At a certain period during the operations in Mesopotamia so dependent
were both the British and the Turks on the supply of water from the
Tigris that it became an unwritten law that water-carriers from both
sides were not to be sniped at.
This went on until a fresh British regiment, not having had the
position explained, fired on a party of Turks as they were returning
from the river. The next time we went down to get water the Turks,
of course, returned the compliment; so from then onwards all water
carrying had to be done under cover of darkness.
On one of these occasions a Turkish sniper peppered our water party
as they were returning to our lines. They all got back, however; but
one, a man from Limehouse, was seen to be struggling with his water
container only half full, and at the same time it was noticed that his
trousers and boots were saturated.
"Hi!" shouted the sergeant, "you've lost half the water. Did that
sniper get your bucket?"
"Not 'im," replied the Cockney, "I saw to that. 'E only got me leg."
What, in the darkness, appeared to be water spilt from the bucket was
really the result of a nasty flesh wound.--_J. M. Rendle (Lieut.,
I.A.R.O.), White Cottage, St. Leonard's Gardens, Hove, Sussex._