Defence chiefs are facing accusations of "shocking disregard" for Britain's war dead after nearly 800 gravestones of Commonwealth soldiers from the First and Second World Wars were destroyed. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been accused by relatives of a cover-up lasting over 20 years.
The British Army removed dozens of gravestones and large slate panels bearing the names of the fallen from the Basra War Cemetery in southern Iraq in 2003. This action was taken amid concerns that the graves could be vandalized or destroyed by locals. The remains of the soldiers, who died in combat during the World Wars, were left buried but unmarked.
Within 18 months of their removal, approximately 800 gravestones and 80 slate panels were deliberately pulverized into gravel and used to fill a drainage ditch at another military base in southern Iraq. This work was overseen by the 64 Works Group, Royal Engineers, and appears to have proceeded with the assent of a padre.
Details of the destruction only recently emerged following Freedom of Information (FoI) requests made by Ben Soppitt, whose grandfather, Gunner Joseph Soppitt, is among those buried at the Basra War Cemetery. The MoD was compelled to release the information after the Information Commissioner intervened.
The FoI disclosures reveal that the gravestones were crushed and used to construct a soakaway at the British Army's Shaibah Logistics Base in April 2005. A situation report from the 64 Works Group noted, "The gravestones have now been crushed and are ready to be placed in the soakaway."
Prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Basra War Cemetery was reportedly being used by local militia for target practice, prompting the army's decision to remove the headstones. Footage from the time shows an unnamed officer stating the stones would be taken back to camp and held for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) for future restoration.
Former Chief of the Defence Staff, Field Marshal Lord Richards, who served as Assistant Chief of the General Staff at the time, expressed deep sadness. He stated that while there is "no excuse" with hindsight, he believed the officers involved thought they were acting appropriately in a dangerous environment. However, former Chief of the General Staff Lord Dannatt suggested that the MoD should either reinstate the graves or erect a memorial with the names of those buried there, accompanied by an explanation.
Ben Soppitt has initiated a High Court application for Judicial Review, seeking to hold the MoD accountable for the destruction. He has expressed frustration that the MoD is resisting the claim, arguing that a relative has to pursue legal action to ensure basic dignity for the fallen.
In contrast to the fate of the gravestones, the Basra Memorial, located about 30 km away, was left untouched. The MoD has stated it is unable to comment on the matter for legal reasons.
Colonel Richard Kemp, a retired British Army officer, voiced his outrage, particularly as his own regiment's forebears were among the fallen. He criticized the "callous disdain for the memory of the fallen" and the evasiveness of the MoD brass, who he states have stonewalled relatives' attempts to uncover the truth. Kemp argued that the MoD should erect new headstones, suggesting cooperation with the Iraqi government for upkeep, and emphasized that the permanent deletion of memory from the burial ground is an act of "killing them twice."