A video record of the CWGC Cemeteries and Memorials in Iraq

More than 50,000 soldiers from the UK and Commonwealth nations lost their lives in Iraq in both World Wars. Most were casualties of the Mesopotamian Campaign in the Great War. 

Ben Soppitt's grandfather, Gunner Joseph Soppitt, is among those buried at Basra War Cemetery. He died in 1941 of dysentery when British forces briefly fought there during World War Two.

In 2025 Ben visited the numerous CWGC cemeteries and memorials in Iraq and made a series of short videos in each location.

The Kut War Cemetery

The siege of Kut began in December 1915 with efforts being made to relieve it, which resulted in a large loss of life. Relief attempts included that by a steamer on April 24th of 1916. In this action, two posthumous Victoria Crosses were awarded to Lieutenant Commander Charles Cowley and Lieutenant Humphey Firman.

Baghdad (North Gate) Cemetery

Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery is located in the Al-Russafa district of Baghdad. The entrance to the cemetery is located opposite the College of Arts and the Institute of Administration in Baghdad University.

In 1914, Baghdad was the headquarters of the Turkish Army in Mesopotamia. and was the objective of Indian Expeditionary Force 'D' - the troops that fell back on Kut had approached the city during the early advances of 1915-16.

Baghdad was taken in March 1917 and eventually saw the construction of two stationary hospitals and three casualty clearing stations.

Basra Memorial to the Missing

The Basra Memorial lists more Great War fatalities than any other CWGC memorial outside France and Belgium and commemorates nearly 6,000 more soldiers than are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial. In terms of men remembered, it stands only behind the Thiepval and the Menin Gate memorials. The total numbers listed on the Thiepval, Menin Gate and Basra memorials are as follows.  

1. Thiepval Memorial: 72,173 casualties
2. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial: 54,357 casualties
3. Basra Memorial: 40,605 casualties

Basra War Cemetery

During the First World War, Basra was occupied by the Indian 6th (Poona) Division in November 1914. The town became the base of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force. The cemetery contains 2,560 burials of the First World War and 364 from the Second World War. 

Basra Indian Forces Cemetery

Directly opposite Basra War Cemetery is the Basra Indian Forces Cemetery containing burials of both wars, and the Basra Cremation Memorial commemorating Indian casualties of the Second World War who died in Iraq and Iran whose remains were cremated in accordance with their faith.

Amara War Cemetery

The cemetery contains 4,621 burials from the First World War, of which more than 3,000 were interred after the end of the war. Only 3,696 of the dead have been identified.

In 1933, the grave headstones were removed after it was found that they were being damaged by salts in the soil and a memorial wall erected instead with the names of the dead engraved upon plaques.

Alwiya Indian Forces Cemetery

Alwiya Indian War Cemetery was begun some months after the capture of Baghdad in 1917 and used for both Indian and British burials, the British graves were moved to the Baghdad (North Gate) Cemetery after the Armistice.

Khanaqin War Cemetery

Khanaqin War Cemetery (or Khanaqin Polish War Cemetery) in Diyala was established in 1942 for over 500 Commonwealth and Polish servicemen who died of illness or accident while serving with PAIFORCE. Due to maintenance difficulties, a memorial to these soldiers was moved to Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery in 1965.

Mosul War Cemetery

Mosul was the headquarters of the Turkish Sixth Army during the Great War. The town was entered by Commonwealth forces on 3 November 1918 under the terms of the Armistice with Turkey and became a hospital centre.

Mosul War Cemetery contains 191 burials from the First World War, and 145 from the Second World War. 

Ma'Asker Al Rashid R.A.F. Cemetery

The cemetery was created alongside Hinaidi RAF base and was initially known as Hinaidi RAF Peace Cemetery. It was renamed Ma'asker Al Raschid RAF Cemetery in 1961.