The British Cemetery, also known as the Christian Cemetery, is a historic Christian burial ground in the Sherpur neighbourhood of Kabul, Afghanistan. It lies at the north-western edge of the former Sherpur Cantonment, the military complex associated with the Second Anglo-Afghan War. A British military photograph from 1879 already records a walled graveyard at this location.
The cemetery is also known locally by variants of Gora Kabar or Khabre Ghora, referring to a burial ground for foreigners or Europeans. Originally associated with British military burials, it subsequently became a cemetery for Christians and other foreign residents and visitors who died in Kabul.
History
The cemetery is closely associated with the Anglo-Afghan wars of the 19th century. Its precise relationship with burial grounds used during the First Anglo-Afghan War is uncertain; later researchers have noted that the present cemetery occupies the location shown beside Sherpur Cantonment on maps and photographs from 1879.
During the Second Anglo-Afghan War, Sherpur served as the principal position of the Kabul Field Force and was the site of the Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment in December 1879. Contemporary British photographs show the cemetery enclosed by a stone wall at the north-western corner of the cantonment.
During the 20th century the burial ground continued to receive foreigners who died in Kabul, including diplomats, scholars, explorers, aid workers and other expatriates. Memorial plaques were later installed for British military personnel who died during subsequent operations in Afghanistan.
Cemetery and memorials
The cemetery is enclosed by high walls and contains graves dating from different periods of Kabul's modern history. Its monuments include conventional Christian headstones, crosses and memorial plaques. The burial ground also contains memorials to British personnel killed in Afghanistan whose remains are not necessarily interred at the site.
Among the best-known graves is that of Aurel Stein, the Hungarian-born British archaeologist and explorer, who died in Kabul on 26 October 1943. He was buried in the Christian cemetery following a funeral attended by Afghan officials and members of several foreign legations.
Maintenance and preservation
The cemetery has traditionally been cared for by Afghan custodians. Rahimullah tended the grounds from the 1980s until his death in 2010, after which members of his family continued the work.
In 2024, the British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia reported that the cemetery was being managed through the British Embassy to Afghanistan, then operating from Doha. The cemetery gardener continued to maintain the graves, memorials, paths, walls and garden; the site's well was re-dug and a new water pump installed. BACSA reported that the cemetery remained open to visitors and was in good condition.
In 2025, Agence France-Presse reported that Aynullah Rahimi was serving as gravekeeper. The cemetery contained about 150 gravestones and memorial plaques and received considerably fewer foreign visitors than before 2021.
Notable burials
Major John Cook VC (1843–1879), officer of the 5th Gurkha Rifles, who died of wounds at Sherpur and was buried in the cantonment cemetery on 21 December 1879. Aurel Stein (1862–1943), Hungarian-born British archaeologist and explorer. Henning Haslund-Christensen (1896–1948), Danish explorer and ethnographer. Gayle Williams (1973–2008), British aid worker.
Gallery
See also
Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment Second Anglo-Afghan War British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia
References
External links
British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia 1879 photograph of the Kabul graveyard – British Library Aurel Stein's burial in Kabul – British Library, International Dunhuang Programme