TCD MS 3414 folio 73 recto
[November 1915]
of the officers of the RFC flew down to Kut. Early on Nov 30 it appeared, the Turks had evidently not known of our short march at Urm-el-Tabul, & had themselves halted the previous night within gun range of our camp: at daybreak we turned every available gun onto them causing <as I heard later from a German officer present,> 3000 casualties in their ranks. The 17th Bde thence covered the retirement of the 16th & 18th Brigades, & when they had covered about 3 miles they were met by the 30th Bde who took up a position on the right flank. This Brigade under Gen Melliss V.C. had been sent for the previous night, Capt Coventry 7th Hariana Lancers & some sowars took the message recalling the 30th Bde then 10 miles in the rear, this officer was I believe recommended for the V.C for his hazardous ride at night through the Arab country; unfortunately he was killed later with the Force attempting to retrieve Kut. On the night 29/30th, the “Mejidieh” crammed with wounded as was also the flying barge & an S&T barge which was also attached to her, was obliged to anchor at dark, as were also the other craft, owing to the shallowness of the river. At 9.30 p.m. a most murderous fire was opened from the right bank 300 yds away by Arabs, bullets were hitting the wounded and crashing through the upper works of the steamer. Hunt 7th Lancers & myself got a machine gun apiece into working order, the night being very dark, perhaps luckily for us, we could only search the banks & reply to the flashes of their rifles. After an hour of this entertainment they retired & we spent the night in peace. Col Donnaghan IMS, Major