The Turks were escaping the entrenchments

TCD MS 3414 folio 64 recto

TCD MS 3414 folio 64 recto

Chapter 9 The Battle of Ctesiphon. Nov 22nd – 1915.

The Turks estimated at about 24000 men were occupying the entrenchments as shown on the sketch, their main force was on the left bank, their main camp at Qusaibah, their Base of course was Baghdad. The plan of battle was roughly as follows: – The 6th Div and attached troops (30th Bde) were to attack the enemys postion on the left bank, there being no troops on the right bank except a double company guarding the bridge head at Lajj. The objective was to envelope them and cut them off from the Dialah <River>, destroy their army & occupy Baghdad. The 17th Bde under Gen Haughton was to make a frontal attack on the trenches from High Wall to the point X, General Delamain’s 16th Bde was to capture VP (Vital Point), Gen Hamilton 18th Bde was to turn V.P. and engage the Circular trench at Qusaibah, while Gen Melliss V.C. was to cut off the enemys retreat over the Dialah, by making for their two bridges over that river. The naval flotilla from the Bustan reach was to engage the New Cut defences and the enemys river craft if met with. What happened was this;- Early on the 22nd Gen Haughton attacked, & when he was within a few hundred yards of point X, Gen Nixon ordered him to change direction right & move onto V.P to help Gen Delamain who was about to assault V.P., the time being about 8.30 a.m. The Turks as a