 September , 2009 The centre of the Basrah war memorial. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilkie2381 Posted 27 September , 2009 Share Posted 27 September , 2009 last one. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Posted 25 October , 2009 Share Posted 25 October , 2009 wilkie, Thanks for those updated photos they are much appreciated. Ivor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johntanner Posted 28 October , 2009 Share Posted 28 October , 2009 While the wife's away just wasting time looking at the Forum as she'd see it. Amazed to find E T Harding of the Ox and Bucks, as will his great-nephew who I've just sent a copy of the panel to. Also Harry Wells (erroneously recorded by the CWGC as Wills) both from my home village. Many thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dog Posted 26 February , 2011 Share Posted 26 February , 2011 Well done that man. That is one place I will not be visting. unless I have my favorite friend the Gimpy (GPMG) and some back up. It is great to get these images or any images from the out of the way tourist destinations. Thanks again, and stay low MH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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