The Thirteenth Hussars in the Great War
[Illustration:
_From a photograph by The Mendoza Galleries._
_Lt. Col. J. J. Richardson. D.S.O. Commanding 13^{th} Hussars from
August 1915 to the present time._]
The
Thirteenth Hussars in the
Great War
BY
THE RIGHT HON.
SIR H. MORTIMER DURAND
G.C.M.G., K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E.
_WITH MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS_
William Blackwood and Sons
Edinburgh and London
1921
_ALL RIGHTS RESERVED_
_DEDICATION_
To the Unfading Memory of the
_OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, AND MEN OF THE REGIMENT WHO LAID
DOWN THEIR LIVES DURING THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918_.
“I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,
Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;
The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,
That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;
The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,
The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.”
--(_Ode to Duty_, by the late Sir CECIL SPRING RICE,
G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O.)
CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE
I. INTRODUCTORY 1
II. CAVALRY BEFORE THE GREAT WAR 3
III. EARLIER HISTORY OF THE REGIMENT 17
IV. 1910-1914--OUTBREAK OF THE GREAT WAR 42
V. THE INDIAN ARMY--BEGINNING OF WAR 55
VI. VOYAGE TO FRANCE 60
VII. 1915 IN FRANCE 67
VIII. 1916 89
IX. MESOPOTAMIA 98
X. SUMMER IN LOWER MESOPOTAMIA 109
XI. MARCH TO THE FRONT--MAUDE’S PLAN OF CAMPAIGN 124
XII. DECEMBER 12, 1916-FEBRUARY 24, 1917--FIGHTING ON THE
TIGRIS 140
XIII. THE RECAPTURE OF KUT--RETREAT OF THE TURKS 158
XIV. THE FIGHT AT LAJJ, 5TH MARCH 1917 173
XV. OCCUPATION OF BAGHDAD 200
XVI. OPERATIONS IMMEDIATELY AFTER CAPTURE OF BAGHDAD 216
XVII. THE SUMMER OF 1917 229
XVIII. AUTUMN OF 1917--RAMADIE, MENDALI, TEKRIT 235
XIX. WINTER OF 1917-18 262
XX. THE SUMMER OF 1918--KULAWAND AND TUZ KERMATLI 272
XXI. THE AUTUMN OF 1918--LAST BATTLE WITH THE TURKS--CLOSE
OF THE WAR IN MESOPOTAMIA 291
XXII. SCOPE AND MEANING OF THE MESOPOTAMIAN CAMPAIGN--THE
SHARE IN IT OF THE THIRTEENTH HUSSARS 319
XXIII. RETURN TO ENGLAND--CONCLUSION 326
APPENDICES 329
INDEX 378
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PHOTOGRAVURE.
Lieut.-Col. J. J. Richardson, D.S.O., Commanding Thirteenth
Hussars from August 1915 to the Present Time _Frontispiece_
COLOURED PLATES.
Officer of the 13th Light Dragoons, 1830-1836 _To face page_ 34
Officer of the 13th Light Dragoons (undress), 1830-1836 ” 36
Before the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, 25th October
1854 ” 38
13th Light Dragoons, 1853 ” 40
Festubert ” 68
Mesopotamia ” 104
Xmas Card sent to the Regiment, 1916 ” 142
“Caprice” and Foal: Born May 1920 ” 178
Tuz Kharmatli, 29th April 1918 ” 280
The Storming of Richardson’s Bluff, 29th October 1918 ” 302
HALF-TONE PLATES.
The Drum Horse--at the Durbar _To face page_ 42
“D” Squadron--at the Durbar ” 44
The Queen at Agra ” 46
The Escort at Agra, 1st and 3rd Troops of Squadron “D” ” 48
Draft of Men and Horses detailed for the 8th Hussars, September
1914--The Band at the last Church Parade before leaving India,
November 1914 ” 52
Embarking at Bombay, November 1914 ” 56
The Departure from Bombay, 19th November 1914 ” 58
In the Suez Canal, December 1914 ” 60
In the Suez Canal, December 1914 ” 62
Major T. H. S. Marchant, D.S.O.--Col. A. Symons, C.M.G.--Major
W. A. Kennard, D.S.O.--Bt. Col. W. Pepys, D.S.O.--Lieut.-Col.
E. F. Twist ” 64
Bt. Lieut.-Col. E. J. Carter--Major R. F. Cox--Capt. Lord
Huntingfield--Capt. Norman Neill, Brig.-Major, 7th British
Cavalry Brigade--Bt. Major R. S. Hamilton-Grace, G.S.O.,
2nd Hdqrs. Cav. Corps--Capt. F. C. Covell--Bt. Major H.
Ll. Jones, D.S.O. ” 66
Capt. J. N. Lumley, M.C.--Capt. J. I. Chrystall, M.C.--Capt.
E. H. Stocker--Lieut. G. R. Watson-Smyth--Capt. J. H.
Hind--Capt. J. L. M. Barrett--Capt. J. A. Jeffrey, M.C. ” 70
2nd January to 21st February 1915: Billets of Captains Eve and
Jackson at Enquingatte--Capt. W. H. Eve--Capt. T. K. Jackson
and Lieut. J. V. Dawson--Trenches at Enquingatte dug by “D”
Squadron--School at Enquingatte where Lieut. J. V. Dawson
was billeted ” 72
February and March 1915: Farriers, “D” Squadron--Officers of
“D” Squadron--Major R. F. Cox--Officers of “D” Squadron ” 74
In the Sandpit, March 1915 ” 76
In the Sandpit, March 1915 ” 78
Hurdle Shelters, Bois du Reveillon, 15th March 1915--Billets at
Warnes, April 1915 ” 80
“D” Squadron Billets, Ochtezeele, May 1915--Quarters of “D”
Squadron at Witternesse, 6th to 19th May 1915--Quarters of
“B” Squadron, Ochtezeele, May 1915--The Chateau: Quarters
of “A” Squadron at Witternesse, June 1915--“Rags” and
“Stilts,” Ochtezeele, 3rd May 1915--On Lingham Rifle-range,
June 1915 ” 82
“D” Squadron Quarters and Mess at Bettencourt, August and September
1915--Captain Eve’s Dug-out at Authuille, September
1915--Lieut. J. V. Dawson in his Dug-out at Authuille, September
1915 ” 84
Lieut. J. I. Chrystall at Bemaville, October 1915--Hounds at
L’Abbaye, 31st March 1916 ” 88
“Caprice,” 1915--At Martainneville, March 1916 ” 90
At Feuquières, April 1916 ” 92
Lieut. Basil H. Williams, M.C.--Lieut. M. H. C. Doll--Lieut.
T. E. Lawson-Smith--Capt. J. O. Oakes--Capt. A. M.
Sassoon, O.B.E., M.C.--Lieut. W. P. Crawford-Greene--Capt.
S. V. Kennedy, M.C. ” 94
The _Islanda_ ” 96
Basra: Arab Policeman--Negro Waterman--Kurdish Water-carrier--Persian
Policeman ” 110
Basra: Basra Fort--A Creek--H. Robinson Bridge--Sindbad’s
Tower ” 112
Bridge over Ashar Creek--Huts under Construction--Ashar: Bullock
Transport--The Square, Basra _To face page_ 114
Makina: Sergeant G. Cook’s Grave--Breakfast on the March ” 122
On the Tigris ” 124
On the Banks of the Tigris ” 126
The River Front, Amara--Pontoon Bridge, Amara ” 128
Amara: The Bazaar--View from House-top--Maheilas ” 130
On the March ” 136
Lieut. B. E. H. Judkins--Lieut. R. Gore--Lieut R. C. Hill,
M.B.E.--Bt. Major Charles Steele--Lieut. M. C. Kennedy--Capt.
C. H. Gowan, M.C.--Lieut. J. W. Blyth, D.C.M. ” 138
On the Tigris--January and February 1917 ” 140
River Fort, Hai Town--On the Tigris ” 146
Lieut. D. A. Stirling--Lieut. J. A. Lord--2nd Lieut. J. F.
Munster--Sergt. W. D. Tassie, D.C.M.--S.S.-M. J. Brearley,
D.C.M. ” 150
Bussoorie: Lieut. Munster’s Grave--Graves of Lieut. Munster,
Private Killick, and a Corporal of the 14th Hussars--Private
Killick’s Grave ” 152
Captain Eve’s Charger “Follow Me” ” 156
H.M.S. _Tarantula_--Private Massey’s “Oracle,” otherwise
Coracle ” 164
Turkish Prisoners, February and March 1917--Aeroplane attached
to 7th Cavalry Brigade ” 168
Halts on the March ” 170
Sergt. P. Chipperfield--Sergt. H. Knapman--Capt. W. H. Eve--Pte.
A. Wallhead--Pte. Alfred Jones, D.C.M. ” 172
Lieut. G. R. Pedder--Lieut. E. F. Pinnington--2nd Lieut. G.
Lynch-Staunton--Lce.-Cpl. A. W. Watkins, D.C.M.--Sergt.
F. Spanton ” 174
Sergt.-Tptr. J. S. Styles--Sergt. G. Anderson--2nd Lieut. E. V.
Rolfe--Sergt. W. Gilbert--Sergt. A. Harrison ” 176
Lieut. A. M. Le Patourel--Capt. H. C. D. FitzGibbon, M.C.--Capt.
A. Vlasto, M.C., R.A.M.C.--Capt. H. G. T. Newton--Lieut.
J. H. Hirsch--Pte. J. L. Roberts, D.C.M. ” 180
Scene of the Fight at Lajj, 5th March 1917 ” 184
Scene of the Charge at Lajj, 5th March 1917--“Caprice” with
Pte. C. Hogg, who found her in May 1918, after she had been
“missing” for Fourteen Months ” 186
Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Men of the Thirteenth
Hussars who fell at Lajj, in Mesopotamia, on Monday, the 5th
of March 1917 ” 198
One of the Entrances to the Mosque at Khazimain--Ctesiphon ” 200
Capt. J. V. Dawson--Lieut. G. L. M. Welstead--2nd Lieut. J.
O. P. Clarkson--Lce.-Cpl. G. W. Bowie, D.C.M.--The Rev.
H. Cooke, C.F., M.C. ” 202
“B” Squadron on the way to the Diala--Crossing the Diala--Watering
in the Diala _To face page_ 204
The Grave in Baghdad Cemetery ” 206
Baghdad: Turkish Barracks--Army Commander’s House--British,
American, and French Consulates ” 208
A Typical Water-lift--A Persian Water-wheel near Baghdad ” 210
Turkish Cavalry Barracks outside Baghdad used as a Hospital--View
of Baghdad from Roof ” 212
The Regiment entering into Occupation of the Turkish Cavalry
Barracks at Baghdad, 13th March 1917 ” 214
Baghdad: Clock Tower in Turkish Infantry Barracks Square--A
Street in Baghdad--Framework of Hangar in Baghdad ” 216
Baghdad: Inside Turkish Cavalry Barracks ” 218
Baghdad: G.H.Q.--Hospital Ship ” 220
Baghdad: Storks--The North Gate from Inside--The Tramway,
Baghdad to Khazimain ” 222
The Diala and Khalis Canal Campaign: Departure from Baghdad--Dead
Turks--Captured Arabs awaiting Execution ” 224
Lieut. E. Bristol--Lieut. A. E. Annett--Lieut. C. A. F.
Wingfield--Major and Q.-M. A. Cooke--Lieut. W. Madgin--Lieut.
A. Williams--Lieut. L. A. Ormrod ” 228
Chaldari Camp, 1917 ” 230
Chaldari Summer Camp, 1917--The Regimental Mess ” 232
Lieut. W. G. Newman--S.S.-M. (afterwards Lieut.) C. M.
Douthwaite--Lieut. G. F. Earle--Lieut. J. W. Biggar--Lieut.
C. W. Jemmett--R.Q.-M.S. H. J. Edwards--Lieut.
A. H. Wood ” 234
F.S.-M. A. Bald--S.S.-M. A. Potter--R.S.-M. S. F. Seekins,
M.C.--Sergt. W. H. Tetheridge, D.C.M.--Cpl. J. Stevens,
D.C.M.--Cpl. G. Rayner, D.C.M. ” 240
Lieut. T. Williams-Taylor--Lieut. M. G. Hartigan, M.C.--Capt.
S. O. Robinson--S.S.-M. F. J. Tegg--Pte. F. G. Jasper ” 246
Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Men of Squadrons “B” and
“C” who fell in the Charge at Tekrit, Monday, 5th November
1917 ” 248
The Grave at Tekrit ” 254
Sergt. John Gray--Lieut. D. J. E. Norton, M.C.--Capt. F.
Norman Payne--Sergt. A. S. Newman--Pte. Wm. Thomson ” 256
Baghdad Cemetery--Capt. F. Norman Payne’s Grave in Baghdad
Cemetery ” 260
2nd Lieut. A. C. Barrington--Lieut. M. R. Farrer--Lieut. F. G.
Lawrence--Lieut. E. Goodman--Lieut. W. W. N. Davies--2nd
Lieut. E. P. Barrett--Lieut. H. G. Keswick ” 262
Capt. G. W. Rose, R.A.M.C.--Capt. E. Wordley, R.A.M.C.--Capt.
D. M. Methven (21st Lancers)--Lieut. A. C. J. Elkan--Lieut.
J. Hampson ” 268
S.Q.-M.S. S. B. Haines, D.C.M.--R.S.-M. (late Lieut.) M.
Churchhouse--Sergt. S. G. Strawbridge, D.C.M.-Lieut.
W. J. L. Norwood--2nd Lieut. J. H. Lucas _To face page_ 272
After the Charge at Kulawand--Prisoners taken at Kulawand ” 274
Capt. D. W. Godfree, M.C. (21st Lancers)--Lieut. H. Macdonald,
M.C.--Lieut. C. A. G. M‘Lagan--Capt. B. W. D. Cochrane--Sgt.
W. Matthews, M.M.--Lieut. L. Osmond ” 278
Lieut.-Col. J. J. Richardson, D.S.O., after a Hard Day at
Tuz--Machine-guns captured by the Regiment at Tuz ” 282
Guns captured at Tuz--The Bridge at Mosul and the
_Baghdad_ ” 286
Lieut.-Col. J. J. Richardson, D.S.O., September 1918 ” 292
Sergt. R. Holloway--Lce.-Sergt. Wm. Leeman--S.-Sergt. J. F.
Couch, D.C.M.--2nd Lieut. G. R. Russell--Cpl. A. Vinall,
D.C.M. ” 300
On the Way Home ” 326
A Group of Officers of the Regiment, taken in October 1920 by
Elliott & Fry ” 328
The Memorial Tablet in All Saints’ Garrison Church, Aldershot:
Dedicated and Unveiled 2nd August 1920 ” 372
ILLUSTRATIONS IN TEXT.
PAGE
Map of India 34
Germany and her Confederates 99
The Advance from Basra 124
Sketch-plan of a Perimeter Camp 125
Sketch of British Position on Tigris, December 1916 137
The Advance on Baghdad 159
Sketch-plan of Turkish Trench System 175
Baghdad and Field of Operations, 1917-1918 201
Sketch of Position at Battle of Tekrit, 5th November 1917 259
Approximate Sketch of Richardson’s Bluff Position 292
* * * * *
Thanks are tendered to Messrs. Elliott & Fry, to Messrs. Gale & Polden,
and others, for permission to copy some of the portraits reproduced in
this work.
The Thirteenth Hussars in the Great War.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
The main object of this book is to give an account of the services
rendered by the Thirteenth Hussars during the last ten years,
especially in the war which has just come to an end.
The earlier history of the Regiment has already been written, and very
fully written. On this subject the standard authority must always be
Barrett’s valuable work, which takes up the story from the beginning
and carries it on to 1910, a period of nearly two hundred years. In
order that readers of the present narrative may start with a general
knowledge of the Regiment and its past, a chapter relating to this
period has been introduced. As will be seen, it touches upon most of
the wars waged by Great Britain since the days of Marlborough. But it
is a mere summary, chiefly drawn from Barrett, and contains little new
matter.
In ordinary circumstances this summary would open the book, but any
account of the part played by a British Cavalry regiment in the late
war must of necessity have some bearing upon the larger question of the
part likely to be played by the mounted arm in any wars of the future;
and just now this question is of special interest, for it has been
freely asserted that recent changes in military conditions, notably
the vast increase in the size of armies and the development of the
aeroplane, have made Cavalry an obsolete and useless arm; and it is
important for us to know whether they have done so, or are likely to do
so. Therefore it has been thought desirable to give at the beginning
a brief review of the history of Cavalry before this war, and at the
close a few remarks upon the lessons of the war with regard to the
value of the arm under present conditions.
Perhaps the services of the Thirteenth Hussars will not lose in
interest if considered to some extent from this point of view.