The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) added about 33,000 Indian soldiers who died in the First World War to a digital memorial linked to the Basra Memorial in Iraq on 24 April 2026. The Basra Memorial already lists more than 46,000 Commonwealth personnel, and the new digital panels record the names, ranks and regiments of Indian soldiers who were not individually commemorated at the physical site.
Basra Memorial
The Basra Memorial is a Commonwealth war memorial in Iraq for personnel of the British Empire who died in the Mesopotamia campaign and have no known grave. The memorial is associated with the First World War period of 1914 to 1918 and with military operations in the region of modern-day Iraq.
Mesopotamia Campaign
The Mesopotamia campaign was a major British Empire military operation outside Europe during the First World War. It took place in Mesopotamia, the historical name for the area around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which is now part of Iraq.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The CWGC is an intergovernmental organisation established in 1917 to commemorate Commonwealth war dead from the First and Second World Wars. It maintains war graves, memorials and records across multiple countries, including memorials in Europe, Africa and Asia.
Digital Memorial Records
The new record is in digital format because security conditions in Iraq make physical changes to the existing memorial difficult. Digital memorial panels allow remote access to names and service details through online records.
Indian Soldiers in World War I
Indian troops served in several theatres of the First World War, including France, Gallipoli, East Africa and Mesopotamia. Indian Army units in the war included infantry, cavalry, medical and labour formations under British command.
Last Modified: April 25, 2026