CHAPTER VI

CTESIPHON AND THE RETIREMENT TO KUT

On November 8th the Battalion marched with a column and joined the 6th Division at El Kutunie on the 15th.

[Sidenote: Battle of Ctesiphon.]

The advance on Baghdad commenced on the 19th, by a move against the Turkish positions at Zeur, but, after an exhausting day, the enemy was found to have retired. The main body continued its march to Lajj the next day, but the 2/7th and 76th were detailed to escort the shipping round the thickly-wooded Baghailah bend, and did not arrive at Lajj till the 21st. The same evening the whole force moved out to attack the enemy in his position at Ctesiphon. The plan for the attack was as follows:—(_a_) One brigade, supported by the heavy artillery and ships, to attack, with its left on the river, the enemy position from “High Wall” to “Water Redoubt.” (_b_) One and a half brigades to attack “V.P. Redoubt” (the left of the enemy’s first line) from the east. (_c_) One brigade to attack “V.P.” from the north-east, these being supported by the Royal Field Artillery Brigade and the Howitzer Battery. (_d_) A flying column, consisting of the Cavalry Brigade, two armoured cars, Machine Gun Battery and the 76th Punjabis, to attack the left rear of the enemy, and on his retreating to pursue him to Baghdad.

The Turkish first line was about six miles in length, consisting of redoubts heavily wired and connected by fire trenches. His second line, two to three miles in rear, was not so thoroughly entrenched. The enemy numbered 18,000 and 40 guns, the British 13,000 and 32 land guns.

The night advance commenced at 7 p.m. on the 21st, Column “A” moving direct on its objective. “B,” “C,” and the Flying Columns followed the old Nahrwan Canal, each column halting on arrival at its allotted position.

The Flying Column reached its position at 3 a.m. During the march the Battalion formed the advance guard. Army transport carts, sufficient for half the men to ride in, were provided, mainly in order to facilitate a swift pursuit on the enemy retreating.

At daybreak, the guns with Column “A” could be heard away to the south-west. A few enemy camel patrols were rounded up by our cavalry and armoured cars. Columns “B” and “C” soon after advanced, and took “V.P.” after fierce fighting. At 8.15 the Flying Column advanced, cavalry on the right, 76th on the left, supported by the Machine Gun Battery and “S” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery.

To quote the official “History of the War in Mesopotamia”:—

“After advancing about 1,200 yards, the 76th came under heavy fire from enemy infantry in their front, and a hot fight ensued. The 76th, behaving with great gallantry, gained some ground, but the hostile force opposing them—evidently part of the 51st Division—was too strong, and about 10 a.m. the further advance of the 76th was definitely checked and they dug themselves in. They had suffered heavy casualties, including the loss of their two senior British officers.”

The cavalry now withdrew to ward off an Arab attack on the transport and rear of Columns “B” and “C.” The Battalion had by this time lost severely and any attempt to advance was at once stopped by enemy rifle and machine-gun fire. Meantime, many gallant actions were performed by various men, in bringing up ammunition and distributing it and bringing the wounded into the shelter of the shallow entrenchment that had been made. During this time severe fighting was taking place in the enemy second line. At about 4 p.m. the enemy counter-attacked with two fresh divisions, whose presence was, up to that time, unknown, and Columns “B” and “C” were finally ejected from the enemy’s second position.

The right of the Battalion was now attacked by about two battalions and the flank thrown back to meet the attack; the enemy advanced to within four or five hundred yards, where he was stopped. As darkness fell piquets were pushed forward and to the right flank, and the Battalion commenced to concentrate and dig itself in. The enemy showed no signs of movement. At 7 p.m. orders were received to rejoin the Brigade at “V.P.,” and this was done, very slowly and with great difficulty owing to the very large number of wounded, who had to be carried. On arrival at “V.P.” the Battalion bivouacked on the enemy’s first line trenches, and the night passed quietly. The following extract from the official history serves to show that the efforts made by all ranks on this memorable day were not without considerable effect:—“According to the Turkish account, the five infantry battalions of the 51st Division here had now all been absorbed into the firing line, which covered a front of about four miles. That they could make no further progress seems to have been due mainly to the stout fighting qualities of the 76th and the fine work of “S” Battery.”

[Sidenote: November 23rd.]

The next day the Battalion was employed collecting wounded, ammunition and equipment between the enemy’s first and second lines, and in keeping off marauding Arabs. By 3 p.m. it was evident that the enemy was advancing from the direction of Ctesiphon Arch. The Battalion was on its way back to High Wall for a much-needed rest, when it was urgently recalled to reinforce the troops holding “V.P.” It came under artillery and rifle fire on the way, and eventually took up a position in a converted Turkish communication trench, which it held all night. The Turks appeared to have lost their direction, as large bodies were moving about in the vicinity all night, but no serious attack took place, any visible movement by them being at once stopped by our fire. A patrol, under Havildar Neki, carried out a daring reconnaissance during the night and brought in valuable information.

[Sidenote: November 24th.]

Bitter cold was experienced all night, officers and men being dressed in shirts and shorts only. “V.P.” was held all the 24th under fire from guns and snipers, while the wounded were evacuated to the rear. About 4 p.m. the 24th Punjabis and 2/7th Gurkhas sent up all their water mules to the Battalion, which was highly appreciated as the men had had no food or water, except what they carried, since the night of the 21st. The final retirement to High Wall was covered by the 76th and the 76th Battery, and was completed by 6.30 p.m.

The losses of the Battalion during the three days were very heavy, viz.:—Killed: Major C. L. Perrin, 2nd-Lieutenant Gosney, Indian Army Reserve of Officers, Subadar Abdullah Khan, Jemadars Saida Khan and Umrao Singh (99th), and 42 rank and file. Wounded: Lieut.-Colonel A. C. H. Smithett, 2nd-Lieutenant Spowart, Indian Army Reserve of Officers (99th), Subadars Sohan, Mehdi Khan, and Chuni Ram (99th), Jemadars Sher Singh and Jalal Khan, and 225 rank and file. Missing, 5; died of wounds, 3; wounded and missing, 2.

Lieut.-Colonel Smithett, the Commandant, died of his wounds on the 25th, to the great regret of all ranks.

[Sidenote: The Retirement to Kut.]

During the 25th the wounded were evacuated to Lajj, one double-company piqueting the road. In the afternoon dense columns of the enemy were seen to be advancing, and the force retired under cover of darkness to Lajj, where it halted till the 27th. On the 27th at 4 p.m. the arduous retirement commenced, Aziziyeh (22 miles) being reached at 8.30 a.m., 28th, the left half battalion there covering the bridgehead. On the 30th the 30th Brigade with the 16th Cavalry and Howitzer Battery was ordered to move rapidly on Kut, where the shipping was being held up by the enemy, and marched at 8 a.m. At 4 p.m. after covering twenty miles, camp was formed for the night.

[Sidenote: Umm-al-Tubul.]

At 6.30 a.m. the Brigade was ordered to march as fast as possible back to the Division’s camp at Umm-al-Tubul, which was being attacked, in order to render it assistance. On arrival the Battalion came under shrapnel fire, and, on the division retiring, it took over the duties of rear guard and marched till 5 p.m., halted for half an hour, and then continued the retirement to Monkey Village, which was reached at 12.30 a.m. on the 2nd, having covered thirty miles. The march was resumed at 5 a.m., only interfered with by Arab snipers, and bivouac within three miles of Kut was reached at 8 p.m., all ranks being exhausted, having marched seventy miles since 8 a.m. 30th, and been on the move for forty-eight hours without food. The cold was bitter and no food or blankets could be obtained till nearly midnight.

During the retirement one man was killed, one wounded, and one missing. The strength of the Battalion on arrival in Kut, under the command of Major Cotton (99th Infantry, attached), was—Officers: British, 8; Indian, 13; rank and file, 320.

Of this retirement, the Official History relates:—“For over twelve days General Townshend’s force—largely composed of young soldiers—had been fighting, marching or working continuously, frequently without sufficient food or water and often deprived of sleep. This forty-four miles’ march (General Melliss’ Column did fifty-one miles) coming, under pressure from the enemy, at the end of this period and carried out in thirty-six hours, was therefore, a severe test of discipline. Their soldierly execution of it must arouse our admiration and add greatly to the reputation they had already won.”

The following decorations were subsequently awarded for these operations:—Distinguished Service Order, 1; Indian Order of Merit, 1; Indian Distinguished Service Medal, 2.

Many very deserving rewards could not be granted owing to the loss of the recommendations during the siege.