Basra Indian Forces Cemetery VR Walkthrough
Basra Indian Forces Cemetery & Cremation Memorial • 2 May 2026 • 3 min 23 sec
Full walkthrough film of Basra Indian Forces Cemetery & Cremation Memorial, Iraq, recorded on site during the Commonwealth war graves field survey. The footage records the condition of the headstones, memorial panels, grounds and boundary walls.
The film was recorded at Basra Indian Forces Cemetery & Cremation Memorial as part of the independent field survey of Commonwealth war graves in Iraq. It is published here as a permanent visual record of the site for families, researchers and journalists who cannot travel to Iraq.
Full transcript of Basra Indian Forces Cemetery VR Walkthrough
This film was recorded on site without spoken narration. The transcript below is a descriptive, timecoded account of what the camera records in each section of the film, compiled from the field survey notes for this site.
- 00:00
Entrance and first view of the site. The film opens at Basra Indian Forces Cemetery & Cremation Memorial, Makina district of Basra, adjacent to Basra War Cemetery. This cemetery specifically commemorates Indian forces who served in Mesopotamia, recognizing the substantial contribution of the Indian Army to the campaign.
- 00:41
Walk along the burial rows. The camera moves through the site, past the grave rows that hold 2,500 recorded burials, 2,100 from the First World War and 400 from the Second World War. The Basra Indian Forces Cemetery acknowledges the critical role played by Indian soldiers in the Mesopotamian Campaign.
- 01:21
Close views of headstones and inscriptions. Closer views follow of individual headstones, panel faces and inscriptions, recording how legible the names and regimental badges still are. Many Indian soldiers, particularly other ranks, were not individually recorded in wartime documentation.
- 02:02
Grounds, paths, planting and boundary walls. The camera records the paths, planting, boundary walls and general upkeep of the grounds. Recorded condition at the time of the survey: Derelict. **November 2025 Assessment:** Cleared at the same time as the adjacent Basra cemetery with no remaining grave stones.
- 02:42
Closing wide view before the film ends. The film closes on a wide view of the site. This cemetery stands as recognition of the often-overlooked contribution of Indian soldiers to WWI.