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CWGC Cemetery: GAZA WAR CEMETERY

Country

Israel

Locality

unspecified

Identified Casualties

2723

Visiting Information

THE COMMISSION STRONGLY ADVISES THAT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE SHOULD BE CONTACTED BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO VISIT GAZA. If using a vehicle with standard Israeli plates (other than one with CD plates) this MUST be parked at the crossing point outside of the barriers. The telephone number for the CWGC Ramleh office is: 00 972 89221220 Wheelchair access possible via main entrance. For further information regarding wheelchair access, please contact our Enquiries Section on telephone number 01628 507200.

Local Information

Gaza is 3 kilometres inland from the Mediterranean coast, 65 kilometres south-east of Tel Aviv. From Israel stop at the Erez Crossing point and enter the VIP cabin for a pass to enter Gaza. Walk through "no man's land" to the taxis on the other side. Gaza War Cemetery is 1.5 kilometres north-east of the city near the Bureir Road and 370 metres from the railway station. The Cemetery is approximately 8 kilometres to the left of the main dual carriageway, Highway 250 through Gaza, and is about 200 metres back from the road through an avenue of trees. Alternatively, turn left off the highway after 4 kilometres, continuing with Highway 4 until Sha'arei Aza junction and turn right, then turn right into Gaza proper, heading back towards the border. In this direction the cemetery will be found on the right hand side after approximately 3 kilometres.

Historical Information

Gaza was bombarded by French warships in April 1915. At the end of March 1917, it was attacked and surrounded by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the First Battle of Gaza, but the attack was broken off when Turkish reinforcements appeared. The Second Battle of Gaza, 17-19 April, left the Turks in possession and the Third Battle of Gaza, begun on 27 October, ended with the capture of the ruined and deserted city on 7 November. Casualty clearing stations arrived later that month and general and stationary hospitals in 1918. Some of the earliest burials were made by the troops that captured the city. About two-thirds of the total were brought into the cemetery from the battlefields after the Armistice. The remainder were made by medical units during the occupation. During the Second World War, Gaza was an Australian hospital base, and the AIF Headquarters were posted there. Among the military hospitals in Gaza were 2/1st Australian General Hospital, 2/6th Australian General Hospital, 8th Australian Special Hospital, and from July 1943 until May 1945, 91 British General Hospital. There was a Royal Air Force aerodrome at Gaza, which was considerably developed from 1941 onwards. Gaza War Cemetery contains 3,217 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 781 of them unidentified. Second World War burials number 210. There are also 30 post war burials and 234 war graves of other nationalities.

Cemetery Photo

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CWGC Cemetery Photo: GAZA WAR CEMETERY

CWGC Cemetery Photo: GAZA WAR CEMETERY

Cemetery Plan

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CWGC Cemetery Plan: GAZA WAR CEMETERY

CWGC Cemetery Plan: GAZA WAR CEMETERY

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