Assyrian RAF Levies
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  • Home
  • History
  • Patron
  • 1915-1932
  • Brigadier C E Hudson
  • Lt-Col R.S. Stafford
  • RAB Tremma Y K Aboona
  • Major Guy Hudson
  • Grp Cpt Joe O'SULLIVAN
  • RAB 200 Odisho B’Malik Khiyo
  • RAB Emma Baijan Peku MC
  • RAB 100 Shaian Giwargis Kikkeh OBE
  • Wing Cmdr J L Birch
  • RAB Emma Sliwo Dawid
  • Captain R W Sherwood
  • Captain Harold Jones
  • RAB 50 Odisho Moshe
  • Major J T Cooper
  • RAB 50 Iskhak Dinkha
  • Flt Lt John Rishworth
  • RAB 50 Awia Y Yousif
  • Sqrn Ldr C Woodward
  • RAB 50 Nikola Dinkha MM
  • Sgt Hormis Youkhana
  • Sgt C. F. Wilson
  • Sgt Benyamin Shlimon
  • Pte Shawil Talia
  • Other Ranks
  • Major Hugh McNearnie
  • LAC Jack Horner
  • Battle - Habbaniya
  • Battle - Albania
  • Battle - Greece
  • Parachute Personnel
  • Awards
  • Victory Parade
  • CSM Graeme Deeley
  • Roll of Honor
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Picture

Flt Lt John Rishworth on left with RAB 50 Enwiya

This page courtesy of RAF Flt Lieut. John Rishworth. Standing on left with RAB 50 Enwia. These photographs and many more on this website are from his service with the Levies from 1953-55. He was attached to the1st Assyrian rifle squadron with RAB 100 Shlimon Bukho.

......My wife Alison joined me in Habbaniya, We thoroughly enjoyed our time with the Levies. We spent two months in Ser Amadia during which time we went off on mules to various Assyrian villages, organized by Shlimon Bukho. My wife and I were able to travel around the area quite easily- wild bears were the only danger in those days....John

Picture

Members of the band on their way to a wedding in Ser Amadia.-No;1 Assyrian Rifle Squadron-Training on the plateau- many members of the 1st parachute company were incorporated into the 1st Assyrian Rifle Squadron.

Picture
Thursday 27 November 2009;
Former members of the RAF Assyrian Levies were reunited with their British commander Flight Lieutenant John Rishworth, accompanied by his wife Alison they drove from Brisbane where they reside and arrived in Fairfield for the reunion. They met at the former Nineveh Club [converted to a community Centre]. On arrival, John, a former member of Number One Assyrian Rifle Squadron immediately recognised some of his comrades by pointing out Parachute Sergeant Benyamin Shlimon [retired] and Signaller Pte Oda Solomon [retired] other former Levies were also present to welcome him. 

Laughter and embraces were abundant as memories flooded back to these young at heart veterans and the conversations that followed usually started with “do you remember…”
 
The Levy Force was established by the British Army in Iraq in 1915 and was disbanded in 1955, for most of its existence the Assyrians were selected as the leading source of manpower. Although Assyrians reached high Commissioned ranks, it was commanded by British officers of the Army and later the Royal Air Force.
 
John and Alison left later that afternoon for their long journey back to Brisbane, addresses were exchanged and return visits promised.   
 
Organised by Gaby Kiwarkis   
Assyrian Levies Association


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if you have an interest in this location and need these photographs I am more than happy to share them if you ask, thank you.
gabykiwarkis@gmail.com