I have been researching a soldier of the 1/4th Norfolk Regiment who died at around the time of the 2nd Battle of Gaza in 1917. For some reason he is buried in Baghdad. The 1/4th Norfolks were based at Gaza Shel-al at this time.

I have written to the Norfolk Regimental museum and they confirm that there are serveral men from the 1/4th Norfolk Regiment buried in Baghdad. The only explanation they could provide was that the men were undergoing hospital treatment there. This is still a bit puzzling as there would have been hospitals nearer, like at Alexandria?

Has anyone got any ideas as to why these men from 1/4th Norfolks were buried in Baghdad?

Steve Potts

I cannot offer any reason why these men are apparently buried there. Is this just confined to the 4th Norfolks, or are there any other Battalions from 163 Brigade of 54th Division represented? It would be very odd if was just the one Battalion.

Gareth

Gareth,

Thanks for replying.

There are x 5 men from the 1/4th Btn Norfolks and x25 men from the 1/5th Norfolks which had also been fighting in Gaza, amongst the 4,160 Commonwealth forces burials in the Baghdad (North Gate) cemetery. The former men died between October 1916 and September 1918 and their battalions had been fighting in Gaza. The only explanation offered by the Royal Norfolk Regimantal Museum staff was that they were possibly receiving hospital treatment although this seems strange as to why these men were taken so far inland across the Syrian desert rather than being taken to Alexandria which was a lot closer.

Perhaps the men could have been taken prisoner during the 1st Battle of Gaza or elsewhere and taken to Baghdad by the Turks?

Steve Potts

Hi Steve

By a strange coincidence I was today asked to check the details of a member of my local Battalion the 8th Hampshire's. L/Cpl E Rackett was captured as an unwounded prisoner during the 2nd battle of Gaza, 19th April 1917, he died as the result of Chronic Enteritis at Nigde Hospital (not a location I have come across before), and he is buried in Baghdad's North-gate cemetery.

So I too have discovered that some of my interest group lie much further away than expected, I wonder if being a POW is the clue as you suggested.

Gareth

Gareth,

thanks for your thoughts and concurring with my general idea. I think it's a real possibility that these men were captured in Palestine and moved to Baghdad as prisoners of the Turks.

Steve

Hi Steve

The answer lies in the details given by the CWGC in the historical notes concerning Baghdad Northgate

The North Gate Cemetery was begun In April 1917 and has been greatly enlarged since the end of the First World War by graves brought in from other burial grounds in Baghdad and northern Iraq, and from battlefields and cemeteries in Anatolia where Commonwealth prisoners of war were buried by the Turks.

I think we have it now, they were simply re-interred there after the war.

Gareth

Gareth,

thanks for the reply again. The only trouble I have believing that he may have been brought in from another burial ground and buried at Baghdad is that when he died the 1/4 th Norfolks were at Gaza Shel Al and there is a large Commonwealth War Grave site at Gaza already, so why move him to Baghdad for burial?

The man concerned is Pvt 203312 Oliver Samuel Wickham, died 1st October 1917.

Regards

Steve Potts

Steve

Most likely prisoners of war these two from the 5th Suffolk Regt were taken prisoner in Turkey but ended up at Baghdad.

DURRANT
Initials: H F
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Suffolk Regiment
Unit Text: 5th Bn.
Date of Death: 17/09/1916
Service No: 2211
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: XXI. R. 4.
Cemetery: BAGHDAD (NORTH GATE) WAR CEMETERY

NICHOLSON
Initials: R J
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Suffolk Regiment
Unit Text: 1st/5th Bn.
Date of Death: 08/02/1917
Service No: 240615
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Angora Mem. 123.
Cemetery: BAGHDAD (NORTH GATE) WAR CEMETERY


Ray