Basra Memorial to the Missing

Lieutenant Commander Charles Henry Cowley

Lieutenant Commander, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

VC

Took part in night river supply mission aboard SS Julnar, attempting to re-supply besieged Kut forces; came under heavy fire and was captured or killed

Victoria Cross recipient. Died attempting the daring Julnar mission to break through to Kut.

Lieutenant Commander Cowley was awarded the Victoria Cross for his heroic attempt to break through Turkish lines aboard SS Julnar to resupply the besieged garrison at Kut-al-Amara. On the night of 24-25 April 1916, Cowley and Lieutenant Firman commanded the Julnar in a desperate mission up the Tigris River. Despite facing intense fire from both banks, steel hawsers stretched across the river, and overwhelming odds, they pressed forward with extraordinary courage. The vessel was eventually disabled and captured. Cowley died either in the attack or shortly after in captivity. His body was never recovered.

Lieutenant Humphrey Osbaldston Brooke Firman

Lieutenant, Royal Navy

VC

Co-commanded the SS Julnar attempt with Cowley to reach Kut; the ship was disabled, attacked at close range

Victoria Cross recipient. Killed alongside Cowley in the Julnar mission.

Lieutenant Firman shared command with Cowley on the SS Julnar's doomed relief mission to Kut. A young officer from a naval family, Firman volunteered for what was known to be an almost suicidal mission. The Julnar faced relentless fire, obstacles, and searchlights as they attempted to navigate upriver through Turkish positions. When the ship became entangled in cables and was disabled, both officers fought on until killed or captured. Firman's Victoria Cross citation noted his 'most conspicuous bravery' in the face of certain death. His body was never found.

Private James Henry Fynn

Private, 4th Battalion, South Wales Borderers

VC

At Sannaiyat, repeatedly carried wounded men to safety under heavy fire, refusing to stop despite being shot in the arm; later mortally wounded

Victoria Cross recipient for extraordinary bravery under fire.

Private Fynn earned the Victoria Cross during the Second Battle of Sannaiyat on 9 April 1916, one of the failed attempts to relieve Kut. Under intense fire, Fynn repeatedly left cover to rescue wounded comrades, carrying them to safety despite being wounded himself. Shot through the arm, he refused medical treatment and continued his rescue work until he collapsed from blood loss. He survived this action but was killed in battle almost a year later during the British advance following the recapture of Kut. His heroism at Sannaiyat saved multiple lives and exemplified the selfless courage of the ordinary soldier.

Private David Finlay

Private, 2nd Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)

VC

Though his VC was gained earlier (France), died in Mesopotamia with no known grave

Victoria Cross recipient. Died in Mesopotamia far from where he earned his medal.

Private Finlay earned his Victoria Cross at Richebourg l'Avoué in France during May 1915 for heroic action under fire. Transferred to Mesopotamia, he died during the early stages of the campaign in January 1916. His body was never recovered from the battlefield. Finlay represents the thousands of men who fought in multiple theatres of war, only to fall in obscure actions far from where they had distinguished themselves. The circumstances of his death remain unclear, but he was likely killed during operations around the Tigris or in one of the countless skirmishes that characterized the grinding nature of the Mesopotamian Campaign.

Captain George Stuart Henderson

Captain, 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment

VC

At Hillah, though wounded three times, led repeated bayonet charges, encouraged his men, and continued until killed

Victoria Cross recipient. Killed during the Iraqi Revolt of 1920.

Captain Henderson earned his Victoria Cross during the Iraqi Revolt of 1920, a post-WWI insurgency that cost Britain thousands of casualties. At Hillah, Henderson's company came under fierce attack. Despite being wounded three times, he refused to leave his men, repeatedly leading bayonet charges to drive back the insurgents. He moved among his soldiers, encouraging them and directing the defense even as his wounds worsened. Finally, leading one more charge, he was killed. His Victoria Cross was one of only a few awarded for actions during the revolt—a conflict that has been largely forgotten despite its brutality and significance. Henderson died trying to hold a crumbling empire together in the face of local resistance.

Sister Florence Narrelle Jessie Hobbes

Sister, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service

Served at 32nd British General Hospital in Amara; evacuated due to illness; died at sea aboard hospital ship SS Kanowna

The only nurse—and the only woman—commemorated on the Basra Memorial.

Sister Florence Narrelle Jessie Hobbes served with the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service during the First World War. Posted in May 1915 to Malta, she nursed casualties from the Gallipoli campaign at Valletta Military Hospital, before taking charge of St David's Tent Hospital later that year and serving in Sicily, returning to Malta in March 1916. In May 1916 she was posted to Mesopotamia, travelling via India, spending time in Bombay before proceeding in September to Basra and then to Amara, where she served at the 32nd British General Hospital. In June 1917 she became ill and was evacuated to India; her condition was not diagnosed until March 1918, when she was found to be suffering from advanced liver cancer. Evacuated to Australia aboard the hospital ship SS Kanowna in April 1918, she died on 10 May 1918, four days out from Fremantle and was buried at sea leaving her with no known grave. She is therefore commemorated on the Basra Memorial to the Missing, where she is the only nurse—and the only woman—named on the memorial.

Lieutenant George Pinnock Merz

Lieutenant, Australian Flying Corps, Mesopotamian Half Flight

Forced to land after engine failure near Nasiriyah; killed by local tribesmen while attempting to return to British lines

One of Australia's first military aviators and the first Australian airman killed in action.

Lieutenant George Pinnock Merz (1891–30 July 1915) was one of Australia's first military aviators and the first Australian airman killed in action. Born in Melbourne, he studied medicine at the University of Melbourne before joining the Australian Flying Corps in 1914. In 1915 he was posted to Mesopotamia with the AFC's Mesopotamian Half Flight, a small and lightly equipped detachment providing reconnaissance support to British and Indian forces advancing from Basra. Operating primitive aircraft in extreme heat with minimal logistical support, Merz was at the forefront of Australia's first overseas air operations. On 30 July 1915, while returning from a mission near Nasiriyah, his aircraft suffered engine failure and was forced to land in hostile territory south of the Euphrates. Attempting to make his way back to British lines, he was killed by local tribesmen. His body was never recovered.

Lieutenant William Burns

Lieutenant, New Zealand Staff Corps

Served as Lieutenant Merz's observer; killed alongside him after forced landing near Nasiriyah

The first New Zealand aviator to be killed on operations (although born in Australia). Observer who died alongside Lieutenant Merz, marking an early chapter in New Zealand military aviation history.

Lieutenant William Burns, the first New Zealand aviator killed on operations, served as Merz's observer with the Mesopotamian Half Flight. Although born in Australia, Burns served with the New Zealand Staff Corps. On 30 July 1915, while returning from a mission near Nasiriyah, their aircraft suffered engine failure and was forced to land in hostile territory south of the Euphrates. Attempting to make their way back to British lines, both men were killed by local tribesmen. Their bodies were never recovered, and both are commemorated on the Basra Memorial to the Missing, marking an early and stark chapter in the history of military aviation.