Current Information:

Age-25

37, Culverden Road, Balham

Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, Iraq

William Anear died from unspecified causes on 1st October, 1916, while a prisoner of war of the Turks. He had been serving with the 1st Oxford & Buckingham Light Infantry of the 17th (Indian) Brigade, 6th Poona Division which had been taken into captivity after the besieged town of Kut had fallen to Turkish forces in April, 1916.

Sickness was rife during the campaign in Mesopotamia, brought about by temperatures of nearly 50⁰ Centigrade, poor sanitation and regular flooding all of which encouraged flies, mosquitoes and rats. Clean water was always a big problem in the desert and consequently water-borne diseases such as typhoid and cholera claimed many victims. However, the main problem facing prisoners of war was neglect. Lack of food and medical attention accounted for many deaths.