TCD MS 10516 folio 27 verso
[14th September 1916] We, the 42nd Brigade, were to leave Nasiriyah an hour later; we were to march N. E.; endeavour to come round on the North of the village in the hope of taking the Arabs in rear when they had advanced Southward to repell the attack of the 12th Brigade. We would also secure the left flank of that Brigade as it retired to Nasiriyah; for during a retirement the Arab is a dangerous enemy; he then presses with his full strength and has a wonderful facility for sending cavalry around the flanks of a retreating enemy.
At 4.30 a.m. we crossed the bridge of boats and collected with the remainder of the Brigade at our “rendez-vous” at the fringe of the desert just outside the camps at Nasiriyah.
The Brigade Commander, Gen. F. G. Lucas D.S.O., then explained to us his