South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project
The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War | Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| France & Flanders | General Service Medal & Iraq Clasp | Basra Memorial |
| Arrived in Theatre | Medal Citation (if app) | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| Not known | ~ | Studley War Memorial |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Died | Date and Place Enlisted | Other War Memorials |
| ~ | ||
| Place of Death | Other Regiments or Units | |
| near Basra | 17th Bn Machine Gun Corps | |
Circumstances of Death
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Stanley is listed as dying of wounds on 30th July 1920 during the Iraqi Revolt of 1920. In the absence of online war diaries the following is taken from a search of X AI: On July 30, 1920, there was no formal "war in Iraq" as we might define it today, but this date falls within the context of the Iraqi Revolt of 1920, also known as the Great Iraqi Revolution. This was a significant armed uprising against British colonial rule, which had taken control of Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) following World War I under a League of Nations mandate.
The revolt began in late June 1920, sparked by growing resentment toward British policies, including taxation, land ownership changes, and the imposition of foreign administration after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. By July, the rebellion had gained momentum, spreading from Baghdad to the mid- and lower Euphrates regions. On July 30, 1920, specific actions included tribal leaders and rebels, spurred by figures like Ayatollah al-Shirazi, intensifying their efforts. For instance, in the village of Al-Khodar on the Euphrates, Hadi al-Maqoutar arrived from Najaf to rally local tribes, leading to attacks on railway and telegraph lines—key British infrastructure.
The revolt united Sunni and Shia communities, urban and tribal groups, and former Ottoman officers in a push for independence and an Arab government. By late July, rebels controlled much of the mid-Euphrates, challenging overstretched British garrisons. The British response escalated in August with reinforcements, including Royal Air Force squadrons, which shifted the tide using aerial bombing—a novel tactic at the time.
The uprising was largely suppressed by October 1920, though skirmishes continued into 1922. It didn’t achieve immediate independence, but it forced Britain to adjust its approach, leading to the installation of King Faisal I in 1921 and a gradual path to Iraqi sovereignty by 1932. July 30, 1920, thus marks a moment of escalating resistance within this broader struggle, not a standalone "war" but a critical phase in Iraq’s fight against colonial rule.
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| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
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| 28 Feb 1900 in Edgwick Hill | 08 Mar 1903 in Inkberrow |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| Harry (died 1903) and Harriet Laight | Old Police Station, Alcester Road, Studley |
| Schools | Colleges |
| Sir Josiah Mason Orphanage School | ~ |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1900 - Edgwick Hill, Inkberrow | 1911 - School Boy in Orphanage |
| 1901 - Inkberrow Road, Inkberrow | |
| 1911 - Sir Josiah Mason Orphanage, Erdington | |
| 1920 - Old Police Station, Alcester Road, Studley | |
