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diff --git a/22103.txt b/22103.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f23caa3 --- /dev/null +++ b/22103.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5782 @@ +Project Gutenberg's With a Highland Regiment in Mesopotamia, by Anonymous + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: With a Highland Regiment in Mesopotamia + 1916--1917 + +Author: Anonymous + +Release Date: July 19, 2007 [EBook #22103] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HIGHLAND REGIMENT IN MESOPOTAMIA *** + + + + +Produced by Michael Ciesielski, Christine P. Travers and +the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at +http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Transcriber's note: Obvious printer's errors have been corrected, all +other inconsistencies are as in the original. Author's spelling has +been maintained.] + + + + + WITH A HIGHLAND + + REGIMENT IN MESOPOTAMIA + + + + +[Illustration: General Sir Stanley Maude And His Staff, Baghdad, 1917. +_Frontispiece._] + + + + + WITH A + HIGHLAND REGIMENT + IN MESOPOTAMIA + + 1916-1917 + + BY + ONE OF ITS OFFICERS + + + + + BOMBAY + THE TIMES PRESS + 1918 + + + + + TO + THE CHILDREN OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN + OF THE ---- REGIMENT + + BRIEFLY DESCRIBING THE DOINGS OF THE + 2ND BATTALION IN MESOPOTAMIA + WRITTEN SO THAT THEY MAY NOT FORGET THE + HARDSHIPS ENDURED AND THE SACRIFICES WHICH + HAVE BEEN MADE ON THEIR BEHALF + 1916-1917. + + + + +AUTHOR'S NOTE. + + +In writing this short account of the 2nd Battalion in Mesopotamia, my +aim has not been to write a military history of all that was achieved; +that will be the task of some one more competent to judge of merits +and demerits than myself. My object has been to give an account in +simple language of the two years spent by the Battalion in the Iraq, +so that the children of the men of the regiment may know of the brave +deeds and the hardships cheerfully borne on their behalf. + +Two articles describing our last two battles are here reprinted with +the permission of Brigadier-General A. G. Wauchope, from whom I have +also received many details of our earlier fights, and I am also +indebted for information to Captains J. Macqueen, W. E. Blair, W. A. +Young, Sergeant-Major W. S. Clark, and other officers of the +Battalion. + + MESOPOTAMIA, + _October, 1917._ + + + + +_Telegram from_ + +HIS MAJESTY THE KING. + +Received by Colonel A. G. WAUCHOPE, D.S.O., Commanding, 2nd +Battalion--January 1917. + + +I thank you, Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and men, for the card +of New Year's greetings. + +I have followed the work of the Battalion with great interest. I know +how well all ranks have done, what they have suffered, and that they +will ever maintain the glorious tradition of the Regiment. + + GEORGE, R.I., + _Colonel-in-Chief_. + + + + +_Order by G. O. C., ---- Division._ + +I cannot speak too highly of the splendid gallantry of the +----Highlanders, aided by a party of the ---- Jats, in storming the +Turkish Trenches. + +Their noble achievement is one of the highest. + +They showed qualities of endurance and courage under circumstances so +adverse, as to be almost phenomenal. + + SIR GEORGE YOUNGHUSBAND, + Commanding ---- Division. + +After the action fought on the 21st January 1916 on the Tigris the +above was published. + + * * * * * + +_Letter to O. C. 2nd Battalion ----._ + +Tell the men of your battalion that they have given, in the advance to +the relief of Kut, brilliant examples of cool courage, and hard and +determined fighting which could not be surpassed. + + SIR PERCY LAKE, + Commanding the Army in Mesopotamia. +_July, 1916._ + + * * * * * + +_General Munro, C.-in-C, Indian Army, addressing the ---- Regiment, +Tigris Front--October 1916._ + +Your reputation is well known, I need say nothing more. + + * * * * * + +To the ---- Regiment. + +_From Sir Stanley Maude, Army Commander--March 1917._ + +You led the way into Baghdad, and to lead and be first is the proper +place for your Regiment. + + + + +WITH A HIGHLAND REGIMENT IN MESOPOTAMIA. + +CHAPTER 1. + + +At the outbreak of war, the 2nd Battalion ---- was stationed at +Bareilly, having been in India since the end of the South African War. +Of the fighting in that campaign, the 2nd Battalion had had its full +share. At first it formed part of General Wauchope's Highland Brigade +and fought with traditional stubbornness at Magersfontein and +Paadeburg, and later on identified its name with many of the captures +and some of the hardest marches of that campaign. + +On the mobilisation of the Indian Corps, the 2nd Battalion formed part +of a Brigade of the ----th Division and landed in France early in +October 1914, and were in the trenches holding part of the line near +Festubert before the end of the month. At no time, except in the early +months of 1916 in Mesopotamia, was the Battalion so severely tried as +in these first two months in France. The conditions certainly were +comfortable neither to mind or body. The trenches were knee deep in +mud and water, and were without dug-outs or shelters; the enemy were +in great numbers and combined their aggressive tactics with the use of +trench mortars and grenades, weapons of which we had neither knowledge +nor training; of rest for man or officer there was little, yet no +yard of trench entrusted to the Battalion was ever lost either in +France or Mesopotamia. With the spring came better times, and at Neuve +Chappelle a fine victory was won at small cost, but on the 9th of May +the Battalion suffered heavily in making an attack from the Orchard in +front of the Rue-de-Bois. Often and with pleasure have we in the Iraq +looked back on that summer spent in Picardy. Scouts and snipers, +machine gunners and bombers, we all have different memories of those +stirring days as the battalion moved from month to month along the +trenches from Givenchy Hill to Northward of Laventie; and of the days +of rest in billets behind Bethune, Richebourg and the Rue de Paradis; +memories of close comradeship, of well-loved friends, of most noble +deeds and of lives freely given for King and Country. But the day we +recall now and shall ever recall as the red letter day of the year is +the 21st of September. Five battalions of the Regiment joined that day +in the battle of Loos, and though separated in the line, at one in +spirit, all five battalions swept forward regardless of loss, driving +the enemy from their trenches, captured line after line of the +position and penetrated deep into the German defences. + +The 2nd and 4th Battalions had attacked together from Fauguissart and, +in reaching the Moulin de Pictre, an advance of two miles made with +little support on either left flank or right, the losses had been so +severe that the two battalions were afterwards amalgamated into one +under the command of Colonel Wauchope. These two battalions, in +conjunction with another Highland Regiment under Colonel Thompson, +despite several attacks and four mines being blown up within our +first line, held Givenchy Hill throughout October. Then, when the +Germans quieted down in this neighbourhood, we returned to our old +line near the Rue de Bois. There rumour had it that the Indian Corps +was soon to be sent to Mesopotamia. Some welcomed the idea of change, +no one looked forward to another four months of the mud of Flanders. +Almost everyone who did not know imagined that they would be giving up +every discomfort which the winter brought for a pic-nic in the East, +and a quick, successful and enjoyable march to Baghdad, and so when +the rumours were confirmed, the whole battalion was in great spirits. +Some obtained short leave to say 'Good-Bye' to their friends across +the channel before leaving for the East, where there would be no short +visits home, no getting letters and parcels daily, but the Regiment +had gained great honour beneath foreign skies, so probably it was +going to add to them even if it was only establishing marching records +along the Tigris to their goal at Baghdad. Besides, was not Townshend +and his gallant force in danger in Kut? And the idea of forming part +of the relieving column appealed to every man. + +So at the end of November the Regiment entrained behind that long +Western Front where they had fought for so many months against such +terrific odds, and where so many gallant comrades lay buried, and +everyone was happy, and no one thought that within a few short weeks +the battalion would practically cease to exist. Before they arrived in +France, many had never left the shores of Great Britain, and now they +were embarking on an Expedition that would reveal to them some of the +wonders of the East. Is it any wonder, under those circumstances, that +no one was downhearted? + +The train journey through the heart of France from the mud of the +trenches, leaving the cold and cheerless days behind for the sunny +south was full of interest, and of looking forward to what was in +store. Marseilles, that busy Mediterranean Port which has seen such +wonderful scenes of troops arriving from all parts of the world, and +of all colours, naturally turned out to see the Regiment it had +welcomed to defend its Frontiers a year before, and which was now +en-route to defend and fight for the honour of the Allied cause three +thousand miles away. And so on December the 6th, it was 'Good-Bye' to +the pleasant land of France, and the Regiment embarked on the +Transport nine hundred and fifty strong. Having suffered heavy +casualties on the Western Front, few of the original number left +France, bound for Basrah _via_ the Suez Canal. + +Before leaving, in appreciation of the stubborn fighting in the battle +of Loos by the 2nd Battalion, the Cross of the Legion of Honour was +conferred on the Commanding Officer, Colonel A. G. Wauchope, D.S.O. +Never was an honour more richly deserved, never was the conferring of +one more popular. No one who has not served in the Regiment can +possibly be aware of what the Colonel has done to make his Battalion +one of the most efficient in Mesopotamia. I was very interested in +listening to a story told me by a brother officer who was standing +alone in a traverse of a trench. Two Staff Officers were talking in +the next traverse and he heard one remark: "Of course, out here at the +present the Regiment is Wauchope, and Wauchope is the Regiment." It is +a name most closely connected with the fortunes of the ---- Regiment. + +[Illustration: At The Base. Scene on a creek below Basrah.] + +[Illustration: Colonel A. G. WAUCHOPE, C.M.G., D.S.O., Commanding The +2nd Battalion ----.] + +The journey was a pleasant one; the wonderful change from the damp +depressing dug-out to a comfortable cabin was appreciated by the +officers, and a dry and comfortable place to sleep in, instead of +trying to sleep in the mud of a fire trench was welcomed by the men. + +The usual stay at Port Said after successfully evading the submarines, +where the wily Arab fleeces the unsuspecting Tommy, was not without +interest. The Padre tells an interesting story about how, when he was +returning from home leave to the Regiment in India in 1913, he had his +fortune told by one of the many fantastic liars that fatten on the +stories they weave in this Eastern cesspool. The Fortune-teller told +him that within a year he would be returning to Europe by the same +canal. In those piping days of peace he never suspected that it would +be with the regiment on Active Service but when almost to the day and +within the year, he passed through Port Said on his way to France, +this one saying at least of the Fortune-teller was forcibly brought +home to his mind. + +Egypt in December is delightful, and more than one expressed the wish +that for a time at all events they could be stationed in this most +wonderful country. The Canal displayed enormous activity, there had +been no such activity since the days when it was made. Thousands of +Arabs and others toiled and died in making this great work. To-day the +Canal is guarded by thousands of troops. Enormous camps have been +established at different places, and Posts are in existence all along +the waterway. It being so narrow, 3-worded conversations take place +between the troops on the banks and the men on the Trooper. 'Who are +you?' asked the men on the bank. When the reply is returned, shouts +of 'Good Old Scotland' are raised ashore. Some asked, 'Where are you +going!' 'Mesop' they say. 'Poor Devils', is the encouraging reply. +Then some lonely soul asks if any of his Regiment are on board, and so +it goes on all day. Some swim out from the shore and shout and talk, +but one is chiefly impressed by the great number of men guarding this +important waterway. + +[Illustration: Scenes On The Creeks Below Basrah.] + +[Illustration: G. J. ANDERSON. H. W. BRUCE, CAPT. A. M. GRIEVE, S. F. +G. ALEXANDER, D. H. ANDERSON.] + +[Illustration: C. J. McCONAGHY.] + +[Illustration: C. J. McCONAGHY, Capt. A. M. GRIEVE, S. F. G. +ALEXANDER, H. W. BRUCE.] + +At Suez a short stay is made. The water is a wonderful opal colour; +the great Desert on our left, the barren rocks, sunburnt and bare on +our right, help to make a fascinating picture. One remembers the first +time one had passed through the Canal, years before in time of peace, +and how one had been filled with admiration for the Medical Officer +who came out to the Mail Boat to give it a clean bill of health to +pass through the Canal, because she was a woman, and standing month +after month of Suez summer weather, which proves too much for many +men, leave alone women. But the stay is short and so as the Sun sets, +making wonderful colouring over the Desert and sea, the journey down +the Red Sea is commenced. The Red Sea in December is shorn of its +terrors and can be quite enjoyable. Aden is passed, two or three days +steaming along the inhospitable coast of Southern Arabia and the +entrance of the Persian Gulf is reached. The Straits of Ormuz have the +reputation of being one of the hottest places on earth. The rocky, and +wild Arabian coast looks very beautiful in the sunshine with its +innumerable islands, and the sea is a dead calm. For some hours the +shores on our left are visible, then we steam, up along the Persian +shore and get a good view of the barren, rocky mountain range +running parallel with the coast. Those who have good glasses make out +villages on the shore. The Captain is pestered with questions about +the date and time of arrival at Basrah. Excitement is being felt +again; one wonders what the news will be, and what has happened to +General Townshend; and so at last anchor is dropped at the mouth of +the Shatt-el-Arab at the head of the Persian Gulf. The two rivers +Tigris and Euphrates join at a place called Kurnah, and from there to +the sea the river is called 'Shatt-el-Arab.' Everyone is disappointed +that there are no signs of land anywhere, and one wonders in which +direction land lies. But what a relief it will be to get off the ship, +how delightful to stretch one's legs ashore, as in spite of the good +food, the sports and the usual joys of a trooper, it is impossible not +to feel cramped and so once again everyone was rejoicing that the sea +voyage was at an end. The shore is so low-lying that nothing could be +seen of it as the transport had to anchor some miles off the mouth of +the river. We had to transship to smaller boats to proceed to Basrah, +about eighty miles inland. Transshipping is a long and tedious +business but at last it is completed and we say farewell with a cheer +to our transport, and the smaller boat steams towards the shore. In +about half an hour we make out some palm trees and everyone is on the +lookout for their first view of Mesopotamia. Slowly we approach the +wide mouth of the river, successfully pass over the bar, and the new +campaign for us has begun, and it is the last day of the year--31st +December 1915. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +It takes about seven hours from the mouth of the river to Basrah. The +journey up is of interest as none have been here before, and +everything is new. Both sides of the river the banks are covered with +palm trees, stretching inland for distances varying from 500 yards to +three miles, and after that all is desert. We pass Abadan on our right +where the pipes of the oil fields belonging to the Anglo-Persian Oil +Coy. reach the river from Ahwaz. It has been said that the +Mesopotamian Campaign was started in the first place to protect these +oil-fields. One wonders now if it would have been advisable to protect +them and hold Basrah only, and not push forward further inland. But it +is easy to be wise after the event, and high politics, tactics and +strategy do not form part of an account of the doings of the 2nd +Battalion--so I must not be led astray. The river is very broad and is +navigable for hundreds of miles. Mohammerah, the Persian town at the +junction of the Shatt-el-Arab and Karun rivers, looked an interesting +place. It is; as many months later I was fortunate enough to be able +to spend some time there. The Sheikh of Mohammerah has proved a good +friend to the British, and almost opposite his palace one can see the +remains of the three steamers in the river which the Turks sunk in a +vain endeavour to block the passage as they retreated; as good fortune +or Providence would have it, one boat in sinking swung round and left +the passage open. At Mohammerah is a big Convalescent Hospital +for white as well as Indian troops. We noticed some large barrack +looking houses on our left, one in particular, 'Beit Naama', +attracting attention; but more about that later on as this +establishment has now been turned into an hospital for officers. And +so at last anchor is dropped off Basrah, as 'Ashar' is usually +referred to as 'Basrah' by everyone out of the actual place. Was this +the romantic spot from which Sinbad the Sailor started on his +wonderful voyages?--was this the spot that so many have imagined must +be one of the wonderful places of the East?--when they are thousands +of miles away from it. A famous traveller has said, "that its European +inhabitants only remain alive during the day through a perception of +the humour of their situation, and by night through the agency of the +prayers of their despairing relatives." For Basrah has the most +malarial air, the most choleraic water, and the most infernal climate +of any spot in the world outside 'Tophet.' + +[Illustration: The Padre.] + +[Illustration: The Quarter-master.] + +[Illustration: Everyday Scenes In Ashar.] + +[Illustration: Ashar Barracks.] + +[Illustration: Street Scenes In Ashar.] + +One Company of the Regiment had travelled out on a different +transport--with another Highland unit and arrived a day or so in +advance and were awaiting the arrival of the main body at Basrah. They +were very interested in the place and were full of their adventures +and of rumours. One thing was evident, one thing alone mattered, +troops were needed, urgently needed, at the front; and we were at once +ordered to proceed up river. The Regiment transshipped in midstream, +not even having time to land, and were taken up by two river boats, +with barges attached on either side. + +Not a man who made that journey and is still alive will ever forget +the "P-7" or the "Salimi." The time since leaving France had not been +wasted; everything that could possibly be done to keep the men fit and +their minds active was done. Physical drill every morning, sports were +got up, concerts,--the Colonel himself taking a big interest and share +in everything that tended to the comfort of his men. At the best of +times, life on a Troopship is a cramped existence, but in comparison +to the up river voyages, it is a life of luxury. The world has been +scoured for river boats for this campaign; steamers from the Nile, the +Irrawady and the Thames are doing excellent work in carrying troops +and supplies to the fighting line. Part of the river is so narrow that +it is dangerous for paddle boats to attempt the journey without +lighters attached as bumping into the sides of the bank the paddle +boxes would be smashed. The trip up the river in January is by no +means a pleasure one. It is not now! and it was much less so in +January 1916. The nights are cold and in the early morning the river +is lost in mist. At nights it is usually necessary to tie up at the +side of the bank or to anchor in midstream. Only on bright moonlight +nights, and not always then, can progress be made. The flood season on +the Tigris is at its height about May and continues so till about the +end of June. The river gradually falls in July and August and is at +its lowest level during the months of September, October and November. +It rises during the rains in December and January, sometimes as much +as four or five feet, and this keeps the river fairly high during the +following two months. In April the river rises still higher owing to +the melting of the snow on the mountains in the north. These are +the normal changes that come as regularly as winter follows autumn. +There may be slight variations such as more rain one winter season +than another, for instance, January 1916 was far wetter than January +1917. There are occasional high floods owing to the rain, and in +January 1896 the river rose eight feet in one night at Baghdad. + +[Illustration: Capt. MACQUEEN, R.A.M.C., On His Way To Europe.] + +[Illustration: Entrance To Ashar Barracks.] + +[Illustration: Basrah Barracks.] + +[Illustration: Arabs Enjoy An Al Fresco Meal Of Dates.] + +[Illustration: The Sheik Of Zobeir And His Son.] + +[Illustration: Arab Bazaar.] + +The men crowded on to the barges attached to the side of the paddle +boats and of course everything was of interest, everything was new in +this, the oldest country in the world. Because Kurnah at the junction +of the Tigris and the Euphrates has the reputation of being the site +of the Garden of Eden, many and various are the jokes which have been +made against this most unfortunate of places by members of the +Expeditionary Force, but all amount to the one thing--that Adam and +Eve had very little to lose in being driven out, if it is unchanged +since those days. + +The belt of Palm trees which so attracted our attention along the +banks from the mouth of the Gulf to Basrah still continues, but they +are thinning down very considerably and by the time Kurnah is reached +the belt has no depth at all. There is no question of a halt, no +question of a rest, "Push On" is the order of the day. It may seem +somewhat absurd now, but it brings home to one the eagerness of all to +share in the relief of Kut, that the first thing the Colonel did on +landing at Basra was to wire to the Corps Commander at the front +asking him to arrange for the Battalion to follow up the Relieving +Column if it had passed Ali Garbi before the Regiment arrived. +Regardless of risk, regardless of orders, urged on by the Colonel, the +two steamers bearing the battalion pushed forward by night as by day +for fear of not overtaking the Relieving Column. The winding of the +river seemed interminable to those eager to be at the front, and there +is little to relieve the monotony of the flat plain, save the +colouring at dawn and dusk, and the appearance of a few mahelas +floating down stream with their broad sails outspread to catch the +north-west wind. + +At Kurnah the Palm belt ceases and only at odd places and around +villages are trees again to be seen. One cannot fail to be struck with +the enormous possibilities the country offers for cultivation if only +properly irrigated. Thousands and thousands of acres of the best of +soil, and everywhere as flat as Salisbury Plain. + +We now begin to see small Arab villages along the banks of the river; +they look dirty and dilapidated. The Arabs look filthy, but some have +very pleasant faces, and both men and women impress one with their +strength. This campaign is of course not only an eye-opener to them +but also a God-send. They beg and steal on every possible occasion and +on going through the narrows a lot of amusement is obtained in +bargaining with them. The troops crowd on to the barges, as they bump +along the sides of the river banks which are only two or three feet +higher than the barge, and buy from the Arab women and children +running along the banks selling eggs and fowls; as the demand has +risen the prices have also advanced, and whereas at the opening of the +campaign one could buy a dozen eggs for fourpence, by January 1917, I +have seen officers pay twopence each or more. It is scarcely safe to +jump ashore, as any moment the boat may launch out again into the +middle of the stream, but when tied up by the bank waiting for +another boat to pass brisk business can be carried on. The boats going +up usually give way to those coming down, as the ones coming down may +have wounded and sick, and all must be done to get them down to +hospital as soon as possible, and so the time passes. At one end of +the Narrows is Ezra's Tomb, a building surmounted by a blue tiled +dome, which is evidently of no very ancient origin. We were informed +that the edifice had been erected in memory of Ezra by a wealthy Jew, +and that the place had become a sort of place of pilgrimage. +Clustering round it is a small Arab hamlet with the usual sprinkling +of Palm trees, and an abundance of dirt and filth, without which +surely the Arab could not exist. + +[Illustration: The Officers Mess, Falahiyah, The Adjutant, Captain N. +M. RITCHIE, D.S.O., Studies Military Law.] + +[Illustration: J. M. COWIE, T. HENDERSON, A. A. YOUNG (Killed), G. V. +STEWART, T. GILLESPIE (Killed).] + +[Illustration: J. M. COWIE, G. V. STEWART, T. HENDERSON, J. H. +COTTERELL (Killed), H. W. BRUCE (Killed).] + +[Illustration: At The Bar.] + +[Illustration: River Scenes.] + +At the northern end of the Narrows is the village of Qalat Sahib with +its minarets and lovely reflections. Then, Amara is sighted. We are +now one hundred and twenty miles from our base and this place makes a +kind of a half-way house between Basrah and Baghdad, and for the first +time the battalion lands in Mesopotamia. It was about three o'clock in +the afternoon that the order to disembark was received. Wonder was +expressed at the command as everyone knew that this was still a long +way behind the firing line, and was it the intention to march the rest +of the distance, and if so, why? as we were so much needed. All these +queries and doubts however were soon put an end to when it became +known that the Colonel had decided to land and practice an attack. He +knew that at any moment his Regiment might be thrown into action, and +as the long journey was found to have a stiffening effect on one's +limbs he decided on some small practice manoeuvres before the actual +and real thing took place. + +What a pleasure to get on shore again! At such a moment a regiment is +almost like a boy's school let out after hours; everyone was in high +fettle and pleased, our long journey was nearing its end, and very +soon we would be relieving General Townshend who had been locked up in +Kut since December 5th. + +By three o'clock all were ashore and an attack on an imaginary enemy +was practised, and of course victory achieved; but on returning to the +river, it was found that the boats had moved up a mile or so, and +tired and weary the Regiment had to go in search of them, and to add +to the discomfort the rain started to come down, so that by the time +everyone was on board again at seven-thirty it was dark and the men +were wet, and a very subdued regiment ate their evening meal in +comparison to the high spirits of earlier in the afternoon. However, +very soon it would be good-bye to the boats for good, as it was +expected that the following day we should land at Ali-el-Gharbi. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +The 2nd Battalion disembarked at Ali-el-Gharbi, one hundred and eighty +miles from Basrah. The ground was little better than a bog from the +rain of the previous day; with very little rain the whole countryside +seems to become a quagmire. The mud is about the most slippery kind to +be found anywhere, so that walking is made most difficult. The first +work was to unload the barges. All the kit, supplies, and tents had to +be taken ashore as we were leaving the boats for good and were now in +a hostile country. The unloading is a tedious business and one of the +most tiring of fatigues, but when the whole of a regiment is put on to +it the work is soon finished. That night No. 1 Company was on Out-Post +duty and the rest slumbered. + +The following morning broke fine and sunny, as so often happens in +this country after wet and miserable evenings. The clouds roll up +during the night and the morning is such that one feels it is good to +be alive. There was a sharpness in the air that made it almost +impossible to think that in a few months' time this country would be +proving itself to be the hottest in the world. The orders were to be +up at dawn and start immediately after breakfast. Part of the Brigade +transport was of camels, but the camels getting out of hand +disappeared into the desert and the start had to be made without them. +It is a fascinating picture to see a long line of camels in single +file starting off on a voyage across the desert. But this +misadventure had delayed matters and the heat after midday was very +trying for marching although in the distance one could see the snow on +the higher summits of the Pusht-i-kuh Mountains which form the +dividing line between Persia and Turkey. From an aeroplane the picture +of the Tigris flowing through this flat country with all its numerous +twists and turns must resemble a huge snake. A short halt was made in +the middle of the day for lunch, and a final halt was not called till +within five miles of Sheikh-Saad, and a distance of twenty-two miles +had been covered, not bad work, considering the Regiment had just +landed after being cooped up for a month on transports and river +boats. But everyone was dead tired and exhausted and No. 1 Company was +pleased that they had provided the Out-Posts the previous night, and +that it was the turn of No. 2 to do duty. General Younghusband with +part of his division had moved out and engaged the enemy, and that +night we could see the flashes of the guns and hear the constant +rattle of musketry. At break of day General Aylmer, the Corps +Commander, rode out past us to the advanced force, but it was not till +after nine o'clock that our Brigade advanced some five miles and lay +down to await orders. The orders were clear and promised success. One +Brigade was to deal with the Turks on the right bank of the Tigris, +one Brigade was to hold his forces near the left bank, while a third, +with ours in immediate support, was to make the decisive attack on the +enemy's left flank. This Brigade and ours therefore manoeuvred to the +right for position. Before we had taken sufficient ground to our +right, fresh orders arrived directing both Brigades to counter-march +back and attack the centre of the enemy's line, against which the +Brigade on our left was already moving. Instant action was demanded +and instantly the 2nd Battalion and a battalion of Jats moved forward +to the attack. No time was given for the issue of orders, no frontage +or direction was given, no signal communication was arranged. To all +enquiries the one answer was given "Advance where the bullets are +thickest" and right there did the 2nd Battalion advance. Magazines +were charged and bayonets fixed on the move; the companies moved with +great rapidity and wonderful exactness considering the exhausting +march of the day before and the little practice they had had in open +warfare. But without covering fire, and there was little artillery +fire available to cover our attack such an attack over bare open plain +cannot succeed unless the enemy be few in numbers or of poor heart. +The Turk was neither weak nor faint-hearted, and poured in so deadly a +fire that before the leading lines were within 200 yards of the enemy, +five hundred of the battalion had been killed or wounded. Other units +suffered with almost equal severity, the attack came to an inevitable +halt, there were no reserves to drive it home, consequently orders +were sent up from the Brigade that the infantry should dig themselves +in where they were. Nineteen officers and two-thirds of the men had +been hit: Colonel Wauchope was severely wounded by a shell and Major +Hamilton Johnstone took over command. + +[Illustration: The Pipe Band.] + +[Illustration: Corporal McLEOD.] + +[Illustration: The Pipe Band.] + +[Illustration: Our Left Flank At San-i-yat, The Tigris.] + +[Illustration: Capt. HALDANE Inspects The Hannah Trenches.] + +[Illustration: At Mohammerah.] + +But if our losses were heavy and the sufferings great, the Turk had +also suffered so heavily at our hands, that he was forced to evacuate +his position on the following day, and we occupied it on the 9th. The +situation was one of extreme difficulty for the new Commanding +officer. If there were few men left there were still fewer officers or +sergeants remaining with much experience. Yet the Turks were close to +our trenches and re-organisation of the depleted platoons imperative. +But his indomitable spirit and the determination within the regiment, +so often shown at times of crisis, made the hardest tasks possible. +The wounded were brought back, the dead buried; rations were got +forward and the trenches securely held. New leaders were appointed, +and on January 10th when the Brigade moved forward from Sheikh-Saad +the Battalion had been reformed under its well-loved commander, ready +as always to do whatever duty lay before. + +Progress was made up the river bank slowly, but always in the +direction of Kut, the aim and object of our every march and fight at +this period. The enemy had retreated some miles and, on January 13th, +they were attacked and driven out of their position on the Wadi, the +2nd Battalion playing a small but successful part in this action and +losing 34 men. The Turks then fell back on to a more strongly +entrenched position at Hannah. + +The rainy season was now in full swing. It rained day after day and +the whole country became sodden, making it very difficult to move +troops and almost impossible to move artillery. The discomfort the men +suffered is almost indescribable, with no tents and everyone +chronically wet to the skin and unable to have properly cooked food, +made a seemingly hopeless position; but it is wonderful how hardship +and discomforts are forgotten at the thought of beleaguered comrades +in need of help and, as the country dried up and the sun shone forth, +the men's spirits rose. On the eighteenth the 2nd Battalion had +orders again to move forward. They did so and occupied a line of +trenches about two thousand yards off the enemy, who were strongly +entrenched in what is now known as the Hannah position. The whole +country here, it must be understood, is absolutely flat, only in the +distance twenty or thirty miles away one could see the snow-clad +Pusht-i-kuh Mountains. Each night short advances were made and fresh +trenches dug, till the night of the 20th. In this manner an advance +was made up to within two hundred and fifty yards of the enemy's +position. There, under cover of darkness the last line of trenches +were dug and the companies deployed into two lines, and there they +faced the enemy and awaited dawn. The Battalion and our old friends, +the Jats, had been lent to another Brigade detailed to make the +decisive assault on the morning of the 21st. Major Hamilton Johnston +had made every possible arrangement for a successful assault and the +leading lines were well within striking distance of the enemy. But +however brilliantly carried out an assault may be, however gallant and +determined the men, to ensure a lasting success against a determined +foe there must be weight as well as depth in the attack. Now on the +night of the 20th, owing to the movement among the troops, lack of +reconnaissance and the mud, the troops in rear of the two leading +battalions were deployed so far back, that though they moved forward +in the morning simultaneously with the Jats and Highlanders, they +suffered such losses on their way that none were able to reach the +enemy trenches. And dire was our need there for support. + +At a given signal our artillery opened a light bombardment of seven +minutes, then the long awaited and thrilling order to assault was +given. The companies made a magnificent response and all rushed +forward, crossed the muddy water-logged No Man's Land with their left +200 or 300 yards from the river, and gained the objective, though not +without losses. No pause had been made for firing for the bayonet was +the weapon our men trusted. More and more it is proved that the +bayonet is the weapon that wins the trench, the rifle the defensive +weapon that holds it. Yet though no pause had been made our losses in +that charge were severe. Major Hamilton Johnston was struck first by +bullet and then, almost at once, killed by shell; only four officers +reached the objective and of these three were wounded. The Turks +fought desperately and it was only after a severe struggle that we +captured some 300 yards of the first line trench. The Jats had +suffered fully as severely as ourselves, but a certain number joined +up with our men and fought right well, but no further assistance was +forthcoming. The Colonel was once asked by the Higher Command if such +and such a trench could be captured. "My Regiment," he replies, "will +capture any trench, but it is a different matter whether it is +possible to hold it." Then for one and a quarter hours, the length of +time which the trench was held, the Regiment added a very glorious +page to its history. Great gallantry was displayed and Lieut. M. M. +Thorburn who was severely wounded by a bayonet thrust received the +Military Cross as an immediate award. The enemy counter-attacked from +two sides and our few bombs, though replenished from some captured +from the enemy, were soon expended; but many charges up the trenches +were made to bomb them out, two machine guns were captured and put +out of action. Slowly however the Turks drove the remnants of our +platoons towards the river and the killed and wounded greatly +outnumbered the survivors, 2nd Lieutenant Souther was wounded but +refused to retire, and every moment the situation was getting more +desperate. 2nd Lieutenant Henderson assumed command and was gallantly +supported by C.S.M. Proudfoot and Sergeant McDonald. Seeing that the +position was untenable, C.S.M. Proudfoot asked 2nd Lieutenant +Henderson if he did not think it would be wise to fall back as no +assistance was being sent, and men were being uselessly sacrificed. +"How can I order the Regiment to retire?" he replied. C.S.M. Proudfoot +and Sergt. MacDonald were both killed. Two of the finest men in the +regiment they were, and both had been recommended for commissions. +Proudfoot would have made a splendid officer; he had perhaps the +finest physique of any man in the Battalion and for long had been the +best reel dancer. No one who ever knew Sergt. MacDonald will forget +him. His soft voice and gentle manner, his readiness to help whoever +had need endeared him to all, and many a brave deed had he done as +scout leader of the Battalion both in France and Mesopotamia. It now +became impossible to remain unsupported in the enemy's position. +Slowly and in good order some eighty men, one quarter of those who had +started the attack two hours before, retired across No Man's Land and +regained our trenches. + +[Illustration: Captured Turkish Officers.] + +[Illustration: Turkish Prisoners Arrive At Basrah.] + +When muster roll was called ninety-nine men remained of this gallant +Regiment, out of the nine hundred and fifty who had landed in +Mesopotamia less than three weeks before. As many wounded as possible +were brought in. The Padre, Major the Revd. Macfarlane did splendid +service. Darkness was closing in as the Regiment fell back on to the +second line, and the very skies wept at the tragedy being enacted +below them. No tents, no warmth, all soaked to the skin, intense cold, +and defeated. It is possible to be happy even if wet, cold and hungry +if you are victorious, but to be wet, cold and defeated, and yet +undaunted is worthy of the highest traditions of heroes. + +The following day what remained of the Battalion was moved across the +river, and 2nd Lieutenant Stewart Smith assumed command, to be +followed shortly by Captain Crake. + +The stay on the right bank of the river was short, and the remnants of +the Battalion were again soon on the left bank, but the losses of the +Highland units engaged had been so heavy that it was decided to form +one Battalion of what remained, under Colonel Thompson. This brilliant +officer was shortly afterwards given a Brigade, and during the +Campaign of the winter 1916-17 did such excellent work that he was +rewarded with the command of a Division again proving that age should +not be regarded as a deterrent for promotion if ability is +conspicuous. He was only forty when commanding a Brigade. During +February and March the Battalion suffered great discomfort, not to +speak of hardships. The rainfall was unusually heavy and the country +all mud. Difficulty was experienced in getting up supplies. And every +day and every hour the Turks were tightening their hold on Kut, so +gallantly defended by General Townshend and his brave division. For in +reading the history of the battles of this spring, we must always +remember that the relief of Kut was the object in view, and for +that object our Generals were right in giving battle and in accepting +any odds while one chance remained of final success. + +[Illustration: J. F. C. DIXON, M.C.] + +[Illustration: S. L. HUNTER.] + +[Illustration: A. B. CUMMING (Killed 22-4-16).] + +[Illustration: Zobeir Minaret.] + +The Regiment was now encamped near the Hannah position, fresh drafts +arrived, re-organisation completed and training continued in bombing, +trench digging and minor manoeuvres. The great effort on the right +bank of March 8th had failed, but within a month another supreme +effort was made on the left bank. Another Division had arrived from +Gallipoli and, on April 5th, under General Maude, their trusted +commander, this Division captured the Hannah position. On the evening +of the same day, they gained the Falahiyah trenches and on the same +night our column, with the Highland Battalion leading, marched through +Falahiyah and advanced up the edge of the Suwakie Marsh with the +intention of attacking the Turkish left. As so often happens, however, +on a night march, some delay occurred, and at dawn the troops had not +reached their objective and were not fully deployed. The Turks opened +a very heavy fire practically destroying our leading platoons and, as +we were still some six hundred yards from their trenches, the order +was given to dig in where we were. This was done, but the weather this +year was beyond all precedent, the marsh kept on rising and before +evening it had flooded our men out of the new trenches. We were +consequently ordered to retire three hundred yards and dig in afresh. + +On the 7th a demonstration in force was carried out by fresh troops; +little was effected by this demonstration as it was checked mainly by +shell and machine gun fire before advancing very far. Like many +another effort of these heart breaking days, it was fore-doomed to +fail; and the spirits of the troops and their fighting value was only +maintained by the stern resolve that every man would continue +fighting, no matter against what odds, so long as the flag was still +flying over Kut. + +On the night of the 8th, another Division took over our trenches, and +on the following evening made a night advance and attacked the +San-i-yat position. Heavy casualties were incurred, but they failed to +reach the enemy's position. We therefore again took over and held the +trenches until April 22nd. A final attack was planned for that day to +be made by two Brigades, but at the last moment the Brigade on our +right found the ground in their front impassable owing to the rising +of the marsh. Consequently in the assault we were exposed to a heavy +fire from our right flank as well as from the front. Nevertheless the +gallant Highlanders swept across the muddy ground, drove the enemy +from his first line and assaulted the second. Lieutenant Forester led +his platoon against the third line, but from that gallant assault none +returned. Major Inglis, the senior officer with the Battalion, and +many another were killed. The enemy trenches were in most places +filled with water, to consolidate our position was impossible and, +fired on from three sides, the survivors of the Brigade were forced +slowly back to their original position. With new drafts the Highland +Battalion had attacked at full strength, but suffered during the day +over 600 casualties. + +[Illustration: Views Of Beit Nama Hospital.] + +[Illustration: In The Garden Of Beit Nama Hospital.] + +[Illustration: The Hospital Launch.] + +[Illustration: A Hospital Ship.] + +[Illustration: Officers' Tents, Falahiyah.] + +[Illustration: The Mess Tents, Falahiyah.] + +[Illustration: The Regiment Moves Off.] + +[Illustration: Arab Girls.] + +The position now in Kut was almost hopeless, and General Townshend +began to destroy his stores and guns. One last but very gallant +attempt was to be made to get supplies in, and the General Officer +Commanding the Expeditionary Force reported as follows:-- + +"At 8 p.m., on April 24th, 1916, with a crew from the Royal Navy +under Lieutenant Firman, R.N., assisted by Lieut.-Commander Cowley, +R.N.V.R., the 'Julnar,' carrying 270 tons of supplies left Falahiyah +in an attempt to reach Kut. Her departure was covered by all Artillery +and Machine gun fire that could be brought to bear, in the hope of +attracting the enemy's attention. She was, however, discovered and +shelled on her passage up the river. At 1 a.m., on the 25th, General +Townshend reported that she had not yet arrived, and that at midnight +a burst of heavy firing had been heard at Magasis, some 8-1/2 miles +from Kut by river, which had suddenly ceased. There could be little +doubt that the enterprise had failed, and the next day the Air Service +reported the 'Julnar' in the hands of the Turks at Magasis. The +leaders of this brave attempt, Lieutenant H. O. B. Firman, R.N., and +his assistant Lieut.-Commander C. H. Cowley, R.N.V.R., the latter of +whom throughout the campaign in Mesopotamia performed magnificent +service in command of the 'Mejidieh,' have been reported by the Turks +to have been killed, the remainder of the gallant crew, including five +wounded, are prisoners of war. Knowing well the chances against them +all the gallant officers and men who manned the 'Julnar' for the +occasion were volunteers. I trust the services in this connection of +Lieut. H. O. B. Firman, R.N., and Lieut-Commander C. H. Cowley, +R.N.V.R., his assistant, both of whom were unfortunately killed, may +be recognized by the posthumous grant of some suitable honour." + + ADMIRALTY. + +"The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the posthumous +grant of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned officers in +recognition of their conspicuous gallantry in an attempt to +reprovision the Force besieged in Kut-el-Amarah:-- + + Lieut. Humphry Osbaldeston Brooke Firman, R.N. + Lieut.-Comdr. Charles Henry Cowley, R.N.V.R." + + * * * * * + +After a stubborn defence for one hundred and forty-three days, General +Townshend's supplies were exhausted, and he was compelled to surrender +on April 29th, with 9,000 men. + +[Illustration: On The Banks Of The Tigris. 125 deg. In The Shade.] + +[Illustration: Beit Nama Hospital.] + +[Illustration: One Of The Noble Band Of Sisters.] + +[Illustration: A Winter Sunrise. Beit Nama Hospital.] + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +The strategical importance of Kut-el-Amarah lies in the fact that it +is at the junction of the Shatt-el-Hai with the Tigris. The force +which controls Kut has the choice of movement down the Hai or the +Tigris at will, and this advantage was with the Turk. + +The summer was rapidly advancing with its awful heat and the enemy, +unable to press his advantage any further, was quite willing to remain +in his trenches and await events. And so for seven months both sides +resorted to trench warfare, and sat down facing each other through the +most trying period of the year. + +The Secretary of State made the following announcement: "General Lake +reports on May 20th that the right (South) bank of the Tigris is clear +of the enemy as far as the Shatt-el-Hai, except for small rear-guards +covering the bridge over the Hai some 500 yards below its junction +with the Tigris. Our main force on this bank has reached the line +Magasis-Dujailah. On the left (North) bank the enemy are reported to +be still occupying the San-i-yat position. Weather is intensely hot +and trying, and temperature during the last few days has been over 100 +degrees in the shade." + +Owing to the melting of the snows in Asia Minor the Tigris is at its +highest in the spring and early summer and the left of our lines +stretched to the water edge. The Suwakie marsh is also very full at +this season and forms a natural protection to the right flank of the +San-i-yat position. Consequently as the front held was under two +miles the lines could be safely held by one Brigade at a time, with +the other two in reserve. The procedure adopted during the summer +months was for one Brigade to hold the trenches, one Brigade in the +forward area rest camp, and the other the rearward area rest camp, +situated at the Bridgehead opposite Arab Village, some six miles +behind the firing line. + +Fresh troops were arriving in the country daily, drafts to different +regiments to make up for those killed, wounded and sick. A great +number coming direct from England and Scotland and quite unaccustomed +to the great heat went sick immediately on arrival in the country. + +In addition, however, many wounded were now returning, the numbers at +the front increased, and in May, Colonel Thompson was appointed to the +command of a brigade on the right bank, and Colonel Wauchope took over +the Highland Battalion. Throughout the summer our Division held the +San-i-yat position. In spite of numerous drafts the Highland Battalion +remained considerably under strength both in men and officers until +August. By that time the Battalion was about twelve hundred strong, +and it was split up into its two original units, our comrades being +posted to another Brigade. + +[Illustration: Guns And Boat Captured From The Turks.] + +[Illustration: Types In Mesopotamia.] + +These two battalions had served together as the Highland Battalion +during a period of their history that will never be forgotten. Close +friends in India, the two battalions had now fought shoulder to +shoulder in many a hard-fought action, they had captured and defended +trenches together under conditions sometimes so desperate that only +their faith and confidence in each other enabled the two regiments not +only to maintain their glorious traditions but also to enhance their +reputation. No jealousy marred the good feeling between officers and +men; there was nothing but goodwill. We all had absolute trust in +Colonel Thompson, and Colonel Wauchope has often said he always found +the same spirit, the same wholehearted readiness to perform every duty +equally amongst both units. In some ways the Platoon, in some ways the +Division is the tactical unit of the British Army, but by tradition, +custom and wholesome practise the living organism is the Battalion, +and the Commander who ignores that fact loses a source of strength +that no other factor fills. It was only the strength of fellowship and +their confidence in their two commanders that enabled these two famous +regiments to work and fight under every adverse circumstance so +wholeheartedly and with the single-minded devotion which they always +showed during these trying times. + +The bond of sentiment holds when other bonds fail. To all to whom +regimental feeling appeals there is no sight like the swing of the +kilt, no sound like the sound of the pipes. Men of both regiments +might often recall how they had charged forward in France, the pipers +leading the way, and no body of men had themselves shewn greater +gallantry or inspired others with their spirit more than the +regimental pipers. Yet even in war the days of battle are few and the +days of trial many, and many a time at reveille and retreat, on the +march and in camp has the sound of the massed pipers stirred our +memories and stoutened our hearts to face whatever danger or hardship +lay before. The old Crimean reveille was still heard, but a new +reveille, "The Highland Regiment in Mesopotamia," arranged by +Pipe-Major Keith, was played more often. During a long march +"Scotland's my Ain Hame," and "Neil Gow's Farewell to Whiskey" were +often call for, and, on reaching camp, before striking up with "The +Blue Bonnets," the pipers always played the Colonel's favourite air, +"After the Battle." + +In these days lack of tents, and the excessive heat were minor +troubles compared to the prevalence of sickness and constant flow of +casualties. Whatever the strength of the Battalion, the duties had to +be performed. Again and again men left their turn of sentry duty only +to take part in one of the innumerable but essential working parties. +Over and over again men had to work throughout the cooler hours of the +twenty-four, and pick up what rest they might in the heat and glare, +amid the dust and flies, of midday. But if there was much sickness +there was no grumbling, and the energy and thoroughness with which all +duties were performed will remain for all time a lasting credit to the +men of the Regiment. The average age of the Company Commanders was one +and twenty, yet the C. O. told me that never was a Colonel better +served in this and every respect. The Adjutant was under twenty, but +no more capable or devoted officer was ever Adjutant to the Regiment. +The Sergeant Major was absent sick, and during part of the time there +were but four sergeants remaining with the Battalion; but the young +men specially selected to fill the vacancies, responded to the call, +accepted all their responsibilities, and never was the standard of +discipline or smartness higher in the Battalion. Of the many awards +given to the Battalion I doubt if any were better deserved than the +D.S.O. gained by the Adjutant, and the two Military Crosses awarded in +succession to our two Regimental Sergeant-Majors. To these might well +be added the four D.C.Ms. gained by the four Sergeant-Bombers, two of +whom added a bar to their medals, and unsurpassed by any, the D.C.M., +with the bar, gained by the Stretcher-Bearer Sergeant. + +On August 28th, General Maude took over command and his wonderful +capacity for administration was soon manifested. Also more boats were +arriving for river transport, more supplies, both Medical and +Military, were being sent out. Control of the campaign was taken over +by the War Office. Canteens were established at different points, +enabling both officers and men to buy small luxuries, and the Y.M.C.A. +had branches established at many places. The country will never be +able to thank the Y.M.C.A. enough for what they did for its soldiers +in Mesopotamia. + +The Hospitals were being rapidly well established, and excellent work +was being done to provide all necessary accommodation and comfort for +sick men and wounded. Casualty Clearing Stations were in full swing, +and hundreds of men were sent down the line from hospital to hospital, +in many cases to eventually be sent to India in an endeavour to be +restored to health after having endured all sorts of privations and +hardships in Mesopotamia. An excellent Officers' Hospital was +established at Amara, and went under the name of the "Rawal-Pindi +Hospital." It was well run and had a large and capable staff. There +were other hospitals at Amara for officers and men and improvements +were being added daily. + +There was a large number of hospitals in Basrah and a very fine one +called the Beit Naama Hospital about six miles below Basrah, +beautifully situated on the banks of the river and surrounded by palm +trees, was opened in June 1916 to try and relieve the pressure of +officers coming down river, which No. 3 British General Hospital could +not easily cope with. This place was fitted up with electric light and +electric fans, hot and cold water baths, lift, ice and soda water +factories, up-to-date "X" Ray installation and an Operating Theatre +for surgical cases. + +They took in on an average about 135 officers a month and sent on an +average 28 to India. It had accommodation for 100 officers and had a +staff of three Medical Officers, a Matron and seven Sisters. The work +done by the Nursing Sisters in this country, the untiring devotion to +duty displayed under most trying climatic conditions when the +temperature rose to nearly 130 degrees in the shade, is beyond all +praise, and only those who have seen and suffered in this campaign +should be competent to judge. + +[Illustration: The Second In Command.] + +[Illustration: The Doctor In The Trenches.] + +[Illustration: Amongst The Palm Trees.] + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +All these improvements, all these reinforcements, all these extra +supplies could have but one meaning and but one end in view, and that +was as soon as the summer heat was over in the words of Nelson's +famous signal to "engage the enemy more closely." + +The time spent out of the trenches was no holiday, one talked of going +back to the Rest Camp. But Rest Camp was only a kindly term; it did +not mean, as one might be led to believe, a delightful camp where +comfortable chairs and well-served meals were supplied to tired and +war-worn officers and men. No such thing; in fact so much the opposite +was the case that one often heard it remarked that one got far more +rest in the trenches than in any Rest Camp at the immediate front. The +Colonel of the Regiment was a thruster. He never wasted a moment +himself and would have his regiment the same. On the great Bronze Gong +of one of our Battalions is engraved "I mark the hours, Do you?" +Certainly the Colonel of the 2nd Battalion did. It was too hot for any +drill or outside parades between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., so +everyone gasped for air inside their tents during those awful hours +when the temperature rose to 124 deg. in the shade, and the one thing one +prayed for was the hastening of sunset; but if the officers or men +slept or tried to sleep during those trying hours it was not so with +the Colonel, at almost any time one visited his tent it was to find +him busy; he did not seem to know what it was to suffer from fatigue, +and during all those trying summer months, when with one solitary +exception every officer was off duty ill for some period of time, +however short, the Commanding Officer was only confined to his tent +for half a day. Duties commenced soon after sunrise and very often +before, every opportunity being taken to make as much use of the +coolest and light hours of the 24. A very strict course of intensive +training was gone through and the results were to make themselves +manifest early the next year. Bombing was practiced morning and night. +Bayonet fighting was excelled in, and attacks by bombers and +bayonetmen were practiced with frequency in trenches especially +prepared for the purpose. Officers were trained to march by compass +and stars and some were even given a course of riding lessons, nothing +being left to chance. The long hot trying summer was not wasted; it +was a preparation for what was to come. Long marches were out of the +question, but short night marches were often practiced, sometimes by +the Battalion alone, sometimes by the whole Brigade with an attack at +dawn. These manoeuvres were very popular with everyone; it was +possible to enjoy moving about in the cool of the night and the +quietness and silence with which it was possible for a whole Regiment +to advance on to a supposed enemy position often impressed one. Having +marched to a certain point from which an attack was to be delivered, +the pre-arranged signal having been given, the bagpipes would burst +forth into music and with a wild cheer the whole Regiment would charge +forward in wave after wave and the supposed enemy driven from their +stronghold. A few moments' rest would be given and the C. O. would +call his officers around him and explain, praise or condemn various +things which had struck him and, as the sun rose over the Pusht-i-Kuh +hills, we would march back to camp. A keen rivalry and competition was +established among the various platoons as to which would mount the +best guard, and a very searching examination was conducted each +evening by the Adjutant and Sergeant-Major. This led to great interest +being taken by the whole Battalion in the mounting of the guard, and +the smartness of the guard increased by leaps and bounds. The heat, of +course, found its victims and in spite of all precautions there was a +fair amount of sickness during the summer; it was impossible to avoid +it. Great care was taken to see that all drinking water was properly +chlorinated, and special waterproof tanks were erected on the river +banks. If anyone went sick they were almost immediately sent to the +Field Hospital where they got every possible attention. All through +the summer the Battalion was very much below strength and the work +fell heavily on those remaining. + +[Illustration: Views In Zobeir. The site of Ancient Basrah, the home +of Sinbad the Sailor.] + +[Illustration: The President, Regimental Institutes.] + +[Illustration: Captain T. W. STEWART.] + +It was decided to hold "Highland Sports" on Wednesday, August 30th, +and a number of other units, both British and Indian, were asked to +take part. A suitable piece of ground was chosen some five miles +behind the firing line, and on the day a great concourse of people +assembled. The Corps Commander honoured the Regiment and several +Generals from other Brigades were also present, our own Brigadier +being an interested spectator. The events were keenly contested and +the honours were fairly evenly divided. We won the Highland Dancing +with a very fine exhibition. Another Highland unit carried off the +board jump with a record leap. The officers "Donkey Fight", a scrap +"Five aside" between our officers and those of another Highland unit +caused huge delight and amusement and before many moments blood was +flowing freely. The mile race by the Indian Regiments drew a big crowd +and a large number of entries and a great race was won by the +Punjabis. The inter-company cross country run was a keen contest. 13 +men were chosen from each company, with one officer in charge and an +N. C. O. They had to run in full kit and packs also carrying rifles +and a severe course of training was gone through. P. P. B. Miller +Stirling commanded one company, the brothers Smythe (South Africans +and both keen sportsmen) each commanded other companies. I forget who +commanded the fourth company. The average time was under ten minutes +over a two-mile course, and the remarkable thing showing the +uniformity of training was that there was scarcely two minutes' +difference in time between any company. But the event of the day was +the 'tug-of-war' between the two Highland Regiments. It was the best +tug-of-war that many of us had ever witnessed. The sides had been +carefully picked and well trained. Officers and men cheered on their +respective regiments, the crowd of onlookers swelled till the whole +Brigade was looking on in feverish suspense, and so even were the +sides that for nearly five minutes not an inch of ground was lost or +gained. The cheering ceased and the silence became intense; one could +see the veins standing out on the competitors' foreheads and +perspiration pouring off their faces, each man pulling to the last +ounce, then our coach shouted "come away" and as if by magic they gave +a convulsive pull and gained a foot, the spell was broken, and the +men of our Regiment looking on gave a wild cheer. In a second everyone +was shouting for their side, but slowly, very slowly, inch by inch +they were winning, they would lose a foot and then gain two, till +after one of the sternest pulls in the history of the Regiment, our +opponents crossed the line and we were victors. Both sides sank +exhausted to the ground as their Regiments cheered them to the echo. +Perhaps some daring Turkish flying man heard that brave cheer from his +observation car far above and thought the mad English were practising +some new game to worry his existence. That evening at a concert given +by the Regiment the General made a speech and congratulated the two +teams on the best tug-of war he had ever seen, congratulating them on +their splendid staying powers and for the tenacity and determination +they had displayed, which he remarked augured ill for the Turk in the +coming months. History records how true was his prophesy. Our +Brigadier was General Charles Norie whose gallantry in the field was +well-known, as in some strange way gallantry ever is known, to every +man who served under him. And well loved was Charles Norie. He had +lost an arm fighting on the Indian frontier. There have been many +depressing optimists since August 1914 who every Autumn swear the war +will end next spring, and every spring know it cannot last beyond next +autumn. An answer given by one of our Sergeants was consonant to the +serene spirit and resolution that filled the regiment and bid defiance +to the future. Glancing at the General waving his one arm in the air, +he answered some faint-hearted hopeful, "I'm thinking the war will not +be over till Norie claps his hands." It is in that spirit that the +armies of England win their way through at whatever cost. + +[Illustration: The P. M. C.] + +[Illustration: Tigris Salmon.] + +[Illustration: The Palm Creeks.] + +That evening the Colonel gave a dinner party and the powers of the +Mess President were taxed to the utmost limit. Nearly 40 sat down, the +Mess staff rose to the occasion, and the cook turned out things we had +never seen before. The next day the Commanding Officer remarked at +dinner "Really, P.M.C., I don't at all know why when we have 2 or 3 +Generals to dinner you can give us nice white table cloths but at +other times it is only bare boards", "Well Sir," he hesitatingly +replied, "they were two of Stewart's sheets." Sundays were usually +fairly slack days. I sometimes thought that they could have been even +slacker, it being so absolutely necessary to have one day's rest a +week. Church Parade would be held in the early morning, and another +service at 6 in the evening after the sun had set. These evening +services were very impressive; we would form round in a half circle +sitting on the grass, or what formed a substitute for grass, with the +Padre in the middle. The Commanding Officer would sit at one end of +the half circle either amongst his officers or at the other end +amongst the men, and the Padre knowing well the limits of human +endurance and the severe test that the great heat was putting us to, +never preached too long a sermon. We all loved him, and as he had been +with the Regiment for a dozen years he knew everyone and about +everyone, and when he went sick after the great advance on Baghdad, +all felt that they had temporarily lost a friend. We were miles away +from any village and still further from any town, so there was no one +to visit on Sundays and no social life; unlike our comrades in +France we were unable to enjoy the hospitality of a friendly +population or look forward to going home on leave. We were out here +and we knew it meant for months or may be years. Leave in a restricted +form was granted to India during the 1916 summer, but that is going +from one hot country to another and, though appreciated, could not be +compared to going home. We knew two or three days in advance, the day +that we would go up to the trenches for our spell, and we usually went +in at the commencement of the month, so had the advantage, or +disadvantage as it sometimes proved, of having a full moon. The +distance to march was about three miles before we reached the end of +the communication trench and we never started till late in the +afternoon. All that day we were busy preparing our trench kits and +packing up the necessary kit which had to be as little as possible. We +always marched up in kilts and marched out in kilts, but during our +stay there our clothes were the irreducible minimum, shorts and +shirts. I well remember my first spell in the trenches of the famous +Sanniyat position. We usually held the centre of the line with an +Indian Regiment on either side and one in reserve. We left camp soon +after seven, the night was one of those wonderful clear still +moonlight nights for which this country is justly famous. It was +difficult to imagine before one came within sound of rifle fire that a +grim struggle was being enacted a mile or so in front, everything was +still quiet and peaceful, there were no villages to pass through on +our way up, it was simply open flat country with a river on one side +and a marsh on the other, a long dusty road leading from the Rest +Camps to the rear of the trenches. A light was burning in Brigade +Headquarters and a sentry on duty and we silently filed up the long +communication trench which was deep in dust as rain had not fallen for +months. We passed fatigue parties coming down for rations and the dust +was most distressing. The relief of trenches is usually a long and +tedious process--handing over stores, getting receipts, pointing out +anything of exceptional interest and generally getting settled down +for ten or fourteen days. The Regimental Headquarters were about 200 +yards behind the front line and connected up by telephone and various +companies and platoons took it in turn to do their round of duty in +the front line. I think in the trenches you come to know men as you +can get to know them in no other place, the reserve of civilization is +often thrown off and you know a man for what he is, not for what he +would have you think he is. I remember sitting one night on the fire +step of the front line trench and having a long and interesting talk +with a Sergeant about Nigeria. He was telling me all about his life +out there before the war, and the part he took in the Cameroon +Campaign. Back in a Rest Camp he would never have got so +communicative, but when one knows that one's lives are dependant on +each other a close comradeship often results between both officers and +men. This gallant fellow some months later was killed as his company +was advancing to attack a Turkish position after the capture of +Baghdad. I always feel glad I had that talk with him. + +[Illustration: Ashar Creek.] + +[Illustration: Ashar Creek.] + +[Illustration: Native Bazaar, Ashar.] + +[Illustration: Scenes In Basrah.] + +The nights in the trenches were the busiest time not only on account +of darkness but also on account of coolness. At 9 o'clock in the +morning an inspection of rifles and kit would be held by the Company +Officers, after which the whole Company would retire to dug-outs in +the reserve front line trenches, 10 yards behind the fire trench and +then endeavour to get through the day as well as possible. The +dug-outs had not the comforts of present day dug-outs on the Western +Front. The only roof we had was sail cloth, so if a shell happened to +strike it the results were fatal. This sail cloth kept the sun off, +but the heat was terrific. Sentries only, and one officer per Company +were kept on duty during the day in the front line, where there was +not a yard of shade, the sun beat down with relentless vigour and +gradually as the day wore on the temperature would rise to 120 degrees +in the shade and 160 degrees in the sun and there was no shade. And +this was not for a day or two days but week after week. After 9 +o'clock in the morning a death-like stillness would creep over +everything, both sides suffering too much to be able to add any more +suffering to each other. The stillness would be broken now and again +by the crack of a sniper's rifle and one dare not look over the +parapet. In the early mornings aeroplanes would fly over the lines but +without any great show of activity on either side; the heat kept +everything quiet. The very flies are scarce in the hottest months, +only the sandflies torment one at night, and so the day gradually +passes, and as one goes the round to see everything is in order and +one sees the men stretched out in their dug-outs, reading, trying to +sleep, very few talking and all suffering, one remembers with what +irritation one had read in a famous London daily paper, a query--why +the Mesopotamian Campaign had come to an end during the summer, why no +advance was heard of. One longed to put the writer of that article +over the parapet in the sun where within five minutes or less, he +would have his question answered. At times, on a hot parching day +lying in one's dug-out, one would hear a great flutter of wings as a +flight of cranes or wild geese flew over our lines, immediately +followed by a loud fusillade of rifle fire as the sentries endeavoured +to bring one down; several times a goose was brought down, and I well +remember the annoyance of an officer when a goose he had winged +managed to flutter across into the Turkish lines. The heat was at the +maximum between 2 and 3 when we could almost boil oil in the sun. At 4 +o'clock things livened up somewhat and at 5-30 everyone stood ready in +the front line awaiting any possible attack but neither side showed +any intention of attacking. Night duties were arranged, parapets had +to be mended, new trenches dug, barbed wire put out and all the +necessary work in connection with trench warfare continued. Officers +patrols were regularly sent out into "No Man's Land" to examine the +enemy's wire and find out if he were sapping forward. As the summer +advanced the marsh receded on the left of the enemy's line, and this +gave our scouts an opportunity to patrol and harass the Turks by +penetrating in rear of their left flank. Much gallant work was done in +this direction and much credit gained by the Regiment, for the Colonel +considered that a good test of the fighting energy of a Company was +the vigour of its patrol duties, and a good number of the Turkish +sentries, I feel sure, agreed with him. The usual night "Hate" started +about six when both sides opened fire, rifle and machine gun, on the +opposite trenches, this was kept up all night, some nights would be +more lively than others, some nights would be comparatively quiet, +but now and again an artillery bombardment would take place, when we +always seemed to give more than we got. Both we and the Turk were very +free with rifle grenades, but what troubled us most was a special +pattern of trench mortar that threw a heavy bomb over quarter of a +mile. One night I remember one landed in and blew up the whole of the +regimental cookhouse; luckily the cooks were sleeping elsewhere and it +was only the dixies that suffered. + +[Illustration: The Tree Of Knowledge, Kurnah. Supposed Site Of The +Garden Of Eden.] + +[Illustration: Ashar Creek.] + +I have always considered myself a very light sleeper, but one evening +I had cause to come to another conclusion. I had just come off duty +from the front line and was speaking to a brother officer outside my +dug-out about 9 o'clock when suddenly we opened artillery fire on the +Turkish position with considerable vigour, and they replied but in a +milder form. I retired and lay down in my dug-out listening to the +shells whistling above and praying to Providence that none would land +on my sail cloth roof. In about half an hour the bombardment ceased +and one wondered what damage had been done and how many lives lost. I +then slept. At breakfast the next morning remarking on the bombardment +I was asked "which"? "Which?" I replied, "why last night's of course," +"Yes, but the first or second?" "Well, I only heard one," I said. "Oh! +another took place at midnight," I was informed. I had slept through +it and had not heard a sound. So trench life must tire one out +somewhat to enable one to sleep so soundly as to be unaware of a +bombardment. On still nights when possible the very perfection of the +night made men less inclined to fire rifles at each other's trenches. +I used to hear a Turk singing. He had a deep rich voice and I often +stood in the front line or in a communication trench listening to him +as his voice carried across "No Man's Land" from the Turkish line 120 +yards away. It used to fascinate me quite a lot and one felt that +under the eastern sky, in the land of Sinbad the Sailor and Omar +Khayyam that war had not quite killed romance. I wonder what happened +to that singer. I wonder if in the great push to Baghdad and beyond he +was killed or if he is now singing to his fellow-prisoners in +captivity in India, or if he is still cheering on his comrades in the +front line further up the Tigris. I don't suppose one will ever know, +but if he should ever read these lines I would like him to know he not +only cheered his own side but gave pleasure to at least one of his +enemies. + +[Illustration: The Ship Of The Desert Plays An Important Part In +Mesopotamia.] + +[Illustration: Ruins Of "Old Bassorah."] + +We used to have three Officers' Messes when in the trenches. The +Headquarters Mess presided over by the Colonel and two Company Messes, +presided over by their respective Company Commanders. The Headquarters +Mess was a very comfortable affair, a big dug-out, and made in such a +way that ground formed the table in the middle and seats all around, +the sides were well banked up with sand bags and outside a small ante +room where one could sit and smoke in the evening, and the roof was +the sky and a very wonderful sky during those long rainless cloudless +months. Round about the Headquarters, the Colonel, the Adjutant, the +Doctor, the Sergeant-Major, had their dug-outs, and the Mess did for +Orderly Room also. The Company Messes were not so elaborate, and were +situated nearer the front line and close to our own dug-outs. We +endeavoured however to make ourselves as comfortable as possible, +but for some reason or other the flies took a great liking to our +Mess (No. 1 Company), and at any time day or night they were assembled +in their hundreds on our canvas roof. We had a large war map fixed up +on to the mud wall to enable us to follow events and we had occasional +visits from the Padre and the Doctor, but it was not a healthy place, +no part of the second line was; the second line was about a 100 yards +behind the first, and for some reason it seemed to give the Turks much +more pleasure to put their shells nearer to the second line than the +first. I have picked small flowers growing on the front line parapet, +but I have never seen any on the second. During my first spell in the +trenches after being in the front line, I was put in charge of the +reserves in the reserve trenches and spent three awful days and four +awful nights in this position. The heat seemed to be worse here than +anywhere. I had to spend my days in a small 40 lbs. tent lying on the +ground gasping for air as the sun poured down with relentless fury. It +was burning hot from the moment it rose till it set 14 hours after +over the Arabian Desert. The men were slightly more fortunate in that +they had a bigger tent, but they suffered also and it was at these +times that one could not but admire the spirit of the 'British +Soldier.' One seldom heard a complaint, of course they were "fed up" +with the heat, everyone was the Archangel Gabriel would have been, but +there was never any thought given to anything else but to "stick it at +whatever cost." The officer in reserve was attached to the +Headquarters Mess and so one was likely to get any news going. Lying +in my tent reading, I now forget the name of the book, but I came +across the passage which I will always remember "The writing which +Nebuchadnezar saw on the wall." As I read that I felt convinced that +Nebuchadnezar never saw any writing on the wall and when I reached the +Mess that evening, the first one to come in was the Doctor and being a +good Presbyterian I felt sure he would have this knowledge at his +fingers' ends, so I asked him who saw the writing on the wall and he +immediately replied "Nebuchadnezar". "Not at all," I said, and I told +him I had just read the same thing in a book but felt convinced it was +wrong, he felt certain the book was right. "Very well," I said, "I'll +bet you, you are wrong," he accepted the bet. The Adjutant came in +soon after and supported the Doctor. I now saw a veritable gold mine +before me and he too was willing to back his knowledge against mine. +We decided to refer the matter to the Colonel, so when he came in we +asked his opinion. The Colonel was not only a gallant soldier but he +was a cautious Scotchman. "Well," he said, "I think it was +Nebuchadnezar, but I would not be willing to back too much on it." It +is only necessary to turn to the 5th Chapter of Daniel to see who won +the bets. That night sanction came for several N.C.O.'s and men to go +on leave to India for a month. Sanction had been hanging fire for some +time and the lucky ones were beginning to despair. My sergeant was +among the lucky ones and I knew how pleased he would be when I got +back and told him to report to Headquarters at 5 the next morning for +leave to India. It was late when I got back, but little did he mind +being disturbed to receive such news. I vouch for it that he slept +well that night and did not oversleep himself in the morning. To those +in France who get leave every three or four months it is impossible +to understand what leave even to India once in one or two years +means, but when the news comes that we can get leave for England, it +will indeed be a red letter day for us all. I was so exhausted the +next day with the heat that I was unable to appear at Mess. The +Colonel sent up to find out what was wrong and wanted me to return to +the rest camp at once, but I was not sufficiently done up for that, +and I only relate this incident to show the thoughtfulness of the +Commanding Officer for those under him. + +[Illustration: Quartermaster-sergeant HOBBS.] + +[Illustration: The Regimental Sergeant-major In The Trenches. +Sergeant-major A. SMART, M.C.] + +[Illustration: Pipe Major KEITH.] + +[Illustration: No. 3 British General Hospital.] + +The next evening after the Regiment was relieved the reserves being +the last to come out of the trenches, I found a horse waiting for me, +on the Commanding Officer's instructions, so that I would not have the +exertion of the march back to camp; that and similar incidents made +our affection for our Commanding Officer a very real thing. But being +in reserve had one compensation, in the early morning before the sun +rose and just at dawn to lie and watch the wonderful colourings on the +Pusht-i-Kuh Hills, colours changing every moment, was always +pleasurable, and suddenly a shell would burst near the artillery +position and one would know the daily Hate and Strafe had started, and +shortly after the sun would rise. We spent some uncomfortable evenings +being shelled in these trenches, and watching and waiting for them to +burst was not an enjoyable occupation. There were no safe dug-outs to +seek safety in, one had to stick it out wherever one was situated and +hope for the best. The damage done was seldom great beyond knocking +the trenches about a bit and these were soon repaired. Having been put +in charge of a digging party one morning in the rearward area whose +duty it was to widen and deepen a communication trench, I saw a good +opportunity while the work was going on of looking for souvenirs in +the shape of Turkish shell caps. So getting out of the trench I +commenced a search and continued for some time but without success, +when I was driven to seek shelter in the trench by a shell bursting in +close proximity, they had evidently spotted someone walking about and +opened fire, but it did not last for long. During our period in the +trenches if there was very little doing, as was usually the case +during the hot weeks, we were in turn sent down to the Depot three +miles behind for two days' rest, and it was an absolute and complete +rest. One had nothing whatever to do, get up at any time, go to bed at +any time, complete relaxation, those two days were a great boon to us. +To have absolutely nothing to do was a great luxury and anything out +of the ordinary routine was enjoyable. During my spell of leave at the +Depot one evening sitting round the Mess table which we had outside on +account of the great heat, we were discussing the movements of the +Regiment during the past 20 years and when I remarked that I had +watched the Regiment embarking at Durban for India 15 years before, +the Quartermaster said, "I was there and out of the whole Battalion +that embarked that day, there are only two of us left with the +Regiment, the Sergeant-Major and myself". I little thought as I +watched the 2nd Battalion saying farewell to South Africa that 15 +years later I would share in some of its trials on the banks of the +Tigris. Sitting in the Headquarters Mess in the evening, as I +previously stated, one got all the news, about 8 o'clock the +Quartermaster would appear having come up from the Depot in charge of +the rations party and to make his report. The mails would be +brought up by them too and if the English mail was due and had arrived +with letters and papers great was the excitement. Our letters took +about six weeks from England to the firing line, but we were allowed +to send week-end cables at a very reduced rate, something like 6_d._ a +word, and could send them off actually from the trenches on their long +journey half across the world. The food, taking everything into +consideration, was good, although of necessity it had to greatly +consist of tinned and dried varieties and we suffered somewhat from +lack of fresh vegetables. Later an improvement in this respect was +effected. + +[Illustration: Scenes In The Trenches At San-i-yat.] + +[Illustration: The Filters.] + +[Illustration: Captain MACQUEEN, R.A.M.C., And His Aid Post.] + +[Illustration: Indian Water Carriers At San-i-yat.] + +A flag of truce was always an interesting event. A white flag would be +prominently displayed by one side above the trench and kept there till +the other side responded and also hoisted a flag, and two or three +officers would go out from either side meeting in the middle of "No +Man's Land" where the business was discussed. Sometimes it would be +simply handing over a letter or letters; other times the business +would take longer. A truce of some hours' duration would sometimes be +arranged. The longest I remember was for 24 hours when we exchanged +sick prisoners; but there was no fraternizing; we might sit on the +parapet of our trench and the Turk would do the same; but there was no +attempt made to be friendly; the Turk knew and so did we that within a +few short months we would be at death grips with each other and that +one side or the other would be driven out of the present strong +positions we had taken up; but whichever side won, the losses of both +would be great and so we sat and looked at each other during those +short respites, and both sides adhered strictly to the truce. When it +expired it was not safe to show even a helmet over the parapet. The +Colonel told me that several times the same Turkish officer brought +the flag of truce. He spoke French easily and said he had been +fighting more or less continuously the last eight years--in the Iraq +against Arabs, in Tripoli against the Italians, in Gallipoli, and now +on the Tigris against the British. He had been wounded four times, and +was again wounded and taken prisoner by us during the advance, 1917. +In 1916 we were fighting a foe, elated by his success at Kut, and it +was only after our victories in the spring of 1917, that he showed any +signs of war weariness. + +One hot and sunny morning I was speaking to one of our sentries who +had been watching a Turk appear above their parapet and had already +had one shot at him and was waiting to get another and I had scarcely +moved a 100 yards down the trench when the unfortunate sentry having +looked over too far received a bullet clean through his head. Once or +twice during the hot weather bombing parties went over for short raids +but without very much success and very little advantage. + +I witnessed no instance of gas being used but precautions were taken +and gas helmets issued with orders that they must always be carried +whilst in the fire zone. Gongs were placed at intervals all along the +front line and had to be sounded at the first alarm, but fortunately +that alarm never came. + +[Illustration: The Regiment In The Trenches At San-i-yat.] + +[Illustration: In The San-i-yat Trenches.] + +[Illustration: Looking Towards The Turkish Lines At San-i-yat.] + +One of my duties was to buy stores for the Officers' Mess and the +men's canteen and before Field Force Canteens were opened immediately +behind the firing line it meant a trip down to Sheikh Saad about once +a month, after the arrival of the canteen boat, of which we were +duly notified. Buying was usually brisk but we generally got our fair +share of anything going and the Regimental Canteen retailed to the men +at just above cost price, everything was disposed of in a very short +space of time as the things for sale were looked upon as luxuries and +in great demand. On the morning of the anniversary of Loos the +Commanding Officer addressed the Regiment and proclaimed the day a +holiday stating that night a ration of whisky would be issued to +commemorate the event. I heard afterwards that it was all the +Sergeant-Major could do to keep the men from cheering, weeks and +months had passed since the men had had anything stronger than tea to +drink and this ration was much appreciated. Another very welcome event +was the arrival of parcels from Lady Carmichael's Gift Fund in +Calcutta. A great deal of gratitude is due to Lady Carmichael and her +staff and the ladies of India for the way the fund was organised. They +sent us shirts and shorts and towels and soap, razors, chocolates, +mufflers, cigarettes, tobacco, tinned fruit and _chutney_. Certainly +the best _chutney_ I ever tasted came in a gift, I remember it was +home made and came from Assam and the maker's name written on the jar. +I told the Mess Sergeant to write a special letter thanking the maker, +thinking that by doing so some more might appear. But I am sorry to +have to say, none did. As the summer began to draw to an end +preparations had to be made for the winter. The terrific heat of the +summer had gone and now the biting cold of winter had to be prepared +for. If the coming winter was going to be anything like the previous +one, then we were going to suffer; but preparations for it were in +full swing. The Doctor gave an order for a supply of rubber water +bottles for his aid post, whereupon a very liberal and kind-hearted +officer cabled home for one for each officer. I don't know if anyone +else used them for heat purposes. I know I used mine. Fifteen years in +tropical climates has made the 'cold' one of my worst enemies, but if +they were not used as hot water bottles they certainly were as air +cushions; this same officer never neglected an opportunity of doing +acts of kindness to his brother officers and men immediately under his +command, and when he was eventually invalided to India he still +remembered his friends and sent them delightful and much appreciated +parcels. + +[Illustration: Qualat Saleh.] + +[Illustration: Rawal Pindi Hospital, Amara.] + +[Illustration: On The Banks Of The Tigris.] + +[Illustration: A Marching Post.] + +[Illustration: The Bridge At Arab Village.] + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +Everything was ready. The Regiment was in excellent form and fettle, +highly trained and efficient, and the powers that be knew that it +could be depended on to a man. The first rains had fallen and it was +cool without being cold. Mesopotamia takes a long time to cool after +the great summer heat and does not usually get very cold till January, +and on December 13th the British offensive began on the right bank of +the Tigris near Kut, and very severe fighting took place. It was not +till February 1917 that the last Turkish position on this bank was +captured. In the meantime, on the left bank, the position for the +moment remained much the same. Limpits could not cling with greater +tenacity to their native rock than the Turks stuck to their position +at San-i-yat. It would seem as if nothing could drive them out from +this, the strongest position in Mesopotamia. 'Xmas Day and New Year's +Day were spent out of the trenches, but in the forward area. Events +were moving rapidly on the other bank, but the marvellous secrecy with +which the Commander-in-Chief kept all his plans inspired the greatest +confidence in those under him. No one knew his plans; everything was a +dead secret; it was even rumoured that his immediate staff were often +kept in ignorance up to the last moment, but all ranks had confidence. +On January 21st at 4 p.m. we struck camp at Faliyeh, crossed the river +and for 10 days occupied a position along the Narrows from Chahela +Mounds to near Beit-a-Essa, a distance of about five miles, +establishing picquets along the line. This was a most welcome change. +We had been on one side of the river for practically a whole year and +new duties and new country broke the monotony. Each Company was +divided up. Three Companies holding the line along the Tigris bank and +the fourth in reserve. Casualties were very light and Captain Haldane +did excellent work sniping and kept the enemy well in hand. The +gunners were good enough to remark that a great change was noticeable +since the line had been taken over by us; this was probably a little +bit of flattery on the part of the Artillery men, but it was quite +welcome. During these days the Commanding Officer was an unknown +quantity as one never knew where he would next appear on the five-mile +line. I think that he must have known every inch of it. We were +relieved by another Highland Regiment and a very pleasant ten days +came to an end with a march back across the river to the forward area +and back to the now muddy trench at San-i-yat. It was now bitterly +cold and uncomfortable at night and the mud in the trench almost as +bad as the dust in the summer. Bombardments were of daily occurrence +and the Turk must have had a most uncomfortable January. About the +middle of February the Army Commander determined to make a combined +attack with one force at the Shumran bend, and with one of our +brigades at San-i-yat. The attack at San-i-yat was delivered by two +Indian Battalions of our Brigade under great disadvantages, and though +at first successful, the attackers were eventually compelled to +withdraw back to our lines. Every officer and every man regretted +that the Battalion had not been selected to take part in the attack in +the first instance, and were eager to lead the Brigade in another +assault. This indeed was the wish of the whole Brigade, and orders in +fact were issued to that effect, but two days later, when every +arrangement had been completed, it was decided to make the attack with +a fresh Brigade and ours was withdrawn and held as a reserve. + +[Illustration: Scenes On The River Tigris.] + +[Illustration: A Post On The Tigris.] + +Before leaving the trenches, however, the Colonel ordered two +officer's patrols to go out the last night to examine the enemy's wire +and locate, if possible, the position of their machine guns, thinking +thus to assist the attack of the coming Brigade. Of these patrols one +was led by Lieut. Cowie and met with rather exciting adventures. Cowie +and two scouts crawled across "No Man's Land" to within 20 yards of +the Turkish trench without mishap. Then creeping along the enemy's +wire they spotted a machine gun with the team standing beside it. +Right into this group the three threw three grenades, wounding several +Turks as we afterwards learned. Inevitably the alarm was given, rifle +fire broke out in all directions and, before the patrol could make +good their escape, Cowie and one of his men were hit. The Turks saw +the two figures lying close to their own wire, jumped the parapet, and +made both prisoners, and carried them within their lines. They were +well treated, if not well fed, by their captors, and two days later +when the retirement began were moved out of the Turkish hospital on to +a steamer. This boat was one of two that when trying to escape some +days later up the Tigris were captured, after a short but severe +engagement, by our gunboats. Cowie, in the confusion of the fight, +forced the pilot of his steamer to run her aground and, though most +of the Turks effected their escape, Cowie and his orderly instead of +continuing their journey to Aleppo, found themselves at General +Headquarters attended to by several surgeons and Intelligence +Officers, anxious to dress their wounds and hear their story. + +On the 22nd the attack was delivered by a battalion of Highlanders and +a Punjabi battalion. Under a heavy artillery bombardment they gained +the enemy's first line without much loss. Then after severe fighting +they captured the enemy's second line and consolidated their position. +The Turks made several counter attacks and though nothing could move +the Highlanders, the position on the left was not quite secure. Our +battalion was therefore ordered back to the trenches, and the Colonel +obtained leave to send two platoons under Captain Young across to the +Turkish position in order to strengthen the left of our new line. +Captain Young was wounded, but the two platoons that night and the +following day held the line down to the river where a counter attack +was most expected. + +The Colonel asked leave to push forward that day, but it was not till +nightfall that two battalions of our Brigade were ordered to pass +through the other Brigade and take the enemy's 4th line. It was +necessarily a slow business moving up unknown trenches at night, and +the battalion on our left met with considerable resistance. However, +if progress was slow it was sure, our patrols pushed steadily forward, +the enemy's snipers were forced back and before dawn the whole +San-i-yat position was in our hands, and the Turks in full retreat. +Thus fell this position which for ten long months had held us up, and +had claimed such a big toll of lives from both sides. The sky was +clear and without cloud. The same sun shone out on victors as on +vanquished, on pursued and pursuers. One wondered how often, ten +months before, the gallant defenders of Kut had looked towards this +position longing, hoping, praying for its capture which was only now +accomplished. Meanwhile after very hard fighting the Tigris had been +bridged at Shumran above Kut and our infantry was pouring across. +Patrols of the 2nd Battalion were immediately sent forward towards the +Nakhailat position some two miles further east and the two leading +companies followed in attack formation. An Indian battalion conformed +to our movements on the left, while the leading battalions of the +other Brigade began to appear on our right rear. None of our men will +ever forget the scene that morning, nor the feeling of freedom and +elation as our lines passed over trench after trench now deserted by +the Turks, and it was these trenches over which we were now so +casually advancing that we had been anxiously watching from behind our +parapet for nearly a year. It seemed increditable, but we passed by +trenches filled with Turkish dead. We passed several of the heavy +minenwerfers whose shells had been a source of such trouble and loss +the last few months, and before 8 a.m. after some little sniping and +the capture of a few prisoners the Nakhailat position was also ours. +Here a pause was made by order of the General to give time to another +Brigade to secure our right flank, and then in conjunction with the +Indians on our left the Regiment advanced in attack formation with +patrols well ahead against the Suwada position, but the crossing of +the Shumran Bend the day before had rendered resistance impossible +and, after a little firing and the capture of a few more prisoners, +the last of the Turkish trenches fell into our hands before noon. + +The Divisional Commander now ordered a halt. An order doubtless +necessary, but that was somewhat reluctantly obeyed, the troops being +anxious to get in touch with their vanishing foe, and it was not till +4 p.m. that an order came to send two patrols some four miles further +north to the Horse Shoe lake. As it was uncertain what they might +encounter the Commanding Officer sent forward four platoons and they +reached the Nwhrwan Ridge without opposition. Our Colonel proposed +that the rest of the Brigade should push forward after the enemy, but +instead of this patrols were brought back about midnight, and it was +not till the next day that the line of the Dahra Canal was taken up by +the Division, the Turks by then being many miles to the north. + +On February 24th Kut fell in the hands of the British and the King +cabled to the Army Commander: + +"I congratulate you and the troops under your command on the successes +recently obtained, and feel confident that all ranks will spare no +effort to achieve further success. It is gratifying to me to know that +the difficulties of communications which hitherto hampered your +operations have been overcome" George R.I. + +[Illustration: LUNN Has A Quiet Rest And Smoke.] + +[Illustration: B. H. LUNN And C. V. HENDRY.] + +[Illustration: Map: The Operations At Kut-el-amara, Showing The Wide +Turning Movements South Of The River.] + +When some five months later I stood on the summit of Kut's famous +minaret, from which Briton and Turk had each in their turn observed +the enemy closing in on them, and from which one could see the +junction of the Hai with the Tigris now very low, the ruins of what +was the Liquorice Factory, and miles away Es Sinn and San-i-yat, it +was impossible not to be impressed and to feel a certain sadness and +yet a great admiration for all those lives which had been so freely +given to uphold the honour of the flag and the dignity of the Empire, +and how when failure after failure had dogged our steps, grit and +perseverance had at last won the day, and success crowned our efforts. +Kut was ours; it must have cheered those lonely prisoners in captivity +in the fastnesses of Asia Minor when the news eventually leaked +through that their defeat was avenged and that the flag which +Townshend had been compelled to haul down once again flew over the +small but famous village to the Banks of the Tigris. + +Pursuing is only slightly less arduous than being pursued, and in his +despatches well might the Army Commander have quoted those famous +words used centuries before by another great leader when an equally +strenuous pursuit was in progress. 'Faint yet pursuing'. One has to +remember that these same troops had been cooped up in trenches for +nearly a year, and to suddenly be called upon to take a prominent part +in such a pursuit as was now in progress was no ordinary strain. Not a +man in No. 1. Platoon fell out on the march from San-i-yat to Baghdad, +a record of which the platoon and its officer might well be proud. The +going was bad, there was no road as one understands a road in England, +it was plain flat open country. A stay was made at Dahra and then a +night march carried us to Shumran, where there were signs of a cavalry +fight and prisoners were being brought in. + +The Brigade had orders to clear the battlefield and booty of all +kinds, guns and ammunition were collected, rifles which had been +thrown away, as it is easier to run without one than with, and what +little surplus kit the Turk possessed had been discarded, so that his +flight might not be impeded; they were all out for Baghdad and we were +all out after them, but we were out-running our Transport and +Supplies, and the meals during the great pursuit were both scanty and +irregular, but who cared, so long as we had enough to carry us on. All +England was looking on, and day by day following our progress with +feverish interest. "Is Baghdad going to be taken" was on everyone's +lips. Beards were making their appearance even on the youngest +soldiers' chins, numbers of men were being knocked up by the +continuous strain and a four days' halt was called at Sheik Jaad, No. +1 Company being sent forward to Beghailah. Still pressing forward we +reached Azizie, 46 miles from Baghdad, and the total number of +prisoners since the advance now mounted to well over 5,000. Turkish +depots and stores at many points were in flames, 38 guns, many machine +guns, trench mortars, ships, tugs and barges, miscellaneous river +craft and bridging material fell into our hands. + +Booty was strewn over 80 miles of country and the Arabs living in the +neighbourhood must have secured sufficient goods of various +description to last them the rest of their lives. + +Zeur, Bustan, then Ctesiphon were all passed, there being no time or +opportunity to stay and examine the famous arch. But as we halted for +the night beside the magnificent ruin, one could but reflect on the +ironies of a soldier's fortune. Here it was, long before the arch was +built, that the Emperor Julian, marching from Constantinople, had been +forced to halt his army, and met with disaster and death; and under +the ruins of this great arch Townshend, advancing from Basra, had +engaged in the battle that eventually brought his division to disaster +and captivity. And now Maude, encamped for the night beside the +ancient city walls, was pressing forward with his whole force to the +capture of Baghdad and Samarra. + +[Illustration: Different Types Of Boats On The Tigris.] + +[Illustration: Sailing Boats On The Tigris.] + +The next morning, the 9th of March, we were glad of a short march to +Bawi. The Division crossed the Tigris by a pontoon bridge that night; +our Brigade being in reserve. After a hard march we reached Shawa +Khan, the enemy retiring before us and our Brigade came under shell +fire only. The following day was a very trying one. A gale was blowing +right in our faces, and the dust was so thick that our movements on +that day resembled some horrible night march. We manoeuvred the whole +day, and twice the orders for attack were cancelled owing to the +difficulty of gaining contact with the enemy. Towards evening we +struck the Euphrates-Baghdad Railway and were preparing to attack when +orders came postponing further movements till midnight. Never had any +of us experienced such a dust storm. With great difficulty we brought +up the 2nd Line Transport, filled the men's water bottles, and formed +a Brigade bivouac. Movement was again postponed till 3 a.m. on account +of the storm, though some of us thought it had been better to take +advantage of the darkness and make the attack at once. At 3 a.m. our +patrols were sent forward, the Battalion following in artillery +formation. Right well led, the patrols pushed on meeting with no real +resistance. When about a mile short of the Iron Bridge that crosses +the Kharr Canal, the Colonel received a message that our leading +patrol had gained the railway station in Baghdad before 6 a.m., that +no Turks remained, and that we were driving out the Arabs with little +difficulty. This information was immediately sent back to the Army +Commander, and the Red Haeckle was the first British emblem seen in +Baghdad. The Medical Officer of the Battalion observing a Turkish flag +flying over a building, quickly climbed up and hauled it down. That +flag is now a trophy of the Regiment. + +The Turks had fled, but all that morning firing continued both in the +town and neighbouring palm groves, caused chiefly by Arabs and Kurds +shooting and looting in all directions. The Brigade, under General +Thompson, had the well deserved honour of marching through the city, +and order and confidence was soon established. The Regiment took an +outpost position on the north of the City towards Kadhimain, and very +pleasant was the rest under the shade of the palm groves. + +The fall of Baghdad was a severe blow not only to the Turks but to the +whole Quadruple Alliance, but how many who read that cheering and +inspiring news on the morning of March 12th thought of the trials +endured and overcome, thought of the sacrifices and losses that had +been endured to make that news possible. How many knew of the advance +in the blinding dust storm, when men gasped for air and water. How +many knew of the fight on the Dialah when the Lancashires covered +themselves with glory; these things are not always published but they +were suffered, and suffered in such a manner that one felt it a +privilege to belong to the same Regiment, Division or Army, and when +the congratulatory message from the King, our Colonel in Chief, was +read to the different regiments: 'It is with the greatest satisfaction +that I have received the good news that you have occupied Baghdad. I +heartily congratulate you and your troops on their success achieved +under so many difficulties,' one knew that the Head of all our race +understood and appreciated all that had been endured suffered, and +accomplished. + +[Illustration: On Board A Paddle Boat Going Up The Tigris.] + +[Illustration: Kurnah, Supposed Site Of The Garden Of Eden. 124 deg. in +shade when this was taken.] + +[Illustration: Waiting For Another Boat To Pass.] + +[Illustration: Baghdad As It Exists To-day. Drawn from photographs and +a plan provided by the National Electric Construction Company, +Limited.] + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE BATTLE BEYOND BAGHDAD. + +By Brigadier-general A. G. WAUCHOPE, C.M.G., D.S.O. + + +The following Chapter appeared in _Blackwoods Magazine_ for August +1917:--'On the banks of the Tigris I am lying in the shadow of a palm, +looking down the river on the brick walls and mud roofs, on the +mosques and minarets of the city of Baghdad, and as I look I am lost +in wonder. For although I am now lying in a grove of date-palms, it is +fifteen months since I have seen a tree of any kind; it is fifteen +months since I have seen a house or lain under a roof; and this girl +coming towards me with hesitating steps, clothed in rags and patches, +this little date-seller with her pale face and dark eyes, her empty +basket resting on her small, well-shaped head--this is the first woman +I have seen or spoken to for more than a year.' + +Perhaps it is the twilight which gives a feeling of mystery and beauty +unknown in the glare and noise of midday, and I hardly know, as the +Tigris seems to lose itself in the evening mists, above which the +golden minarets of Kazimain still shine and glitter in the setting +sun, whether I am truly in the land of reality or if I still linger +but half awake in the realm of dreams and fancies, where stand the +gates of horn and ivory. + +[Illustration: The Transport Officer.] + +[Illustration: Captain R. MACFARLANE, M.C. Killed In Action.] + +[Illustration: Arabs Bargaining On The Tigris Banks With Troops Going +Up River. A brisk trade is done in eggs and fowls.] + +For to how many during the past two years has not flashed the dream of +the capture of this city, Dar-al-Salam, the City of Security? And of +those who have seen the vision, how many have wondered from which gate +the dream has issued, and how many have been filled with confidence? +For that vision has drawn many thousands from Basrah and Amarah--many +who are now here in the hour of victory, many who now lie where they +fell on the field of battle, and many who are still prisoners and +captives. + +A few days ago, as the columns of the Army of Mesopotamia were +hurrying past the great Arch of Ctesiphon, it was impossible not to +think of the ---- Division arriving there some eighteen months +earlier--that gallant ---- Division, war-worn and depleted in numbers +but ever victorious, who found at Ctesiphon, in the hour of their last +and most glorious victory, the beginning of their undoing and tragic +end. + +What dream was it of a captured city, of a City of Security, that +lured them to their doom, and who was the first dreamer? And who next +saw the second dream of fresh battalions and a new organisation that +would lead without fail to Baghdad, and had the gift to know that this +dream, unlike the other, had passed through the gate of horn? + +So I mused but a week ago in the palm groves that had been ringing +that very morning with rifle-shots, but seemed so quiet and peaceful +in the evening light that I felt all the rush of the past pursuit was +over, that our efforts had not only been crowned with success, but +that a period of rest would now be given to man and beast. For the +pursuit had been much more than merely a hot and dusty march of 120 +miles from San-i-yat to Baghdad. + +All through January and February the Army Commander had been preparing +the way by a series of small victories which gradually drove the +Turks, holding the right bank of the Tigris, across the Shatt-al-Hai, +and a dozen miles above Kut. Then came the combined master-stroke on +February 22 and 23. First, on the 22nd, came the successful attack on +the San-i-yat trenches--the position that had held us at bay for a +twelve month--the position that had finally checked our troops, +struggling most bravely, but struggling in vain, for the relief of +their comrades in Kut. This success drew several Turkish battalions to +the help of the San-i-yat garrison, and so weakened the Turkish line +elsewhere. And then at dawn, on the 23rd, came the crossing of the +Tigris five miles above the Shatt-al-Hai--a crossing that will remain +famous in history--when the bravery of the troops will not make one +forget the careful preparation of the Commander and his skill in +making success possible, by causing the Turk to mass his troops both +above and below the actual point selected for crossing. + +This well-timed and brilliantly executed stroke had sent the Turk +flying; but though in the two months' fighting he had lost over 8,000 +in prisoners and more than that number in killed and wounded, he was +still able to fight a series of stubborn rearguard actions before the +road was free to Baghdad. It was dawn on the 11th of March before the +Highlanders, who were leading, reached the city, and an order to rest +and be thankful had been welcome to troops more used to trench warfare +than constant rapid marching in the open. + +[Illustration: Ezra's Tomb.] + +[Illustration: An Arab Village.] + +[Illustration: Fishing By Net On The Tigris.] + +[Illustration: Arabs Selling Produce On The Banks Of The River.] + +[Illustration: On The Banks Of The Tigris.] + +But when airmen brought intelligence that the enemy was holding an +entrenched position some twenty miles north of the city, it was +obvious that some of us must move up-river and drive him back. + +It was once remarked by an American officer, who had served throughout +the Civil War, that he knew that every soldier in the army was always +longing to be in the next battle. He knew this because it was so said +by every general and so written by every newspaper editor. And yet, +although he had served in several regiments during the war, he had +always found that that particular itch was more lively in neighbouring +units than in his own. + +So when orders arrived on the 13th of March for our Division to +advance that night, our friends from other divisions congratulated us +with what seemed almost undue heartiness on our good fortune in being +selected, and the estimate of the numbers of the opposing Turks rose +rapidly from five thousand to fifteen thousand. However, the estimated +number finally settled down to about half that, with thirty guns, and +these figures were subsequently substantiated by captured prisoners. + +These orders put an end to the peaceful enjoyment of the palm grove, +and preparations were hurried forward. Blankets and waterproof sheets +were all stacked, men and officers all carried their own great coats +and rations for the next day, water-bottles were filled that +afternoon, and enough water was carried on mules to refill them once +the next day, and no more given to man or animal till the morning of +the 15th. This should be borne in mind when judging of the +difficulties overcome by the troops in this action, for the shade +temperature on the 14th was about 80 deg., and there was no shade. + +The Turk certainly had judged it impossible for us to advance so far +from the river, for we learned later that he had laid out the trace of +most of his trenches between the river and the railway; but our main +attack was delivered west of the railway, a success there forcing the +withdrawal of the whole of his line. + +Save for several severe dust-storms the whole pursuit had been blessed +with fine weather, and it was on a beautiful starlit night that our +Division formed up along the railway for the march towards Mushaidie, +a station some twenty miles north of Baghdad on the direct road to +Berlin. + +Night marches, the text-book says, may be made for several reasons, +but it does not suggest that one of these ever could be for pleasure. +Constant and unexpected checks break the swing that counts so much for +comfort on a long march; hurrying on to make up for lost ground, +stumbling in rough places, belated units pushing past to the front, +whispered but heated arguments with staff officers, all threaten the +calm of a peaceful evening and also that of a well-balanced mind. Many +a soldier sadly misses his pipe, which, of course, may not be lit on a +night march; but to me a greater loss is the silence of those other +pipes, for the sound of the bagpipes will stir up a thousand memories +in a Highland regiment, and nothing helps a column of weary +foot-soldiers so well as pipe-music, backed by the beat of drum. This +march was neither better nor worse than its fellows, and we had +covered some fourteen miles before we halted at dawn. Then we lay +down, gnawed a biscuit, tasted the precious water in our bottles, and +waited for what news airmen would bring of the enemy. + +[Illustration: The Course Of The Baghdad Railway.] + +[Illustration: Different Types In Mesopotamia.] + +The day is not wasted on which one has seen the sun rise--perhaps some +of us changed the old saying, and felt the day would be well spent for +him who saw the sun set,--for in war, however sure the victory, so +also is the toll of killed and wounded, and the attack of an enemy +entrenched in this country, as bare and open as the African veld, is +done readily, gladly, but not without losses; and the time one thinks +of these is not in the charge, not in the advance, but in the empty +period of waiting beforehand. The needle pricks before, not during, +the race. "Remember only the happy hours," and if the most glorious +hour in life is the hour of victory in battle, so are the hours +preceding battle among the most depressing. I confess, as we sat there +idle in the chill dawn, my mind was filled not only with the hope of +victory and captured trenches, but with memories of past scenes in +France and Mesopotamia, and of a strip of ground the evening after +Magersfontein, each battlefield dotted with little groups of men lying +rigid, each marked with lines of motionless forms. + +Action quickly dispels such thoughts, and we all welcomed the definite +news that was at last brought of the enemy, and our orders for a +farther advance. One brigade was immediately sent forward on the east +side of the railway in order to press back the advanced parties of the +enemy on their main position, some six miles north of our present +halting place. A brave sight it is to see a brigade deploying for +action. Even though the scarlet doublet has given place to the khaki +jacket, though no pipes sound and no colours are unfurled, the spirit +still remains; the spirit that in old days led the British line to +victory still fills these little columns scattered at wide intervals +over the plain, these little columns of Englishmen, Highlanders, +Indians, and Gurkhas. The brigade pushed forward for a mile or two +without opposition, then little puffs of white smoke bursting in the +air showed that the Turk had opened the battle with salvoes of +shrapnel; the little columns quickly spread out into thin lines, and +our batteries trotted forward and were soon themselves engaged in +action. So far the scene had been clear in every detail, but now as +the day advanced, the dust from advancing batteries, the smoke and +mirage, formed a fog of war that telephones and signallers could only +in part dispel. + +The mirage in Mesopotamia does not so much hide as distort the truth. +The enemy are seldom altogether hidden from view, the trouble is +rather to tell whether one is observing a cavalry patrol or an +infantry regiment, or if the object moving forward is not in reality a +sandhill or a bunch of reeds. The mirage here has certainly a strange +power of apparently raising objects above the ground-level. I remember +well from a camp near Falahiyah the Sinn Banks, which are perhaps +thirty feet above the plain, were quite invisible in the clear morning +air, but about noon they were easy to distinguish as a cloudy wall +swaying to and fro in the distant haze. Nor shall I forget the +instance of an officer who once assured me he had observed five Arab +horsemen within a mile of our column: we rode forward, and soon the +five shadowy horsemen gave place to five black crows hopping about by +the edge of the Suwaicha marsh. But the most curious illusion I have +seen in this way was looking towards the Pusht-i-Kuh hills across the +marsh from San-i-yat. The foothills, some thirty miles distant, had +sometimes the appearance of ending in abrupt white cliffs such as +one sees at Dover. The cause of this was a great number of dead fish +which had been stranded as the marsh receded, and their white bellies, +a mile away, gave the appearance of white cliffs to the base of the +Persian hills, which in reality slope very gradually down to the level +of the Tigris valley. + +[Illustration: Arab Girl Labourers.] + +[Illustration: The Barber.] + +[Illustration: Washing Clothes.] + +So in Mesopotamian battles, little can be trusted that is seen, and to +gain information of the enemy commanders are bound to rely on reports +by aeroplane, messengers, and telephones. + +The battle now before us was to be fought over ground typical of the +Tigris valley and the desert into which it merges. There are no hills, +trees, or any distinguishing features, but the strip nearest the +river, varying from one to several miles in breadth, is cultivated and +intersected with irrigation channels, some six feet, some six inches, +in width and depth. These are invaluable as cover to troops on the +defensive, and almost impassable to transport carts. It was here the +enemy had expected us, and was holding numerous trenches between the +river and the railway; but our commanders wisely waited till their +information was complete, and then decided to make our main attack on +the enemy's extreme right, some six miles from the river. The ground +in this part is a wide open desert, bare and level except for a few +low sandhills; but in the dips and hollows below the sandhills the +khaki-coloured desert changes into a thick growth of fresh green +grass, dotted with countless daisies and dandelions, and a little +white flower resembling alyssum giving a sweet smell to all the +countryside. Some five miles beyond our halting-place a definite ridge +runs east and west across the railway, and ends in a low sugar-loaf +hill about forty feet high. This ridge was reported to be entrenched +and held by the Turk, and this ridge we were ordered to attack and +capture. + +Our first brigade had moved forward on the east side of the railway, +but had been eventually held up mainly by enfilade artillery fire +coming from positions stretching nearer to the river than to the +railway. The whole brigade was now lying stretched out in extended +order some three thousand yards ahead of us, with the left regiment +touching the railway embankment. Our brigade had followed for some +miles in their tracks, but was now ordered to cross to the western +side of the railway by a small culvert and form up for the main attack +some three or four miles south of the enemy's position. This was done +without difficulty, the third brigade of our Division being held in +support on our left rear. + +After the orders and dispositions had been explained to every man, +magazines were charged, and the Highland regiment deployed into attack +formation in four lines of half-platoons in file. A battalion of +Gurkhas was deployed on our left, and the third battalion of the +brigade was formed up in rear of the Gurkhas. The main attack was thus +to be delivered on a narrow front of five hundred yards, the +machine-gun company being held in readiness to support the assaulting +battalions as occasion offered. The first-line transport with the +reserve ammunition halted near the culvert through which we had +crossed the railway, but both our reserve ammunition and our Aide Post +were brought forward as the attack developed. + +[Illustration: Indian Cavalry Watering At Arab Village.] + +[Illustration: Landing Stores At Arab Village.] + +[Illustration: The Great Bund Built To Keep Back The Marsh At +Falahiyah.] + +[Illustration: The Liquorice Factory, Kut.] + +[Illustration: The River At Kut.] + +[Illustration: Drawing Water At Kut.] + +[Illustration: View From The Kut Minaret Towards The Hai.] + +[Illustration: Kut.] + +[Illustration: Progress Is Being Made At Kut, It Now Has Its +Municipality.] + +[Illustration: Townshend's Trenches, Kut.] + +[Illustration: Looking Towards Kut.] + +[Illustration: The Kut Minaret.] + +At 3-30 p.m. we advanced, and soon had passed the two field batteries +covering our front, and reached, without opposition, the lines of the +first brigade extended on the east side of the railway. About four +o'clock our patrols reported that the enemy was holding not only the +main ridge that joins Sugar Loaf Hill with the railway embankment, but +also a broken line of low sandhills a few hundred yards in front of +the main position. At the same time some shrapnel burst over our +leading platoons, and a party of Turks, directly on our left, opened +long-range rifle fire. The battalion halted under cover of some +sandhills, the final orders were issued, and half a company and two +machine-guns were sent to clear the enemy firing from our left flank. + +Happily the latter retired at once when fired on, and the battalion +advanced in perfect order, the small columns extending into line as +the enemy's rifle fire grew more and more severe. The Turkish +batteries now kept up a regular fire of both shrapnel and +high-explosive shell, but these detonated badly, and our losses on +this account were small. A _rafale_ of shrapnel will of course destroy +any infantry moving in the open, but intermittent shelling, although +it appears to be terribly destructive, will not stop resolute troops +determined to press forward. But the farther we advanced the more +evident it became that Sugar Loaf Hill was the key of the position. It +stood seven or eight hundred yards west of the railway, and the +enemy's riflemen from the entrenchments on top brought a deadly +enfilade fire to bear on our advancing lines. The Gurkhas moving in +echelon on our left escaped this, but to meet it and to dominate the +enemy's fire, the Highlanders were compelled to extend to the left, +their supporting platoons being used to fill up the gap. Two +machine-gun sections also pressed gallantly forward, and in spite of +continual and heavy losses from now onwards, did much to help us to +gain superiority of fire over the enemy. + +The battle was now divided into two parts. On our left the Turks had +been forced to retire from their advanced positions, but on the right +they still held some trenches among the broken ground near the +railway, two hundred yards in advance of the main position on the +ridge; but on the right our losses had not been so severe, nor was our +line so extended. + +On the left the Turk occupied no advanced positions, but he outflanked +our line, and the enfilade fire from his commanding positions was +causing such losses that it seemed impossible for our men to continue +the advance without strong artillery support. Unfortunately this was +not forthcoming at the time, because our covering batteries had found +they were at extreme range, and were now in the act of moving to a +more forward position. If an attacking line wavers and halts within +close range of an enemy entrenched, that attack is _done_ until +supports come up and give it again an impetus forward. But there were +now few supports available, and the moment most critical. + +Yet all along our front small sections of Highlanders still continued +to rise up, make a rush forward, and fling themselves down, weaker +perhaps by two or three of their number, but another thirty yards +nearer the enemy. Now the last supports pressed into the firing line, +and as one leader fell, another took his place. One platoon changed +commanders six times in as many minutes, but a lance-corporal led the +remaining men with the same dash and judgment as his seniors. + +[Illustration: The Assistant Adjutant.] + +[Illustration: Captain W. A. YOUNG, Commanding No. 2 Company.] + +[Illustration: The Money Changer] + +It was at this time our Lewis gun teams lost so heavily. The weight of +the gun and the extra ammunition carried renders their movements +slower than that of their comrades, and consequently the teams offer a +better target as well as one specially sought for by the enemy. The +officer in charge, Lieut. Gillespie, had brought up two of our guns in +the endeavour to subdue the fire from Sugar Loaf Hill, but at the very +moment of giving the range his left arm was shattered. He had been +light-weight champion of India, and as he now continued fighting, I +could not but compare him to his famous predecessor in the Ring, who +carried on the fight with one arm broken. I know those brave, brown +eyes of his never flinched in pain, nor wavered in doubt, as he made +his way back, not to the Aide Post, but in order to bring forward two +more guns for the same purpose. But, alas! while directing their fire +he was seen by some Turkish riflemen and fell, never again to rise, +his breast pierced by two bullets. + +A number of staff and artillery officers witnessed this attack by a +Highland regiment. Some were chiefly impressed by so much individual +gallantry, others at the example of what can be achieved by collective +determination. Was it the result of hard and constant training, +perfect discipline, or _esprit de corps_ that at this moment of trial +made these thin extended lines work as if by clockwork to their own +saving and the victory of our arms? + +It was during this advance of five hundred yards that the regiment met +with its heaviest losses. With four officers and half his men killed +or wounded, and an enemy machine-gun pouring a continuous stream of +bullets on to the remainder, the situation is not a happy one for a +company sergeant-major, and this was the situation which the young +Sergeant-Major Ben Houston of our left company had now to face. He +turned round, as so often in battle one does turn round, hoping to see +supports pushing forward, and a bullet seared an ugly line across both +shoulders. Without waiting, he led his men on, and another bullet +struck his bayonet; fragments cut his face and made his eye swell, so +that he could not see out of it. Yet when I met him at midnight after +the last charge, he told me much of the battle and nothing of his +wounds. High praise is due to those who, although weakened by wounds, +continue fighting and undertaking fresh responsibilities. + +The company next on the left fared little better, but these two +companies forced the enemy back, and occupied the low sandhills some +two hundred yards in advance of his main position, and there waited, +by order, before making the final assault. The left company lost two +signallers killed, and the next company had four signallers all +wounded in the act of calling for more ammunition. Ammunition was +brought up, but, though many brave men fell and many brave deeds were +done, nothing was carried out with greater bravery, nothing +contributed more to our success, than the maintenance of communication +throughout the battle. + +[Illustration: No. 1 Company Prepares For Inter-company Cross-country +Run.] + +[Illustration: Highland Games On The Tigris Front.] + +[Illustration: The Last Meal In Camp.] + +[Illustration: The Men's Field Kitchen.] + +[Illustration: Staff Of Officers' Mess At San-i-yat.] + +[Illustration: Loading Up The Kits.] + +The left half battalion, reduced to less than half of its original +numbers, was in need of help. This help it now gained from the action +of the companies on the right. Undismayed by the enemy shell and rifle +fire, these two companies, gallantly assisted by the Indian battalion +on the east side of the railway, pressed forward, and at five o'clock +charged the enemy, and drove him out of his advanced trenches at the +point of the bayonet. The very quickness of the manoeuvre had +ensured its success, though it was only achieved with considerable +loss to ourselves as well as to the Turk. But the gain was great. +Small parties of Highlanders now crept forward among the sand-dunes, +two Lewis guns were taken to the east side of the railway embankment, +and a hot enfilade fire was brought to bear on the enemy main +position. So effective was this that the Turks were forced to evacuate +the ridge for some 400 yards nearest the railway, and even from Sugar +Loaf Hill his fire weakened, and the relief to our left half battalion +and to the Gurkhas was correspondingly great. Streams of wounded Turks +were also seen passing from the ridge to the rear: it was not only the +British who suffered losses on the 14th of March. + +The situation was now greatly in our favour, and it only wanted a +final charge to complete the success. But this assault could not be +made without either artillery support or the arrival of fresh troops +to fill up our depleted and extended ranks. Our Colonel, therefore, +ordered all companies to wait in the positions they had gained, but to +be ready to charge immediately after the batteries had bombarded the +enemy trenches. Consequently, during the next hour both sides remained +on the defensive. + +Little ironies pursue us through life; in battle Death sometimes comes +with a touch so swift and so ironical that we are made to fear God +truly. + +Englishmen have learned now the meaning of the saying, dear to the +French soldier, "de ne pas s'en faire," and in the lull of battle +before the bombardment, Sergeant Strachan and Cleek Smith talked of +old times. There had been nine Strachans in the regiment when we +landed in France two and a half years ago, one of whom was then my +orderly. "Any news this morning?" I would sometimes ask.--"Nothing +much, sir, only another of the Strachans was killed last night." My +orderly had become a sergeant, but the other eight were no longer with +the battalion. They had all left, "on command." "Yes," said Cleek +Smith, "I wonder why it is so many poor chaps get it the minute they +join the regiment, while fellows like you and me go through one show +after another and never get a scratch." Scarce a bullet was fired +during that half-hour, yet as a full stop to his question came one +that found a way to that gallant heart, which had never failed him in +the most critical fight, nor on the most dangerous duty when out +scouting. Cleek Smith, you know the answer now to an even greater +Riddle than the one you put to the last of the Strachans. No man +liveth unto himself, and whoever dies in battle, dies for his +regiment, his country, and the cause. + +The telephone plays an important part in open warfare, as it does in +the trenches, and though the Brigade Signalling Officer and many of +his men were killed, intermittent communication was kept up throughout +the battle between the battalion, the covering batteries, and the +Brigade Commander. The value of this was now extreme. By telephone our +Colonel communicated his intentions to the firing line, and thus +prevented those sporadic attacks by independent platoons, at once so +gallant, so ineffective, and so deadly in losses. By telephone he +explained the situation to the Brigadier, who ordered up half a +battalion of another Highland regiment, old friends of ours, but never +more wanted than now, and by telephone he arranged that the +batteries should bombard as heavily as possible the trenches on the +right of Sugar Loaf Hill, the bombardment to begin at 6.25 and to last +for six minutes. + +[Illustration: Sergeant-major I. E. NIVEN.] + +[Illustration: Interior Of A Hospital Ward In Mesopotamia.] + +During this hour rifle fire grew less and less, artillery firing +ceased. High above the battlefield some crested larks were singing, +even as they sing on a quiet evening over the trenches in France, as +they sing over the fields at home. A few green and bronze bee-eaters +hovered almost like hawks over the sand-dunes, and a cloud of +sandgrouse were swinging and swerving across the open ground that +divided Highlander from Turk. The wind had died quite away, and a +scent of alyssum filled the air. There was no movement among the +troops, there was none even among the slender wild grasses of the +plain. The sun, that had been blazing all through the day, now hung +low in the western sky. The sound of battle was dying, even as the day +was dying. "The world was like a nun, breathless in adoration." And we +soldiers, absorbed in this remote corner of the world war, intent on +the hour immediately before us, lay there breathless in expectancy. +Suddenly our 18-pounders opened gun fire. With rare precision shrapnel +burst all along the enemy trenches, and at 6-30, as the shelling +slackened in intensity, the Highlanders rose as one man, their +bayonets gleaming in the setting sun, and, with the Gurkhas on their +left, rushed across the open. There was little work for the bayonet. +The Turk fled as our men closed, and the position so long and hardly +fought for was won. + +The Highlanders had gained their objective, but had lost heavily in +officers and men. The remainder were exhausted by the labours of the +past twenty-four hours and by lack of water; but when orders came to +push forward and capture Mushaidie railway station there was no +feeling of doubt or hesitation. Some time was spent in re-organisation, +in bringing up and distributing reserve ammunition; the two left +companies were amalgamated, and an officer detailed to act with the +right wing of the Gurkhas, since that battalion, though it had not +suffered such heavy losses in men, had only two officers left +unwounded. The two companies of the supporting Highland battalion now +arrived and were detailed as a reserve to our attacking line. The +third regiment of our brigade had been operating far out on the left +flank, and were now occupying Sugar Loaf Hill, from which they had +driven the last remaining Turks, and the Indian regiment on the right +of the railway, which had fought so well with us throughout the +battle, received orders to halt for the night. + +And thus we advanced alone; but though hungry, thirsty, weary, worn, +there was full confidence among all ranks, and one resolve united +all--the determination to press forward and complete the rout of the +enemy. + +A mile ahead we passed a position, strongly entrenched but luckily +deserted by the Turks, and it was not for another two miles, when our +patrols came close to the station, that the enemy was reported in any +numbers. There the patrols described a scene of considerable +confusion. A train was shunting, and many Turks rushing about and +shouting orders. Our patrols were working half a mile ahead of the +regiment, so in spite of every effort it was half an hour later before +we filed silently past the station, formed up once again for the +attack, and charged with the bayonet. The enemy fired a few shots, one +of our men and a few Turks were killed and a few more made prisoners; +but the rest fled and disappeared into the night, leaving piles of +saddlery, ammunition, and food behind them. But the last train had +left Mushaidie, and with it vanished our hopes of captured guns and +prisoners. However, we had achieved the task allotted to us, and the +moment the necessary pickets had been posted the rest of us forgot +exhaustion, forgot victory, in the most profound sleep. + +[Illustration: No. 1 Company Early Morning Parade Outside Samarra.] + +[Illustration: Trenches At Samarra.] + +[Illustration: Bathing In The Tigris.] + +[Illustration: The Pioneers Of The Regiment In Summer Kit.] + +[Illustration: Samarra.] + +We had achieved our task, and, as the corps commander wrote, we had +made the 14th of March a red-letter day for all time in the history of +the Regiment. I have told the story of these thirty hours of +continuous marching and fighting from the point of view of a +regimental officer. This is in battle, some say always, very limited +in outlook. But certain things are shown clear. Waste of energy brings +waste of life and victory thrown away. A regimental leader has, with +his many other burdens, to endure the intolerable toil of taking +thought, and of transmitting thought without pause into action. And +those who work with him are not mere figures, not only items of a +unit, but are intimate friends whose lives he must devote himself to +preserve, whose lives he must be ready to sacrifice as freely as his +own. It is well that we neither know nor decide the issues of life and +death. There is, I think, a second meaning in the oft-quoted line of +Lucretius, _Nec bene promeritis capitur_, _nec tangitur ira_. Our +prayers are not attended to perhaps because of their very foolishness. +I believe when we congratulate ourselves after a battle that we and +our friends are still in the land of the living, that in some +mysterious way there may be a counterpart on the other side of the +veil--that there may be welcome and rejoicing also on behalf of those +who have passed through the portals of death. Although every mother's +son of us must experience a feeling of dread in stepping alone into +the night that no man knows, must be filled with sorrow and move with +a heavy heart when his comrades and those filled with the glory of +youth and promise depart, still we can, all of us, also feel thankful +for the loan of their help and strength. Two years of war, two years +of living constantly in the presence of death, has brought to me, as +it has brought to many, the assurance that it is well equally with +those who remain here as it surely is with those who pass away. And we +have no other answer to the last question ever asked by Cleek Smith. +"It is only after the sun hath set that the owls of Athenae wing their +flight." The following day the battalion remained at Mushaidie; a dust +storm was blowing and many reports came in of the enemy returning to +make a counter-attack. But his defeat had been too severe and he made +no real resistance again till we encountered him a month or so later +some 30 miles further north near Istabulat. Meanwhile our brigade +received orders to concentrate on the Tigris at the Babi Bend, some +six miles east of Mushaidie. A pleasant week of comparative rest was +spent there and then, there being no signs of the enemy, we were +withdrawn to our old camping ground in the palm groves, that line the +river bank between Kazimain and the City of Baghdad. The +re-organisation of our platoons after the recent losses was completed, +and fresh equipment and clothing issued. Two companies were split up +on outpost duty, but even so time was found for military training and +for some visits to the City, an equal pleasure to officers and men. +The Colonel was sent for to Army Headquarters, and General Maude +was most complimentary to the Regiment for their great fight. + +[Illustration: Tent Pitching.] + +[Illustration: The Cultivation Of The Date Palm At Basrah.] + +In April the division moved forward, and the brigade again marched +past the Babi Bend, northward of Mushaidie to Beled Station, where we +had a few days' halt and some of us shot a number of sandgrouse. +Thence we pressed on till we overtook the Turks entrenched beyond the +Median Wall, holding a strong position about Istabulat. From this it +was necessary to drive them, our objective being the railhead at +Samarrah. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE BATTLE THAT WON SAMARRAH. + +The following article by Brigadier-General A. G. Wauchope, C.M.G., +D.S.O., is here republished with permission: + + +There stretches, some sixty miles north of Baghdad, from the Tigris to +the Euphrates, a famous fortified line known to the Greeks as the +Median Wall. It is skilfully constructed in tiers of mud bricks to a +height fully thirty feet above the level of the plain, the whole has +been covered over by a thick layer of earth protecting the bricks +these many centuries from wind and weather, for the Median Wall is, so +some say, the oldest building in all the world. It formed certainly +the outer line of the defences of the Kingdom of Babylon under +Nebuchadnezzar II, when it ran from Opis on the Tigris to Hit on the +Euphrates and this line in far earlier times marked the boundary +between the two ancient peoples of Akkad and Sumer, and was probably +even then a fortification of first importance. + +However that may be, it stands to-day the most prominent landmark in +all this district of the Tigris valley; though broken, tumbledown +mounds represent the great wall towards the Euphrates, for many miles +near the Tigris it stands without a break, with strong projecting +bastions to give flank defence every forty or fifty yards, and at +wider intervals the wall rises so as to form some sort of keep or +watch tower. + +[Illustration: Date Palm Scenes Below Basrah.] + +[Illustration: T. HENDERSON. M.C. G. V. STEWART. C. RYRIE.] + +[Illustration: At Arab Village.] + +[Illustration: Undepressed.] + +Whoever built the great wall built it for the purposes of war, and no +building, I venture to say, has ever had so many battles fought within +its neighbourhood. Every race through every age, Aryan and Turanian, +Babylonian and Assyrian, Median and Persian, armies from Greece and +armies from Rome, have, during the past thousands of years, +slaughtered each other with extraordinary thoroughness below these mud +bastions; and more recently, but with the same seeming futility, Turk +has murdered Arab and Arab Turk, the destruction of villages, mosques +and canals marking, as of old, the soldiers sacrifice to the God of +War. + +Standing this morning on these ancient ramparts, I watch the sun rise +over this land which, once so rich and fertile, now shows hardly a +sign of human habitation, this country where not a tree nor a house +has been allowed for many years to stand, over which the blight of +misrule has lain as a curse for centuries and I see yet one more army +going forth to battle; once again columns of armed men sweep forth to +encounter similar columns, to kill and to capture within sight of the +Median Wall. And watching these columns of Englishmen and Highlanders, +of Hindus, Gurkhas and bearded Sikhs advancing to the coming conflict, +one felt the conviction that this struggle was being fought for the +sake of principles more lofty, for ends more permanent, for aims less +fugitive, for issues of higher service to the cause of humanity, than +those that had animated the innumerable and bloody conflicts of the +past. + +The delta of the Tigris ends a few miles below Samarrah. That is to +say, whoever holds the district about Samarrah controls the waters of +the Tigris. For lower down in the Baghdad valaiyet the river in its +annual flood deposits so much mud on its bed as to raise itself in +course of centuries, above the level of the plain. Consequently, +artificial banks about three feet high have been built all along the +river, and were these to be cut during the flood season, the whole +surrounding country would be inundated and the spring crops destroyed. +This renders the districts of Samarrah of great natural importance, +and the fact that the Germans had completed a railway between Baghdad +and Samarrah, made it also desirable for the British to hold it. + +The country here differs little from the rest of the Tigris valley, +the same level plain of loam and mud, a strip of two or three miles +nearest the river highly irrigated, and at this season, green with +young corn and barley; further afield the bare, brown, featureless +desert stretching out endlessly in every direction. Dawn and dusk +transform this shadowless wilderness into a land of the most wonderful +colour and atmosphere, but throughout the heat of the day the glare +and dust make it hateful to white men. And even in April, the shade +temperature runs to 110 degrees Fahrenheit, and where troops march in +this country without trees there is no shade from the sun, no escape +from the heat. + +[Illustration: The Arch Of Ctesiphon.] + +[Illustration: The Regiment Passing The Arch Of Ctesiphon En Route For +Baghdad, March 1917.] + +[Illustration: Women Drawing Water From The River.] + +[Illustration: "Gufas'" Or Circular Boats At Baghdad.] + +[Illustration: The Entrance To The Mosque Kadhimain.] + +Besides the Median Wall, there remain two outward and visible signs of +the older civilisation that flourished in happier times. There are, at +frequent intervals, low flat mounds composed of old sunbaked bricks +the sites of ancient cities; so numerous are these that they seem to +justify the Chaldean proverb, boasting of the prosperity of the +people, that a cock may spring from house to house without lighting on +the ground from Babylon to the sea. The other are the walls of the +canals that served to irrigate the country between the two rivers. +These canals have for centuries past been dry and useless, but their +walls, twenty or thirty feet high, and many miles in length, remain as +the most conspicuous monument of the fallen greatness of Mesopotamia. +That they will again be put to their original purpose was the +confident assertion of Sir William Willcocks, and with Turkish misrule +finally banished from the land, a few years may see these canals again +filled with water, bringing wealth and plenty to a happier generation. +But to-day they seem to have but the one use of acting as tactical +features on the battlefield, as was indeed the case in this fight near +Istabulat. + +For some days before the 31st April, the British had been collecting +behind the Median Wall, facing the Turkish position which lay some +three miles to the north of the Wall, and some twelve miles south of +Samarrah. + +A very well selected position it proved, and a very difficult one to +attack. The Turkish left rested securely on a re-entrant bend of the +Tigris. Thence the line ran east and west across the Dujail River, and +continued for a mile along a dry canal, until it met the railway a +little to the north of Istabulat station. Both the Railway and the +Dujail run roughly north-west to south-east, but the Tigris towards +Samarrah bends due west. Consequently the Turks by refusing their +right were able to rest that flank on the ruins of the ancient city of +Istabulat. These ruins consisted of some low mounds and the high walls +of an old canal that had run from the Tigris across the present line +of the Railway four miles to the north of the station. The whole +country was absolutely flat and bare, except for the broken and uneven +walls of the Dujail River and Istabulat Canal. + +The so-called Dujail River is a canal that takes off from the right +bank of the Tigris some four miles north of the Median Wall. It has +been dug and re-dug, till it now flows below the level of the +surrounding country, but its walls are fully twenty feet high, and so +form the one dominant tactical feature of the level Tigris plain in +this district. A couple of miles south of Istabulat station, the +Dujail cuts through the Median Wall about a mile to the east of the +Railway, which runs from Baghdad through the Median Wall, past +Istabulat, and so on to Samarrah. + +By the 18th April, the British were holding that part of the Median +Wall that runs roughly for a couple of miles eastwards from the Dujail +River to the River Tigris, other troops, also in rear of the Median +Wall, continued our line on the west bank of the Dujail, and a third +body was held in reserve. The open nature of the country, and the +difficulty of distinguishing the enemy's main position from his +advanced trenches, made the problem of attack uncommonly difficult, +and the thorough bombardment of his trenches before assault almost +impossible. + +The key to the position was obviously the high double wall of the +Dujail River. These walls are a hundred to a hundred and fifty yards +wide at the top, and being very broken and uneven give some cover to +skirmishers in attack or defence. An attack along this line is also +made somewhat easier by a small ridge of sandhills that had +originally formed the walls of an old canal, which flowed in earlier +centuries between the Tigris and the Dujail. Photographs taken by our +airmen showed that the Turks had strengthened their line where it +crossed the Dujail, by building a strong redoubt on its eastern bank +some 300 yards long by 150 broad; here too were a number of machine +gun emplacements and, a little in rear, six or eight gun pits. + +On the 18th a Highland Regiment pushed forward a strong patrol along +the east bank of the Dujail, an Indian Battalion doing the same on the +west bank, the two patrols working together and giving each other +mutual support. Both Regiments encountered the Turkish outposts within +six hundred yards, and after driving them some distance back, the +patrols were withdrawn at night. + +As an attack on the enemy position was decided on, the Battalion +Commander suggested that a line of strong points should be constructed +about a mile ahead of our line, that when these had been made good, a +second line of strong points a further eight hundred yards in advance +should be constructed, so that by this means the final assault might +be made from a short distance to the enemy's main position, and also +by this means artillery officers would be able to locate definitely +the enemy's main trenches and the guns could be brought up within +2,000 yards before the Infantry should assault. This idea was adopted. + +During the 19th the Highland Regiment, by some fine patrol work, drove +the enemy advanced troops back with little loss, and during the night +three strong points were built a mile in advance, two on the east and +one on the west bank of the Dujail. From these points both the +Highlanders and the Punjabis skirmished further forward on the 20th, +and the enemy's position was becoming seriously threatened with but +little loss to ourselves. + +One incident in this patrol fighting must not pass unnoted. An +artillery officer had been sent forward in the morning to observe the +ground and enemy positions from our strong point on the east bank of +the Dujail. It was a task of considerable danger, for already several +of our men had been hit by enemy snipers, and at this moment a wounded +man was being carried back by the stretcher bearers. The artillery +officer had crawled a little ahead of the Strong Point in order to +observe more freely, but his gallantry was ill rewarded by a bullet +striking him and incapacitating him from coming back, or even escaping +from his exposed position. Easton had been Sergeant of the Highlanders +stretcher bearers since his predecessor had been killed when +recovering wounded, and he himself had won the Distinguished Conduct +Medal for a fine piece of work in France. Without hesitation Easton +now ran forward from the strong point and, though the enemy snipers +were dropping bullets all round, roughly bandaged the officer, picked +him up on his back, staggered down to the river and got him across +under the welcome shelter of the other bank, though the stream was +over six feet deep. For this action Sergeant Easton now wears a bar to +his Distinguished Conduct Medal. + +[Illustration: Street Scenes In Baghdad.] + +[Illustration: British Residency, Baghdad.] + +[Illustration: Hotel Maude, Baghdad.] + +[Illustration: The Bridge At Baghdad.] + +On the 20th it was definitely decided that the situation demanded an +immediate advance, and a direct frontal attack was ordered to take +place at dawn on the following morning. One force were to lead the +attack at 5 a.m. on the east of the Dujail, the Highlanders to +advance along the east bank of that canal, and one Company of the +Punjabis on the west bank. On the right of the Highlanders a battalion +of Gurkhas were to advance from the right strong point with a +battalion of Indian Infantry in echelon on their right near the +Tigris, another battalion being held in reserve. When this attack had +gained ground a second force was to advance over the bare plain on the +west of the Dujail, and their right to gain touch with the left of the +Company of Punjabis on the Dujail bank. The objectives of the main +attack were the redoubt, and the two bridges which crossed the Dujail +immediately above it. A third force was held back in reserve. + +The orders were thus very clear, and the plan simple; the main +difficulty was to ensure effective artillery co-operation, since to +come within effective range of the Redoubt our batteries would be +forced to move forward over very open ground, and counter-battery work +would be obviously hard to arrange. + +The frontage of broken ground open to the Highlanders was but little +over 150 yards; the Commanding Officer therefore wisely determined to +attack on a narrow frontage of two platoons rather than expose his men +on the bare plain, and with the Dujail giving the direction to his +left, trust to the impetus of eight lines to force the enemy's +position. + +Precisely at 5 a.m., the covering batteries opened fire on the enemy +outposts, the leading platoons charged forward and, without pausing to +fire, but advancing by a series of swift rushes drove back the Turkish +advanced troops about a thousand yards from our strong points. A few +Turks were bayonetted, a number more shot by the fire of a +well-placed Lewis gun, but the surprise of the attack and the rapidity +of its execution saved our men from any severe loss during this first +advance. But as our leading platoons drew near to the enemy main +positions, they came under an enfilade fire from the west bank of the +Dujail, and a number of men had to swing round to the left, and, from +the crest of the wall, reply to the enemy not two hundred yards +distant on the opposite bank. The succeeding lines, however, pressed +forward, section after section rushed on to the help of their +comrades, every rise and every knoll along the river was held by +snipers and the battle developed into a fierce contest between +skirmishers. But it was not of long duration. Shortly after 6 o'clock +nearly two miles of country had been cleared of the enemy, our men +were not to be denied, and the leading section of Highlanders made a +gallant charge and rushed the main redoubt, killing a certain number +of its defenders and driving out the remainder. The success of the +attack was greatly due to the rapidity, but its very rapidity had led +to considerable intervals occurring between the eight lines that had +originally advanced to the assault. Some platoons had been forced to +engage the enemy on the opposite bank, others with Lewis guns were +keeping down the fire of the enemy who were holding several small +trenches ahead, and a number of men had fallen, never to rise again; +consequently for the first few minutes there were less than a hundred +men in the redoubt, and these were subject to a heavy fire from their +front, and enfilading fire from their left. + +[Illustration: The Quartermaster, Assistant Adjutant, Transport +Officer, 2nd In Command, And The Colonel Watching The Regimental +Sports At The Front.] + +[Illustration: Captain T. W. STEWART, Captain W. A. YOUNG And The +PADRE.] + +[Illustration: The Mesopotamian Railway.] + +Now was the moment when artillery support was most needed. But as +before explained, this, owing to the nature of the ground, had been +most difficult to arrange. The batteries posted under cover of the +Median Wall, soon found themselves, as the enemy retired, at extreme +range, had been obliged in consequence to advance to new positions. +This is a matter which takes longer than the actual bringing up of the +guns; fresh observations must be made by artillery officers, new +telephone wires must be made, new communications established, and +correct ranges ascertained of the new targets before effective support +can be given. This was all being done, but under great difficulties, +because the enemy had established a strong barrage in rear of the +assaulting troops. Many of our gunners were hit, especially among the +telephone operators; consequently, just at this critical time, there +was little or no artillery support to be had. + +Now the Turk is a stubborn fighter. His men on the west bank of the +Dujail had not yet been driven so far back as those opposing the +Highlanders, and they now opened a very galling fire from the west +bank at a range of only two to four hundred yards. The Redoubt had +been taken at 6-15 a.m. Within ten minutes the Turks on the east bank +had organised a strong body to make a counter attack, and these headed +by parties of bombers, rushed the Redoubt, drove the few defenders +back, and held its front and side faces. But their triumph was short +lived. It was a proud boast of the Highlanders that of all the miles +of entrenchments that had at one time or another been entrusted to +them not one yard had even been surrendered to the enemy; it was their +stern resolve that no Highlander should lie unavenged, that no man who +wore the Red Haeckle should give his life in vain. The Redoubt had +once been theirs, and in its trenches lay the bodies of their +comrades who had died to hold it. It was the Redoubt they had set +forth to capture; now more than ever they were determined that not a +live Turk should dispute possession. The platoons that had originally +formed the rear waves were now fast coming up, bombs and bombers were +called for, and an immediate counter-attack organised. But the losses +were now very heavy. Within a minute, one Captain and two Subalterns +were killed, two Captains and two Subalterns wounded, and a heavy +proportion among the rank and file also fell. The smallest hesitation, +the slightest wavering, and the Turks had made good their success. But +there was no hesitation and, though only one unwounded officer +remained, there was no wavering. The bombers dashed forward, every +available man followed, and within fifteen minutes of its loss, the +entire Redoubt was recaptured and its forward trenches rapidly +consolidated. The Highlanders' boast still held true, the Red Haeckle +was again victorious. + +Many were the dead, many the wounded to testify to the gallant deeds +that led to this success. An Artillery Officer, who witnessed the +assault, wrote:-- + +"That day the Highlanders without help won a victory that only those +who saw it can realise was among the most gallant fought in this war." + +[Illustration: The Colonel.] + +[Illustration: The Adjutant.] + +[Illustration: The Mosques Of Baghdad.] + +What is the secret, whence comes this spirit, of the wave of bravery +that seizes soldiers at these great moments? Many of the very men who +charged forward had, but ten minutes before, been driven back, many of +their comrades lay dead beside them, they had lost their accustomed +leaders, shrapnel and heavy shell were bursting among them, and when +the cry for bombs and bombers was given, it must have seemed to +many to be but the prelude to disaster, the vain cry for further and +useless sacrifice. What is it then that stops the individual from +hanging back, from letting others lead, from justifying himself to +himself by continuing to fire in comparative safety at longer ranges? +Who would detect him? Might he not argue plausibly enough, that his +covering fire would be of more assistance to his comrades than his +rushing uselessly forward at their head? The secret of it lies in +_esprit de corps_, in the willing surrender by the individual of his +freedom of action, by the voluntary sacrifice of the individual for +the good of all. And greater love hath no man than this:--that he +giveth his life for his friend. + +The gallantry of those who lie dead, whether British, or Indian, or +Turk cannot be told, but one incident that was witnessed by several is +worthy of record. The Redoubt measured several hundred yards on its +front and side faces, and the attackers were few in number. One of +these, Private Melvin had by some chance so damaged his bayonet that +he could not fix it on his rifle. Throwing that weapon aside, he +rushed forward where his comrades were scarce, and the enemy in +plenty, and encountered a group of Turks single handed. With bayonet +and fist he brought three to the ground, the remaining six, stunned by +the violence of his attack, surrendered, and were brought back by this +brave old soldier in triumph to his Company. For this deed Private +Melvin was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross. + +[Illustration: Samarra.] + +[Illustration: Wireless Station, Baghdad. Destroyed by the Huns.] + +[Illustration: Samarra Railway Station.] + +[Illustration: Resting After The Battle Of Istabulat.] + +[Illustration: No. 4 Company Before Istabulat Under The Median Wall. +P. SMYTH, A. E. BARISTOW, R. WALKER, and G. V. STEWART in Foreground.] + +[Illustration: Ground Over Which The Regiment Advanced To Attack The +Turkish Strong Point Beneath The +.] + +Battalion Headquarters now moved up close in rear of the Redoubt, the +telephonic communication was established with the Brigade, and +Companies reorganised according to their losses. And fortunate it was +that this was done with no loss of time. For the Turk had intended to +hold this line of entrenchments, of which the Redoubt was the key, and +the main defence of the two bridges, throughout the summer, and he was +not going to surrender the position without further struggle. Two +counter-attacks formed up and advanced against the front face of the +Redoubt, a few Turks got within fifty or a hundred yards of the +Redoubt, but each attack was broken up by steady rifle fire and Lewis +gun fire, and our position made more secure. A little nullah ran from +the Turks' second position to within fifty yards of the Redoubt, and +up this channel from time to time he sent parties of bombers, but +these were easily held in check. A group of machine guns from further +up the Dujail swept the crest of the hard-won parapet, and men less +experienced in war had suffered more than did those who bore the Red +Haeckle. But no experience of war could save men from the high +explosive shell which burst throughout the day among the trenches, +destroying indiscriminately parapet and defenders. These 5.9 shell the +Highlanders had known all too well in France, and the number of bursts +reminded our men rather of a bombardment in the trenches of Flanders +than the shell fire ordinary to Mesopotamia. And to this bombardment +the defenders of the Redoubt were subject from time to time throughout +that long day. It is a constant puzzle, why in this life so many +things that are at first merely disagreeable are allowed to make so +great a noise and to continue for so long a time that they become +almost unbearable. It is a question that often confronts one at a +comic opera, always in the near neighbourhood of a gramophone, but +never with such persistent irritation as when undergoing a bombardment +from high explosive shell. Nothing is more trying to the nerves, for +and from it there is no escape. This war has been defined as a war, +not of infantry, nor of artillery, but of effective co-operation +between the two. The nature of the ground, and the skill with which +the enemy had chosen his positions had prevented this co-operation +from being as effective as is usual in our army, and this in spite of +every effort being made by our Artillery Officers, and in spite of +many casualties among their batteries. In consequence, the enemy's +batteries were never silenced, and kept up a heavy fire throughout the +day, and our losses were heavy. On our right the Gurkhas had advanced +in gallant style at the same time as the Highlanders, and in spite of +a stubborn resistance had pushed the enemy back along the line of the +old canal, and kept up with our advance. Then with the sand dunes +dipped to the level of the plain and the salient bend of the Tigris +narrowed their front, the Gurkhas swung round to their left in a most +soldierly fashion, and, despite, heavy losses, joined the Highlanders +on the Dujail, and for the rest of the day shared the honours and the +dangers of the defence of the Redoubt and the trenches near it. The +Indian Regiment advancing still further on the right had met with +misfortune, for, on reaching a small rise in the ground, their lines +had been suddenly swept with machine gun fire at a range of three +hundred yards. Many men fell within the space of a few minutes, and it +became necessary to bring up the Reserve Battalion to their +assistance. Consequently no further advance was possible on this +flank, nor on the west flank did the situation offer any greater +promise. The Punjabi Regiment on the immediate left of the Highlanders +had fought under great difficulties, but with such determination that +they eventually dug themselves in opposite the Redoubt on the west +bank of the Dujail, though half their men were killed or wounded. On +their left again, another Highland Battalion, old friends of ours, +both in peace and war, had pressed the enemy back, and occupied some +eight hundred yards of an old irrigation channel that ran westward +from the Dujail towards the railway. Further to the west, this dry +channel remained in the hands of the Turks, and bombing attacks were +carried on throughout the day. Another battalion had also suffered +considerably from shell fire, and was posted in echelon on the left +rear. + +It was evident that without a renewed bombardment and strong +reinforcements, no further advance was possible on either side. We had +advanced a couple of miles, driven the enemy from his strongest +positions, and gained our immediate objectives. It was evident, that +to the day following must be left the final advance and capture of +Samarrah. + +This account of the fighting near Samarrah purports to give no general +view of the whole action. Enough, if something clear is shown of the +part played by one Regiment, and of the fighting by its immediate +neighbours. The Highlanders had had some tough battles during the past +few months, and during this day's fighting had lost over a third of +their total strength in killed and wounded. + +On the next morning it was found that the Turks had retired several +miles on to the ruins of the ancient city of Istabulat, but it was +not until the afternoon that the battle was continued. Then it was +fought with the same violence, and with equal stubbornness as on the +day before. Again the Turk was driven out of his positions, and again, +like the gallant fighter he is, he held on till nightfall. Orders were +given to renew the attack at dawn on the third day of the battle, but +as day broke the patrols of Highlanders sent back word that the enemy +had evacuated his forward positions, and we advanced in attack +formation straight on Samarrah. The Highlanders were leading, and +passed through the ancient ruins and the several lines of enemy +trenches; those trenches held so stubbornly by the Turk, empty now, +save for groups of dead bodies and a few of unhappy wounded who had +not been moved during the night. Surely the world offers no scene more +pitiful than that of a battlefield after action. I know, by personal +experience, the suffering entailed in lying day and night untended +with broken limbs, the utter weariness from wounds, and the exhaustion +after conflict, the tragedy of all surroundings, the cries of those +who cry for help that never comes, a passionate longing for death +alternating with a craven fear of foe and wandering marauder, and +above all, the horror of the great vultures swinging round and round +in ever closer circles. Little of the pomp or ceremony of war was seen +by the Highlanders as they marched that morning through the Turkish +entrenchments at the head of the British troops, the first regiment to +enter Samarrah as they had marched some six weeks earlier the first to +enter Baghdad. + +Such is the story of the part played by the Highland Regiment in this +hard-fought battle, but though I have told the tale from the point of +view of a Regimental Officer, I am not forgetful of the deeds of +others. My endeavour has been to give a picture of events as one man +meets them in a course of a day's fighting, not to give a narrative of +deeds of which I know little and saw nothing. But of the gallant help +given by the Gurkhas I have spoken and, after some experience of war +both in France and in Mesopotamia, I add my testimony to the value of +the loyal services rendered by so many of our Indian Regiments; it +will stand to their honour for all time that they have fought +throughout these years so bravely and so faithfully. War is a noble +comradeship, and the ties that now bind the Indian and British troops +will not easily be severed. + +The relationship between British and Indian officers is invariably +happy; difficulties of language, however, sometimes give a little +humour to a long campaign. When I was first given command of a Brigade +formed of both British and Indian Battalions I made a point of +speaking to each Indian officer, and saying something in appreciation +of his services. To this the senior Indian officer replied with the +usual Eastern compliments, and then added:-- + +"Many Generals have come to see us, but each usually spares us but a +couple of minutes; you, in your kindness, have spoken to each of us +for half an hour and we shall indeed fight bravely for you, for of all +Generals, you, O Brigadier, are the most long minded." + +[Illustration: At The Front. The Regiment In The San-i-yat Trenches. +Sergeant BISSET and Sergeant MURDOCH both killed in action.] + +[Illustration: That Able Administrator General Sir PERCY L. COX And An +Influential Arab Sheikh.] + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +On April 20th, Colonel J. Stewart took over the command of the +Regiment, and Colonel A. G. Wauchope became a Brigadier. + +It was a great blow to the Regiment to lose their Colonel, and very +difficult for any other man coming after him; but the new Colonel +proved a worthy successor to the old and the Regiment was fortunate in +having two such men in succession to guard its interests and its +honour. Months later when I congratulated the General on the successes +of his old Regiment and on his promotion, he said, "Yes, yes, B., the +Regiment was splendid, but I am not too sure that the other matter is +altogether a matter for congratulation." I felt certain that had it +been left to his own choice he would have preferred to remain with his +Highlanders than accept any higher command. + +With the capture of Samarrah it can be said that the winter campaign +of 1916-1917 came to an end. We held the rail head of the Baghdad +railway and had captured sixteen locomotives, 224 trucks and two +barges of ammunition. Already at the end of April, the heat of the +coming summer which was to prove the hottest on record could be felt, +and the thermometer in that month reached 114 deg. in the shade. + +The actual fighting was for the time being practically over, and it +was decided that Samarrah should be our advanced position on the +Tigris. Preparations were at once commenced to make the position a +strong one, and sufficient to hold up any attack which the enemy might +have in view; but the summer coming on the Turks were not anxious to +be aggressive and took up their most advanced positions some five or +six miles further up the Tigris. + +The summer was consequently passed under much more pleasant conditions +than in 1916. The Turks being far distant a number of officers and men +were granted a month's leave to India; tents, rations and comforts +were plentiful. The Regiment was at full strength and, despite the +heat, the men maintained their health throughout the summer. The main +task was the digging of several lines of trenches in front of the old +city of Samarrah, but training was carried on continuously so that the +Regiment might be ready as always for whatever operations were to take +place in the coming cold weather. The Battalion had now spent nearly +two years in Mesopotamia, and of the thousand who landed not two +hundred remained, and of these many had been wounded. What contrasts +the two years offer. In the first period one effort succeeded another, +but neither training nor valour were sufficient to redress the balance +of the scales, and despite every sacrifice Kut fell. Then came the +months when we held San-i-yat, when there were few men and arduous +duties, intolerable heat and no comfort. + +The spring of the second year was marked by a succession of victories, +and achievements for all time memorable; the forcing of San-i-yat, the +entry to Baghdad, the battles of Mushaidie and Istabulat; and finally +the last few months of comparative peace and plenty. + +Throughout the two years the indomitable spirit of the Battalion +showed itself true to the finest traditions of the Regiment, and it is +open to question whether memory of the hundred survivors fighting +their way back from the Turkish trenches on the 21st of January, does +not extort as much admiration as the memory of the three companies, +after 30 hours of continuous marching and successful fighting, +charging at midnight into the station at Mushaidie. + + +SUMMARY OF OFFICER CASUALTIES suffered by the 2nd Bn. during its +service in Mesopotamia, + +July 1916 to May 1917. + + Killed in Action | 16 | Includes Captain Duncan, R.A.M.C., + | | and 2/Lieut. A. E. Sinclair + Died from wounds | 8 | ... + Died from disease | 1 | ... + Missing | 2 | Captain D. C. Hamilton Johnstone + | | and 2/Lieut. H. F. Forrester. + | | Both wounded + Prisoners of War | 1 | 2/Lieut. A. H. Quine. + Wounded in Action | 42 | Includes officers wounded more + | | than once, each occasion being + | | counted separately. Does not + | | include cases where officers have + | | subsequently died from wounds. + Invalided to India | 50 | As above, includes instances of + | | invaliding more than one as + | | separate items. Also includes all + | | cases of officers wounded who + | | were in consequence thereof invalided. + + +DETAILS OF OFFICER CASUALTIES in important battles. + + Killed Died + in from + action. wounds. Wounded. Missing P. of W. + 7th January, 1916 3 .. 16 .. .. + 21st January, 1916 2 .. 3 1 .. + 22nd April, 1916 5 .. 2 1 .. + 14th March, 1917 1 4 5 .. .. + 21st April, 1917 2 3 4 .. 1 + ---------------------------------------------- + TOTAL 13 7 30 2 1 + + +LIST OF OFFICERS who served with the 2nd Battalion +in Mesopotamia, 1916-17. + + BRIG.-GENERAL A. G. WAUCHOPE, C.M.G., D.S.O. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 7th January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 16th January, 1916. + Re-embarked, Bombay, 9th May, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 18th May, 1916. + To be Bt.-Lt.-Colonel, 2nd June, 1916. + Promotion to rank of Major ante-dated to 15th September 1914. + (_London Gaz._, dated 14th September, 1916). + To be Bt.-Colonel, 23rd December, 1916. + Assumed Command, Brigade. 20th April, 1917. + To be Bde. Commander, 11th May, 1917. + + COLONEL J. STEWART. + Embarked, Devonport, 26th December, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 21st March, 1917. + To be A.-Lt.-Col. whilst Commanding a Battn. 5th May, 1917. + + MAJOR T. G. F. COCHRANE. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 7th January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 16th January, 1916. + Re-embarked, Bombay, 27th August, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 2nd September, 1916. + To be A/Major whilst 2nd in Command, 14th September, 1916. + Relinquishes above, 15th April, 1917. + To be A/Major on H. Q. of a Battn., 15th May, 1917. + + MAJOR D. C. HAMILTON-JOHNSTONE. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + To be Tempy. Major, 7th January, 1916. + Wounded and Missing, 21st-22nd January, 1916. + + MAJOR C. R. B. HENDERSON. + Embarked, Marseilles, 26th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 26th January, 1916. + Promoted Major, 8th January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 14th April, 1916. + Tenure of Adjt. expired, 4th January, 1917. + + MAJOR THE REV. ANDREW MACFARLANE. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + + MAJOR THE HON. R. T. C. MURRAY. + Embarked, Devonport, 10th February, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 14th March, 1916. + To India for duty with A. H. Q., 3rd April, 1916. + + CAPTAIN J. ANDERSON. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + To be Hony. Captain, 3rd June, 1916. + + CAPTAIN J. A. BARSTOW, M.C. + Embarked, Devonport, 11th July, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 10th August, 1916. + Wounded in Action, 21st April, 1917. + + CAPTAIN A. E. BLAIR. + Embarked, Devonport, 10th February, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 14th March, 1916. + + CAPTAIN H. JOHN BLAMPIED. + Embarked, Devonport, 7th June, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 4th July, 1916. + To be Asst. Censor, 28th January, 1917. + To be Censor, I.E.F. "D", 1st April, 1917. + + CAPTAIN R. H. CRAKE (ATTACHED). + Held command of Btn. during latter portion of January, 1916. + + CAPTAIN P. G. EGERTON. + Posted to the Battalion, 30th June, 1917. + + CAPTAIN C. D. GILMOUR, M.C. + Embarked, Devonport, 20th January, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 21st February, 1916. + Wounded in Action, 22nd April, 1916. + Invalided to India, 2nd May, 1916. + To England, 11th June, 1916. + Awarded the Military Cross, 22nd December, 1916. + + CAPTAIN A. M. GRIEVE. + Embarked, Devonport, 16th February, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 23rd March, 1916. + Invalided to India, 5th July, 1916. + Re-embarked, Bombay, 27th May, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 4th June, 1917. + + CAPTAIN J. B. S. HALDANE. + Embarked, Devonport, 9th October, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 2nd December, 1916. + Wounded in Action, 22nd February, 1917. + Invalided to India, 19th March, 1917. + + CAPTAIN J. N. INGLIS. + Embarked, Devonport, 20th January, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 21st February, 1916. + Killed in Action, 22nd April, 1916. + + CAPTAIN R. MACFARLANE, M.C. + Embarked, Bombay, 11th April, 1916. + Disembarked Basrah, 17th April, 1916. + (Date of Embarkation in U. K. is not known). + Wounded in Action, 10th June, 1916. + Camp Area Comdt., Ma'gil, 14th July, 1916. + Wounded in Action, 14th March, 1917. + Awarded the Military Cross, 31st March, 1917. + Killed in Action, 21st April, 1917. + + CAPTAIN M. E. PARK, D.S.O. + Embarked, Marseilles, 25th November, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 28th December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 7th January, 1916. + Wounded in Action, 10th April, 1916. + Awarded the Silver Medal for Valour by H. M. the King of Italy. + + CAPTAIN R. M. PURVIS. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 7th January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 20th January, 1916. + Re-embarked, Bombay, 17th March, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 24th March, 1916. + Wounded in Action, 10th April, 1916. + Invalided to India, 27th April, 1916. + Re-embarked, Bombay, 20th January, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 28th January, 1917. + Died from wounds, 14th March, 1917. + Promoted Captain, from 8th March, 1916. + (_London Gaz._, dated 23rd August, 1916.) + + CAPTAIN R. D. ROBERTSON. + Posted, December, 1917. + + CAPTAIN N. M. RITCHIE, D.S.O. + Embarked, Devonport, 20th January, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 21st February, 1916. + To be Adjutant, _vice_ Major C. R. B. Henderson, 5th January, 1917. + Invalided to India, 12th June, 1917. + Awarded the D.S.O., 1917. + + CAPTAIN K. W. L. SIMONET (ATTACHED). + Posted for temporary duty, 16th January, 1916. + Killed in Action, 21st January, 1916. + + CAPTAIN J. TODD. + Embarked, Marseilles, 10th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 13th January, 1916. + Apptd. Transport Officer, 22nd July, 1916. + + CAPTAIN L. H. WILLETT. + Embarked, Devonport, 9th October, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 2nd December, 1916. + Wounded in Action, 21st April, 1917. + Invalided to India, 8th May, 1917. + + CAPTAIN W. A. YOUNG, M.C. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 7th January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 20th January, 1916. + Re-embarked, Bombay, 17th March, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 24th March, 1916. + To be T/Lieut., Supmy., 8th July, 1916. + Wounded in Action, 22nd February, 1917. + Awarded the Military Cross. + + CAPTAIN THE REV. A. SILVER. + Posted to the Regiment, 30th April, 1917. + + CAPTAIN A. W. DUNCAN, R.A.M.C. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Was killed in Action whilst M. O. with another Regiment, + 9th March, 1916. + + CAPTAIN G. F. GUNLETTE, R.A.M.C. + For duty as M. O., 24th March, 1917. + Relieved, 28th March, 1917. + + CAPTAIN J. MACQUEEN, R.A.M.C. + Joined Bn. as M. O., 18th July, 1916. + Struck off, tour expired, 25th March, 1917. + + CAPTAIN W. MOORE CAMERON, R.A.M.C. + Posted as M. O., 28th March, 1917. + + CAPTAIN T. W. STEWART. + Embarked, Devonport, 24th May, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 13th June, 1916. + Invalided to India, 31st January, 1917. + + +_Lieutenants._ + + H. BOWIE. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 7th January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 16th January, 1916. + Relinquishes Tempy. rank of Lieutenant, 7th January, 1916. + + W. COUTTS HUNTER. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 7th January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 20th January, 1916. + To England from Egypt, 19th March, 1916. + + C. V. S. COOKS. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 7th January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 16th January, 1916. + Invalided to England, 7th April, 1916. + + G. CURDIE. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 21st January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 4th February, 1916. + Promoted T/Capt., 23rd November, 1915. + Relinquishes Tempy. rank, 19th January, 1916. + Invalided to England, from Egypt, 7th April, 1916. + + A. B. CUMMING. + Embarked, Marseilles, 25th November, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 28th December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 7th January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 20th January, 1916. + Re-embarked, Bombay, 25th March, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 1st April, 1916. + Killed in Action, 22nd April, 1916. + + J. F. C. DIXON, M.C. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 7th January, 1916. + Wounded in Action, 21st January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 30th January, 1916. + Re-embarked, Bombay, 9th June, 1916. + Disembarked Basrah, 16th June, 1916. + To be Lieutenant, 18th July, 1916. + Invalided to India, 23rd November, 1916. + Awarded the Military Cross, 22nd December 1916. + + R. H. DUNDAS. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 21st January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 7th March, 1916. + + F. J. FELL. + Posted to Battalion, 9th December, 1917. + + J. O. HUTCHINSON. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Killed in Action, 7th January, 1916. + + R. W. MACFARLANE GRIEVE. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 7th January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 20th January 1916. + Re-embarked, Bombay, 6th April, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 13th April, 1916. + Invalided to India, 26th November, 1916. + + C. J. McCONAGHEY. + Embarked, Devonport, 16th February, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 23rd March, 1916. + Killed in Action, 22nd April, 1916. + + W. W. McEWAN, M.C. + Embarked, Marseilles, 12th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 21st January, 1916. + To Regiment, 1st March, 1916. + Wounded in Action, 22nd April, 1916. + Invalided to India, 2nd May, 1916. + Re-embarked, Karachi, 14th August, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 20th August, 1916. + Invalided to India, 30th October, 1916. + Awarded the Military Cross, 22nd December, 1916. + Re-embarked, Bombay, 17th May, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 23rd May, 1917. + + H. A. T. PLUNKETT. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Killed in Action, 7th January, 1916. + + G. G. B. MILLER STIRLING. + Embarked, Suez, 21st June, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 4th July, 1916. + Died from Wounds, 14th March, 1917. + + D. C. STEWART SMITH. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Apptd. Transport Officer, 10th January, 1916. + Commanding Battn., 22nd to 23rd January, 1916. + Acting Adjutant, 24th January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 29th March, 1916. + Re-embarked, Karachi, 13th July, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 16th July, 1916. + Invalided to India, 26th August, 1916. + Invalided to U. K., 4th October, 1916. + + M. M. THORBURN, M.C. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 21st January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 4th February, 1916. + Awarded the Military Cross, January 1916. + Invalided to England from Egypt, 25th April, 1916. + + WITHEY, R. W. + Posted to the Battalion, 6th December, 1917. + + +_2nd Lieutenants._ + + D. H. ANDERSON. + Embarked, Devonport, 16th February, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 23rd March, 1916. + Killed in Action, 22nd April, 1916. + + G. J. ANDERSON. + Embarked, Devonport, 16th February, 1910. + Disembarked, Basrah, 23rd March, 1916. + Killed in Action, 22nd April, 1916. + + C. ST. G. ALEXANDER. + Embarked, Devonport, 16th February, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 23rd March, 1916. + Invalided to India, 4th May, 1916. + (Wounded in Action, 22nd April, 1916). + To England from Egypt. + + D. S. GORDON BROWN. + Embarked, Bombay, 11th April, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 17th April, 1916. + Accidentally wounded, 28th June, 1916. + Invalided to India, 5th August, 1916. + + H. W. BRUCE. + Embarked, Devonport, 16th February, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 23rd March, 1916. + Invalided to India, 30th May, 1916. + Embarked, Karachi, 27th August, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 2nd September, 1916. + Wounded in Action, 6th November, 1916. + Killed in Action, 17th February, 1917. + + E. BRUCE. + Embarked, Devonport, 16th February, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 23rd March, 1916. + Invalided to India, 11th May, 1916. + Embarked, Karachi, 14th August, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 20th August, 1916. + Died from Disease (Paratyphoid-A), 17th November, 1916. + + A. E. BAIRSTOW. + Embarked, Devonport, 9th October, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 2nd December, 1916. + + J. C. W. BROAD. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 7th January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 16th January, 1916. + Re-embarked, Bombay, 22nd May, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 30th May, 1916. + Invalided to India, 15th June, 1916. + + K. BUCHANAN. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 7th January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 20th January, 1916. + Re-embarked, Bombay, 8th May, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 16th May, 1916. + Invalided to India, 26th August, 1916. + Re-embarked, Bombay, 25th February, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 4th March, 1917. + P. A. to Dir. of Port Admin. and Conservancy, 6th May, 1917. + + J. C. R. BUCHANAN. + Embarked, Devonport, 9th February, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 22nd May, 1917. + + C. J. R. BROWN. + Embarked, Karachi, 19th March, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 26th March, 1917. + Wounded in Action, 21st April, 1917. + Died from Wounds, 21st May, 1917. + + J. A. BYRON. + Embarked, Karachi, 19th March, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 26th March, 1917. + + T. M. COWIE. + Embarked, Devonport, 15th October, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 21st November, 1916. + Unofficially reported Pris. of War, 17th February, 1917. + Recaptured, 1st March, 1917. + (Wounded 17th February 1917). + Invalided to India, 15th March, 1917. + + A. CROMBIE. + Embarked, Devonport, 26th April, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st May, 1916. + + J. H. COTTERELL. + Embarked, Devonport, 10th February, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 14th March, 1916. + Wounded in Action, 22nd April, 1916. + Invalided to India, 27th April, 1916. + Re-embarked, Bombay, 27th November, 1916. + Died from wounds, 15th March, 1917. + + A. T. DOWNIE. + Embarked, Bombay, 17th April, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 23rd May, 1917. + + J. DAWSON. + Embarked, Devonport, 7th June, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 4th July, 1916. + Invalided to India, 6th November, 1916. + Returned to England and died. + + A. DOUGLAS. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 13th January, 1916. + Reported dangerously ill, 18th January, 1916. + Died from Wounds, 9th February, 1916. + + H. F. FORRESTER. + Embarked, Devonport, 10th February, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 14th March, 1916. + Wounded and Missing, 22nd April, 1916. + + T. GANT. + Promoted from C. S. M., 6th February, 1917. + Wounded in Action, 14th March, 1917. + To be A. Qr. Master., 12th May, 1917. + + T. GILLESPIE. + Embarked, Devonport, 21st October, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 21st November, 1916. + Killed in Action, 14th March, 1917. + + J. F. GILLIES. + Embarked, Devonport, 24th May, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 13th June, 1916. + Invalided to India, 28th June, 1916. + To England, from Egypt, 30th September, 1916. + + A. GILROY. + Embarked, Devonport, 10th September, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 10th October, 1916. + Wounded in Action, 21st April, 1917. + To be Lieutenant, 1st January, 1917. + Invalided to India, 18th May, 1917. + + J. T. GRASSIE, D.S.O. + Embarked, Devonport, 20th January, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 21st February, 1916. + Wounded in Action, 6th April, 1916. + Invalided to India, 10th April, 1916. + Invalided to U. K. from Egypt, 7th May, 1916. + Awarded the D.S.O., 22nd December, 1916. + + K. GRAHAM SCOTT. + Embarked, Devonport, 25th December, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 9th March, 1917. + + W. G. GRIERSON. + Embarked, Devonport, 5th January, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 22nd March, 1917. + + C. E. GERRARD. + Embarked, Karachi, 19th March, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 26th March, 1917. + + T. A. HENDERSON, M.C. + Embarked, Marseilles, 25th November, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 28th December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 7th January, 1916. + Awarded the Military Cross, 22nd December, 1916. + Awarded the Order of St. Vladimir, 4th Col., with Swords, + (_London Gaz._, 5th July, 1917). + Invalided to India, 23rd May, 1917. + + S. L. HUNTER. + Embarked, Bombay, 27th July, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 1st August, 1916. + Joined 3rd Echelon, as Record Officer, 22nd March, 1917. + + B. S. HOUSTON, M.C. + Promoted from C.S.M., 16th February, 1917. + Awarded the Military Cross, 31st March, 1917. + + C. V. HENDRY. + Embarked, Devonport, 7th June, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 4th July, 1916. + Invalided to India, 6th November, 1916. + + P. J. HAYE. + Embarked, Devonport, 5th January, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 22nd March, 1917. + + D. HAIG. + Embarked, Devonport, 15th January, 1917, + Disembarked, Basrah, 21st March, 1917. + Invalided to India, 16th June, 1917. + + M. JAMIESON. + Embarked, Devonport, 9th October, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 2nd December, 1916. + + A. L. JACKSON. + Posted to the Battalion, 28th August, 1917. + + J. JEFF. + Embarked, Devonport, 24th May, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 13th June, 1916. + + A. S. JOHNSTON. + Embarked, Bombay, 24th March, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 28th March, 1917. + + T. KINNEAR. + Promoted from C.S.M., 6th February, 1917. + Wounded in Action, 22nd February, 1917. + Apptd. Transport Officer, 3rd May, 1917. + + B. H. LUNN. + Embarked, Devonport, 24th May, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 13th June, 1916. + Invalided to India, 8th December, 1916. + Has since been invalided to England. + + T. LOUDON. + Embarked, Devonport, 5th January, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 22nd March, 1917. + + J. MACGREGOR. + Posted to the Battalion, 13th September, 1917. + + G. M. MACKENZIE. + Embarked, Devonport, 24th May, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 13th June, 1916. + Transferred to M. Gun Corps, 26th October, 1916. + + MANN, J. A. + Posted to the Battalion, 6th December, 1917. + + D. MURRAY STEWART. + Embarked, Devonport, 9th October, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 2nd December, 1916. + + R. S. MORRISON. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Killed in Action, 7th January, 1916. + + W. D. MONTGOMERIE. + Embarked, Bombay, 17th May, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 23rd May, 1917. + + A. MUIR. + Promoted from C.S.M., 29th May, 1917. + + D. McARTHUR. + Embarked, Devonport, 5th January, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 22nd March, 1917. + Died from Wounds, 21st April, 1917. + + T. PEEL. + Embarked, Devonport, 5th January, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 22nd March, 1917. + Died from Wounds, 21st April, 1917. + + J. C. PATERSON. + Embarked, Marseilles, 5th December, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st December, 1915. + Wounded in Action, 7th January, 1916. + Invalided to India, 16th January, 1916. + To England, from Egypt, 19th March, 1916. + + W. PORTER. + Posted to the Battalion, 21st November, 1917. + + B. H. QUINE. + Embarked, Devonport, 7th June, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 4th July, 1916. + To be F. T. C. O., Dvn., 1st August, 1916. + Relieved from above, 26th August, 1916. + Invalided to India, 3rd September, 1916. + + A. H. QUINE. + Embarked, Karachi, 19th March, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 26th March, 1917. + Reported Missing, 21st April, 1917. + Reported Pris. of War, 21st April, 1917. + + G. RYRIE. + Embarked, Devonport, 11th July, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 10th August, 1916. + Invalided to India, 28th November, 1916. + Re-embarked, Bombay, 27th May, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 4th June, 1917. + + J. C. RITCHIE, M. C. + Embarked, Devonport, 5th January, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 22nd March, 1917. + Awarded the Military Cross, 22nd May, 1917. + Apptd. A. Adjt., 27th May, 1917. + + A. SCOBIE. + Posted to the Battalion, 13th September, 1917. + + A. E. SINCLAIR. + Embarked Devonport, 24th May, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 13th June, 1916. + Transferred to M. Gun Corps, 26th October, 1916. + Killed in Action, 5th December, 1916. + + P. J. SCOTLAND. + Posted to the Battalion, 9th December, 1917. + + G. V. STEWART. + Embarked, Bombay, 11th April, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 17th April, 1916. + Wounded in Action, 14th March, 1917. + + G. B. SMART. + Embarked, Suez, 16th September, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 26th September, 1916. + Wounded in Action, 14th March, 1917. + + F. H. SOUTAR + Embarked, Marseilles, 25th November, 1915. + Disembarked, Basrah, 28th December, 1915. + Killed in Action, 21st January, 1916. + + T. L. SMITH. + Posted to the Battalion, 13th September, 1917. + + P. E. SYMTHE. + Embarked, Devonport, 9th October, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 2nd December, 1916. + Confirmed in rank of 2nd Lieutenant, 18th October 1916. + Wounded in Action, 21st April, 1917. + Invalided to India, 12th June, 1917. + + R. M. SMYTHE. + Embarked, Devonport, 9th October, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 14th December, 1916. + Wounded in Action, 14th March, 1917. + Confirmed in rank of 2nd Lieut., 18th October, 1916. + + A. G. WOYKA. + Embarked, Devonport, 26th April, 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 31st May, 1916. + Invalided to India, 15th January, 1917. + + R. WALKER. + Embarked, Karachi, 19th March, 1917. + Disembarked, Basrah, 26th March, 1917. + Killed in Action, 21st April, 1917. + + A. A. YOUNG. + Embarked, Devonport, 24th May 1916. + Disembarked, Basrah, 13th June, 1916. + Cypher Officer, G. H. Q. Base, 28th June, 1916. + Joined Bn. in the Fd., 25th November, 1916. + Died from Wounds, 14th March, 1917. + + +_Nominal roll of W.Os., N.C.Os., and men, 2nd Bn., numerically +arranged, who have been killed in action, died of wounds, disease, +etc., during service in Mesopotamia, from 1st January 1916 to 15th +June 1917._ + + -------+----------------------+-------------+-----------+------------------------- + Regtl. | Rank and Name. | Cause of Date of Place of + No. | | Death. Death. Death. + | +-------------+-----------+------------------------- + | | Place of burial, if known. + -------+----------------------+--------------------------------------------------- + 72|Sergt. T. Archer | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + AR/116|A/Cpl. D. Dakers | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 133|Sergt. T. Murray | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + 578|A/Cpl. J. Gibb | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + 598|Pte. J. Hogg | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + 622|Pte. J. Lynch | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + 672|Corpl. R. Pratt | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + 773|L/Cpl. R. Whyte | K. in A. 6-11-16 The Field. + | |Cemetery near Jullundur St. Sann-i-yat. + 781|Corpl. U. Hutchison | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Dujail battlefield, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, + | | 7th Divn., Sketch No. 5, Istabulat. + 797|Pte. A. Milne | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Dujail battlefield, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, + | | 7th Divn., Sketch No. 5, Istabulat. + 814|Pte. G. McAulay | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Orah battlefield, Map L-2, Rev. Irwin. + 896|Sergt. G. Johnston | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + 981|Pte. G. Hazeldean | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Orah battlefield, Map L-2, Rev. Irwin. + 1020|L/Sgt. J. Mulholland | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + 1038|Pte. T. McFarlane | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + 1060|L/Sgt. J. Inglis | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + 1207|L/Cpl. A. Brown | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + 1335|L/Cpl. A. Cowie | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97 Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + 1346|Pte. A. Whannel | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + 1418|L/Cpl. W. Mack | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 1426|Pte. A. Reoch | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + 1449|Piper J. Davis | K. in A. 25-9-15 France. + | | ... + 1452|Pte. J. Smith | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + 1472|Sergt. R. Madill | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + 1591|Sergt. D. Hamilton | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + 1619|L/Cpl. W. Noble | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + 1642|A/Sgt. D. Neill | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 1701|Sergt. T. Henderson | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + 1714|L/Cpl. D. Duke | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + 1780|Sergt. D. Finlay, V.C.| K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + 1791|Pte. G. Burness | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + 1856|A/Cpl. D. Hughes | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + 1859|A/C. S.M.T. Bissett | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + 1884|Corpl. R. Speed | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22 T.C. 97 Sq. G-7 Istabulat. + 1899|Pte. Craig, R. | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + 2003|Pte. T. Teirney | K. in A. 23-6-16 The Field. + | | ... + 2029|A/Sgt. A. Kiddle | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + 2084|Sergt. J. Barrie | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + 3/2160|Corpl. W. Gow | K. in A. 20-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 2185|Dmr. G. Bullion | K. in A. 6-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 2277|L/Cpl. W. Grimmond | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 2316|A/Sergt. T. Marshall | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + 2451|L/Cpl. N. Campbell | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + 3/2496|Pte. H. Duffy | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 3/2508|Pte. S. Mowat | K. in A. 22-1-16 The Field. + | |Orah battlefield, Map L-2, Rev. Irwin. + 2511|A/Cpl. D. Simpson | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + 3/2519|Pte. J Downie | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + 3/2520|L/Cpl. C. Low | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + 2545|Corpl. T. Brown | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 3/2564|L/Cpl. G. Mitchell | K. in A. 13-1-16 The Field. + | |Orah battlefield, Map L-2, Rev. Irwin. + 3/2569|Pte. B. Cunningham | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 3/2585|Pte. R. McQuarrie | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 3/2584|Pte. J. O'Donnell | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22 T.C. 97, Sq. G-7. Istabulat (G.R.C.). + 3/2614|Pte. J. Black | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 3/2621|Pte. J. Cook | K. in A. 6-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 3/2632|Pte. E. Clark | K. in A. 13-1-16 The Field. + | |Orah battlefield, Map L-2, Rev. Irwin. + 3/2674|Pte. G. Stevenson | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + 2701|Pte. F. Gibo | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 2745|Pte. L. Phee | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + 3/3012|Pte. A. Hay | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + 3/3074|Pte. P. Glancy | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + 3/3100|Pte. T. Burke | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/3342|Sergt. J. Lees | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + 3/3360|Pte. J. Campbell | K. in A. 9-5-15 France. + | | ... + 3380|Pte. J. Strachan | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 3/3471|Pte. J. Harman | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 3/3590|Pte. G. Forbes | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 3874|Pte. R. Wilson | K. in A. 6-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 3/3917|Pte. F. Robertson | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/4144|Pte. A. Mailer | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/4151|Pte. E. Harkness | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/4221|Pte. E. Graham | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22 T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + 3/4222|Pte. D. Cuthbert | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/4484|L/Cpl. J. Shirra | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Dujail battlefield, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, + | | Istabulat (G.R.C). + S/5142|Pte. J. Bennett | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/6113|Pte. J. Stuart | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/6259|Pte. F. Stafford | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/6405|L/Cpl. T. Weir | K. in A. 13-3-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/6415|Pte. A. Rogerson | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/6652|Pte. P. Hughes | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/6711|Pte. G. Jones | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/6757|L/Cpl. W. Taylor | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + 6818|Pte. T. Caddow | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/6958|Pte. E. McLure | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/7009|L/Cpl. J. Gibson | K. in A. 9-8-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/7019|Pte. J. Hay | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabul. + S/7088|A/Sgt. R. McLauchan | K. in A. 13-1-16 The Field. + | |Orah battlefield, Map. L-2, Rev. Irwin. + S/7094|Pte. J. Coulter | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/7097|L/Cpl. C. McRae | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + 7100|L/Cpl. F. Wilkins | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/7283|Pte. D. Bell | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/7346|Pte. A. Dickson | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/7507|Pte. W. McKennie | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/7508|Pte. T. Lamb | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/7548|Pte. A. McKay | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/7560|Pte. J. Tarberts | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/7580|Pte. J. Baillie | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/7592|Pte. R. Bowman | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/7595|Pte. G. Drysdale | K. in A. 6-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/7616|L/Cpl. J. McLaughlan | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/7738|Pte. A. Moncur | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/7743|Pte. A. Mann | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/7748|Pte. T. McPherson | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/7757|Pte. W. Gillispie | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/7771|C.-S.-M. D. Palmer | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Dujail battlefield, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + 7912|C.-S.-M. R. Proudfoot | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/7926|Pte. J. McCormack | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/7943|Pte. W. Beatte | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/7957|Pte. J. Whyte | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/7967|Pte. E. Brown | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/7994|Corpl. A. Critchton | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/7996|Pte. W. Graham | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/8057|Pte. J. Thomson | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/8062|Pte. D. Hardley | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/8082|Pte. J. Ramsay | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + 8169|Pte. E. Rooke | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/8192|Pte. M. McMahon | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/8202|Pte. D. Winter | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22 T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + 8235|Pte. R. Lindsay | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/8252|Pte. D. Kilgour | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/8316|Pte. S. McKillop | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/8329|Pte. J. Suttie | K. in A. 6-3-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/8330|Pte. G. Smith | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/8349|L/Cpl. A. Cochrane | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/8389|Pte. J. Clark | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/8390|Corpl. P. Robertson | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/8428|Pte. J. Wilson | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/8444|Sergt. A. McDonald | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + 8458|A/Cpl. J. Hughes | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/8500|Pte. W. McNee | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/8534|Pte. R. McDonald | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/8551|Pte. A. Gibson | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat (G.K.C.). + S/8571|L/Cpl. D. McPhee | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/8696|Pte. J. Bell | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/8705|Pte. F. Fraser | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/8765|Pte. J. Stewart | K. in A. 18-6-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/8785|Pte. J. Liddle | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + S/8867|Pte. J. Smith | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/8890|Pte. T. Cranston | K. in A. 13-1-16 The Field. + | |Orah battlefield, Map L-2, Rev. Irwin. + S/8918|Pte. J. Lamb | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/9194|A/Cpl. J. Dougal | K. in A. 21-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/9207|Pte. J. Orr | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad Battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/9231|Pte. T. Reid | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/9339|Pte. T. Williamson | K. in A. 20-4-17 The Field. + | | ... + 9383|Sergt. D. Murdoch | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Dujail battlefield, point 40-22 T.C. 97. + | | Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + 9437|C.-S.-M. G. Davidson | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + 9451|Pte. P. Davie | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + S/9504|Pte. C. Low | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/9544|Segt. T. McCutcheon | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/9563|Pte. C. Thomson | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/9643|Pte. H. Fraser | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/9952|Pte. C. Turner | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/10006|Pte. J. Ross | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + S/10028|Pte. J. Barnes | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + SRA/10113|Pte. T. Belcher | K. in A. 13-2-16 The Field. + | |Orah battlefield, Map L-2, Rev. Irwin. + S/10170|Pte. E. Holmes | K. in A. 21-1-18 The Field. + | |Probably Hannah battlefield (G.R.C.). + 10240|L/C. A. Gibson | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + SRA/10278|Pte. B. Wilson | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + SRA/10299|Pte. E. Kenny | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/10340|Pte. J. Dick | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + S/10374|Pte. P. Paul | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + SRA/10429|L-Cpl. A. Robertson | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + S/10469|Pte. R. Barrie | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/10477|Pte. A. Graham | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + S/10480|Pte. W. Ballingall | K. in A. 13-1-16 The Field. + | |Orah battlefield, Map L-2, Rev. Irwin. + S/10482|Pte. D. McFarlane | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + 10489|Pte. J. Sims | K. in A. 7-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + S/10537|L/Cpl. W. Malcolm | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/10539|L/Cpl. P. Hardie | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/10545|Pte. T. Baillie | K. in A. 5-12-16 The Field. + | |Jullundur St. Cemetery, Sann-i-yat (G.R.C.). + S/10564|Pte. J. Dalton | K. in A. 21-1-17 The Field. + | |Dujail battlefield, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + S/10566|Pte. D. McLean | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/10567|Pte. J. Dawson | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/10574|Pte. K. O'Donnell | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/10586|Pte. M. Paul | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/10592|Pte. E. Smith | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/10598|L/Cpl. J. McKay | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/10621|Pte. W. Lang | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/10633|Pte. W. Watson | K. in A. 5-11-16 The Field. + | |Jullundur St. Cemetery, Sann-i-yat (G.R.C.). + S/10634|L/Cpl. P. Reilly | K. in A. 17-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/10638|Pte. F. Inglis | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/10648|Pte. J. Wylie | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/10651|L/Cpl. D. Small | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/10656|Pte. P. Barnes | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/11147|A/Cpl. J. Harkins | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/11175|L/Cpl. J. Little | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/11193|Pte. J. Clark | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/11305|Pte. J. McLean | K. in A. 13-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/11333|Pte. J. Galbraith | K. in A. 14-10-16 The Field. + | |Cemetery at 28 B.F.A., Faliheyah Bend. + S/11369|Pte. R. Niven | K. in A. 24-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/11532|Pte. A. Huitton | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + S/11533|Pte. B. Bogan | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/11570|Pte. J. Smith | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/11572|Pte. J. Stewart | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/11613|Pte. H. Greenwood | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/11631|L/Cpl. J. Wallace | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/11669|Pte. G. Law | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + S/11673|Pte. G. Hayes | K. in A. 16-6-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/11726|Pte. A. Carmichael | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/11371|Pte. C. Wilson | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/11866|Pte. T. Galloway | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + S/11869|Pte. J. Studholme | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/11891|Pte. D. Mathers | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/11958|Pte. R. McNaughten | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Dujail battlefield, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, + | | 7th Division, sketch No. 5, Istabulat. + S/12096|Pte. W. Cross | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Dujail battlefield, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, 7th + | | Division, sketch No. 5, Istabulat. + S/12202|L/Cpl. E. Doggett | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/12238|Pte. D. McCraw | K. in A. 11-12-16 The Field. + | |Jullundur St. Cemetery. Sann-i-yat. + S/12395|Pte. A. Johnstone | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/12435|Pte. W. Jamieson | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, Sq. G-7, T.C. 97, Istabulat. + S/12475|Pte. J. Keir | K. in A. 22-4-16 The Field. + | Probably Sann-i-yat battlefield (G.R.C.). + S/12494|Pte. A. Tuckerman | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/13111|Pte. A. Smith | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + 13170|Pte. A. Lawson | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + 13177|L/Cpl. H. Plain | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + SRA/13207|L/Cpl. J. Robson | K. in A. 20-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/13267|L/Cpl. M. Brown | K. in A. 10-10-16 The Field. + | |Old Cemetery behind Meerut Trench, Sann-i-yat. + S/13458|Pte. A. Brember | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Dujail battlefield, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + S/13956|Pte. G. Cross | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | |Dujail battlefield, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + S/14517|Pte. C. Winters | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + S/14994|Pte. J. McCallum | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + S/15066|Pte. D. Stewart | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/15068|Pte. J. Lawson | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + S/15069|Pte. J. McLeod | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/15127|Pte. W. Coyne | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Dujail battlefield, T.C. 97, G-7, + | | 7th Division, sketch No. 5, Istabulat. + S/15537|Pte. J. Gemmell | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Dujail battlefield, T.C. 97, G-7, + | | 7th Division, sketch No. 5, Istabulat. + S/15632|Pte. J. Adam | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Dujail battlefield, T.C. 97, G-7, + | | 7th Division, sketch No. 5, Istabulat. + S/15700|Pte. G. Crick | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/15853|Pte. J. Wiseman | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/15866|Pte. W. McKay | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/16233|Pte. P. Dair | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + 16303|L/Cpl. P. McSkimming | K. in A. 11-2-17 The Field. + | |Jullundur St. Cemetery, Sann-i-yat. + S/16353|Pte. H. McKay | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + 17481|Corpl. H. Bowman | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + 17483|Pte. J. Eglin | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/19311|Pte. G. Neilson | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + S/19316|Pte. J. Sanderson | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | | ... + 19426|Pte. J. Clark | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + 19435|Pte. D. Aitken | K. in A. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + 19436|Pte. J. Crawford | K. in A. 17-2-17 The Field. + | |Jullundur St. Cemetery, Sann-i-yat. + 19450|Corpl. L. Wiseman | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + 19456|Pte. J. Wilkinson | K. in A. 21-4-17 The Field. + | |Point 40-22, T.C. 97, Sq. G-7, Istabulat. + 69|L/Cpl. A. McBurnie |Died fr. Wds. 9-1-16 The Field. + | | ... + 79|Pte. E. Miller |Died fr. Wds. 20-4-17 19 Cas. C1. Stn. + | |Sindiyeh Cemetery, T.C. 87, Sq. 1-H. + 3/471|Pte. W. Taggart |Died fr. Wds. 16-1-16 No. 5 Fd. Amb. + | | ... + 828|Sergt. A. Downie |Died fr. Wds. 5-5-16 3 B.G.H., Amara. + | | ... + 941|A/Cpl. R. McNee |Died fr. Wds. 22-1-16 3a B.G.H., Amara. + | | ... + 1305|Pte. J. Macrae |Died fr. Wds. 30-1-16 3a B.G.H., Amara. + | | ... + 1381|Pte. G. Hendric |Died fr. Wds. 30-1-16 3a B.G.H., Amara. + | | ... + 3/1755|Pte. P. McPhee |Died fr. Wds. 24-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + 1831|Pte. A. Mauby |Died fr. Wds. 17-1-16 No. 2 B.G.H., Amara. + | | ... + 1947|Pte. T. Morrison |Died fr. Wds. 6-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + 3/2112|Pte. J. Welsh |Died fr. Wds. 11-4-17 32 B.G.H., Amara. + | |Amara Cemetery, Row No. II, A, Grave No. 13. + 2117|L/Cpl. R. McBean |Died fr. Wds. 8-2-16 3a B.G.H., Basra. + | |Basra. + 2145|Sergt. G. McGregor |Died fr. Wds. 7-12-16 20 B.F.A. + | |Br. Cemetery at 20 B.F.A., Falaheyeh, Row. No. 4 + 3/2312|Pte. H. Dand |Died fr. Wds. 24-4-16 3a B.G.H., Basra + | | ... + 2355|L/Cpl. J. Cunningham |Died fr. Wds. 16-3-17 The Field. + | |Hassiawah, (15 mls. N. of Baghdad). + 2381|Pte. W. Gibb |Died fr. Wds. 22-1-16 The Field. + | | ... + 3/2647|Pte. A. Robertson |Died fr. Wds. 15-1-16 3a B.G.H., Amara + | | ... + 2675|Pte. F. Morrison |Died fr. Wds. 15-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + 3/2742|Pte. H. McMillan |Died fr. Wds. 19-12-16 20 B.F.A. + | |Cemetery at 20 B.F.A. + S/2876|Pte. R. Brown |Died fr. Wds. 24-4-17 130 I.F.A. + | | ... + S/2903|Pte. W. Marshall |Died fr. Wds. 22-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/2920|Pte. J. Anderson |Died fr. Wds. 24-1-17 The Field. + | |Chabela Mound Cemetery, T.C. 61, 16c, 48, 19, + | | Grave No. 2. + S/3198|Pte. J. Forbes |Died fr. Wds. 12-4-16 R-P. B.G.H., Amara + | | ... + S/3358|L/Cpl. D. Richardson |Died fr. Wds. 25-4-16 S.S. Mejidieh. + | | ... + 3/3362|Pte. T. Welsh |Died fr. Wds. 3-5-16 3 B.G.H., Amara. + | | ... + S/3755|Pte. A. Ettrick |Died fr. Wds. 24-4-16 S.S. Mejidieh. + | | ... + S/3934|Pte. A. Fleming |Died fr. Wds. 25-4-16 3a B.G.H., Amara + | | ... + S/4004|Pte. B. Evans |Died fr. Wds. 27-4-16 3a B.G.H., Amara. + | |Amara. + S/4093|Corpl. J. Gillies |Died fr. Wds. 22-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/4218|Pte. W. Mackie |Died fr. Wds. 24-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/5230|Pte. J. McDougall |Died fr. Wds. 17-2-17 The Field. + | |Jullundur St. Cemetery, Sann-i-yat. + S/5658|Pte. T. S. |Died fr. Wds. 26-4-16 S.S. Mejedeih. + | | ... + S/6436|Pte. F. Bewley |Died fr. Wds. 24-3-17 3a B.S.H. S-Sd. + | |Sheikh-Saad Cemetery, Row 6, Gr. No. 364. + S/6689|Pte. W. Dewar |Died fr. Wds. 18-2-16 3a B.G.H. Basra. + | | ... + S/6964|A/Cpl. G. Combe |Died fr. Wds. 6-3-17 23 B.S.H. Amara. + | |Amara Cemetery, Grave No. VII, 6, 7. + S/6972|H. Rodgers |Died fr. Wds. 6-9-16 The Field. + | |Cemetery at 20 B.F.A. + S/7122|Pte. A. Lamont |Died fr. Wds. 25-1-16 3a B.G.H. Amara. + | | ... + S/7207|L/Cpl. J. Young |Died fr. Wds. 5-3-16 3 B.G.H. Amara. + | | ... + S/7399|Pte. D. Urquhart |Died fr. Wds. 20-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/7427|Pte. A. Rae |Died fr. Wds. 8-1-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/7430|A/Cpl. D. Moncreiff |Died fr. Wds. 13-1-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/7479|Pte. J. Shannon |Died fr. Wds. 19-1-16 3 B.G.H., Amara. + | | ... + S/7538|Pte. M. Stewart |Died fr. Wds. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/7730|Pte. J. Stewart |Died fr. Wds. 22-6-16 The Field. + | | + 8175|Sergt. J. Lugton |Died fr. Wds. 15-3-17 Motor Convoy. 128 I.F.A. + | |5 miles N. of Tagi Rly. Stn. and + | | 40 E. of railway line. + S/8183|Pte. F. Scott |Died fr. Wds. 22-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/8266|Pte. W. Stewart |Died fr. Wds. 8-1-16 The Field. + | |Probably Sheikh-Saad (G.R.C.). + S/8356|Pte. A. Trory |Died fr. Wds. 7-9-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/8709|Pte. J. Ferguson |Died fr. Wds. 14-1-16 2 B.G.H., Amara. + | | ... + S/8856|Pte. J. Elliott |Died fr. Wds. 22-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/9159|Pte. C. Wilson |Died fr. Wds. 24-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/9728|L/Cpl. E. Thomson |Died fr. Wds. 15-3-17 128 I.F.A. + | | ... + RA/10072|Pte. J. Davy |Died fr. Wds. 24-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/10155|Pte. P. Welsh |Died fr. Wds. 8-1-16 The Field. + | | ... + SRA/10285|Pte. A. Harker |Died fr. Wds. 8-1-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/10432|Pte. T. Wilson |Died fr. Wds. 15-3-17 128 I.F.A. + | |5 miles N. of Tagi Station + | | and 40 E. of Railway. + RA/10439|Pte. W. Hallam |Died fr. Wds. 14-4-17 32 B.G.H., Amara. + | |Amara Cemetery, Grave No. II, A, 14. + S/10639|Pte. J. Walker |Died fr. Wds. 27-4-16 3a B.G.H., Basra. + | | ... + S/10652|L/Cpl. A. Kay |Died fr. Wds. 24-5-17 32 B.G.H., Amara. + | | ... + S/10654|L/Cpl. C. Williams |Died fr. Wds. 24-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/11259|Pte. P. Hiley |Died fr. Wds. 29-4-16 3a B.G.H., Amara. + | | ... + S/11535|Pte. D. Smith |Died fr. Wds. 22-4-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/11769|Pte. J. Nicol |Died fr. Wds. 1-6-16 The Field. + | |Cemetery at 20 B.F.A. + S/12162|Pte. W. Cannell |Died fr. Wds. 24-4-17 130 I.F.A. + | | ... + S/12321|L/Cpl. L. Latto |Died fr. Wds. 23-4-17 No. 7 B.F.A. + | |T.C. 96, 6-E, 3-1. + S/12512|Pte. A. Swanston |Died fr. Wds. 24-2-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/13103|Pte. W. Benson |Died fr. Wds. 22-4-17 No. 19 B.F.A. + | |S.-E. of Ry. culvert about 4-3/4 miles + | | S.-E. of Istabulat Station, T.C. 97, K-9, 5-6. + 13186|L/Cpl. W. Campbell |Died fr. Wds. 15-3-17 128 I.F.A. + | | ... + S/13260|Pte. W. Nelson |Died fr. Wds. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/13325|Pte. T. Simpson |Died fr. Wds. 14-3-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/14626|Pte. T. Hanvey |Died fr. Wds. 23-4-17 130 I.F.A. + | | ... + S/16060|Pte. C. Ogilvie |Died fr. Wds. 25-4-17 16 C.C.S. + | |Grave No. A-22 (Cemetery unknown). + S/16041|Pte. C. Gray |Died fr. Wds. 26-4-17 32 B.G.H. + | |Amara Cemetery, Grave VIII, Block B-1. + S/16082|Pte. P. Glen |Died fr. Wds. 9-5-17 2 B.G.H. + | | ... + S/16323|Pte. A. Thompson |Died fr. Wds. 20-5-17 32 B.G.H. + | | ... + 19445|Pte. D. Porter |Died fr. Wds. 21-4-17 19 B.F.A. + | | ... + 1062|Sgt. W. Hanton |Enteric. 6-7-16 3 B.G.H. + | | ... + 513|L/Cpl. G. Robertson |Suffocation 24-1-16 The Field. + | | ... + 1549|Pte. J. Bennett |Dysentery. 21-9-16 Sheikh-Saad. + | |Sheikh-Saad Cemetery, Grave No. F-59. + 3/2008|Pte. D. Mathieson |Gastritis. 18-6-17 Falaheyeh. + | |Cemetery at 26 B.F.A. + 3/2475|A/Sgt. W. Chrystal |Sun-stroke. 19-6-16 Kurna. + | |Christian burial ground, Kurna, Row B, Grave 11. + 2750|Dmr. J. Watt |Para-typh. 10-7-16 Sheikh-Saad. + | |Sheikh-Saad Cemetery, Grave No. 105 + 3/3572|Pte. G. Billington |Para-typh. 1-7-16 Sheikh-Saad. + | |Sheikh-Saad Cemetery, Grave No. 105 + 3892|Pte. J. Sanderson |Disease. 29-6-16 S.S. Malamir. + | | ... + 3/4229|Pte. J. Clark |Heat-stroke 26-7-16 Amara. + | | ... + 3/4246|Pte. T. Clowe |P.U.O. 7-7-16 Amara. + | | ... + 3/4251|Pte. P. McGinley |Suffocation 27-6-16 Amara. + | | ... + 3/4252|Pte. S. Johnstone |Enteric. 4-7-16 Amara. + | | ... + S/4874|Pte. J. Fettes |Gastritis. 20-7-16 Falaheyeh. + | |Cemetery at 20 B.F.A. + S/6709|Pte. W. Sherriff |Enteritis. 27-5-16 Falaheyeh. + | | ... + 3/7229|Pte. E. Dunbar |Heat-stroke 3-7-16 3 B.G.H. + | | ... + S/7622|Pte. W. Ferguson |Enteric. 3-10-16 33 B.G.H. + | | ... + S/7643|Pte. E. Wallace |Heat-stroke 20-7-16 Basrah. + | | ... + S/8024|Pte. A. McLaren |Dysentery. 29-5-16 3 B.G.H. + | | ... + S/8040|Pte. S. Russell |Dysentery. 21-6-16 R. Boat P-4. + | | ... + 8052|Sgt. G. Warden |Enteric. 26-5-17 127 C.F.A. + | | ... + 8390|Pte. W. Murphy |Typhus. 20-4-17 Amara. + | |Amara Cemetery, Grave No. VIII, A. 5. + S/8713|L/Cpl. J. Cairney |Drowned Acc. 14-3-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/8715|Pte. J. Oliphant |N.Y.D. fever 17-8-16 Sheikh-Saad. + | | ... + S/8888|Pte. D. Fleming |Malaria. 2-8-16 The Field. + | | ... + 9852|Pte. J. Beattie |Dysentery. 30-12-16 33 B.G.H. + | |Hakimeyeh Cemetery, Makina, Row C, No. 15. + S/10012|Pte. R. Cowper |Cholera. 19-5-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/10047|Pte. R. Broadbent |Heat-stroke 1-7-16 Falaheyeh. + | |Cemetery at 20 B.F.A. + SRA/10271|Pte. A. Howard |Enteric. 9-7-16 Amara. + | | ... + 10488|L/Cpl. D. Ramsay |Dysentery. 2-5-16 3 B.G.H. + | | ... + S/10527|Pte. H. Roberts |Enteric. 14-7-16 Amara. + | | ... + 1757|Pte. P. Cameron |Drowned. 15-8-16 Basrah. + | | ... + S/5414|Pte. R. Craigie |Enteric. 8-7-16 Amara. + | | ... + S/10591|Pte. T. Surgener |Malaria. 15-7-16 Makina. + | | ... + S/10599|Pte. J. Lewis |Enteric. 8-8-16 Sheikh-Saad. + | |Sheikh-Saad Cemetery, Grave No. 184. + S/11537|Pte. J. Preston |Dysentery 12-10-16 3 B.G.H. + | | ... + S/11540|Pte. W. Mills |Enteric. 14-7-16 Amara. + | | ... + S/11709|Pte. B. McMeechan |Disease. 27-6-16 Sheikh-Saad. + | | ... + S/12115|Pte. A. Robertson |Enteric. 18-7-16 Amara. + | | ... + S/12328|Pte. J. Broadbent |Heat stroke 5-7-16 Amara. + | | ... + S/12433|Pte. J. Kirkland |Enteric. 24-7-16 Amara. + | | ... + S/12437|Pte. R. Younghusband |Enteric. 5-7-16 Amara. + | | ... + S/12474|Pte. J. Porter |Disease. 14-7-16 Amara. + | | ... + S/12519|Pte. J. Christie |Bronche. 10-6-16 Alexandria. + | |Pneumonia + | | ... + S/12531|Pte. W. Morrison |Dysentery. 22-9-16 Falaheyeh. + | | ... + S/13131|L/Cpl. W. Forbes |Dysentery. 20-7-16 Basrah. + | | ... + S/13137|Pte. F. Docherty |P.U.O. 28-6-16 Sheikh-Saad. + | |Sheikh-Saad Cemetery. + S/13144|Pte. S. Lennox |Enteritis. 22-7-16 Basrah. + | | ... + S/13145|Pte. J. McHugh |Typhoid. 28-6-16 Sheikh-Sand. + | | ... + S/13148|Pte. A. McDougall |Enteric. 28-6-16 Amara. + | | ... + S/13154|Pte. E. Ross |Dysentery. 20-7-16 Amara. + | | ... + S/13160|L/Cpl. J. Selkirk |Disease. 29-6-16 S.S. Mejidieh. + | |Christian Burial-ground, Kurna, Row B, Grave 14. + S/13176|Pte. F. Tait |Drowned. 23-6-16 Sheikh-Saad. + | | ... + 13191|Pte. J. Carroll |Disease. 29-6-16 S.S. Mejidieh. + | |Christian Burial-ground, Kurna, Row B, Grave 13. + S/13192|Pte. J. Connelly |Heat-stroke 26-6-16 Sheikh-Saad. + | |Sheikh-Saad Cemetery. + S/13225|Pte. T. Davidson |Enteric. 2-7-16 Amara. + | | ... + S/13227|Pte. R. Boyd |Enteritis. 30-6-16 The Field. + | | ... + S/13233|Pte. J. Reddie |Heat-stroke 2-7-16 3 B.G.H. + | | ... + S/13234|Pte. N. Sweeney |Dysentery. 21-7-16 Sheikh-Saad. + | |Sheikh-Saad Cemetery, Grave No. 18. + S/13243|Pte. J. Bain |Disease. 28-6-16 Sheikh-Saad. + | |Sheikh-Saad Cemetery, Grave No. 18. + S/13913|Pte. C. McMillan |Malaria. 3-7-16 Amara. + | | ... + S/13982|Pte. J. Duff |Enteric. 8-7-16 Amara. + | | ... + S/13989|Pte. J. King |Enteric. 4-3-17 3 B.G.H. + | |Hakameyeh Cemetery, Grave No. D-9 + S/14009|Pte. G. Carson |Drowned. 13-1-17 The Field. + | | ... + S/14016|Pte. A. Flynn |Enteric. 12-7-16 Amara. + | | ... + S/15105|Pte. E. Gay |Dysentery. 26-12-16 R. Boat P-53. + | | ... + S/15666|Pte. A. Bewick |Jaundice. 25-6-17 16 C.C. Station. + | | ... + 17512|Pte. C. Rattray |Dysentery. 7-12-16 32 B.G.H. + | |Amara Cemetery, Plot C, Row 4, No. 9. + -------+----------------------+--------------------------------------------------- + + +_Nominal Roll of W.Os., N.C.Os., and men of the 2nd Battalion reported +'Missing' or 'Wounded and missing' during the service of that Unit in +I.E.F. "D"._ + +(up to 31st July 1917). + + +----------+-----------------------+----+----------------------+ + Regimenta | Rank and Name. |Coy.| | + No. | | | | + +----------+-----------------------+----+----------------------| + S/7159 |L/C. Beattie, L. | 4 |Missing, 7-1-16. | + 3/5192 |Pte. Black, W. | 3 |W. and M., 7-1-16. | + S/5198 |Pte. Dixon, J. | 2 |Do. | + S/10496 |L/C. Haig, W. | 1 |Do. | + 3/2483 |Pte. Hutchison, G. | 3 |Do. | + 9661 |Pte. McConville, T. | 4 |Do. | + S/7753 |Pte. Menelaws, G. | 1 |Missing, 7-1-16. | + S/10323 |Pte. Miller, J. | 3 |W. and M., 7-1-16. | + S/8005 |Pte. Nicholson, T. | 2 |Missing, 7-1-16. | + 3/2901 |Pte. Smith, C. | 1 |Do. | + S/7159 |Pte. Wilson, G. | 4 |Do. | + S/7056 |L/C. Carmichael, B. | 1 |Missing, 8-1-16. | + 8408 |C.Q.M.S. Jessop, A. | 2 |Do. | + 2718 |Pte. McKnight, J. | 2 |Do. | + 1110 |Pte. Duncan, D. | 2 |Do. | + | | | Died a Prisoner of | + | | | War at Mosul, 1-3-16.| + S/8257 |Pte. Campbell, H. | 2 |W. and M., 13-1-16. | + 1891 |Pte. Kerwin, J. | 1 |Missing, 13-1-16. | + S/8730 |Pte. Rodger, A. | 2 |W. and M., 13-1-16. | + S/8319 |Pte. Armstrong, G. | 3 |W. and M., 21-1-16. | + 3/3389 |Pte. Bain, J. | 2 |Missing, 21-1-16. | + S/9034 |Pte. Barnes, C. | 1 |Do. | + 1166 |Pte. Baxter, F. | 1 |Do. | + 1862 |L/C. Birse, A. | 3 |W. and M., 21-1-16. | + S/8750 |Pte. Bradie, J. | 2 |Missing, 21-1-16. | + S/8496 |Pte. Cairns, W. | 2 |Do. | + S/8912 |Pte. Chapman, A. | 4 |Do. | + S/8417 |Pte. Crerar, J. .. | 2 |Do. | + S/7104 |Pte. Dalziell, G. | 2 |Do. | + 1234 |Pte. Docherty, N. | 1 |Do. | + 3/2872 |Pte. Dunleavy, A. | 2 |Do. | + S/8874 |Pte. Fairfull, J. | 1 |Do. | + 166 |A/C. Gair, M. | 1 |Do. | + 3/2282 |Pte. Garland, P. | 4 |Do. | + 10475 |Pte. Grey, J. | 1 |Do. | + S/8452 |Pte. Hamilton, D. | 1 |Do. | + 9260 |Sgt. Humm, T. | 2 |W. and M., 21-1-16. | + 10338 |Pte. Ireland, G. | 3 |Missing, 21-1-16. | + S/10161 |Pte. James, G. | 4 |W. and M., 21-1-16. | + S/10147 |Pte. Law, S. | 1 |Missing, 21-1-16. | + S/10337 |Pte. Leach, R. | 1 |Do. | + 1084 |Pte. McBride. G. | 1 |Do. | + S/3984 |Pte. McComb, A. | 1 |Do. | + SRA/10442 |Pte. McKenzie, J. | 4 |Do. | + S/7574 |Pte. Matheson, P. | 1 |Do. | + S/2941 |L/C. Menzies, J. | 4 |Do. | + S/7936 |Pte. Mitchell, J. | 1 |Do. | + S/8688 |Pte. Mitchell, W. | 3 |Do. | + 1921 |A/C. Murray, R. | 1 |Do. | + S/10207 |A/S. Newton, R. | 3 |W. and M., 21-1-16. | + S/8494 |Pte. Ormiston, T. | 3 |Do. | + 887 |C.S.M. Oswald, W. | 1 |Missing, 21-1-16. | + 1802 |Pte. Paton, J. | 1 |Do. | + 10501 |Pte. Pollock, D. | 1 |Do. | + S/7120 |Pte. Rennie, S. | 2 |Do. | + 659 |Pte. Robertson, N. | 1 |Do. | + 1605 |A/C. Shand, D. | 2 |Do. | + 634 |Pte. Shaw, J. | 3 |W. and M., 21-1-16. | + 3/3970 |Pte. Sim, D. | 1 |Missing, 21-1-16. | + S/7658 |L/C. Spriggs, W. | 3 |W. and M., 21-1-16. | + 8/3854 |L/C. Swan, T. | 4 |Missing, 21-1-16. | + S/8880 |Pte. Thomson, P. | 3 |Do. | + S/7621 |Pte. Vanbeick, A. | 2 |Do. | + S/8744 |Pte. Weatherspoon, R. | 2 |Do. | + 10242 |Pte. Westrop, W. | 1 |Do. | + S/8932 |Pte. Whyte D. | 3 |W. and M., 21-1-16. | + S/6733 |Pte. Wilkins, E. | 1 |Missing, 21-1-16. | + 1989 |Pte. Wilson, R. | 3 |Do. | + S/7902 |Pte. Worthington, H. | 1 |W. and M., 21-1-16. | + S/10029 |Pte. Irving, R. | 1 |Missing, 28-1-16. | + S/7032 |Cpl. Cumming, G. | 3 |W. and M., 6-4-16. | + S/10576 |Pte. Barbour, W. | 2 |Missing, 22-4-16. | + 8/11800 |Pte. Beattie, G. | 3 |Do. | + 898 |Pte. Beveridge, J. | 2 |Do. | + S/10641 |Pte. Buchan, J. | 2 |Do. | + S/10579 |Pte. Campbell, J. | 3 |Do. | + 682 |Pte. Carr, A. | 4 |Do. | + S/9850 |Pte. Churchard, R. | 3 |W. and M., 22-4-16. | + S/10563 |Pte. Clark, T. | 2 |Missing, 22-4-16. | + S/4235 |Pte. Cranson, J. | 1 |Missing, 22-4-16. | + S/9562 |Pte. Currie, W. | 2 |Do. | + S/8638 |Pte. Fleming, W. | 2 |Missing, 22-4-16. | + | | | Officially reported | + | | | killed in action, | + | | | 22/4. | + S/10581 |Pte. Ford, W. | 3 |Missing, 22-4-16. | + S/10560 |Pte. Gouge, F. | 2 |Do. | + 3/8960 |Cpl. Green, H. | 2 |Do. | + S/8594 |Pte. Hamilton, J. | 3 |Do. | + S/10671 |Pte. Hamilton, D. | 2 |Do. | + S/10644 |Pte. Henderson, W. | 4 |W. and M., 22-4-16. | + S/11758 |Pte. Kirkham, W. | 2 |Missing, 22-4-16. | + S/9501 |Pte. Lauchlan, W. | 2 |Do. | + S/10568 |Pte. Low, W. | 2 |Do. | + S/11966 |Pte. McCarthy, A. | 2 |Do. | + S/10135 |Pte. McGlennon, J. | 2 |Do. | + 3/4223 |Pte. McGregor, A. | 4 |Do. | + S/10662 |Pte. McLaren, J. | 2 |Do. | + 1889 |Pte. McLean, R. | 3 |Do. | + 2635 |Pte. Marshall, D. | 1 |Do. | + S/4379 |Pte. Marshall, G. | 3 |Do. | + S/7697 |Pte. Montgomery, H. | 1 |Do. | + S/11286 |Pte. Morgan, G. | 4 |W. and M., 22-4-16. | + S/3346 |Pte. Morrison, D. | 1 |Missing, 22-4-16. | + 8166 |Pte. Morrison, S. | 1 |Do. | + S/10536 |L/C. Ramsay, J. | 2 |Do. | + S/11751 |Pte. Russell, J. | 2 |Do. | + S/11557 |Pte. Smith, A. | 2 |Do. | + S/11753 |Pte. Smith, E. | 2 |Do. | + S/3708 |Pte. Sinclair, J. | 1 |Do. | + S/11390 |Pte. Stewart, J. | 1 |Do. | + S/11607 |Pte. Styles, S. | 1 |Do. | + 1459 |L/C. Torrance, G. | 3 |Do. | + S/4076 |Pte. Walker, J. | 1 |W. and M., 22-4-16. | + 7908 |C.S.M. Wilkie, A. | 1 |Missing, 22-4-16. | + 2772 |Pte. Whyte, R. | 4 |Missing, 22-4-16. | + | | | Officially accepted | + | | | as having died | + | | | between 22-4-16 and | + | | | 2-2-17. | + S/4239 |Pte. Wilson, R. | 1 |Missing, 22-4-16. | + S/10674 |Pte. Wilson, J. | 2 |Missing, 22-4-17. | + | | | Officially reported | + | | | killed in action, | + | | | 22-4-16. | + S/10668 |Pte. Wilson, J. | 2 |Missing, 22-4-16. | + S/10540 |L/C. Wood, C. | 1 |Missing, 22-4-16. | + | | | Officially | + | | | reported killed | + | | | in action, 22-4-16. | + S/15657 |Pte. Carlyle, W. | 1 |Missing, 14-3-17. | + 15613 |Pte. Cook, J. | 1 |W. and M. 14-3-17. | + 3/10222 |Pte. Harris, A. | 2 |Do. | + S/11776 |Pte. Hewitt, G. | 1 |Do. | + S/11307 |L/C. Hutchison, J. | 1 |Do. | + S/15892 |Pte. Jennings, R. | 1 |Do. | + S/15080 |Pte. Watt, J. | 4 |Do. | + S/13905 |Pte. Batchelor, C. | 3 |Missing, 21-4-17. | + S/11835 |Pte. Burnett, W. | 3 |Do. | + S/3569 |Pte. Campbell, J. | 4 |Do. | + 17494 |Pte. Gilfillan, T. | 2 |Do. | + | |____| | + | TOTAL |125 |Of whom 4 have now | + | | | been officially | + | | | reported as died or | + | | | killed in action. | + +---------+-----------------------+----+----------------------+ + + + Total Missing, battle of 7th Jan. 1916 11 + Do. do. 13th January 1916 3 + Do. do. 21st January 1916 50 + Do. do. 22nd April 1916 44 + Do. do. 14th March 1917 7 + Do. do. 21st April 1917 4 + Missing, various dates 6 + + +PRISONERS OF WAR. + + ------------+---------------------+----+----------------------+ + Regimental | | | | + No. | Rank and Name |Coy.| | + ------------+---------------------+----+----------------------+ + SRA/10254 | Pte. Cottle, T. | 1 |Pris. of War, Mosul. | + | | | Captured, 7-1-16. | + S/11543 | Pte. McDonald, G. | .. |Pris. of War, Afion | + | | | Kara Hissar, Captured| + | | | 22-4-16. | + SRA/10062 | Pte. Debnam, J. | 4 |Captured, 21-1-16. | + | | | Released in September| + | | | 1916 and invalided | + | | | to India. | + ------------+---------------------+----+----------------------+ + + + + +GENERAL HEAD QUARTERS. + +I.E.F. "D." + +ORDER OF THE DAY, No. 53. + + +After a period of severe and strenuous fighting extending with only +short pauses over a period of two months, I wish to express to the +Navy, to Lieut.-Generals Marshall and Cobb, to the Divisional and +Brigade Commanders, to the staffs including my own and to all ranks of +the fighting troops, my warmest thanks for their splendid work and my +congratulations on their brilliant successes. To the Regimental +Officers, N.C.Os. and men, a special word is due for their matchless +heroism and fighting spirit, and for their grit and determination so +fully in accord with the best traditions of British and Indian +Regiments. Whilst regretting deeply the casualties necessarily +incurred in the attainment of our object, the series of stinging blows +dealt to the enemy, his severe losses which are out of all proportion +to the size of his force and his obviously faltering spirit afford +ample proof to all ranks that their sacrifices have not been made in +vain. My thanks too are due to Major-General MacMunn, to the Director +and their assistants and to all ranks of the Administrative Services +and Departments, both in the field and on the lines of communication +who in face of unexampled difficulties have by sterling work and +energy risen superior to them and regularly met the needs of the +fighting troops with ample supplies, stores and munitions without +which the loss of lives would have been considerably increased and +success rendered impossible, and have been the means of providing +every comfort, attainable for the sick and wounded. To each and every +member of the Navy and Army and to those who, though not belonging to +either of the services have helped to bring about the results achieved +I tender my earnest thanks for their wholehearted and magnificent +efforts. The end is not yet; but with such absolute co-operation and +vigour animating all continuance of our success is assured. + + (SD.) F. S. Maude, Lieut.-Gent., + _Commanding I.E.F. "D."_ + _15th February 1917._ + + * * * * * + +GENERAL HEAD QUARTERS. + +I.E.F. "D." + +ORDER OF THE DAY, No. 64. + + +I have received the following message from His Imperial Majesty the +King-Emperor:-- + + "March 11th.--It is with greatest satisfaction that I have + received the good news that you have occupied Baghdad. I heartily + congratulate you and your troops on the success achieved under so + many difficulties.--George R.I." + +I have sent the following reply:-- + + "March 12th.--Your Imperial Majesty's gracious message has been + communicated to all ranks of the forces serving in Mesopotamia by + whom it has been received with feelings of intense gratitude, + loyalty and devotion. The difficulties by which we have been + confronted have only increased our determination to surmount + them." + + +The following are some of the other messages received and replies +sent:-- + +From His Excellency the Viceroy of India:-- + + "March 13th.--My most hearty congratulations to yourself and the + troops under your command on the capture of Baghdad which has + been achieved by their gallantry and devotion to duty." + + "March 14th.--Your Excellency's kind message has been received + with sincere gratitude by all ranks of the forces in Mesopotamia. + Nothing could have exceeded the valour and endurance of the + troops both British and Indian under trying conditions." + + * * * * * + +From The Grand Duke Nicholas:-- + + "March 10th.--I and the Caucasus Army send heartiest + congratulations on the new success won by the glorious troops + under your command. The Caucasus Army will do all in their power + to further your developments and successes." + + "March 12th.--On behalf of the troops serving in Mesopotamia I + beg to thank your Imperial Highness very warmly for kind message + which is much appreciated by us all. Our Russian comrades in + Caucasus may rest assured that we shall continue to do our utmost + to assist their operations already so successfully commenced." + + * * * * * + +From the Right Hon'ble the Secretary of State for War:-- + + "March 13th.--His Majesty's Government desire me to convey to you + and all ranks under your command their cordial congratulations on + the noble feat of arms which has led to your occupation of + Baghdad. They fully recognise the difficulties which you have + faced and overcome and wish to express their high appreciation of + the skilful plan of operations, the careful co-ordination of the + administrative work and the courage and endurance of the troops." + + "March 14th.--Your message conveying approbation of His Majesty's + Government with respect to our efforts has been received with + widespread pleasure by all ranks of the forces in Mesopotamia. + The difficulties by which we were met were soon swept aside by + the dauntless valour and endurance of the troops ably seconded by + the thorough and smooth working of the administrative services." + + * * * * * + +From His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief in India:-- + + "March 12th.--To you and your gallant troops I desire to convey + my own and the warmest congratulations of all ranks in India on + your splendid achievements. The valour, devotion to duty and + determination which have defeated a stubborn enemy and culminated + in the capture of Baghdad evoke our highest admiration." + + "March 14th.--All ranks of the forces in Mesopotamia thank Your + Excellency most warmly for your most kind message. It is a + particular source of satisfaction to us to feel that our efforts + are appreciated so thoroughly by our comrades in India. British + and Indian troops have vied with each other in valour and + endurance and difficulties met with have only stimulated our + determination to surmount them." + + * * * * * + +From Admiral Sir David Beatty, G.C.B., K.C.V.O., D.S.O.:-- + + "March 12th.--Please accept, on behalf of the Grand Fleet and + myself, our admiration and congratulations upon the magnificent + achievement in capturing Baghdad by the gallant forces under your + command." + + "March 14th.--Your message has been received with widespread + pleasure by all ranks of the forces in Mesopotamia. During + operations the Navy has, as usual, played its part nobly. We are + particularly proud at receiving congratulations from the Grand + Fleet, which has itself done much superb work consistently during + past two and a half years." + + * * * * * + +From Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig, G.C.B., G.C.V.O., K.C.I.E., +Commander-in-Chief Armies in France:-- + + "March 16th.--Your brilliant achievements and continued successes + are a great delight and a great encouragement to all ranks under + my command." + + "March 16th.--Most grateful for kind message--much valued." + + * * * * * + +From Vice-Admiral Sir Rosslyn E. Wemyss, K.C.B., C.M.G., M.V.O., Naval +Commander-in-Chief, British East Indies:-- + + "March 14th.--Please accept hearty congratulations of self and + whole of Indian Squadron on your splendid success. I am proud to + think that the Royal Navy has been able to co-operate with your + troops." + + "March 16th.--Most grateful to you and East Indies Squadron for + kind message. Royal Navy here have co-operated with our + operations brilliantly." + + * * * * * + +From General Sir Archibald Murray, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., C.V.O., D.S.O., +Commander-in-Chief, Egyptian Expeditionary force:-- + + "Your splendid series of successes are being watched with the + profoundest delight and gratification by all ranks of the + Egyptian Force. Bridging operations must have been grandly + carried out. Once more our heartiest congratulations." + + "Most grateful for kind message. All ranks appreciate it, + especially coming as it does from a Commander and troops who have + themselves done so brilliantly. Our troops here have been quite + magnificent." + + * * * * * + +From Lieut.-General G. F. Milne, C.B., D.S.O., Commander-in-Chief +British Forces at Salonika:-- + + "March 12th.--Hearty congratulations to you and your Army from + all ranks of the Salonika Force." + + "March 13th.--We all thank you very warmly for kind message." + + * * * * * + +From Major-General A. R. Hoskins, C.M.G., D.S.O., Commanding East +African Force:-- + + "March 13th.--Hearty congratulations from all ranks East African + Force to Mesopotamian Force on brilliant achievements." + + "March 16th.--Most grateful for kind message much appreciated by + us all." + + * * * * * + +From the Right Hon'ble the Lord Mayor of London:-- + + "March 13th.--The City of London sends hearty congratulations on + the capture of the historic City of Baghdad." + + "March 14th.--Your Lordship's kind message conveying + congratulations of the City of London is very warmly appreciated + by all ranks of the forces in Mesopotamia. Qualities of courage + and endurance displayed by troops throughout operations have been + superb." + + F. S. MAUDE, _Lieut.-General_, + Commanding Indian Expeditionary Force "D." + _30th March 1917._ + + * * * * * + +GENERAL HEAD QUARTERS. + +I.E.F. "D." + +ORDER OF THE DAY, No. 66. + + +In pursuance of the authority delegated to me by His Imperial Majesty +the King-Emperor, I make the following awards for gallantry and +distinguished service in the field:-- + +_Awarded the Military Cross._ + +CAPTAIN ROBERT MACFARLANE--For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to +duty. Although wounded early in the action he continued to lead his +Company with great determination until the evening, when the position +was finally taken by a bayonet charge. With great courage and skill he +led his Company up to a position from which he was able to enfilade +the enemy at close range, thereby greatly assisting the charge. + +SECOND-LIEUTENANT BENJAMIN SMITH HOUSTON,--For conspicuous gallantry +and ability in leading the second line of his battalion with excellent +judgment under heavy fire. After reinforcing the first line he took +command of the left portion of it including some 60 men of an Indian +Infantry regiment who were without an officer and led them on during +the charge and subsequent advance on the railway station. He had +recently done fine work when in command of a patrol. + + +_Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal._ + +No. 1081, SERGEANT JAMES STRACHAN--For conspicuous gallantry and +ability in action. When all four of his Company Officers had been +wounded, he took command of the left flank of the battalion. He ably +directed their fire and later led forward what remained of his company +across the open and drove the enemy out of his position taking some +prisoners. + +NO. 19438, LANCE-CORPORAL GEORGE MCGABE,--For conspicuous gallantry +and resource during operations. Seeing that a gap existed between an +Indian Regiment and his own, and that the former in this locality had +lost all their officers, he took charge of their Lewis guns and filled +the gap. Later, he was conspicuous for his gallantry in leading the +Indian Infantrymen in the charge across the open. + + +_Awarded the Military Medal._ + +No. 2262, SERGEANT FRANK CONNEL. + + F. S. MAUDE, _Lieut.-General_, + Commanding I.E.F. "D". +_31st March 1917._ + + * * * * * + +GENERAL HEAD QUARTERS. + +I.E.F. "D." + +ORDER OF THE DAY, No. 76. + + +His Imperial Majesty the King-Emperor, has conveyed the following +message to me:-- + + "May 8th.--The series of successes achieved in defeating the + Turkish Forces brought against you since your capture of Baghdad + reflect the very highest credit upon you and all ranks under your + command. Your progress is all the more appreciated by your fellow + countrymen in that they are conscious of the trying conditions + under which your troops have fought.--George R.I." + +The following reply has been sent by me:-- + + "May 9th.--Your Imperial Majesty's gracious message expressing + approbation of our recent successes has filled all ranks of the + Navy and Army in Mesopotamia with loyal enthusiasm. The valour + and devotion to duty of the troops conscious of their superiority + over the enemy have been superb, whilst in spite of great heat + recently experienced their health remains most satisfactory." + + * * * * * + +From the Right Hon'ble the Secretary of State for War:-- + + "May 8th.--War Cabinet desire me to convey their high + appreciation of your recent operations which have resulted in the + defeat of the enemy's forces and the successful occupation of the + greater part of the Baghdad Vilayat. The splendid spirit and + gallantry displayed by the troops under trying climatic + conditions and the skill shown by your subordinate commanders + merit high commendation and are a proof of the efficiency and + devotion to duty of all ranks of the force under your command." + + "May 9th.--Your telegram conveying approval of War Cabinet at + success of our recent operations is greatly appreciated by all + ranks in Mesopotamia. Fighting spirit and endurance of troops + have been admirable throughout in spite of great heat recently." + + F. S. MAUDE, _Lieut.-General_, + Commanding Indian Expeditionary Force "D." + _11th May 1917._ + + * * * * * + +GENERAL HEAD QUARTERS. + +I.E.F. "D." + +ORDER OF THE DAY, No. 82. + + +In pursuance of the authority delegated to me by His Imperial Majesty +the King-Emperor, I make the following award for gallantry and +distinguished service in the field:-- + +_Awarded a Bar to Distinguished Conduct Medal._ + +No. 1543, SERGEANT CHARLES EASTON.--For conspicuous gallantry in +action. Seeing that an officer had been hit some 80 yards in front of +his post and was unable to move owing to continuous sniping, he ran +forward, dressed his wounds, and got him back to the river bank. As +sniping still continued, he swam the river, supporting the wounded +Officer, and gained the other bank. Had the Officer not been moved, he +must again have been hit by the enemy's snipers who were within 300 +yards. + + F. S. MAUDE, _Lieut.-General_, + Commanding Indian Expeditionary Force "D." + _17th June 1917._ + + * * * * * + +GENERAL HEAD QUARTERS. + +MESOPOTAMIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. + +ORDER OF THE DAY, No. 96. + + +In pursuance of the authority delegated to me by His Imperial Majesty +the King-Emperor, I make the following awards for gallantry and +distinguished service in connection with operations in the field +covering the period April 1st to September 30th, 1917, inclusive. + +_Awarded Second Bar to Distinguished Conduct Medal._ + +No. 2702, SERGEANT WILLIAM LOGAN.--For conspicuous gallantry and +ability. At a critical moment he led forward a party of bombers under +heavy fire and controlled them with great skill until wounded. By his +courage and coolness he materially assisted in repelling a +counter-attack and in re-taking a redoubt, [Awarded D.C.M., _London +Gazette_, 20th October, 1916, Bar to D.C.M., _London Gazette_, 29th +August, 1917]. + + +_Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal._ + +No. 3-2377, PRIVATE GEORGE BEVERIDGE.--For conspicuous gallantry and +initiative. He repeatedly carried messages back from the firing line +under heavy fire and, at a critical moment, rallied his comrades +after a counter-attack and led them to the final capture of the +position. His courage and dash were most marked. + +No. 2334, PRIVATE JOSEPH CLARK.--For conspicuous gallantry and +devotion to duty. He displayed great resource and initiative in +re-organising both British and Indian troops after a counter-attack, +in time to meet successfully a second one. His bravery and coolness +throughout the day greatly encouraged his men. He has done fine work +on other occasions. + + * * * * * + + +GENERAL HEAD QUARTERS. + +MESOPOTAMIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. + +ORDER OF THE DAY. No. 102. + + +The following extract from the _London Gazette_ is published for +general information:-- + +His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the +award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned Officers, +Non-commissioned Officers and Men:-- + +WAR OFFICE, + +_26th November 1917._ + +No. 871, PRIVATE CHARLES MELVIN, Highlander Regiment +(_Kirriemuir_).--For most conspicuous bravery, coolness and resource +in action. Pte. Melvin's Company had advanced to within fifty yards of +the front-line trench of a redoubt, where, owing to the intensity of +the enemy's fire, the men were obliged to lie down and wait for +reinforcements. Pte. Melvin, however, rushed on by himself, over +ground swept from end to end by rifle and machine gun fire. On +reaching the enemy trench, he halted and fired two or three shots into +it, killing one or two enemy, but as the others in the trench +continued to fire at him, he jumped into it, and attacked them with +his bayonet in his hand, as owing to his rifle being damaged, it was +not "fixed." On being attacked in this resolute manner most of the +enemy fled to their second line, but not before Pte. Melvin had killed +two more and succeeded in disarming eight unwounded and one wounded. +Pte. Melvin bound up the wounds of the wounded man, and then driving +his eight unwounded prisoners before him, and supporting the wounded +one he hustled them out of the trench, marched them in and delivered +them over to an officer. He then provided himself with a load of +ammunition and returned to the firing line where he reported himself +to his platoon sergeant. All this was done, not only under intense +rifle and machine gun fire, but the whole way back Pte. Melvin and his +party were exposed to a very heavy artillery barrage fire. Throughout +the day Pte. Melvin greatly inspired those near him with confidence +and courage. + + W. R. MARSHALL, _Lieut.-General_, + Commanding-in-Chief, + Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force. + GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, + _6th March 1918._ + + + + +Printed and published by E. G. Pearson at the Times Press, +Bombay--2519'18 + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of With a Highland Regiment in Mesopotamia, by +Anonymous + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HIGHLAND REGIMENT IN MESOPOTAMIA *** + +***** This file should be named 22103.txt or 22103.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/2/1/0/22103/ + +Produced by Michael Ciesielski, Christine P. 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