King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

Second World War - War Memorials

Habbaniya War Memorial

A memorial is now displayed within Alexandra Barracks, Caton Road in Lancaster, although it originally was located at the Royal Air Force Club in Preston.

Habbaniya War Memorial unveiled at the Royal Air Force Association Club, Preston on 26th April 1958.
The memorial was unveiled by Mr Julian Amory MP, Under Secretary of State for War, with Major V L Davies and the Rev F H Trevor, Assistant Chaplain in Chief, Royal Air Force.
Accession Number: KO0883/244

“To the memory of all ranks of the King’s Own Royal Regiment and Royal Air Force Killed in Action in Iraq 1941.”

Habbaniya War Cemetery, circa 1950s
Accession Number: KO1258/01

The following Royal Air Force Personnel are buried in Habbaniya War Cemetery, Iraq:
Habbaniya is about 65 kilometres west of Baghdad. The cemetery, enclosed by a high brick wall, is within the former R.A.F. cantonment, which is now an enclosed military area.

LESLIE GEORGE CRIPPS, Aircraftman 1st Class, 527269, Royal Air Force, who died on, Tuesday, 6th May 1941. Age 28.  Husband of Edith Agnes Cripps, of Reading, Berkshire.

ARTHUR EVELEIGH MERVYN PRICKETT, Flight Sergeant, 366382, Obs.  Royal Air Force, who died on, Tuesday, 6th May 1941. Age 31.  Son of William Charles and Maud Prickett; husband of Dorothy Helen Prickett, of West Molesey, Surrey.

ERNEST VICTOR GIRDWOOD, Warrant Officer, 343051, Royal Air Force who died on, Tuesday, 6th May 1941. Age 45.  Son of Frederick William and Maria Girdwood, of Romford, Essex. Also served in the 1914-18 War.

ERNEST WILLIAM MACE, Leading Aircraftman, 542549, Royal Air Force who died on Wednesday, 7th May 1941. Age 25.  Son of Joseph John Mace and Alice Mace, of Pontywall, Brecknockshire. His brother Charles Douglas also died on service.

ALBERT GEORGE (ALB.) COUCH, Flight Sergeant, 364565, Royal Air Force, who died on Tuesday, 6th May 1941. Age 33.  Son of Albert Charles and Elizabeth Thirza Couch, of Buckland, Portsmouth.

HARRY GRANT JOHNSTON, Corporal, 546705, Royal Air Force who died on Friday, 16th May 1941. Age 24.  Son of Robert and Ellen Johnston, of Buckie, Banffshire.

JOHN SMITH, Leading Aircraftman, 541366, Royal Air Force, who died on Wednesday, 7th May 1941. Age 25.  Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, of South Yardley, Birmingham.

GEORGE EDMUND SKINNER, Corporal, 570589, Royal Air Force who died on Wednesday, 7th May 1941. Age 21.  Son of George and Eva Blanche Skinner, of Bath, Somerset.

REGINALD SYDNEY SKELTON, Leading Aircraftman, 776153  Pilot U/T. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on Friday, 2nd May 1941. Son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Skelton, of Kampala, Uganda.

GEORGE IAN ROBERTSON, Leading Aircraftman, 785031, Pilot U/T Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who died on Friday, 2nd May 1941.

DENIS HUGH WALSH, Flying Officer, 40580, Pilot, Royal Air Force who died on Friday, 2nd May 1941. Age 27.  Son of Thomas Hugh and Minnie Josephine Walsh, of Streatham, London.

HAROLD BRATTAN, Flight Sergeant, 565218, Pilot, Royal Air Force who died on Thursday, 8th May 1941. Age 26.  Son of Robert Edward and Edith Brattan of Hull.

PHILIP GEORGE OSBORN, Flight Sergeant, 355936, Royal Air Force, who died on Friday, 16th May 1941. Age 41.  Husband of Dorothy Osborn, of Southsea, Hampshire.

MICHAEL LYNCH, Aircraftman 2nd Class, 648637, Royal Air Force who died on Friday, 16th May 1941. Age 21.  Son of Anthony and Mary Lynch, of Barnsley, Yorkshire.

JOHN CLIFFORD SHAKESHAFT, Wing Commander, 10144, Royal Air Force (RAFO) who died on Friday, 16th May 1941. Age 53.  Son of John and Ann M. Shakeshaft; husband of Adah M. Shakeshaft, of Mortimer, Berkshire.

HAROLD EDWIN MINOR, Leading Aircraftman, 610914, Royal Air Force who died on Friday, 16th May 1941. Age 24.  Son of Arthur and Jessie Mary Minor, of Swinton, Lancashire.

GERALD DOUGLAS FRANCIS HERRTAGE, Flying Officer, 42309, Pilot  Royal Air Force who died on Friday, 16th May 1941. Age 24.  Son of Ernest C. Herrtage and Elizabeth Herrtage, of Hove, Sussex.

HARRY DOLTON ROWE, Flight Sergeant, 363003, Royal Air Force, who died on Friday, 16th May 1941. Age 34.  Son of Albert Edward and Eliza Helen Rowe, of Mutley, Plymouth.

NORMAN ASHLEY MOORE, Leading Aircraftman, 610927, Royal Air Force  who died on Friday, 16th May 1941. Age 21.  Son of Herbert William and Olive Daisy Moore, of Woodthorpe, Nottingham.

WILLIAM ROBERT McCLEERY AFM, Squadron Leader, 31097, Royal Air Force who died on Sunday, 18th May 1941. Croix de Guerre.

JOHN WILLIAM BISHOP, Flight Sergeant, 336503, Royal Air Force, who died on Thursday, 22nd May 1941. Age 49.  Husband of Gertrude Bishop, of Meppershall, Bedfordshire. Also served in the 1914-18 war.

PHILIP HENRY SHEPHERD, Leading Aircraftman, 965903, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who died on Friday, 2nd May 1941. Age 19. Son of Harry and Annie Shepherd, of Wythenshawe, Manchester.

WILLIAM CUMMINGS, Corporal, 524108, Royal Air Force who died on Friday, 2nd May 1941.

JOHN DENNIS RICHARDS, Leading Aircraftman, 629859, Royal Air Force who died on Friday, 2nd May 1941. Son of John Sidney and Ann Jane Richards, of Newtown, Montgomeryshire.

GEORGE FURNEY DFM, Flight Sergeant, 816134, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 84 Sqdn., Royal Air Force (Aux. Air Force), who died on Saturday, 31st May 1941. Age 21.  Son of Benjamin W. B. Furney and Elizabeth Downes Furney, of Finaghy, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland.

GEORGE FRANCIS HUMBER, Sergeant, 580544, Observer, 84 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died on Saturday, 31st May 1941. Age 22.  Son of Francis Herbert and Emily Anne Humber, of Monkwood, Hampshire.

ALEXANDER GORDON DFM, Sergeant, 566025, Pilot, 84 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died on Saturday, 31st May 1941. Age 24.  Son of Alexander and Christina Gordon, of Mid Clyth, Caithness-shire.

VICTOR MONTAGUE EVERIX, Aircraftman 1st Class, 901926, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who died on Friday, 2nd May 1941. Age 19.  Son of Montague Henry and Mary Catherine Everix, of Paddington, Warrington, Lancashire.

PETER ROEBUCK GILLESPY, Pilot Officer, 47301, Pilot, Royal Air Force who died on Friday, 2nd May 1941. Age 26.  Son of the Revd. Canon Francis Roebuck Gillespy M.A., and of Edith May Gillespy, of Ashleworth, Gloucestershire

The following RAF personnel are buried/commemorated as indicated.

LEONARD JOHN BLACKHALL, Leading Aircraftman, 785024, Pilot U/T  Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve who died on Tuesday, 13th May 1941. Age 19.  Son of Leonard Anderson Blackhall and Edith Blackhall, of Banchory, Kincardineshire.  BAGHDAD (NORTH GATE) WAR CEMETERY, Iraq

JAMES SINCLAIR HENRY FAIRWEATHER, Pilot Officer, 47306, Royal Air Force, formerly (Capt.) 2nd Bn., 4th Prince of Wales' Own Gurkha Rifles  who died on, Tuesday, 6th May 1941. Age 27.  Son of James Courtenay Thorpe Fairweather and Margaret Catherine Fairweather, of Midhurst, Sussex.  ALAMEIN MEMORIAL, Egypt

IAN McGREGOR PRINGLE, Pilot Officer, 47300, Royal Air Force, formerly, 16th Punjab Regiment, who died on, Tuesday, 6th May 1941. Age 32.  Son of John Pringle, and of Susan Alice Pringle, of Rathgar, Dublin.  ALAMEIN MEMORIAL, Egypt

DOUGLAS WILLIAM ROBINSON, Sergeant, 749373, 70 Sqdn., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who died on Wednesday, 7th May 1941. Age 23.  Son of William Frederick and Edith Charlotte Robinson, of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex.  BASRA WAR CEMETERY, Iraq

Sir RODERICK ALAN MacROBERT, Flight Lieutenant, 40731, Pilot, 94 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died on Wednesday, 21st May 1941. Age 26.  3rd Bt. Son of Sir Alexander MacRobert, K.B.E., LL.D., V.D., 1st Bt., and of Lady MacRobert, B.Sc., J.P., F.G.S. (nee Workman), of Tarland, Aberdeenshire.  MOSUL WAR CEMETERY, Iraq

CHARLES TREVOR DENNETT, Sergeant, 637578, 244 Sqdn., Royal Air Force who died on Monday, 5th May 1941. Age 20.  Son of Herbert and Margaret Dennett, of Cleveleys, Lancashire.  ALAMEIN MEMORIAL, Egypt

ROBERT JOPE-SLADE DSC, OBE, Group Captain, 244 Sqdn., Royal Air Force, who died on Monday, 5th May 1941.  ALAMEIN MEMORIAL, Egypt

The following soldiers of the King’s Own are buried in HABBANIYA WAR CEMETERY, Iraq

JOSEPH JOHN SHORT, Private, 3711233, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Tuesday, 6th May 1941. Age 24.  Son of David T. Short and Tegwedd Short, of Tylorstown, Glamorgan.

NICHOLAS FITZPATRICK, Private, 3711898, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Tuesday, 6th May 1941. Age 24.  Son of Nicholas and Mary Ann Fitzpatrick.

WILLIAM BUTLER, Private, 3710391, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Tuesday, 6th May 1941. Age 27.  Son of Thomas Austin Butler and Catherine Butler, of Elswick, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

WILLIAM CAMPBELL, Private, 3710829, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster), who died on Tuesday, 6th May 1941. Age 28.

VINCENT ROGERS, Private, 3710363, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster), who died on Tuesday, 6th May 1941.

JOHN THOMPSON, Lieutenant, 182495, King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Tuesday, 6th May 1941.

WILLIAM LEVELL, Private, 3712869, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Wednesday, 7th May 1941. Age 22.  Son of Henry and Mary Levell, of Birkenhead.

PATRICK HARRY FREKE EVANS, Major, 34763, King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on, Tuesday, 20th May 1941. Age 35.  Son of Fisher Henry Freke Evans and of Marie Louise Evans Evans (nee Haslett), husband of Cecil Lechmere Evans, of Cambridge.

WALTER FLEMING, Private, 3710998, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Thursday, 22nd May 1941. Age 32.  Son of William Jonah and Bridget Fleming, of Skelwith Bridge, Lancashire.

JOHN DOUGLAS BENSON, Private, 3713018, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Thursday, 22nd May 1941. Age 22.  Son of William and Isabella Margaret Benson, of Haverthwaite, Lancashire.

JOHN JOSEPH ROONEY, Private, 3711197, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on, Friday, 2nd May 1941. Age 26.  Son of Elizabeth Rooney, of Dublin, Irish Republic.

JOHN ADSHEAD, Private, 852852, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Friday, 2nd May 1941. Age 25.  Son of George and Alice M. Adshead, of Bredbury, Cheshire.

ERNEST ISAAC CLASSON, Lance Corporal, 3713047, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster), who died on Thursday, 22nd May 1941. Age 22.  Son of Charles Ephraim and Ellen Theresa Classon, of Moreton, Cheshire.

LESLIE GABBERT, Private, 3711135, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Thursday, 22nd May 1941. Age 24.  Son of Benjamin and Eleanor Jane Gabbert, of Millom, Cumberland.

RICHARD JONES, Private, 3711483, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Thursday, 22nd May 1941. Age 24.

CLIFFORD WILSON, Private, 3710956, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Thursday, 22nd May 1941. Age 25.  Son of John and Annie Wilson.

ROBERT WILSON, Private, 3713245, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Thursday, 22nd May 1941. Age 22.   Son of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Wilson, of Grange-over-Sands, Lancashire.

CHRISTOPHER JOHN HODGSON, Second Lieutenant, 117308, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Thursday, 22nd May 1941. Age 20.  Son of Lt-Col. Christopher Lefroy Hodgson and Frances Dorothy Hodgson, of Windsor, Berkshire.

WILLIAM GEORGE JONES, Private, 3710964, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on, Thursday, 22nd May 1941.

GEORGE BILSBORROW, Private, 3712942, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Thursday, 22nd May 1941. Age 22.  Son of James and Ada Bilsborrow, of Bootle, Lancashire.

FRANK VALLERY, Private, 3710475, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Thursday, 22nd May 1941.

JOHN LEO YATES, Private, 3856081, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Thursday, 22nd May 1941. Age 24.  Son of James and Nellie Yates. of Chorley, Lancashire.

WILLIAM KIRBY, Lance Corporal, 3713119, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Thursday, 22nd May 1941.

GEORGE ALFRED OWEN, Private, 4799947, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Thursday, 22nd May 1941. Age 28.  Son of George Edward and Florence Gertrude Mary Owen, of Louth, Lincolnshire.

JOHN QUINN, Lance Corporal, 3713463, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster), who died on, Thursday, 22nd May 1941.

JOHN MAGUIRE, Warrant Officer Class II, 3710261, C.S.M. 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Thursday, 22nd May 1941. Age 26.

WILLIAM SMITH, Private, 3711595, King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Thursday, 22nd May 1941. Age 23.

JOHN McNULTY, Private, 3446351, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) who died on Thursday, 22nd May 1941. Age 22.

FREDERICK WILLIAM (FRED) BAILEY, Lance Corporal, 3712915, 1st Bn., King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster), who died on Tuesday, 8th July 1941. Age 23.  Son of Frederick James Bailey and Mary Elizabeth Bailey, of Seaforth, Liverpool.