Hi List , This is the information from CWGC BASRA WAR CEMETERY Country: Iraq Locality: unspecified Visiting Information: THE COMMISSION STRONGLY ADVISES THAT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE SHOULD BE CONTACTED BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO VISIT IRAQ. Their details are as follows: Travel Advice Unit Consular Division Foreign and Commonwealth Office Old Admiralty Building London SW1A 2AF Tel: 0207 008 0232/0233 Fax: 0207 008 0164 Website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/ Opening Times: Monday to Friday 09.30 - 16.00 Location Information: Basra is a town on the west bank of the Shatt-al-Arab, 90 kilometres from its mouth in the Persian Gulf. The cemetery is about 8 kilometres north-west of Basra. Historical Information: During the First World War, Basra was occupied by the 6th (Poona) Division in November 1914, from which date the town became the base of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force. A number of cemeteries were used by the MEF in and around Basra; Makina Masul Old Cemetery was used from December 1914 to October 1916 and the Makina Masul New Extension was begun alongside the old cemetery in August 1917. These two sites, enlarged later when more than 1,000 graves were brought in from other burial grounds, now form Basra War Cemetery. The cemetery now contains 2,551 burials of the First World War, 74 of them unidentified. The headstones marking these graves were removed in 1935 when it was discovered that salts in the soil were causing them to deteriorate. The names of those buried in the graves affected are now recorded on a screen wall. The cemetery also contains the Basra (Tanooma Chinese) Memorial, commemorating 227 unidentified casualties of the Chinese Labour Corps who were attached to the Inland Water Transport during the First World War. A panel in their memory was added to the screen wall when it became evident that their graves in Tanooma Chinese Cemetery could no longer be maintained. During the Second World War, Basra was the scene of fighting from 2 - 7 May 1941 when Iraqi forces were driven from the town, which then became a base for Commonwealth forces. Basra War Cemetery was used once again and after the war, further graves were brought in from other burials grounds in Iraq and Iran. There are now 365 Second World War burials in the cemetery. In addition, there are 36 war graves of other nationalities, many of them Polish, and 16 non-war burials. 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 whose remains were cremated in accordance with their faith. No. of Identified Casualties: 2893 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.17/505 - Release Date: 27/10/2006

Hi List, I took the pictures of Basrah Cemetery back in july 2003, nothing has been done since apart from the surviving stones collected and put in storage containers and moved to a safer location, there are plans to re new the site to its former Glory, I for one am looking forward to this as my Cousins Uncle is buried there. Best wishes Dave -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.17/505 - Release Date: 27/10/2006

Dave What a sad state the cemetery is in, thank you for sharing the photo's with us. regards Derek ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Coulter" <dave_c64@ntlworld.com> To: <greatwar@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, October 30, 2006 1:54 PM Subject: Re: [GREATWAR] Basra Cemetery > Hi List > I have had so many requests for the Pictures of Basrah Cemetery that I > have > put them in the photo section of Greatwar-Community, there will be more > added soon > Best wishes > Dave > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.17/505 - Release Date: > 27/10/2006 > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GREATWAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Sue, Yes, very true. I can speak for Scotland anyway. Most of my family was exempt for that very reason. In fact, in one case I know of, my great great grandmother took the lease of a farm for her only remaining son (the other 2 had immigrated) to "keep him out of the war". On the other hand, agricultural workers could enlist if they desired & many did. My grandfather (shepherd) & his only brother (ship's pilot) both signed up. However, grandfather could not close one eye without the other. A minor defect, but you cannot fire a gun without this ability so he was refused. Probably saved his life though - great uncle died at Somme in 1916. Mary Fletcher Harris Canada > > Although not a reserve occupation, as in World War Two, agricultural > workers could gain an exemption from military service in the Great War.

Hello All, I have for some time been researching the life of a Sgt W.G.Skeet a coachman of 68 Richmond Rd, Brighton,Sussex, who served with the Royal Highlanders in the Egyptian war 1880, the C.I.Vs and the 1st V.B.Royal Sussex Regt. in the Boer war,and various other Units until during WW1 at the age of 48 he joined the 25th Royal Fusiliers - known as the "Frontiersman", he sailed to Africa with the 25th in May 1915 as a private but soon became Colour Sg. and fought in East Africa until 15 August 1917 when he was discharged due to illness. Medal Rolls state; William George SKEET 1914-15 Star Roll (W/O329/2634) states: Service No 13671 Rank as Private Entry into Theatre of War as 4a (East Africa) on 4 May 1915 Discharged P.392 (xvi) KR (No longer fit for service) 15 Aug 1917. BWM & Victory Medal Roll (W/O329/764) states: Service No 13671 Rank as Colour Sergeant Entry into Theatre of War 5a (East Africa) Served overseas with 25th Battalion- 10 Apr 1915 to 9 Jun 1917. Silver War Badge Roll states: Service No 13671 Rank as Private Badge No 234071 Discharged P.392 (xvi) K R Sickness 15 August 1917 Discharged from 5th Battalion Royal fusiliers (No evidence of his being wounded). Now that I know that he survived the war - and presumably was repatriated to the UK - could anyone please direct me as to how I could research his life as a a civilian. Many thanks, David Sheldon ************************************************************************************************* "This e-mail and its attachments are intended for the named addressee only and no liability is accepted for use or reliance on any part of this e-mail by any other person. It is confidential, may be subject to privilege and is also subject to copyright. No part of it should be reproduced, adapted or communicated without the written consent of the copyright owner. Any confidentiality or privilege is not waived or lost because this e-mail has been received by you and you are not the intended recipient. If you are not the intended recipient, please let us know by reply e-mail. Please note that e-mails can be interfered with, can contain computer viruses or other defects and may not be successfully replicated on other systems. This footnote confirms that this e-mail message has been swept for the presence of computer viruses. However whilst the sender has taken reasonable precautions to minimise the risk of this email and any attachment containing viruses, we cannot accept liability for any such viruses and we give no warranties in relation to any of the above matters. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of this e-mail please contact the sender immediately. No responsibility is accepted for any changes made to a document other than those made by the sender."

Hi List I have had so many requests for the Pictures of Basrah Cemetery that I have put them in the photo section of Greatwar-Community, there will be more added soon Best wishes Dave -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.17/505 - Release Date: 27/10/2006

If you can find out when and where he died then his obituary should give a good account of his life. If you don't know when he died then try this site http://www.freebmd.org.uk/ Regards Peter

Many thanks to everyone on this list for the help that they provided to me. I have managed to locate the guys - they were there all along I just missed them - apart from the 50 year old father which is doubtful that he is a war death, just a coincidence that he died 3 days after his son. I hope that I have thanked everyone personnaly by now. Regards, A very content Barbara D Auckland, NZ

Personnel records on the NARA website? No, I did not say that. You have to ask NARA for individual records following the directions on the NARA websites. For this, you need a service number for your subject which may be available from state, county or local records, or from the adjutant general's office of the state where he was resident in 1917/18. The Doughboy and WFA sites offer advice about searching for service records, not information on individuals or units. The 33rd Engineers, according to the Order of Battle, was a general construction regiment formed at Camp Devens, MA in January 1918 and shipped overseas via Camp Stuart, VA and the Port of Hoboken in July 1918, returning home for demobilization in June 1918 at Camp Grant, IL. The Regiment served in the Services of Supply (SOS) of the AEF. LGS

Barbara, Hopefully the other replies to your enquiry have been helpful to you. There are, though, other circumstances, which account for men not being recorded by the GWGC, and of which you may need to be aware. Firstly, some men died after serving in and having already been discharged from the armed forces. These men are not recorded by the GWGC unless they were informed of the deaths and were supplied with evidence which convinced them that the deaths were a direct result of war service. There is a similar case to this, who is listed on our village war memorial and is buried in the local churchyard. Secondly, men who served only "at home" (e.g. in the Royal Defence Corps (a sort of WW1 equivalent of the WW2 Home Guard), reserve units, etc) are not recorded by the GWGC unless they were informed of the deaths and were supplied with evidence which convinced them that the deaths were a direct result of war service. Again there is a similar case to this, who is listed on our village war memorial and is buried in the local churchyard. Thirdly, men who were buried in a "private" (e.g. family) grave are not necessarily recorded by the GWGC. I was involved some time ago in discussions with the CWGC, requesting that they add to their registers a similar case to this. It was plainly obvious that the man in question had "died on war service" but they took some persuading that this was so! If you still do not have the answers to your enquiries and, given that you have dates of death for the men in question, I would suggest that obtain copies of their death certificates and see what they reveal. I hope that the foregoing is helpful to you if you still do not have the answers to your enquiries. Ken. (in West Sussex, UK) P.S. I have checked the "Soldiers died in the Great War" CD-ROM but was unable to find your men. K. -----Original Message----- From: Barbara Dennis <tdennis@ihug.co.nz> Sent Subject: [GREATWAR] Deaths not found on the CWG Site > I have been given new names to follow up on with regards to my tree. > Their dates of death at first glance would seem that they died in > WW1 & the ages would also tie in to that. > I have searched the war graves site for a reference to them with no > luck, using just first initial, & alternative spellings. > Can anyone suggest another way of confirming if they were in the war or not. > Names given are: - > James Hall JOHNSTON died 13 Jan 1916 aged 32. > Archibald WILSON died 13 Oct 1917 aged 56.(Maybe too old for the war?) > David McNaught WILSON died 10 Oct 1917 > I located a brother of James Johnston recorded with an 'e' who was > part of the Lincolnshire Regiment & was killed 28 April 1917. > Grateful for any help provided. > Barbara D > Auckland, NZ > All are from UK or Scotland by birth.

Do you mean to say that these WWI Service Recs. are now on the NARA website? I tried to find them there, but could not. Perhaps I don't know how to use them, but the Doughboy and WRFA sites didn't seem to have anything on the 33rd Engineers. David Crider ============================================= LShurtleff@aol.com wrote: The National Archives and Records Service (NARA) has just opened up all WWI service records to the public and is moving to reconstruct/reconstitute those records burned in a fire at their Personnel Records Office outside St. Louis. To make a thorough check of NARA records, you will need your subject's service number. This may be obtained from local, county or state archives in his state of residence in 1917-18. The state adjutant general's office may also have this information. Go to the two websites below for hints on researching Doughboy records: _www.worldwar1.com/dbc_ (http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc) _www.wrfa-usa.org_ (http://www.wrfa-usa.org) (look under resources for links) Good luck, Len Shurtleff --------------------------------- Get your email and see which of your friends are online - Right on the new Yahoo.com

Dave would very much appreciate you sending me the Basrah Photos Regards Tony anthony.forrest@ntlworld.com

Hi Barbara: You could see if you can find the names you have in the ordinary ONS GRO microfiche Indexes to Deaths for the right year/quarter. While the Index will not give the date or age, the names may be in the Index, and the district registered may also help you. There were about 1570 deaths by enemy action in Britain in WWI, mostly probably civilian. There were air raids by Zeppelin airships from 1915, and by Gotha bombers from 1917. And 127 deaths when the German High Seas fleet bombarded Hartlepool, Scarborough & Whitby on 16 Dec 1914 Yours, John Wilson (New Zealand) > > I have been given new names to follow up on with regards to my tree. > Their dates of death at first glance would seem that they died in WW1 & the ages would also tie in to that. > I have searched the war graves site for a reference to them with no luck, using just first initial, & alternative spellings. > Can anyone suggest another way of confirming if they were in the war or not. > > Names given are: - > James Hall JOHNSTON died 13 Jan 1916 aged 32. > Archibald WILSON died 13 Oct 1917 aged 56.(Maybe too old for the war?) > David McNaught WILSON died 10 Oct 1917 > > I located a brother of James Johnston recorded with an 'e' who was part of the Lincolnshire Regiment & was killed 28 April 1917. > > Grateful for any help provided. > > Barbara D > Auckland, NZ > All are from from UK or Scotland by birth. >

Hi Listers: When I browsed TNA website for reference to KENDAL surnames who had medal index cards I found Sister Rose Elizabeth Kendal QAIMNS Reference 23696/30545 as well as reference 23. Listers have mentioned the website http://www.wargraves.org.uk/ so I took a look there for Kendal surname As an after-thought I decided to look at Kendall surname I found Sister Rose Elizabeth Kendall listed there as having gone down with HMHS Glenart Castle after the hospital ship had been hit by a torpedo at 0347 February 28, 1918. The ship was underway from Cardiff to Brest France to collect wounded. Only 38 people survived from a complement of 206 If someone has perchance done research in this field I will be grateful if They can advise what the correct spelling is of her surname They can let me know more about Sister Rose Elizabeth Kendal In addition the reference 23 is this to mention in dispatches or an award. Many thanks Keith Kendal Southern Hemisphere On dial up. PS. I did find "our" Frank Kendal on the website. Steve Morse had very kindly taken a photograph of his stone on a previous visit to France.

Thank you, Dave. Yes, please. Les in the UAE On 28/10/06, Dave Coulter <dave_c64@ntlworld.com> wrote: > > Hi List, > If anyone is interested in pictures of how Basrah cemetery looks now I can > send in an attachment. > Best wishes > Dave > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.17/505 - Release Date: > 27/10/2006 > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GREATWAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

I would be obliged for a copy of the Basra Cemetery please forward to terry_evans@btinternet.com. Many Thanks Terry ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Coulter" <dave_c64@ntlworld.com> To: <greatwar@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2006 12:26 PM Subject: Re: [GREATWAR] Deaths not found on the CWG Site > Hi List, > If anyone is interested in pictures of how Basrah cemetery looks now I can > send in an attachment. > Best wishes > Dave > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.17/505 - Release Date: > 27/10/2006 > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GREATWAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.4/476 - Release Date: 14/10/2006 > >

----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Coulter" <dave_c64@ntlworld.com> To: <greatwar@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, October 28, 2006 12:26 PM Subject: Re: [GREATWAR] Deaths not found on the CWG Site > Hi List, > If anyone is interested in pictures of how Basrah cemetery looks now I can > send in an attachment. > Best wishes > Dave > > -- > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.17/505 - Release Date: > 27/10/2006 > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > GREATWAR-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.4/476 - Release Date: 14/10/2006 > >

I have been given new names to follow up on with regards to my tree. Their dates of death at first glance would seem that they died in WW1 & the ages would also tie in to that. I have searched the war graves site for a reference to them with no luck, using just first initial, & alternative spellings. Can anyone suggest another way of confirming if they were in the war or not. Names given are: - James Hall JOHNSTON died 13 Jan 1916 aged 32. Archibald WILSON died 13 Oct 1917 aged 56.(Maybe too old for the war?) David McNaught WILSON died 10 Oct 1917 I located a brother of James Johnston recorded with an 'e' who was part of the Lincolnshire Regiment & was killed 28 April 1917. Grateful for any help provided. Barbara D Auckland, NZ All are from from UK or Scotland by birth.

The National Archives and Records Service (NARA) has just opened up all WWI service records to the public and is moving to reconstruct/reconstitute those records burned in a fire at their Personnel Records Office outside St. Louis. To make a thorough check of NARA records, you will need your subject's service number. This may be obtained from local, county or state archives in his state of residence in 1917-18. The state adjutant general's office may also have this information. Go to the two websites below for hints on researching Doughboy records: _www.worldwar1.com/dbc_ (http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc) _www.wrfa-usa.org_ (http://www.wrfa-usa.org) (look under resources for links) Good luck, Len Shurtleff

Yes please Dave, as I am researching a soldier buried there. Regards Peter