Our casualties were 4,500

TCD MS 3414 folio 70 recto

TCD MS 3414 folio 70 recto

[November 1915]

operation as the taking of Baghdad with one division. What happened actually was that on the 22nd we with 13,000 men attacked 34,000 men entrenched in a position which they had been preparing for 5 months. Besides these 34,000 men, there were a further 10,000 in Baghdad which were brought into use on our retirement to Lajj on 25th so it can be seen that before the actual battle the Turks had 44,000 men available for the defence of Baghdad to say nothing of thousands of armed Arabs who were no mean consideration; we on the other hand had a mixed Indian force of only 13,000 men including a weak Brigade of Indian Cavalry. Our casualties were 4,500 while the Turks afterwards admitted losing one complete division ie 8000 men: they could afford to lose, & if you subtract the casualties from the totals of each side it will be seen that we were obliged to retire.

Personally, I am certain that it was a blessing in disguise that we failed to enter Baghdad, for Feluga & Sanarra would of necessity <have> been occupied by at least one brigade apiece, & the two remaining brigades would have been totally inadequate to have policed such a vast armed neighbourhood, & at the same time supply a central reserve. If we had got in, not one of us would have ever got out.