Basra War Cemetery

In 1935 the site was cleared of gravestones due to their deterioration and a Memorial Screen Wall was installed with the names of the men buried there – none of which survive.

The combined two cemeteries contain the remains of almost 5,000 servicemen primarily from WW1, some civilian graves and a few from World War II.

[1][2] Those buried at the cemetery include Victoria Cross recipient George Godfrey Massy Wheeler, and Henry Howard, 19th Earl of Suffolk.

[citation needed] The Daily Telegraph reported on 10 November 2013 that the cemetery had been damaged, with a number of headstones knocked down and broken by looters and vandals.

As of July 2024 the CWGC has no plans to return to the country and renovate or maintain any of the cemeteries and monuments there representing approximately 100,000 British Forces casualties.

Remains of the Plinth
Remains of the Cross of Sacrifice Basra War Cemetery British Army Section
Fragments of a British Army Soldiers Grave Basra War Cemetery
Grave Fragments – Basra War Cemetery
Their Names Shall Live For Evermore Monument
Gravestone of Gunner Joseph Soppitt Royal Artillery 1941. Private rededication July 2024
Grave stone remains from WW2 era
Picture of Basra War Cemetery from 1997 looking over Plot 7 WW2
Basra War Cemetery circa. 1950's (from CWGC Archives) showing the view of the memorial wall and the Cross of Sacrifice.
Basra Plot 7 (WW2) and Plot 6 (WW1) taken in 1951 (CWGC Archives)
Basra War Cemetery Main Gate circa 1950 (CWGC Archives)
Basra War Cemetery Plot 7 (WW2) circa 1951 (CWGC Archives)
Gate to the British Section of Basra War Cemetery