- Heavy weather accompanied us all the way to Kerachi
the men suffered badly from sea sickness.
- My first glimpse of Mesopotamia, or Irak, was an arid beach
and hundreds of palm trees.
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The Population, consisting mostly of Arabs.
- Like all oriental towns it is better if viewed from afar
for within it is filthy.
- The more enlightened Arab is by nature a tradesman
& many of them had experienced the benefits of English rule.
- An unsatisfactory manoeuvre
devoid of any definite objective.
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the situation was critical.
- It was essentially a soldiers’ battle
& one which will never be forgotten.
- Traces of four rivers are still to be found there
& these are taken to be the four rivers mentioned in Genesis.
- Assuming that Noah, on starting from Ramadi, drifted
he would meet with no mound until he reached the Shatt-el-Hai.
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And after residing for some days.
- In order to ascertain if mankind was exterminated
he built the Tower of Babel.
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Kept in very good repair.
- Alexander the Great on his return from the conquest of India
dropped anchor & proceeded to Babylon.
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The Kalifs founded Baghdad.
- The Arch of Ctesiphon was built 12,000 years ago
by Chosroe King of the Medes as a palace.
- If Mesopotamia remains under British rule it will become great
even supplanting Egypt.
- In the Turkish Empire, nothing is manufactured
everything is imported.
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Wassman & Leikleiser
- Several Germans were captured
& a few were killed by Arabs.
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Covered with reeds.
- Eating tinned food was not conducive to good health
but it was impossible to feed the troops on local fresh produce.
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but Luckily no one was hurt.
- Guns were placed on 2 bellums lashed abreast
& sheet iron shields were erected as protection.
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Which were all mounted on ships & barges.
- Very heavy casualties were expected
one could hardly expect otherwise.
- The general display of energy of the infantry
greatly impressed me.
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The Yeomen of Hampshire.
- My captain was shot
as he was giving the order to charge.
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Again the work of the Hampshire Howitzers.
- I began to realise the horrors of warfare
the sight of the mangled dead will ever remain in my mind.
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The 16th Brigade on ships.
- Several land mines were found
many large sea-mines were collected in the main stream.
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Clyo, Odin, Comet, the British residents of Baghdads yacht.
- We were billeted in the courtyard of Ezra’s Tomb
& occupied some small dirty rooms.
- A formidable obstruction
had been constructed across the Tigris.
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And about 20 soldiers.
- The “Mosul” full of wounded displayed the white flag
the “Bulbull” was sunk by gunfire.
- Hundreds of the enemy were seen
making their way towards the marshes.
- The whole lot were taken into custody
by the one marine.
- 200 men were immediately disembarked
& the situation saved.
- We were obliged to make many sanitary improvements
as well as turn the coffee house into a respectable Mess.
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Antimony.
- It was similar to all oriental bazaars
very dirty & always crowded.
- Dysentry and sunstroke cases were filling the Hospitals
& deaths were very frequent.
- Our country were being hoodwinked
as to the real conditions existing in Mesopotamia.
- I was machine gun officer to the regiment
and I took out the guns to test them.
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For our advanced post which had been pushed forward to Kuwait.
- The Union Jack was hoisted
& the Royal Salute was sounded off.
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So having left a small garrison.
- The mechanics were from the Australian Flying Corps
with a few men from British infantry units.
- We had excellent sport sand grouse shooting
there were thousands of these birds.
- One’s first trip in an aeroplane
I found to be most exciting & most interesting.
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But my pilot, an old hand did so.
- To be a good observer requires patience
as does the use of field glasses.
- We heard that the machine had come down in the desert
not far from the enemy’s trenches.
- Our cavalry patrols captured a Turkish officer
& two men who were caught unawares.
- The risk of being hit by shell fire was less
than if landing on rough ground.
- The defences were very formidable
being strengthened with barbed wire.
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Less 20th Punjabis.
- It was decided to envelope the enemy’s left flank
and attempt to cut off the retreat of his force.
- The night was pitch dark and moving over the rough ground
was rather a perilous undertaking.
- We carried white flags and ground sheets
to mark out the aerodromes.
- We saw the Dorsets charge
and a mass of bursting Howitzer shells.
- The Turks were beating a hasty retreat
pursued by our cavalry & armoured motor cars.
- The troops could go no further
we had been 24 hours away from water.
- The Turks opened Shrapnel fire on us
which caused us to move off a bit quicker!
- Lieut Hungerford gave me a whiskey & soda
and I slept like log.
- The Turks on the right bank had retired
up that side of the river to Baghdad.
- An excellent meal of bread sardines, oxo
bully beef & cocoa.
- Sir John Nixon was led away by ambition
and self glorification.
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About 2 miles downstream on the right bank in the loop of the river.
- All the inhabitants of Azizeh had flown
leaving only cats and dogs roaming about.
- The Turks proved to be too elusive
we only succeeded in capturing three men.
- I never succeeded in actually hitting a steamer
though I have been near on several occasions.
- They worked wonders with the dilapidated machines
and scanty material at hand.
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And drafts arrived.
- Many of us were very much surprised to be moving on
with such a totally inadequate force.
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The Turkish advance post retiring on Zuer.
- A rumour became current that the Turks were advancing
down the right bank onto Kutunie.
- The cover of the jet broke & we were forced to land
on appalling ground.
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Rearguard consisting of a double company of the 48th Pioneers.
- Several bullets hit the aeroplane’s body
& many flew through the wings.
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Just able to pull up the machine.
- Major Reilly was brought down by a rifle bullet hitting his engine
& became a prisoner.
- Map
Map
- The Turks were escaping the entrenchments
their main force was on the left bank.
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Lt Fulton RFC.
- I could see the dust knocked up by the shrapnel
& the dead Turks lying in dozens around.
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However Lt Barton & 50 men of the Dorset regt.
- Unfortunately they were obliged to retire
in front of a strong detachment of Turks.
- These poor fellows were removed in ordinary A.T. Carts
it was a disgrace to any civilized nation.
- We could take water & biscuits off the Turks
killed in the previous night.
- Townshend could have done nothing
except remind Nixon of his original objection in writing.
- Our casualties were 4,500
while the Turks admitted losing 8000 men.
- One could not but commiserate with Gen Townshend
who so ably commanded his troops.
- A quantity of tents were left standing
to deceive the enemy.
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As I heard later from a German officer present.
- A most murderous fire was opened by Arabs
bullets were hitting the wounded.
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Save perhaps that had I not compelled the S&T officer with great difficulty to supply food without the official indent.
- I will not dwell upon the suffering of the wounded
caused by inadequate arrangements.
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On Dec 4th Sir John Nixon & the Army Staff left Kut.
- He was recalled to England to answer & explain
I presume for his blunderings.
- Sir John Nixon being all out for self glorification
at the expense of his countrymen.
- My regiment lost very heavily in officers
amongst them my best friends in the regiment.