Basra (Tanooma Chinese) Memorial

• Country Iraq
• Total identified casualties 0 Find these casualties
• GPS Coordinates Latitude: 30.53029, Longitude: 47.81962

Location information

Basra is a town on the west bank of the Shatt-al-Arab, 90 kilometres from its mouth in the Persian Gulf. Basra War Cemetery, where Basra (Tanooma Chinese) Memorial will be found, is about 8 kilometres north-west of Basra.

Visiting information

Note: Whilst the current climate of political instability persists it is extremely challenging for the Commission to manage or maintain its cemeteries and memorials located within Iraq. Alternative arrangements for commemoration have therefore been implemented and a two volume Roll of Honour listing all casualties buried and commemorated in Iraq has been produced. These volumes are on display at the Commission's Head Office in Maidenhead and are available for the public to view.

The Commission continues to monitor the situation in Iraq and once the political climate has improved to an acceptable level the Commission will commence a major rehabilitation project for its cemeteries and commemorations.

Before considering a visit to Iraq the Commission strongly recommends that you check the advice given by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office on the travel section of their website:

www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/

History 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.

Within Basra War Cemetery will be found the Basra (Tanooma Chinese) Memorial commemorating 227 unnamed Singaporean Chinese casualties who were attached to the Inland Water Transport during the First World War. A panel in their memory was added to the screen wall in the cemetery when it became evident that their graves in Tanooma Chinese Cemetery could no longer be maintained.

The cemetery itself contains burials of both wars.