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Date 1915 |
PALMER DIARY 4970 - C W 2 Palmer of the 6th Kings Own R.L. Regt Diary 1915 18 December 1915 Get ready to evacuate the Peninsular are getting a bit of sweat on wondering weather the Turks chase us or not. But however nothing occurs - we get aboard the troop ship Osmaneeh without losing a life, set sail for anywhere. 19 December 1915 Again land at Madras. But have nothing to report only that we miss the bulk of our Xmas presents and of course have got to put up with the ordnary fare for Xmas and New Year. 1 tin of bully and a couple of biscuits. During our stay at Madras we are getting a treat by being taken for a bath at Thirma Nature Springs in the mountain where Saint Paul was suppose to have preached. 1916 16 January 1916 Leave Madras aboard the troopship SS Arcanais and think we are bound for England. 20 January 1916 Arrive Alexandria but we are not allowed ashore. Set sail the same night again. 27 January 1916 Land at Port Said where we get our Xmas mail, get a few letters but no parcels. We are fitted out with Indian drill cap and sun helmet. We think that we are going to India on the Indian Expeditionary Force. 13 February 1916 We leave Port Said at 12 pm and land at Port Sues (by the way we were conveyed to Port Sues in railway trucks) at 10 am the following morning and we leave the same night for anywhere abroard troopship SS Halyrn. 27 February 1916 Land at Basra and are told that we are to join the relief column of General Gorringe. We leave Basra on the 2nd of March and land at Orah on the 7th. The following morning at 7 am no.1 Company have to go in the support trenches in reserve to the 3 Lahore Division, who had made an unsuccessful attack and where retiring on Orah. 10 March 1916 We leave for Sheik Said and are there some weeks night training but about the 20th we leave again for Orah where we land the same night and prepare for the dash to Kut and we are told we must get through at all costs to relieve General Tounshend. 1 April 1916 We get ready for the trenches but rain delay us 24 hours. 2 April 1916 Go in the trenches and relieve the Black Watch and the Seaforths. 5 April 1916 We go over the top and capture the first line of trenches called Umel Hamel at 5 am. We then advance 7 miles during the day and about 3 pm start to dig in and have trenches dug by 5.30 when we get ready to attack the Falihay Redowte and at 6.30 move forward for the attack which we make about 730 pm and after a good hour scrap drive the Turks out, who retire, and towards midnight we are relieved by the 7th Division. 6 April 1916 Bivouac all day in the open and clear up. Have roll call. 7 April 1916 The same as yesterday only we received a mail and sent our letters away. 8 April 1916 Got ready to move after the Turks again, and get on the march about 8.30 and march all night and towards daylight of the ........ 9 April 1916 Move towards the front line of San-i-yat - trenches hoping to surprise the Turks but we get surprised instead and our attack is unsuccessful so we dig in 200 yards of the Turks position and are relieved at 10 pm by the (7) division. 10 April 1916 Bivouac in the rain and towards evening we have a Thanksgiving Service by he Rev. Capt Addison, Army Chaplin who has been recommended for bravery. 11 April 1916 Toward 3 pm we go on outpost duty and at midnight we have a great thunder storm. 12 April 1916 Move towards Essen Redoubts but are put in the reserves at Abu-Romain-Mounds. While the East and South Lancs take the front line of trenches. 13 April 1916 Bivouac all day and are still in reserve. 14 April 1916 Same old bivouac. 15 April 1916 Same. 16 April 1916 The 40 Brigade Repulse 6 Turkish counter attacks and take some prisioners. 17 April 1916 Move on the second line of trenches. 18 April 1916 Relieve the Warwickshire Regt in the front line of trenches. 19 April 1916 to 26 April 1916 Towards 8 pm we open a heavy fire on Turkish position to enable the steam boat Fulmar with 150 ton of comforts and rations to get through to Kut-el-Armara under the fire of our batteries. 27 April 1916 We hear the boat was unsuccessful and is stuck on the mud 1 mile from Kut. 28 April 1916 Very quiet. 29 April 1916 General Tounshend surrenders and our Red Cross boats go up the river to bring down the sick and wounded from Kut while we have an armistice until the boats return. 30 April 1916 Armistice. 1 May 1916 Armistice finishes and the last of the Red Cross boats return and is cheered both by the Turks and us as it passes by the firing line. 5 May 1916 Lance Corpl Moyle drowned in the Tigres and body not recovered. Relieved for 4 days and on the night of the 6th go in the reserve trenches again a good 4 days. 9 May 1916 We relieve the North Lancs and are in the trenches 8 days being relieved by the Composite Bath called the Noisetts composite of Norfolks and Dorsets, Ghurkers and native infantry. On the 17th proceded to Abu-Roman-Mounds. 18 May 1916 Sergt Arakaleen is presened with the DCM for his conduct on the 5th and 9th of April by Major General Maude our Divisional Commander. All our Brigade being present and General Maude makes a speach and tells us that the Turks have evacuated the trenches at Essen that morning, the 40th Brigade belonging to our Division being the first to find it out. 19 May 1916 Leave Roman Mounds and go to S.8 Redoubt near the Essen trenches where we find we are in a bad state for water and the weather is getting very hot again. 7 August 1916 Corpl Bale killed by arab sniper whilst on guard at Sheik Saud about 11 pm. Trek from Sheik Saud to Armara - 20tyh September 1916 We commence our march from Sheik Saud to Armara a distance of 98.5 miles and do it in the following distances. 20.9.16 - First stage 3 miles. Reveille 2.30 am, march off at 4 am till 8 am a distance of 9 miles. 21.9.16 - 22.916 - reveille 2am. March off at 4 am till 10 am a distance of 13 miles. Campaigns in which the VC has been won The VC has been awarded for bravery in over 40 campaigns excluding the present Great War and it is interesting to note which produce the greatest numbers. On examination of the list will show that the following where the principal campaigns Chronological order Russian War Baltic Crimea 1854-1856 - III VC (possibly roman numbers) Indian Mutiny 1857-59 - 182 - VC New Zealand 1860-66 - 12 VC Afghanistan 1878-80 - 16 VC Zululand 1879 - 23 VC North West Frontier of India 1897-98 - 10 VC Boer War 1899-02 - 78 VC Copy from diary 28 September 1916 What Regiment has the most VC. Cavalry records for first 50 years of VC. Household cavalry never yet won a VC and of 31 cavalry regiments of the line 190 only got this decoration the 9th Lancers headed the list with 13 VC of which 12 where won in the Indian Mutiny in which the regiment won the title of the Dehli Spearsmen. No other cavalry regiment could boast of more than 6 VC indeed only two, the 8th Hussars and the 17th Lancers had won so many. The 2nd Dragoon Guards 2 VC, the 21st Lancers and the rest 2 and 1 each. Infantry Records for first 56 years of the VC Of 69 regiments of the line 658 had won the VC, the following regiments have won 1 or more VC. S.W.B - 16 Rifle Brigade - 15 K.R.R. - 13 Gordon Highlanders - 13 Seaforths - 11 Camerooneans Kol Rifles - 10 The Black Watch - 10 The Irish Guard never had a chance of winning a VC. If an officer wins the VC he gets no bounty but he gets £10 to £50 a year. Diary Continued 9 June 1916 Relieved by the North Staffords and leave for Abu-Roman-Mound where we are in camp for 4 days. Get innoculated for Choleria. 18 June 1916 March from Al-Roman-Mounds for Orah Canal. 14 June 1916 Orah canal to Sheik Saud, march 8 miles. 15 June 1916 Put our camp up and take over Redoubt and convoy duty, the weather now is very hot. Not very much to report, only we have plenty of sickness and the heat of the day varies from 120 degrees to 128 and on July 14th it rose to 130 for 2 days. On this day Sir Victor Horsley dies. 1914 The chief events in the Mesopotamia Ex under General Tounshend. November 22 1914 - Capture of Basra. 1915 June 3rd - Surrender of Armara by the Turks. September 23rd - Capture of Hutel Armara. November 22nd - Battle of Clesphon. November 24th - British Force retires December 3rd - General Tounshend reaches Kut. 1916 January 1st, 2nd, 3rd - First failure to relieve Kut. March 8th - Second failure. April 30th - ditto and fall of Kut. On the 18 November 1917 while our brigade was crossing the Shat el Hain the spears was used for ours to row the pontoon across and about 25 men of no.1 company took over 150 prisoners. This acton was fought in a temperature of 125 degrees in the sun. March from Sheik Said to Armara continued 23 September 1916 Reveille 1.45 am, march at 3 am. No 1 company flank guard and arrive at Ali Garba - distance 10 miles. 24 September 1916 Revielle 1.30am, march at 3 am at Mukarranna - distance about 11 miles. Private Chambers 40th Field Ambulance drawned in the Tigres. 26 September 1916 Revielle 2 am, march away 3-5. No 1 company rout guard at Ali-ar-Sharys at 9 am - distance 14 miles. 27 September 1916 Private Canning loses his rifle also two shot guns, from the armourer tents are missed in Sergt Palmer's case, and 7 rifles of the East Lancs are stolen by Arabs. Revielle 2 am, march away at 3.45 am and arrive at 6.30 at Fannay - a distance of 8 miles. 28 September 1916 Revielle 2 am, march away 3.35 and arrive at Dar-et-Fartisah at 8.15 am - a distance of 11 miles. 29 September 1916 Revielle 3 am, march away 4.30 am arrive at Armara about 6.50 am - distance miles. Units of the 13 Division. This Division has 13 Infantry units as follows:- 38 Brigade The 6th battallion Kings Own R L Regt East Lancs Regt South Lancs Regt The North Lancs Regt 39 Brigade The North Staqfford Regt Gloucester Regt Warwickshire Regt Worcestershire Regt 40th Brigade Cheshire Regt R W F S W B The Wiltshire Regt The 8th Welsh Pioneers Field Ambulance 39th 40 and 41 25 October 1916 Colonel McNaughton of the 12th Lancers takes command of our Regiment. 5 November 1916 Our Chaplin the Rev Capt Addison is presented with the VC along with two other officers and one private of the following regiment by Lieutenant General F S Maude CJC of the Mesopotamia Forces all the 13th Division being present. Captain Reverend W F Addison. 25 November 1916 The 39 and 40th Brigades leave Armara and start the march to Sheik Said. Our transport leaves at the same time so they are marching it as well. 4 December 1916 Our battallion leave Armara after striking camp aboard the PS8 50, one of the biggest boats afloat on the River Tigres. The weather is now getting cool being something like in England. 5 December 1916 We arrive at Sheik Said and disembark the same night and pitch our camp in the rest camp line and after having a bit of tea go to find the YMCA. I believe they are giving a cinematograph entertainment. 6 December 1916 First rain since April, very wet. 7 December 1916 Strike camp and move off about 9.30 am. We march to the Twin Canals a distance of 8 miles, the first 4 miles being very dusty, almost up to the knees. We are pretty nearly fagged out when we pitch camp at Twin Canals. 8 December 1916 to 12 December 1916 We have plenty of wet weather and plenty of work digging holes and treanches for draining the camp. When it comes fine we shift camp on the 12 December 1916 at 8.30 pm. We leave our camp standing and march about 7 miles and bivouac the same night across the Essen Ridge where we get ready for action. 13 December 1916 A very fine day. The officers studying maps all day which means that something is on the move. We leave in the evening about 6.30 pm and march about 6 miles to Immanuds Tomb where we have a slight rest about 9 pm. 14 December 1916 We move off at 3 o'clock. At 2.30 am tea and bacon also a spoonfull of rum is served out to us. We march about 3 miles and then duamp our packs, then we again move off. After going about a mile a Turkish gun sends a shell at us so we know we have been seen and after going another half a mile dig ourselves in and construct a good firing line, and a couple of Redoubt rapid fire is heard during the day on our left. We also heard a bombardment in the direction of San-i-Yat early this morning. 15 December 1916 We prepare to move at 9 am and leave our Redoubts but we have only marched about 800 yards when the first shot of the day if fired, and one or two big guns also open fire on us. We go a bit further in artillary formation but as the rifle fire gets more rapid and nearer we extend into skirmishing order, no.1, 2, 3 companies being the front line, no. 4 company being in reserve all day. After advancing another 500 yards we all dig in and the Turkish guns continue to shell us but it is evident that young Johnny Turk is in a bad way for guns. I only heard about 4. One of them being a 5-9 Howitzer which was firing big dirty black shells and he had the range of no. 1-2 company to an inch and considering the numbers of shells they sent over we had very few casualties. It was here that Capt Saunders of no 1 company, one of the best officers in the Battallion was wounded, a bullet wound in the abdomen. I also saw our Chaplin Rev Capt Addison (VC) wounded in the right hand but he would not leave the Battallion, he came from the firing line and helped the Doctor, Capt Freake Evans, captain of my company was also badly wounded in the back. About 4.30 pm the orders came to prepare to advance and we all dumped our packs, the stretcher bearers dumping theirs with no. 4 company. We then made an advance of another 900 yards and I do not think it could have been done cooler on parade, all the way we where under heavy shell and rifle fire, I think our total casualties where about (85). We dug in again about 12 midnight, we have a very good trench about 6 feet deep. 16 December 1916 We move 300 yards to our left at dusk. 17 December 1916 We take over the North Lancs trenches 900 yards on our right and we are told all the line is linked up and consolidated to the River Tigres. Our trenches are now 3 miles in front of Kut. 24 December 1916 We have a Church Parade and Captain Addison VC offers up a prayer for Captain Saunders who we hear has died. It is also another Xmas Eve. 25 December 1916 Xmas Day our rations are 1lb bread, one tin of bully, tea, butter, one slice of cake, 1lb tin of pudding between a platoon. 26 December 1916 Boxing Day. Some more rain. 27 December 1916 Nothing to write about. DIARY 1917 New Years Day Same treatment as Xmas Day. 2 Janaury 1917 We hear about a peace conference through returns agency. 5 January 1917 Nothing much to report. 7 January 1917 Heavy bombardment on the right towards Kut-el-Amara and the river. 8 January 1917 The 8th and 9th Brigade of the 3 Division make a successful attack and capture the Turkish trenches. 12 January 1917 Captain Freak Evans was sniped through a man of the North Lancs lighting a cigarette while our regiment and the North Lancs and Welsh Pioneers digging a new line of trenches nearer to the Turkish trenches by about 500 yards, the bullet entering his abdomen and he died of his wound as soon as he was got to his tent. 13 January 1917 Left. McFarlin of the 38th Brigade MGC formerly of this regiment was hit going to his gun station. No.1 company is told off to dig a new line 400 yards from the Turkish position. The are told off to dig in two reliefs, we are expecting a straf from the Turks but beyond a few bursts of machine gun fire on the right and left flank and one or two snipers everything was all right. We have no-one hit and the trenches are dug and deep enough to be occupied except by a few yards dug by the North Lancs so everything turns out as planned the day before. 25 January 1917 The 39th and 40th Brigade after a severe bombardment of the Turkish trenches lasting about an hour made an attack on the Turkish front line trenches. The 40th Brigade was successful and held their captured trenches but the 39th was so heavily counter attacked four times that they were pushed back to their original line. The 39th Brigade had so many casualties, 1,200, that they where relieved by a brigade from the 14th Division. 26 January 1917 A brigade of the 14th Division after a heavy bombardment take the Turkish position, captured and consolidated their objective and took a large number of prisoners and they counted 900 dead Turks in the trench. 27 January 1917 An attack is being prepared for today, each man is served out with two bombs and 6 sandbags and we shift our aid post to the river bank. The North Lancs are also making the same preparations. The Turkish treanches in front of us are believed to be evacuated. The 40th Brigade bombers are supposed to have passed down them this afternoon. 28 January 1917 Sunday About 2.30 am two companys of the North Lancs Regiment and our bombers make a night attack, without a bombardment and meet with no opposition and find that it is true that the Turks have evacuated and before dawn we line their trench and ours up together and after breakfast we take over the trench and consolidate it. The Turks however see us and send over a few big dirty black coal boxes but the only damage they do is to wound two men. 30 and 31 January 1917 Tuesday and Wednesday Toward night we have a very heavy thunder storm. 1 February 1917 About 9.45 am the 40th Brigade after a few minutes bombardment make a successful attack on the Turk's trenches and hold it. Then while we stand to for a counter attack and at about 2 pm the 14th Division after a furious bombardmdent make a successful attack and capture and consolidate the Turkish positions although being repeatedly counter attacked by the Turks. 2 February 1917 About 2 am we are relieved by the 1st Manchester Regiment. We march to our tansport lines a distance of about 4 miles where we land about 4.30 am. After breakfast we have a Bathing Parade in the Shad-el-Hai. After tea we start to move across the Hai but about 8 pm we are told to get ready to move away at 12 pm and we turn in for an hour or twos sleep. 3 February 1917 We move off at 1.30 am across, the Shat-el-Hai and march about 7 miles when we bivouac in the open. Just before dawn we are told we are in reserve to the 39th and 40th Brigades. Towards noon we hear that the 39th and 40th Brigade whilst skirmishing have run up against a strong Turkish position and got a dose of the Turks shell fire. They have a few casualties including the Colonel who was acting Brigadier General commanding our brigade. We rest till after tea when we get ready to move at 5.30 am and about this time no.2 Platoon comes in they have been on the march and they tell us it is full of geese, ducks and hares but as we got no sporting guns we give them a miss. Our next days rations comes up and out of 100 lbs of biscuits 50 lbs are mouldy. Towards 7 o'clock we move off and march about a mile to our right flank where we form up and unload our mules and bivouac for the night. We then get issued with 1 blanket and an oilsheet and our orders are for to turn in for the night but must be ready to move off again at 5.30 am. We get word here that the 14th Division have captured the first and second line of Turkish trenches, the Devons, Hants, Ghurkhas being in action, so we now turns in but it is some time before we are settled down as our long range guns are going all night long. 3 February 1917 Second in command Major Burley is going tonight to take over command of the North Lancs bjt we hope it is only temporary as he is one of the best. 4 February 1917 We are roused out of our slumber at 5.30 am and get ready for breakfast which comes up at 5.45 am. Everything is darkness and cold and after breakfast we load our mules and about 6.15 am move off and march about 3 miles to our right flank and form up 200 yards in front of the 14th Division ????? and about 300 yards behind the 104th battery. After tea we get ready to move off, at 2 o'clock we then move off for the trenches where we arrive at 11.30 and relievesome native troops which belong to the 14th Division. 5 February 1917 Monday After a good look around we find that we are in a Redoubt* called SB9 about 1.5 miles from the firing line and I hear that we are in reserve to the East Lancs but of course you can guess what it is like here more twists and turnings than the maze in London. * Detached outwork in fortifications. 7 February 1917 We are having it nice and easy and are having a good rest and hope we stop in this redoubt for a few weeks. 8 February 1917 After dinner we go with the Doctor and the Chaplin to the firing line to dig an aid post and learn that in the morning our regiment is going to take a 350 yards long and everybody thinks there will only be slight opposition and when we get back everybody is getting ready to move in the morning. After tea we turn in for a good nights rest. 9 February 1917 We are roused at 5 am and hand in our overcoats and blankets, oilsheets, raincoats and at 5.30 am have breakfast. The cooks have been up early and have tea and porridge for us. We also have a rum issue 3 spoonfulls each, and at 6.30 am we move up the communication trench towards the firing line, and take up our position in front of the East Lancs Regiment ready for the attack. About ten minutes before the attack a chum remarked that it was the 9th of February also that our previous big attack by the Battallion had been on the 9th of April (1916) the 9th of August (1915) and had been unsuccessful, would this be successful or not we had not long to wait. About 9 am the word came to get ready and the bombardment started. As the bombardment started the Battallion went over the top in this formation. First line a few seconds after the bombardment started composed 5, 13, 9 Platoons. Second line 50 yards behind the first composed of 2, 6, 10th Platoons. Third line 100 yards behind the second composed of no. 3, 7, 11, 15 Platoons. The fourth line never went over but went up the Welsh Pioneers commnication trench in reserve later in the day and were composed of no. 4, 8, 12,16 Platoons. The stretcher bearers had to go over the top with the third line, hardly had the first line gone over before it was plain to see that the strength of the Turks had been underestimated. They open out such a rapid fire that it was evident that they had been waiting for us, also their artillary must have been waiting for us for they sent their coal boxes right on to our trenches as each line went over. Capt Addison was wounded in the thigh in trying to get to the wounded. No.1 company commander was wounded and Lt Milliard and Leiut Frisk. About 3 pm our CO Colonel McNaughton was wounded in the chest but would not leave us. The Turks made desparate attemps to capture the position making about 7 counter attacks but our bombs and machine gun and rifle fire simply riddled them and the more that came the more we killed. But on our right flank where we had our bombing lap, bombing went on all night both by the Turks and ourselves and one or two critical moments ensued but were overcome by our bombing party who had now been reinforced by the North Lancs bombers. We get to know that we are getting relieved tomorrow, Saturday. 10 February 1917 About 5.30 the stretcher bearers are sent out by the Doctor to collect what wounded they can and indentify the dead. We find no wounded but indentify 6 dead of no.8 company and find one of their stretcher bearers wounded, he had been lying between the lines 20 hours. About this time no.1, 2 company are relieved by the North Lancs and the South Lancs move forward to attack a Redoubt but 6 Turks and an officer give themselves up and we find out that they have evacuated for a mile and half whole of their position, so we move up and take over the evacuated position and take up our stand in reserve to the South Lancs Regiment. 11 February 1917 Bombardment occurs both by us and the Turks at frequent intervals but nothing of importance happens. 12 February 1917 Quiet. 13 February 1917 Ditto. 14 February 1917 On parade with a digging party who are digging a new line of reserve trenches. 15 February 1917 About 12 am a heavy bombardment occurs and we can see the attacking troops quite plain and are told that they are the 14th Division and the 40th Brigade of our Division who are taking the last line of trenches to the right of the Shumran-Bend and a few minutes later large bodies of prisoners come in and continue to do so all day and towards night the stretcher bearers go out and fetch in 21 wounded Turks. It starts raining a long before day break, we are all soaked through to the skin. Its on this day that my poor chum got shot in the back and died in about twenty minutes and his last words was for his poor wife Annie. Poor old Jack Gibney. 16 February 1917 After breakfast we sort ourselves out and get dry in the sun and start making dugouts but after dinner a few tents arrive, but of course I was one of the unlucky ones and could not get in. After dark a ferocious hailstorm comes on and I am sent on fatigues and when I come back my dugout is full of water and by the way I was a lucky one in finding it out by falling into it. I start to clear the water out but however the water keeps running through and I have to keep getting up for repairs. 1 and 2 line of trenches we hear are taken at San-i-yat by the 7th Division good. 17 February 1917 Wake up about 7am and get our packs also our wellington boats and have a bit of clean up. There are rumours about moving and toward tea time we get ready for the road again. 19 February 1917 After a lot of messing about I get sent to no.1 Platoon but however we learn that we shall be on the move again in the morning as we are being relieved by the 9th Brigade again. 8 pm our honours list comes in on the phone and we learn that our regiment has been awarded 3 military medals, 1 DCM, 1 DSO being distributed in the following way, Capt Henson DSO, L/cpl Towers MM, L/cpl Lee MM, Sergt Burgess MM, Cpl Bibly DCM. 20 February 1917 After breakfast pack up and get ready to move and line up outside the redoubts. Get relieved by the same Natives Troops as we relieved the day before (Red Tape Whut) and march about 3.5 miles and pitch a camp at a place called Bassouria and clean up and have a good rest. 21 February 1917 Preparations are being made for going into action again, bomber and Lewis gunners and snipers are being trained. They also want men who can row boats. Towards dinner an accident occurs with the North Lancs bombers through a bomb bursting, 1 man is killed and 5 men wounded. 22 February 1917 The first two lines of trenches at San-i-yat taken by the 7th Division 9.30 am and lost again about dinner time 1 pm. Retaken again in the afternoon. Towards 8.30 pm we get orders to get ready to move in the morning by 10.30 as the 14th Division are crossing the Tigres to put some pontoon bridges across. 23 February 1917Friday Reveille at 6.30 am. Pack up and be ready to move at a minutes notice as the Norfolks and Ghurkhas have crossed the Tigres during the night in boats and gained a good footing and were cutting off the Turkish force at San-i-yat. We stand to and about dinner time, 12 o'clock the men who had volunteered for rowing the boats across the Tigres leave in motor cars for the Shumran-Bend, the day is also very hot about 100 degrees in the shade. After tea we fall in about 5.45 pm, move off and march to the Shumran-Bend 8 miles away and then bivouac till 3.15 am of the 24 February 1917. 24 February 1917Saturday Reveille 3.15 am. We have breakfast and roll blankets and oilsheets up, also pack up and move off at 4.30 am and march to where the Royal Engineers have built a pontoon bridge. We cross all the 38th Brigade about dawn and get a few shells in the bargain. We rest a while in some old Turkish trenches while we are here about 200 prisoners come in under the Norfolks escort and after about 1 hours stay we march towards the firing line. We are told that we are in Corps Reserve. Two brigades of cavalry and some horse artillary now comes across and go in the flank. Rapid fire goes on all day and we move up about 4 miles and bivouac till 3 pm when we form up in artillary formation ready to reinforce the firing line (the 35th Brigade) but however we are not wanted and about 5 pm form up in companies and bivouac again for the night. During the afternoon some more prisoners are taken, mostly Arabs. Our blankets do not turn up however about midnight word comes through that San-i-yat has fallen and about 1,000 Turks and Arabs are cut off from their main party, in the marshes. Pontoons thrown across Tigres about 5pm 24 February 1917 and Fall of Kut-el-Armara. Saturday. 25 February February 1917 After breakfast about 6.30 am we move off and march about 9 miles escorted by 5 monitors (so it is evident that with the monitors coming up the river that San-i-yat has fallen). After a few minutes on the move the Turkish batteries bombarded the monitors and they withdraw to our rear. We then open out into artillary formation and advance a few miles further under shrapnel fire and dig in. During the afternoon the Turks bombard our transport line killing 6 prabbies and 7 mules, it is the biggest bombardment we have had since we have been in the country and considering the number of shells sent over our casualties are very slight having only 17 wounded. Towards midnight it is evident he is evacuating as his rifle and artillary fire slakens down and stops the 39th Brigade of cavalry surround and capture 100 Turks. 26 February 1917 March away at 6 am and advance 6 miles in skirmishing order and attend to two wounded Turks, one a 2nd Leiutenant and one wounded arab. Forms up and advance up the Baghdad Road another 8 miles to Baghalia escorted by the monitors, along the road there is plenty of evidence of the Turks hurry to get away, dead mules, oxen, camels are met at several places also broken carts and abandoned guns, ammunition, limbers and plenty of shells and small arms ammunition. At Baghalia the Union Jack is hoisted in the village and barracks and about 6 officers and 200 men are taken prisoner. There is also the remains of a Turkish pump. We bivouac here for the night and a monitor anchors near us. I am on guard tonight over the prisoners. We get our blankets and overcoats about 12 pm, we also hear that the transport has been frequently held up by mounted arabs. 27 February 1917 Reveille at 6 am, have breakfast and recollect that it is just a year today since we landed in the country. About 1 pm pack up and march away, after going about 3 miles we have an hours rest then march on again till 8.30 pm where we form up and bivouac at the Three Bends. We have come about 10 miles over a very dusty road, being almost blended by dust and scourched by the sun. Altogether it has been a very bad day for marching. We are all tired and weary, so we get down to it. 28 February 1917 Today its very cold and we gather brushwood to keep the fire burning. We also eat our iron ration as the other rations have not come up being miles behind. We hear that our monitors advance party and cavalry have captured one monitor (The Firefly), three barges of troops about 1,000 men, 15 guns and nearly surrounded the Turkish main body. This is good news and buck the lads up a bit. Before we get down to it we are issued with tomorrows rations. We pass some guns about 3" calibre and fire something like a 30lb shell and some of the guns were dated 1875. 1 March 1917 No reveille to get up and go and draw rations which consist of 4 small biscuits each, 1 tin of buly, two inches of bacon, this has to last a full day and probably the next day as well. Word now comes through to get ready to move at 2 pm. The ground here starts to rise in low foot hills and there is also plenty of scrub. We move away and march till 9 pm having covered a distance of 15 miles. Bivouac for the night. 2 March 1917 Rise about 7.30 am and get a drop of the best. No rations as they have not arrived yet, so we moved away again and covered a distance of another 10 miles, all right on an empty stomach and lands at Ayiyiyeh about 2 pm and forms up and bivouac. Just before turning in the ration boats are reported to have left Baghalia, so we might get a bite tomorow with a bit of luck. 3 March 1917 I awake at 7.30 just as breakfast is being served up which consists 1 pint of tea (Lady Carmichael brand), 3 biscuits, 8 ounces of bully and 2 inches of bacon and another pint of tea at teatime which completes the days rations, which we are told is half rations. 4 March 1917Sunday Awake 7.30 am, get in marching order and we are told that General Maude is going to inspect us. We wait for rations to come up and are all supposed to see bread again. Our days rations consisted of 8 ounces of bully, 8 ounces of bread, 2 biscuits, 3/4 ounce of cheese, 1 inch of bacon, 1 pint of watery stew. Towards dinner General Maude inspects us and awards some of our men in honours. Corporal Towers and corporal Lee receive their MM, ribbons also Sergent Burgess, Corporal Bilby, Captain Hampsey their ribbon. The General told them that they would soon be going home but must expect some more fighting first. 5 March 1917 Riveille 5.30 am, march away 6.30 am and go about 7 miles, there we halt for an hour, we then set off again and reach ?Clospham? a very tiring march of about 25 miles and to make things better we expected to come up with the Turks here as we had heard that they would make a stand hereabouts but as it happens they did not wait for us, and I might say we were very glad as we had not much fight left in us after so trying a march. Everybody was fed up. We arrived here about 4 o'clock and bivouac for the night. 6 March 1917 Reveille at 5.30am, march off 6.30 am to a place about 7 miles further on and rested for about 3 hours, march away again for another 4 miles and have tea and get ready to go in an attack about 10 pm which was to prove to be Johnny Turks last stand. After about a mile march we came to the banks of the Riala where we found the Turks were strongly entrenched on the other side and I might say we had a very hard job to shift them. The first attack was made by us in trying to cross the river in pontoon boats, but as fast as we put them in the river they where simply riddled with rifle and machine gun fire, so that night we give them best but the next day the North Lancs made an attempt and landed 90 men, but he Turks put up such a ?????iable fire that they could make no headway and the Turks made several attempts to take them prisoners but we kept up such a rapid fire every time they tried to get at them that their losses were so heavy that they gave it up, and on the morning of the 9th the Wiltshire Regiment got round on their flank by crossing lower down the river that they retreated. 10 March 1917 We cross the river at 9.30 and march about 2 miles. There we stop for a few hours, then we march another mile and bivouac for the night. 11 March 1917 Reveille at 5.30, march off at 6.15 am and after advancing about a mile we stop for 1 hour. Then we learn that the Turks have flown from Baghdad and we go forward and take the city, entering about 9.30 am amid great rejoicing of the inhabitants who came and kissed our feet. After marching up to the ambassadors house we learn that the arabs are looting in another part of the city so we get the order to fix bayonets and charge them and thing was a bit lovely for a bit. We then march through the city and bivouac 2 miles the other side and get down for the night after a good days march. |
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The End