Highlander Matthew Hutchinson, a kiwi in the British Army, after paying his respects at the grave of 41891 Sergeant William Arthur Fergie RNZAF, in the Habbinya War Cemetery, Iraq. SGT Fergie was a pilot 162 sqn RAF. He crashed on take off from Habbinya and all aboard his aircraft died. He came from Papanui, Christchurch.

Highlander Matthew Hutchinson is a New Zealander serving in the British Army in Iraq, a member of the 4th Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Scotland (the Highlanders). He was born in Blenheim but spent his early days in Nelson. After trying a few jobs he set off to see the world and joined the British Army after travelling around Britain and Europe. On his second tour of duty in Iraq, and based in the Contingency Operating Base, Basrah. Hldr Hutchinson joined with other soldiers of the Multi-National Force Iraq in commemorating Armistice Day 2008 at Habbaniya Iraq; this is his story of that day. He welcomes contact from New Zealand via hutch9879@live.com

We will always remember them

By Matthew Hutchinson

I had the privilege of joining a group of my fellow soldiers from the Multi National Force Iraq at an Armistice Day Ceremony in Habbaniya War Cemetery, about 80km from Baghdad, Iraq.

British Lieutenant General John Cooper mentioned in his speech that there was one New Zealander buried in the cemetery along with our other brave heroes. On a search of the Cemetery I came across the grave of 41891 Sergeant William Arthur Fergie RNZAF. On further investigation I learned SGT Fergie died on 13 August 1942, aged 21.

I would gratefully appreciate it if RSA Review could pass this information on to any of SGT Fergie’s surviving family and to let them know that his grave stone has been renewed and is well kept and respected. He has reminded me of the great sacrifice that so many of our families, friends, countrymen and women made for us to live the lives we do today.

There are 289 British and Commonwealth servicemen and civilians, including women and children who are buried in the RAF Cemetery at Habbaniya. Of these 257 are war graves from World War II maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. In addition the Cemetery contains a memorial to 107 RAF Iraqi Levies [locally recruited troops] who died while serving the British in Iraq and are buried in remote and unmaintained graves. It takes the form of five panels of Sidon stone, on which the names are carved, surmounted by an appropriate inscription and flanked on each side by the badge of the unit. It is built into the wall at the extreme end of the main avenue.

Beneath, forming part of the memorial and made of the same stone, is a seat with a flower trough at each end. An inscription, in English, Arabic and Assyrian reads: THESE MEN GAVE THEIR LIVES WHILE SERVING WITH THEIR COMRADES OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE

Iraq became independent in 1931 and, although heavily influenced and controlled by the British, it was no longer acceptable to have an RAF base in Baghdad. However a treaty allowed for a major base west of the

Euphrates and so RAF Habbaniya was born.

Construction began in 1934. The base was originally known as RAF Dhibban after a nearby village. As this translated into something to do with flies the name was changed in May 1938 to the more appropriate RAF Habbaniya, believed to be the Arabic for oleander. Nothing could be truer because Habbaniya truly became a camp of beauty with its shaded avenues of eucalyptus trees, hibiscus and oleander shrubs, rose beds, ornamental gardens and green lawns.

Habbinya was fully opened in March 1937 and became operational in October 1938 when 30 Squadron moved in. The site was chosen because there was water from the Euphrates, a flat area for the airfield and Lake Habbinya for flying boats and recreation. It was also considered an ideal defensive position (true – it is in the official files) but how wrong that proved to be in May 1941.

The base was the site of a pivotal World War II battle that kept Allied oil supplies out of German hands. Pro-German Iraqi forces attacked and laid siege to the base. Air support was provided by the Germans with the cooperation of the French authorities in Lebanon. A relief force from Trans-Jordan lifted the siege and moved on to depose the Pro-German government and install a friendlier regime.

Control of Habbaniya passed to Iraq in May 1955 but it remained very much in use by the RAF. The Iraqi revolution of 14 July 1958 made the RAF presence untenable and the RAF Ensign was finally lowered on 31 May 1959.

Thank you for your time in reading this, I hope that you are able to pass this on to SGT Fergie’s family and squadron. We will always remember them!