Amara War Cemetery (British)
Amara (Al-ʿAmārah) on the Tigris became a principal medical and burial centre for the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force during WWI. From 1915, hospitals and depots clustered here, and the cemetery grew into the largest Commonwealth burial ground in southern Mesopotamia.
Quick Information
Amarah, ~305-344 km southeast of Baghdad
Commemorated
4,621 commemorated
WWI: 4,621 • WWII: 0
Largest Commonwealth burial ground in southern Mesopotamia. Stones destroyed by soil; names now on screen walls
Status
Last Updated
25 October 2025
Historical Context
Amara was captured by British forces in June 1915 and immediately developed as a base hospital center. The town's position on the Tigris made it ideal for evacuating wounded downriver from the front lines. During the catastrophic Siege of Kut (Dec 1915-Apr 1916) and the failed relief attempts at Hanna, Dujaila, and Sannaiyat, casualties flooded Amara's hospitals. Many succumbed to their wounds or disease and were buried here.
Significance
As the largest Commonwealth cemetery in southern Mesopotamia, Amara represents the immense scale of medical evacuations during the campaign. The cemetery contains casualties from every major battle in central Mesopotamia: Qurna, Shaiba, Ctesiphon, the Siege of Kut, the relief attempts, and the 1917 recapture of Kut and advance on Baghdad. Four Victoria Cross recipients rest here.
Current Condition
The cemetery status is unclear at this time.
Layout & Numbers
Total WWI burials: 4,621, of which approximately 925 are unidentified. Small additions from later WWII period and non-war deaths. Original headstones were destroyed by the saline soil; in 1933, all names were removed from the deteriorating stones and inscribed on permanent screen wall panels.
How They Came Here
1915: Early Operations
Casualties from the battles at Qurna (December 1914) and Shaiba (April 1915) were evacuated to Amara after the town's capture in June 1915.
November 1915: Ctesiphon and Retreat
The disastrous advance to Ctesiphon in November 1915 ended in costly defeat. Wounded were evacuated downriver during the chaotic retreat to Kut-al-Amara.
December 1915–April 1916: Siege of Kut
During the five-month Siege of Kut, British relief forces launched repeated attacks at Hanna, Dujaila, and Sannaiyat. Thousands of wounded were evacuated to Amara's hospitals, where many died.
1917: Recapture and Advance
After the fall of Kut in April 1916, British forces regrouped. The recapture of Kut in February 1917 and the subsequent advance on Baghdad generated further casualties treated in Amara.
Soldiers were evacuated by river steamer from battle sites throughout central Mesopotamia. Amara's hospitals treated casualties from the entire Tigris front, from Qurna to operations north of Baghdad.
Notable Burials
920 Corporal Sidney William Ware
Corporal, 1st Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
Victoria Cross
Son of William and Maud Ware, of 1, Pine Cottage, Sutton Veny, Warminster, Wilts. Born at Winterbourne, Whitechurch, Dorset. Aged 24.
An extract from "The London Gazette," No. 29765, dated 26th Sept., 1916, records the following: "For most conspicuous bravery. An order was given to withdraw to the cover of a communication trench. Corporal Ware, whose cool gallantry had been very marked during the advance, was one of the few men remaining unwounded. He picked up a wounded man and carried him some 200 yards to cover, and then returned for others, moving to and fro under very heavy fire for more than two hours until he had brought in all the wounded and was completely exhausted."
Lieutenant-Commander Edgar Christopher Cookson
Lieutenant-Commander, H. M. S. Clio, Royal Navy
Victoria Cross, D. S. O., Mentioned in Despatches
Son of Capt. W. E. Cookson, R.N. Aged 31.
An extract from "The London Gazette," dated 21st May, 1915, records the following: "On the 28th September, 1915, the river gunboat 'Comet' had been ordered with other gunboats to examine and, if possible, destroy an obstruction placed across the river by the Turks. When the gunboats were approaching the obstruction a very heavy rifle and machine gun fire was opened on them from both banks. An attempt to sink the centre dhow of the obstruction by gunfire having failed, Lieutenant-Commander Cookson ordered the 'Comet' to be placed alongside, and himself jumped on to the dhow with an axe and tried to cut the wire hawsers connecting it with the two other craft forming the obstruction. He was immediately shot in several places and died within a very few minutes."
Lieutenant Colonel Edward Elers Delavel Henderson
Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding 9th Bn. Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Victoria Cross, Mentioned in Despatches
Husband of Mrs. M. Henderson, of "Tall Trees," Park Rd., Camberley, Surrey. Aged 38.
An extract from "The London Gazette," dated 8th June, 1917, records the following: "For most conspicuous bravery, leadership and personal example when in command of his battalion. Lt. Col. Henderson brought his battalion up to our two front-line trenches, which were under intense fire, and his battalion had suffered heavy casualties when the enemy made a heavy counter-attack, and succeeded in penetrating our line in several places, the situation becoming critical. Although shot through the arm, Lt. Col. Henderson jumped on to the parapet and advanced alone some distance in front of his battalion, cheering them on under the most intense fire over 500 yards of open ground. Again wounded, he nevertheless continued to lead his men on in the most gallant manner, finally capturing the position by a bayonet charge. He was again twice wounded, and died when he was eventually brought in."
Sir Victor Horsley
Consulting Surgeon, Royal Army Medical Corps
Sir Victor Horsley was a pioneering British neurosurgeon and pathologist who volunteered for military service despite his age. He served as a consulting surgeon in Mesopotamia, where he worked tirelessly in the hospitals treating wounded from the Kut operations. He died of heatstroke in the extreme Iraqi summer of 1916.
Died of heatstroke, July 1916, while serving as consulting surgeon.
Visual Documentation
Still Photography
Video Photography
Video Documentation Coming Soon
Comprehensive video documentation of the memorial is being prepared and will be added shortly.
360° Panoramic Views
360° Panoramas Coming Soon
We’re preparing immersive 360° views. Once your panoramic files are ready, we’ll publish them here.
Cemetery Plan
Historical cemetery plan showing the layout of Amara War Cemetery on the Tigris River.
Related Articles & Content
Amara - The Hospital Center of Mesopotamia
VisitDetails the role of Amara as the principal medical evacuation center during the Mesopotamian Campaign. Thousands of wounded were evacuated by river from battle sites throughout central Mesopotamia to Amara's base hospitals, making it the largest Commonwealth burial ground in southern Iraq.
Source: The Long, Long Trail