Page 150 - Wish Stream Year of 2017

Servicemen commemorated on the memorial who served in South Russia and the Transcaucasian Republics
World War 1
During the First World War, British Empire forces and their allies fought against those of the Otto- man Empire on the Gallipoli peninsula from April 1915 to January 1916 and around the Mediter- ranean and Middle East until October 1918. The cemetery is now the resting place of some 170 members of British, Australian, New Zealand and Indian Army units who died from April 1915 to 1918, most while prisoners of war. After the Armi- stice of Mudros, British and Indian Army units con- tinued to be involved in operations in the Caucasus and the Black Sea in 1919 and 1920. These were operations in support of the White Russian army fighting against the Bolsheviks during the Russian Civil War. Troops therefore remained in Constan- tinople until September 1923. Over 500 service- men of the United Kingdom and undivided India who died during this time are commemorated.
Although the CWGC look after the entire ceme- tery, there is, like all of their cemeteries, a portion which is laid out in the standard pattern. There is not the typical cross of sacrifice bearing a sword but a cross on a large sandstone plinth known as the Haidar Pasha Memorial. This bears the names of more than 100 officers and men who died in Russia and the Caucasus and have no known grave or whose graves could no longer be maintained (see images).
Within the CWGC plot also stands the Haidar Pasha Cremation Memorial, a stout rectangular plinth (see photograph) which commemorates 122 soldiers of the Indian Army who died in 1919 and 1920 whose remains were originally at Mashiak and Osmanieh Cemeteries. In 1961 when these cemeteries could no longer be main- tained, the ashes of the Hindus, whose remains were cremated in accordance with their faith,
were scattered near the Haidar Pasha Cremation Memorial, while the remains of their comrades of the Muslim faith were brought here and re- interred. The stone memorial bears an inscription recording this fact and lists the Hindu soldiers whose ashes were scattered around the plot. The memorial stone is surrounded by the graves of the re-interred Muslim soldiers (see image).
Turkey was neutral during the Second World War but was not untouched by the conflict. The Turk- ish people laid to rest the bodies of servicemen found in their country, and some 37 were buried in the cemetery. Four were killed in October 1943 when the destroyer HMS Eclipse, carrying men of The Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment) struck a mine and sank close to the Turkish coast.
The cemetery is a very interesting place as it touches upon British relations in this part of the Mediterranean and beyond from the mid- nineteenth century onwards. It is worth visit- ing, but be warned, plan exactly where you are going and be aware that the Google map on the CWGC website and typically downloaded on your mobile phone is not accurate. The green portion shown is strictly only the CWGC plot and does not include the Crimean and Civilian areas. The green shading should therefore extend all the way to the ‘E’ which I have marked on the accompanying map - this denotes where the entrance actually is. It is to the immediate right of the front entrance of the large military hospi- tal which overlooks the cemetery. The entrance is bustling and consists of security gates and sentries. But look out for the classic (but small) green and white Haidar Pasha Cemetery CWGC sign pointing down an inconspicuous lane with a metal chain across to deter entry by car.
148 HISTORICAL