WINTER OF 1917-18.
After the lamented death of General Maude the command of the British
army in Mesopotamia devolved upon Lieut.-General Sir W. R. Marshall,
K.C.B., K.C.S.I., who had been one of the two corps commanders during
the advance on Baghdad.
In a despatch giving an account of the operations of the force during
the winter which followed General Maude’s death, General Marshall
explains in a few words the situation with which he had to deal when
he took over charge. After paying a warm tribute to the work and
character of his dead Chief, he writes: “When, therefore, I had the
honour of being appointed as his successor, the _moral_ of the army was
magnificent, while organisation and training had reached a high level
of efficiency. The Turkish army, on the contrary, was low in _moral_,
and desertions from it were numerous and frequent; on the Tigris and
Euphrates they had retreated out of rapid striking distance, and only
on our right flank was there a good opportunity of hitting them.”
[Illustration: 2nd Lieut. A. C. BARRINGTON]
[Illustration: Lieut. M. R. FARRER]
[Illustration: Lieut. F. G. LAWRENCE]
[Illustration: Lieut. E. GOODMAN]
[Illustration: Lieut. W. W. N. DAVIES]
[Illustration: 2nd Lieut. E. P. BARRETT]
[Illustration: Lieut. H. G. KESWICK]
General Marshall does not take up at this point the consideration of
any general questions outside the immediate purview of the Mesopotamian
force, but it may be observed here that the state of affairs in the
various theatres of war had of late greatly altered. The collapse
of Russia had made an immense difference in Europe, and also in
Asia, where Great Britain was now left practically alone in face of
the Turkish military power; and on the left of the great Turkish
battle-line the enemy had made a notable advance, threatening the
Caucasus and Northern Persia. On the other hand, it had now become
fairly clear that the long strain of the war was telling on the Turks,
who, it must be remembered, had entered into it when still shaken
by their recent defeat at the hands of Bulgaria. The defence of the
Dardanelles, too, though successful, had tried them more than the
world suspected, and they had not shown themselves capable of throwing
forward from their base in Asia Minor, either against General Allenby
in Palestine on their right, or against General Maude on their centre,
such masses of troops as some had expected. Indeed, on both these
fronts, the British now seemed to be numerically superior. But to
revert to the operations on the latter front.
In the circumstances presented to General Marshall he decided to attack
at once, while the weather was favourable, the Turkish 13th Corps, in
the country north-east of Baghdad, which had been so roughly handled
earlier in the year. The attack was successful; the Turks in this part
of the country were driven northwards with loss through Kara Tepe and
Kifri, and the British hold on the great main road into Persia was
securely established, whilst further progress was made in the Jebel
Hamrin range. The Turks gave considerable trouble by flooding some
tracts of land, and they, of course, resisted the British columns; but
the fighting was not very severe, and it was soon over. On the 8th of
December the bulk of the troops on this side were withdrawn into winter
camps. It will be understood that they had now reached high rough
country, where winter campaigning was not easy, and the enemy in this
quarter also had got out of reach.
The winter months were spent by General Marshall in developing supply
districts, in thoroughly opening up and establishing military control
over the Lower Euphrates, from the neighbourhood of Baghdad to the sea,
in relieving the state of famine to which the Turks had reduced some
of the western provinces of Persia, and in numerous minor operations
at various points of his widely extended charge. These, he writes,
consisted generally of reconnaissances by Cavalry and light-armoured
motor-cars, and of bombing raids by the Flying Corps. It was a winter
of consistent rain in the lowlands, with snow on the higher ground,
which made military movements difficult and threw a heavy strain on the
lines of communication.
On the other hand, as General Marshall reports, “by the middle of
December 1917 ... the military position had completely changed owing to
the magnificent successes gained by General Allenby in Palestine,” and
this greatly strengthened his hands. Much, therefore, was accomplished.
Finally, when the weather began to improve with the early spring,
it was decided that another blow must be struck at the Turks on the
left--that is, on the Upper Euphrates. In this quarter they had been
reinforced, and during the months of December and January they began
pushing their patrols down stream from Hit, where the bulk of their
troops were concentrated. General Marshall gave orders that a column
should march on Hit and drive away the Turks, and that it should be
aided in doing so by a Brigade of Cavalry. Hit was occupied on the 9th
of March, and the Turks fell back to a stronger position some miles
up the river. Here again they were attacked, and this time with great
effect. As at Ramadie, in September, the Cavalry succeeded in getting
right round into the Turkish rear and cutting off their retreat. By the
30th of March the Turkish force had been completely beaten, and the
remains of it had fled to a great distance, leaving over five thousand
prisoners in British hands.
The Thirteenth Hussars had no share in what General Marshall calls
“the magnificent work done by the Cavalry Brigade” on this occasion.
After their exertions in the autumn and early winter they were given
a rest, and remained from the middle of December 1917 until April
of the following year at a winter camp on the Tigris forty miles
above Baghdad. There they found plenty to do in training drafts and
remounts and other work of the kind, for the Regiment had suffered
considerable loss in men and horses and equipment; but for about four
months they saw no more fighting or marching, and were able to enjoy a
comparatively quiet time with some sport and amusement.
A few extracts relating to this period are given below.
* * * * *
_Extract from letter from Lieutenant G. R. Pedder, dated 4th December
1917._
“We are very messed about again--right on the right flank, and are at
[? Chai Khanna]. I am very fit. It’s pretty cold at night now on these
stunts, and I shan’t be sorry when we get back to our permanent camp.
“There are lots of geese, duck, and grouse up here; but you get no time
to go out shooting, but get shot at yourself most of the time.
“I expect Jeffrey is well on the way back by now. The daytime is
perfect now, and it is scarcely necessary to wear a topee.”
* * * * *
_From Captain Chrystall._
”_5th December 1917._
“We have been out on operations nearly a week, after a few days’ rest
in camp. As I write this we are on outpost against the Turks in the
hills, and our R.H.A. is shelling their positions, and we are getting
a few in R.S.V.P.! I am feeling very fit now in spite of the cold,
which has been very severe the last two or three nights. We are being
relieved some time this afternoon by another Brigade, and shall be back
into camp and have a little more comfort. Whilst out here, miles away
from Baghdad, a wireless message came for me, making an appointment at
the dentist!--in Baghdad to-day, a thing I had asked for about a week
ago. A great thing war is now; fancy receiving this about 120 miles out
in the blue and whilst in action.”
* * * * *
”_29th December 1917._
“I spent a very happy Xmas, and was able to arrange quite a decent
dinner for the men. We are now in winter quarters, refitting and
training again: it is so nice to have a comfortable tent to sleep in
and on a bed. The weather has been very cold, 12 degrees of frost on 2
days last week, and snow down to the bottom of the foot-hills. The army
is very well done out here now. We had frozen beef and plum-pudding and
even potatoes in rations for Xmas day. We ourselves managed to secure
a real live turkey from a neighbouring village. All you people at home
must be far worse off for food than we are, and your experiences of
air-raids cannot be any too pleasant.
“I have been playing football this afternoon for the Indian ranks of
the squadron, and got a severe kick on the ankle for my pains; it will
lay me up for a day or two.”
* * * * *
_Extract from letter from Lieutenant G. R. Pedder, dated 18th December
1917._
“We have been back here about a fortnight now, and I don’t think
we shall move again till after Xmas, at least I hope so, as it is
frightfully cold at night now, much colder than this time last year;
also, I am riding in the Baghdad Plate on the 27th and the Grand
Handicap, also 7 furlongs, on the 29th, and I am showing ‘Matches’
in the Horse Show on the 30th. There’s absolutely no news whatever.
Moreover, we haven’t got an English mail for over a month now. It must
have been sunk.
‘A’ and ‘D’ have amalgamated messes, and it is much pleasanter than
having a squadron mess.
“Fitzgibbon and Le Patourel have gone into Baghdad for a week, as only
eight officers are allowed to go there for Xmas, and those eight are
all competitors--Hartigan, Keswick, Self, Welstead, Stirling, Ormrod,
Norton, Twist.
“I am riding ‘The Witch’ in two races, the horse my servant rode and
won on during the first meeting. Box (Lieutenant Jeffrey) hasn’t got
back yet.”
* * * * *
_Extract from letter from Lieutenant G. R. Pedder, dated 19th December
1917._
“Here we are back again after what ended up in quite a mild show,
although at first we all thought it was going to be a very murky
business.
“It has turned frightfully cold. This morning I woke up to find a thick
layer of ice on the water in my water-bucket inside the tent. Thank
goodness we are back here in our standing camp, with tents galore and
plenty of clothes and food to help keep out the cold. Personally I like
it, although you have got to wear a thick greatcoat all day.
“The Colonel is down river, sick with an ulcer or something, so Twist
is commanding.
“There is a tremendous show on in Baghdad for Xmas this year. Two days’
racing, 26th and 27th--I am entering two horses for three races,--a
duck shoot, which I shall also attend, or hope to, golf tournament,
cricket, footer, hockey, &c., &c. Of course, if the rain comes it will
all probably be off.”
* * * * *
_Extract from Lance-Corporal Bowie’s Diary._
“Some 12 days later, on the 30th instant, we received sudden orders
to intercept a force of the enemy who were advancing through the
Sakaltutan Pass. After having covered some 60 miles in that direction
we came into contact with the 13th Turkish Army Corps again at about
6 P.M. on the evening of the 2nd December. We immediately
deployed and attacked them, and, after having driven in their outposts,
we succeeded in advancing close up to the mouth of the Pass, where the
Brigade held them until about 12 noon the following day, when we were
relieved by the 6th Cavalry Brigade who had been resting in bivouac
some 10 miles back. Simultaneously with this action our Infantry,
under Lieut.-General Egerton, had advanced up the right bank of the
Diala river and had cleared the whole area south of Qarah Tappah, and
were advancing to attack the Turks at the other end of the Pass. The
following morning we crossed the Shatt-el-Adhaim river and advanced up
the right bank as far as Abu-Ghuraib, where we threatened the Turkish
right flank, after which we returned in the afternoon and relieved the
6th Cavalry Brigade, who were still holding the Pass. This Brigade were
bombed in their bivouac early the next morning by two enemy airmen;
this prevented them from relieving us for some hours. Meanwhile,
General Egerton’s force, co-operating with us, had attacked the enemy
in the rear, inflicting heavy casualties among them. The enemy thus
being attacked at both ends, he succeeded in escaping over the hills
(no small feat in itself), under cover of the night. The Russian force
of Cossacks under Lieut.-Colonel Bicharakoff co-operated with us on the
right flank throughout these operations. The total British captures
were 6 Turkish officers, including a Brigadier Commander, 121 other
ranks, and 2 guns.
“On the morning of the 6th we commenced our march back to Sadiyah,
going into bivouac for the night after doing some 12 miles. The
following morning we sent out patrols to attack and disperse some
small enemy detachments who were reported to be in the vicinity by
our airmen. An exceptionally bad sand-storm raged the whole of this
day, during which we remained in bivouac. On our patrols returning
and reporting all clear, we continued our march for some 25 miles,
bivouacking for the night at Sinajah. Crossing the Tigris early
the following morning, we arrived at our former camp at about 2
P.M. on the 9th instant.
“A few days later we were issued with our winter clothing, and about
this time, too, the enemy airmen became very active, and bombed in turn
Sammara, Akab, Baghdad, and many of our camps in between these places.
They inflicted so many casualties among our troops that elaborate
precautions were taken against surprise attacks. A system of trenches
was connected all round the Cavalry horse lines, which enabled us in
the event of attack to untie our horses from the lines, turn them
about, and take cover ourselves in the trenches whilst holding them.
These precautions undoubtedly saved us from a stampede when the enemy
airmen paid us New Year Day’s visit and bombed us incessantly until
their supplies became exhausted. They then flew merrily away in spite
of all our batteries’ efforts and the 2 Archies, which were dug in down
by the river bank to protect us from these raids.
“Just previous to this raid, towards the end of December, we received
the good news that our Infantry had occupied Khaniquin without
opposition on the 7th December, and also that our troops in Palestine,
under General Allenby, had captured Jerusalem on the same date.
Whilst on January 2nd we received word that our troops had occupied
Qasr-i-Shirin without opposition.
“On January 15th the Fourteenth Hussars left the 6th Cavalry
Brigade which was with us at the time, under the command of General
Dunsterville, to operate in the neighbourhood of Baku, which is
situated on the borders of the Black Sea.
“On the 19th instant the Regiment held some sports, which were the
commencement of a series of sports and games, organised to help break
the monotony of camp life in this country, which so depresses one’s
spirit, especially at this time of the year. On this day some excellent
sports were witnessed, everybody doing their utmost to be left in for
the finals, which were to be held on the 27th instant, whilst in the
evening our Concert Party gave a show which proved a great success.
The following day our football team played the team of the monitor
_Mantis_, which was anchored close to our camp at the time, the result
of the match being 1 goal to _nil_ in our favour. We invited the
whole of the crew to dinner at our camp in the evening, every one
spending a jolly time in consequence.
[Illustration: Capt. G. W. ROSE, R.A.M.C.]
[Illustration: Capt. E. WORDLEY, R.A.M.C.]
[Illustration: Capt. D. M. METHVEN
(21st Lancers)]
[Illustration: Lieut. A. C. J. ELKAN]
[Illustration: Lieut. J. HAMPSON]
“The following day we were again visited by enemy airmen, but our
batteries and Hotchkiss guns opened such a rapid and effective fire
that after vainly trying to bomb us for some time they finally flew off
in disgust, amidst the frantic cheers of the boys who were interested
spectators.
“Soon after this we commenced our sports, in which every event was most
keenly contested, and at the conclusion of the two days the results
were as follows: Individual Tent-Pegging was won by our R.S.M., Mr
Seekins; Skill at Arms by S.Q.M.S. Higgs; the best troop-horse was C98,
ridden by Pte. Shaw; Officers Jumping went to Mr Macdonald; the Section
Tent-Pegging to ‘B’ Squadron. In the dismounted events, the 100 yards
was won by L.-Cpl. Carter in very good time, while the 1½ mile relay
race was won rather easily by the team of ‘C’ Squadron, which included
Sgt. Burgess, Sgt. Moss, L.-Cpl. Carter, L.-Cpl. Smithers, L.-Cpl.
Bush, and Pte. Bowie. The tug-of-war was won by the ‘D’ Squadron team
after an exceptionally fine pull, which concluded the programme. At
about 8 P.M. the same evening our party gave another concert,
this time to the whole Division, being assisted in their efforts by
some of the crew of the monitor. This show proved a great success,
every one thoroughly enjoying a good evening’s entertainment. On
January 26th some Divisional races were held on a course we had made
some 2 miles west of our camp, the ground here being splendidly suited
for our purpose, being as flat as a billiard-table for many miles.
“On January 27th General Dunsterville’s force left Baghdad, the
following officers and N.C.O.’s from our Regiment accompanying the
force: Captain Annett, Lt. Cochrane, Sgt. Vernon, Sgt. Taylor, and Sgt.
Saunders.
“Commencing on February 22nd, a 3-days’ race meeting was held at Akab
by the 17th Infantry Division. The Regiment entered several horses,
only one of which was successful--namely, Captain Blythe’s Army
Pattern; while our Concert Party gave a show there on the nights of the
22nd and 23rd, which were greatly admired by all who witnessed them,
the G.O.C. of that Division sending a letter of congratulation to our
Colonel in having such a talented party. Shortly after this, on the
28th inst., the Cavalry Division held some athletic sports, in which
several of the events were open to all comers. In this the Regiment
secured several prizes--namely, 1st in the 100 yards for officers, Mr
Osmond; the team of ‘C’ Squadron, L.-Cpl. Carter, L.-Cpl. Bush, Pte.
Jones, and Pte. Bowie gaining 2nd prize in the Relay Race. L.-Cpl.
Bush also 2nd in the Obstacle Race, while another 2nd prize was won by
Pte. Bowie in the Open Mile, our tug-of-war team of ‘C’ Squadron being
knocked out in the semi-final after a very game struggle. On March 4th
we turned out a Rugby 15 to play the Australian Wireless Section’s 15,
who had played so far an unbeaten record, and after a most exciting
game the match ending in a draw, neither side being able to score.
“The following day being the anniversary of our charge at Lajj, the
Regiment held a singing competition in the evening. This proved to
be highly amusing, judging by the vociferous cheering which greeted
the competitors’ efforts, the first prize for sentimental songs being
won by Sgt. Burgess, and the first for comic by Pte. Bowie. At the
conclusion of this, our Colonel made a speech in honour of our comrades
who fell in the ‘Charge.’ On reading the names out the Colonel was
almost overcome with emotion, and it was only with difficulty that he
was able to complete.
“About this time we received the news that our forces operating on the
Euphrates river had captured Hit on the 7th inst., and on the night of
the 9th the enemy had evacuated Sahilijah, abandoning 2 mountain guns
and much ammunition.
“On the 14th the 2nd Baghdad Race Meeting was held, also the
semi-finals and finals of football, hockey, polo, golf, and boxing
tournaments were contested during the week. Our football team was
knocked out in the third round by the 25th Machine-gun Squadron, by one
goal to _nil_, after a hard-fought game. The outstanding feature of
this tournament was the match between the Worcesters and the Buffs, the
first game they played being of 60 minutes’ duration; but as neither
side was able to score extra time was allowed, and they played on for
three periods of 20 minutes each, and again neither side was able to
gain the advantage. The match was then postponed until the following
day. On the replay, which lasted with extra time, some 2 hours and 40
minutes with still no score being registered, both teams withdrew
from the tournament. The Regiment ran several horses in the racing,
Lt. Ormrod’s ‘Venus’ again winning the Baghdad Cup. This time she was
ridden by Frank Wootten, the famous jockey, who happened to be in
Baghdad at the time.
“Some little time after this we received the news that our Column,
commanded by Major-General Brooking, operating on the Euphrates
river, had, on the 26th inst., attacked the 50th Turkish Division at
Khan Baghdadi. The Cavalry cutting off the enemy’s retreat along the
Aleppo Road, they surrendered with their Commander, the total captures
being 18 Germans, including 2 officers, 212 Turkish officers, and
5236 Turkish other ranks, 12 guns, 57 machine-guns, 2 German wireless
stations. During the six days’ fighting they pursued the fugitives
of this force to a point some 73 miles north of Awah, destroying in
this village some 300,000 rounds of gun ammunition and some 3¼ million
rounds of rifle ammunition.
“On April 9th some Divisional Races were held on the racecourse near
our camp, and in these several of our horses proved successful, Lt.
Ormrod’s ‘Venus’ winning the ½-mile steeple-chase, and ‘Whiskers’
by the same owner was first past the post in the 6 furlongs, but
on an objection being raised was disqualified later. Mr Welstead’s
‘Nightshade’ with its owner up won the sixth race, while Mr Jones’
‘B3,’ ridden by Sgt. Holloway, won the Novices’ Flat Race.
“On the following day we received the welcome news that leave to India
was granted, and a party consisting of 2 officers and 12 men left the
same day _en route_ for India to enjoy a well-earned 28 days’ furlough.
“A few days later, on April 14th, we commenced an Inter-Football
Tournament. The first game was between ‘B’ and ‘D’ Squadrons; this
resulted in a win for ‘B’ by 2 goals to _nil_. The next match was
between ‘A’ and ‘C’ Squadrons, and this was a win for ‘A’ by 2 goals to
1, while the following day ‘B’ played ‘A.’ This match was very keenly
contested and aroused great excitement, the result, after extra time
had been allowed, being a draw of 1 goal each. Replaying again the
following day, the result this time was a draw of 2 goals, and this
also after extra time.”