Renovation Work (October & November 2021)

With the great collaboration of Commander Mark C. Stuttard MNI MCGI Royal Navy over the last few years, as well as CPO Sean Lovely (ARNLO Gulf), CPO John Crawley (ARNLO Gulf), and recently with Mr. Richard Bonfield of the Ministry of Defense (MoD), 12 of the 14 non-World War graves (NWWG) were replaced, fixing spelling, regimental crests, and inscriptions by family members. 

Mr. Steve Hill (CWGC, Maidenhead) was involved in the design of the inscriptions, and the new tombstones were shipped by MilAir from France, where they were made, to the UAE. 

The manual labour was done by the wonderful members of the 906 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) at Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE who worked for several weeks on removing the old tombstones and their concrete bases, leveling the ground, putting in a new concrete base, adding the new tombstones, filling the ground with dirt and stone, as well as putting new gravel over the cemetery and planting roses and other plants.  Their morale and service to remember the fallen is a wonderful and unique contribution to this cemetery, and should be commended.  

St. Martin's Anglican Church will be in contact with Mr. David Bennett, Regional Manager for the Middle East (based in Cyprus), of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) to make an agreement for the future maintenance of the MOD graves in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.   

A Service of Remembrance is held on 11 November 2021 at 11am to remember the fallen, and to dedicate the new tombstones.  Wreaths are to be laid by the Royal Navy Liaison Officer, the Deputy Consul General of the British Embassy in Dubai, Representatives of the 906, Mr. Marc Davies, Mr. Sean Heckford and The British Legion, as well as St. Martin's Anglican Church.  The Ruler's Office in Sharjah will send a representative, as well as Al Mahatta Museum (former site of the RAF base 1926-1971) which we will tour after the Remembrance Day service.  In addition, Archbishop Nathaniel of the Syriac Orthodox Church, Fr. Philip of the St. Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church, Fr. Abin of St. Mary's Jacobite Church, Rev. Stephen of St. Paul's CNI, Major Margaret and Major Jeff of the Salvation Army, and priests from St. Michael's Catholic Church will be attending and participating in the service.