Historical Information
During the Second World War, Khanaqin saw no fighting, but in June 1941 it became an advanced base for Commonwealth forces and a field hospital was established there. The cemetery was begun in 1942 for the burial of servicemen who died of illness or by accident while serving with PAIFORCE.
A large number of Polish servicemen who had been prisoners of war in Russia made a very long and arduous march to link up with the Commonwealth forces in Iraq, arriving at Khanaqin by September 1942. Together with the 3rd Carpathian Division already in the Middle East, they formed the Polish Army in the East, remaining in the Khanaqin area for some time, organising, training and assembling equipment. Weakened by the hardship they had endured and in poor health, a number of the Poles died at Kanaqin and were buried in the cemetery.
Due to its location and access difficulties, Khanaqin War Cemetery became impossible to maintain and in 1965, it was decided to construct a memorial in Baghdad (North Gate) Cemetery to commemorate the 104 Commonwealth servicemen, 437 Polish soldiers and 3 Arab Legionnaires buried there.
Baghdad (North Gate) cemetery in which the memorial stands contains burials of both wars.
http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2090521/BAGHDAD%20(NORTH%20GATE)%20(KHANAQIN)%20MEMORIAL
