On December 4, 1917, we made a surprise attack on the enemy in the
Jabal Hamrin range in Northern Mesopotamia.
We wore our winter clothing (the same as in Europe), with tin hats
complete. After stumbling over the rocks in extended order for some
time, the platoon on my left, who were on higher ground, sighted a
Turkish camp fire on the right.
We swung round in that direction, to find ourselves up against an
almost blank wall of rock, about 20 ft. high, the enemy being somewhere
on top.
At last we found a place at which to scale it, one at a time. We began
to mount, in breathless silence, expecting the first man to come
tumbling down on top of all the rest.
I was the second, and just as I started to climb I felt two sharp tugs
at my entrenching tool and a hoarse Cockney voice whispered, "Full up
inside; plenty o' room on top." I was annoyed at the time, but I have
often laughed over it since.--_P. V. Harris, 89 Sherwood Park Road,
S.W.16._