Habbaniya War Cemetery, Iraq

Country Iraq
Time PeriodWW2
Ex-49Sqn Graves1

RAF Habbaniya was about 90 km west of Baghdad in modern-day Iraq, on the banks of the Euphrates near Lake Habbaniyah.



It was operational from October 1936 until the 31 May 1959 when the British were finally withdrawn following the July 1958 Revolution.

It remained as a major Iraqi military airbase.

There are 290 British and Commonwealth servicemen and civilians, including women and children who still lie buried in the RAF cemetery at Habbaniya. 257 of these are in War Graves from WW2 maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

History has not been kind to the camp and cemetery as can be seen from the photographs below.

The gatehouse during RAF Days and in 2005.

The cemetery in RAF days and 2005.

In 2005 great efforts were made to clean up the cemetery.

All photographs and maps shown above and below are with the kind permission of the RAF Habbaniya Association.

Ceremonies were held there in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

By 2010 it was not possible to access the cemetery but by 2023 the cemetery had been restored.

The RAF Habbanyia Association website (opens in a new window).

The Habbiniya restoration website (opens in a new window)

Ex 49 Squadron aircrew buried here:

HIGGINS Philip Frederick