TCD MS 3416 page 20
[May 1916]
buy up water skins at the last moment, nearly all of which we found to leak when a few miles out of Tekrit. Our Commandant made no effort to help us procure these skins, and so we were obliged to buy them at gigantic prices.
We left Tekrit on the evening of the 16th, and our marches thence forward averaged 6 hours evening and morning including halts, except one stage of 36 miles.
Hannah, a nomad camping ground, was reached next morning. During the march we were fired at by Arabs in the dark, and our guard chased them and rounded up some 25 donkeys which came in most useful for gentlemen with sore feet!
On the 18th we were up at 4.30 a.m., and started off for Kharina which we reached at 11a.m.; there we spent our time searching for food, and washing and resting under our blanket bivouacs. A short 2 hour march on the following morning took us into Sunnaich – a mere spot in the desert, consisting of one square and house and two Arab blanket tents.
Up to Sunnaich we had kept close to the river Tigris, but the march from Sunnaich to the next halting place took us