Charles E W Bean, Diaries, AWM38 3DRL 606/259/1 - 1917 - 1927 - Part 7

Conflict:
First World War, 1914–18
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG1066695
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

From Catlack. necopotamia. 1915 DForce Nabt Poona Dw. L.A. 16Bde and Nov6. at Fad & took it. Rest of Dis avid. Nor21 Occad Baira. Dec P. Took Kurna (Fizis) For 3 mtto To now Kecalun 1915. 122 pd Dis, kin anid antw Gorrings, & Nixon GoC D Townsand apptt GOC6Dir. May 31. Atton Kurna. Lates Amara tn. Ty24. Nasreyet (tuprrates) tn. Sept. Torce D moveny up Concenty at A Gharti, base for keet att. Adod ps. 6 Sannegat (20m. pon. Eo sum & 27 from Keet). Sept 27. att on Ret bga. Es se tarne by wise most by 6 Dion (Feint on 2t 6k) acroplanes kept to astelephone outo. Oct 5. But at Asiz ugch, to way to Bagdad, to had gone to Clesiphon has Bagded, but now began to ane back. Nov 22. Battle of Ctesiphon onsembled at La. I taken but cdut be held agot T. 2/ts. Hat to fall back on hajs & Reet. Dec.2. Back in keet where he we begieged a 3000 Boct Dec. 7. a remgceroplanse left keet. 1916 10.000 hnds. 29 Apr. Towshend purender
St Pack Woreless Signal To. A.I.F. In aust draw from signal & Gt &arty camps. Dec. 1915 Request from India for lichnical arstee for mespot force. colombotranch and cast Seb asse Size 1.54. Abt 20pr ½ does & daff. Enbarked wells 5 Feb. 1916 Bombay, Mart MiaSl Bance how over mi messing attel. Mar 10 sail for meepot. Max19 arr. under H S.J. White. wiretees Each ste to be 13 - Toperators, 6 doos - all nitd & Shorses (18) to be CTp. 18 woreless Sgn. A ws at pont, Bin latra. voct Anor is to arrive found 5 be NY.- it arrd Makina Ap. 18 under to Clacke They too were pt of C Tp. (4 stations AlE, 4 N.E.) t Ste had to go up rive to 15 Dir on Ap 26 joge it on 282. (Day of surrendes of Keet) MayG. BFNE Ste sent u- abov Amara. 21 Camp moved to Magil. May- LadAFEndNE Stuscet up Togo & Eapho - All Ghaebi & Nasiriych ent sane of 32Ar8rd NE Stus on expin to sts of Arad trites; reld on 20½. Talys. Dvrdied fmalaria. Ty6 SnH and pot took ch-undwtitle 1St As NZ Wirhes Sig Sqn. 2 duet, pack stee had bee operating for 2-3 monts No1.15o 42 Bde, marchin 140 in v. trying on Bictcap sthe staged at Khamseyah 1 white here left for Baora, sick ISv.9. wh on way. No2: tubkd May 31 on barges, wheris & 6 end towed by launah by act of Miss gentrade sek thro uncharter hake 17 annar. Nas ws last outpat on Eaphrates, but only actiof arab 4aws. Tell. ote down, 50 much wirelees to affic. Lates, advance orderst up ne, & a faw wareles men sent o gandaatwh acped advancs. 1911 carty arc W.O.B) in gost of wish to incse werless by addrg t H.D. 15 of rfts to sail quarterly. PRaised in S. States by Capt gartrell (SA & Nby H Mar. Fartrell accidet drawned - 50 Maj. Sutheuld agptt to raine on S. Pries tgetmen n tecknical knowledge trougout Aust, Ap.26. NSW seck left for Broadacadows. May 30. Pailed by Morea. At Colonbo nothin known of sty. Tanshipped to Novara - 4 deck s0 filtly to meting neay t get decent 2cl ascoth. Bonbay ga toples & spive pads Tuly Basra. Disimbled Sy 6. As NE wirelees Sig.Squ now created. SKPTStef. tho s H. 2 was. 2 pack B. (Pack To) 1 was. 3 packs C.NETE " NE t lost O.C. H Clarke. (3 inko tatio SHQ lost Squ S.M. Newman Ty6 Medemne v. tryuy. By Jy 31 B hadouly 27 mery C21, Aabtsame. sand (his, mosquitoes, & flies plsto. Nights at Baosa also hit. wirgd wt End (Brit) Sqn for Ao2 to tae over fl. works ve th base & /of 2 soots of site - Lkilowatt & 1/ kilowatt. Lightes set ws in 5 loads - 11123/ Douglas petiol air caoled moter & atternates ) senty+ receivy peav, a) rigging (a maats, (53 peted oil & spare parts. 13 men wnall. 18ho. all wto. set I be up & going in Z8mio, Lates, mechanic for Eack Stwg farmiens, sadlers, carpenters atDD. Wajon Elt- 2-6home wg limbered bayons (of 2 wapons), 15 men. Sept 17 May Satterland to Losp soon after, Capt while - hoth sent to cust. Capt Mare C. I NEStws were whg u rea. Oct 16 3ant stao sent up
2NE Packs already who at Madelit& Ale Gharbi betw. Amarar Keet. 1916. O4 4. 3 Austh (E wag, FG Pack) Eubl for GHQ. E.Fto Br Coph HA (left Bx 13Dis) Gto B Dis (Es sua). H (Pack) sent to GA for 6 Cas. Bde. Ott23. D (Aust P) & L (N2Rack) to sheekh saad (aov pase) & Es Sinn. NOvM. 3 Wagjon (A B. 1) & 1 pack (C) to Ati Sharbe(1) & G4A (reached Dec10) Nov 17 oyrs. prea Hll to G40 Carab 9) by be (woold) Nov18 Dec3. deipd as follo: Untopo GHR (Accot.) SHQ. GAD. so mere was. A ABCD III Coipe EFG4E Aust " B pack Caudto 31JKL NE. t to 14 OWV. ITCons. pack D somore 1Coys. Wag 1Coips. Pack 7 Cas Bde Pack G 6 Cav Ede H. Pack (WE. no more Al. Gharbe I wag. Sheikh Saad. (adod Bace) No moor. Pack no mose. Pack Me Grarbi. K Dec. to Cav Dis. 2 Pack GHQ Winter & summer passed since Keet fell. In Sy W.O. had to over. Inder Exg. Force D because messot. Exp. Force. Mande, pevly diseds, took Ch. to Auy 1916, tpoepe. By Dlc 1916 Manch ws ready, & this moves worl igat prt Ingwks I were cleared from it side of te Snumnt ait. Hai tn, bridgear Shumran Flanks Opus at Kat. Dec.13 low Dwn (C.G.+H) moved from G40 to Hai & begond as flo gd for of. Wereless not much used. Objer gaind & did reformed on 146 at Atab. Done by night march, EGxA as head of Col. At dawn on bank of Shalt-&l-Hais De 14 almost dry. In action underfire pour to monitor on after of 14th while lav. ally rever, Dec15 D jois Cao. dis. Also L.N.E. in opee of next wh ex C fisaid on arab duntl of Dusabsort.cazed compound I burnt CHSG provided Commn for Cav Div on Hai-town Sthat. Grain, & 7000 riftes & Jan 10.15. St Slore gamun segged. Foot. hills Corderig to ontflank sanniyal on N dround, the Suracha marche Jan 195h/CA89 on Wadi stant But thewerstom foiled it. Earby Feb. more activity to hep ing - sad raid or Hai Bwn & bomb of to commno. ACF had to copy dow whole of Eneing wiralus as well as receive from cas keet ws finally won by ciff.
1917. After buy bouth of Tannigator raids by arty on tcommn. Funts of boedvy Feb23. terryny - but mace atld at Tanmigal. et Shumran bridge built, ferries failed. By dusk rives bridged & x8. Bamy D xd, 1sto sd s-ptiaped for this) CHo folld ar cav. Feb24 by Enges. Tried t outflank to reargd but failed Moviton came tho. Failed to catch to Frargd gone. sollowed every byig to sulth reargd – Monetor did Feb 25 So, cav. edut. (or Arcg) A. Stanck across plan to intercept To, but tomonth too quick. H Stie Feb. 26. nearly hil by shal. Rations short, Ice on walesbotths in my. Feb.27 Cav again strack across but to expe, having tubers, TMs, amone money, car, (arabs began to bot) tollesd to Azizwych (2stno rushed two F barge by baak - found to be storebanges) All commns now were dewolv on berehes - in t. w JOCs pabdle Slanes PSX. all stuo moveng up. Feb 28-129. Cav.vacted for us. Fit2gwlad Asiziyes. Pursait here troken of fer saw who for supplies to aer. march Itus now reauited. Mar 5 Ads could 5 Lajj where to met. Man 7. Ein t a tallalong the Diala. Fovrying facted. Pt of 35 Bde ferried across Tigris at Bawi& bridged there Max 8. Car &d (a Packsti Mar9 T Corpe &d. & while fihting contr at Itale, brid to outflank. Max R. BDis Kd Drale pt pack Ste) On it bh Cav within few miles of Bagded. Mar11. Onr reached Bag. rly ste. I had retire besont city. Bagdad. One sh came to grips w A Pty of Arab marandirs who were cating eyes at a dump of But, amun& rifles Marshall found to laving Tel Mahoaet ponn. Mando euto Bogdad, to relief of atigins who were apait of kinds & arahs. By 4.30p. a soatel set we who from Rasidieg in E. t Basoa, taking whol of GH0 to affe for 3- 4 dap. Andy want on to Kagimai & tee to rest at Hinards. 15 jot - to drive to begond the bunds up river. 7undy ad (s)Capt. of Bagd. By Mar 14 Garkh & Bl. Watch doave back B. far For Ffris - 7Caw BL(&9) sent towods deliege (30 m) to Catch Samowa ferm rebuatig. Persia. A T corps os retirnng from Persia, at Dali Abbes (on Drale I and on the Adbalin. MarzS. car&CHTL sen towd sati abboe whih 13D t follow Fjois& beet Aohaim Corps. 13D. dove to byour Dogaich; Dali abbas abantone. 7Dadogo nbk of Tigiis. the Apvil 9-14t Dali Abbao Corps outmanocuvred I driven into Jebet 38 Bde adod on Adham Ky. to driven bxondit. Nerads. pressed acion Tipio to Samariah (ApE3) Bycanly May trains ranning from Bagdad t Damara No daygs now of flood. Ap. 23-27 Fightiy agot to force coming down the Adham - beatin by 29th. XIII Tlaps retreating poor Kermanshap had foor 3 times beate- no in Mter XVIII T Cyst times beathe, now begord tekoit
Exterceptin began at Baora -Antumn 1916. When mande heard o it he Eneny is. Ased a W.O. expert to be sent. Capt Clanson and & interp all mes This took 2 str, 2 state of bexoperators, for 2yro. much inforgained. Also Kn- tho 30 Morse letters - Also Baara, Bombay, Malta, Ciffel T, & Berlin Before Clauson we had bocated many gern stwo by direction DAS Damascus SMR Samarrch & soon. Persia. Baraton in Hamadan had saly in 1916 thought of coopg. w Engl. Cin Tarkey His patrole reached Khanikin,, but ket disaster andis his. Now in Bagd. We hoped to Coop. & cut of T. retreat tho Barah teapch partes Mar15 Keary's Coluain (8r9 Bdes 3 Divwit D JNE. attd to at Bagubal by suprise. Kno had to Kermanshah, Mar 17 tey & began to be squeazed - put out gos on Tebel Hamrin and Paitak] Delay occursed as Ruz. Att. on sebel mistined – 9Bde suffdhean loss. (t Ste had replaced I) Ent max. to had excapedafter fighting at Dali Abbos & Rno joinet W Brit. at Kizil Robat - but only a Cossack patrol (sotnia) slort of food. Col. Rowlantson, haiion fo 5 Baraton (15 Cancacian Divn) wantes haison, To "A'Stuseit to him Earby in speil from Bagdad. Ap23. A reaches Khanckin & Ap 24 Kasr-i- Sherin to Rassians. Hindeyeh: One of early ope ws to see conda of Hindeych Barr. on Enphoates. Hiket (Babybon Works got going again at once. ig 2 an 5 Ste rett & with t jained7 on Fijois at Samarrah (fCon Samoer Rest. Tepis) (some lade Case - not v. so0d- sn) CW Laces Colun on reposial apt arabs dows Enplrates, Hwith 37Bde t OOc. Beled Rug as Kno (&A) had rew to Kermanshah. Kow straf. July. Last 2 NE tno and Baydad from LfC. t. were as Ramadie, a little above Fehija, keeping arabs reter Eaphrater Tex Isent, but beake by sandstoon, (130 in shode). (After this]1of Bde went w 3 Di to Palestine). (4C. Persia. t Aug. A small Colanc rretok sharobon on oh to Khanikin as to wery fortifyng there. A suppd to be cut of a new ste, ADwsformer, & A becaue AA. Hs, Clark & Hilary had come with rts. R/t. N 1917 Car. Dwn Sig Sgn despatched from Aust. but after 12 mke desbandes. Dec. 1917. D' troop (light motor wereless sectro) sent from Aust.
Sesann. Dau Lsamarrah Antrema 191 Tsheld no bogded Randie Rnmows of new ferman army to drive But out. Persiankd: Sept 29. 7Cas ble & H, prom Bagubah atd Mantali on Persbordes where to were gateny an T flet. Ramadie: Sept 27. 2 Colo. adddr Brt poss (&G) & 6 CavBill (C p. Demonstin on lepback. Ford moton cand 12000gal. Cas. got round across Sept 28 alepps id. But. Suceanded them & took whole lot, 4000. Few of Cav Dis Sig Sen were o this cob for Expce. Oct. 12M/Ble recoved to Het (& Q) No to foant After Ramadie C& 6Bde back to Ss Salaikh where found a new Cavalryunet- 1 aast Cav Dr Sig Sgn, Capt Payne. Caw. Dis. as forming ta stabulat for its and campasgu Ceason. Diala. Oct 18t tried to cut off to on Diala as on Euphrates by convergs most but Ts had slpped out. (l.L+ H Stu to Ris) Nov. Teprit. Cav. & 7 Dis adod to Feprit also tryng surpocal, II had cleared begond fin but Nov 18 mande died of Choloa. Gen. Marshall III Corps replaced him. Brecan rd. Atto Ra retirent this had bu, abaudaed to To. Dec25 Attack on Cuarch Taapeh. Diversion N of Adhai by Cav Dio (C.F.H) 13 D. for Guare Tappeh (() On 26No0 4 wile On apper Diale a Boit force+ 1&D. Kurdarrah (D) open were snv t soi Partyausk’s demonabed (Rn 8.53) IILHQ. (1) under son Egexton. Bicherakos SSD. T reargd bs at off. 35750 Bdis reached nr Querah T. or Dec. 5 & E441 rsased Ken on 29R made 3 boy marched thro kifri towds Mosiel. Ths witom to Sakultutan. agt Ts at Kigit Robet leron At No0 29 at Mandali a pty of Kno had appd - Partizanski under DEC.S foun To returny- s0 Bicheralov, who had wawed right to disert allies. They had a opan& kips ended. mobile wereless & tate in vos. a pt of Austhys as sent to Retired w Bicheraker handle English traffic - call SSD! to kenaushah in San. (pasery AA) Moo Phs Stige tere 18t 5 travel ad - to Khankin - wo cay of /4 w D. On Khankn looked afte thes being reached AA, w Baratoo, we ordr to return to Syn, & an Eocort sent bi Har1ad Cossacks Ex. HCupfor AA AA, when Rus left Kaer-i Shirin, after botiy town & bagaaro, were raited on Chahan Hamadans Mas 14. Berates Tabar - kno suffdmany lass, but s loot only to tr gharis Cooted. & Bich lett for As Kermanshah v. short of food but got money from But conscil. Rns began to Damada. Mas 14 Duaster, came. turn agot them as T propagande v.good. steads of American Inn & Duries of Mar31. FSt Cas. Nupl. BR of Perica were i kind. Jan 1918 - news & moate return to Bagdad. A pack in dord vans VIS comeing May2FAStn Came (WE) cittead. Col. Kenyon (counal) & Beroinn guard acged them, Snow better Rell by tSqn Auge7. Jam 6 not eoont on Paltall. 17 San. Back in Bagdad. Disbanded Partizansks als on way to Hamadan.
A1 B2 c D4 E5 F6 H8 I9 I 1918. Persian R8. Pnhd now seized by Buit. Jan 1918. HB.36 Bde at gtcaravanserai, Khanckin advance pty of 1/4 Hanto Kaso.i. Sherin (NE Twayon St after than 14HSr sqn to Kaev. Shere on 16t wit & Taucs Abt Jan 20, operators of t w0 phe of 1/9lant set to Paitak - to foot of it an Lood vaus, & chnbed pass on foot - 2d being remade. Fin sumer kets practh at srow leadl. Crops & seed sone- roofbeams to for ferewood- inhafp Slarse Hots two dapaper Fst came Duasterill & advance pty. Eaphratis frout now at Ramadie (Gstn. 15 Dis) But in New Yr T.Evidly movnng- stores colld Stc. Marshellor] ocupn of Hit, 40 in on. Feb.21 42inf Bde. w 3? 10 a ACauble. En-15DHA mar 8 T ntt. Resolow to hit hard at Khan Baghdads. Mar 26. 11las Bll, havingnade fouce merch, w Coh of annd cars (& 39 ord infiegn Nos.3,4,10. cut to aleppo rd, far behind Ts, while 15Datts T. left. 39.r Hogges completely succespul. If took Kn. Begdadi. in the. Mas27 noon reached Atrah. mal & A.C570 in farker t operaton wen with EACS. (Rogge's Col), somed from spare so t myn snt up to relee mi fr ledbe At Anah ws F. NO. wit offices several 1000 1s. We blewe 30000sco Sorata Wereles here had to come back as out of t. No3 & cow bat or Mar 29. cverw 73m on alepps road - to recover t Col Pennent Dir of Avioti & May Hobart Apttat K. Sagdadi on Mar 28 (forceslandiny) To tryy to get them to Aleppo, but Caro agk tm. Kickeck Marshall ad now turn on to. E of Tegris, behind Sebel Hamrin, who has road from Rosul thro kept to kaar-:-Shering faited at kipi but attd distant Korkek & Tug. III Corps Ejerton desented Entirely on wirelios here, voin alavailable Angas Stus. He ws in Cas Bdes. LHG y Mandan 20 April attreag. 13 Die (Caydley) 10h. DatiAbbas 5 Cav Ade 28 .Fur 38 Bdg. 12 (fom Khancken 7as Bll. on fiint Al Adham (Tang Khana) 24 Apr. moved. a To had cleased & only mot on AP27. 6 Caw Bds near tiy Ap28 inf forced posite. Ap29 aDv. to Tuz. Battl in open. Iwis hed is cas-charge. Ap 30 ACo on t Tang, We intercepted T.Mrs on old teh of tug. betw Tang & T.H.Q. GHle onds ado to Coul to Kerkerk. MayS- Clan Ode adot to Toing May 6Kekek rached To seen 6 be retrenty. As Ia/ not up, caw withdow Heway & Tang. May 7. sperates got a ns pogC -v. fant ento Kaskenk MayD. Raiw Kinkak - got t. t to. Curr 3000 &cs try he these opus for 236000. After a fortught withd new, as al supty colo. wanted on Pers rd. (o( was wat nttcops addd N0 to Van
e
Numbers Jirst / fright 6.5 Pack Troop 4.51 SAAT ATP. 4.84 2. 70. Dpp. 3.5 Cav. Dir SigSqn RHE. 3.½ 21 Rtto. 3. 238 30 43 20 16 46 3.238 63 55 88 80 50 34 24 621 AF.C. 63 558 Sigs. 621 46 667.
Abrent ti Malid 255 18 Anosf 339 283 m 11/224 11) 106, 212a, 264n, 288-8n. 271-8. 282n. 415. 1350 Fad. goot on 1/4/15 decedes that D Force shall be 2nd Caspsunder NIxon in Crowash, 12 Mo Dw (Forrof Copps Fo. Werelis Sig 1. 6CasAA. 6 Poona 12, 30,33 Bdee. 16.17.18 Bl Aog to Baydow by person as country to G. moves in Perg Aug 1915 Wra But tha os to take Bags. Tribes at Beit Resideylt Bushere & faed t gove tsnotig so but sent yea 5 Bushire biloo staps to to est conden w of afphamatan sept 1915 Ko - to opp. fferm actinl fanow at Eyel Crm misso reached kabul s pidly bnd there who behad him castlng sand ang out of D heposs wenter. 17 spt Hanange say Bapd. as to as offection as les Dnd b and loged a idea, Towetard bD Govrnn 12B 4/2 some hands formed by go agents in Bereia had forcet Brit & Mo coasular ofls to have districts rryng t force persia t hep to in wal. F9 mesn wd trying to get anve to iarade intia.

From Cutlack.

Mesopotamia.

1915

"D" Force Nov 6th 1915 Poona Div. I.A.

16 Bde arrd Nov. 6 at Fao & took it.

Rest of Div arrd.

Nov 28. Occpd Basra.

Dec. 8 Took Kurna. (Tigris)

For 3 mtns Ts now threatened.

1915.

12th Ind. Div. then arrd under Gorringe, & Nixon GOC "D".

Townshend apptd GOC 6 Div.

May 31. Att. on Kurna. Later Amara tn.

Jy 24. Nasiriyeh (Euphrates) tn. 

Sept. Force "D" moving up & concentrg at Al Gharbi; base for Kut att.

Advd ps. to Sanniyat (20 m. from. Es Sinn & 27 from Kut).

Sept 27. Att. on Kut begins.
Es Sinn turned by wide movt by 6 Div. (w feint on rt bk).

Aeroplanes kept t. as telephone outrun.

Oct 5. Brit at Aziziyeh, ½ way to Bagdad. Ts had gone to Ctesiphon

near Bagdad, but now began to come back.

Nov. 22. Battle of Ctesiphon. Assembled at Lajj. Trenches taken but cdnt be 

held agst T. rfts. Had to fall back on Lajj & Kut.

Dec. 2. Back in Kut where he ws besieged w 3000 Brit 10,000 Inds.
Dec. 9. 2 remg. aeroplanes left Kut.

1916. 29 Apr. Townshend surrendered.

 

1st Pack Wireless Signal Tp. A.I.F. In Aust drawn from signal & tpt & arty camps.
Dec. 1915 Request from India for technical asstce for Mespot force.

Size 1.54. Abt ½ oprs ½ dvrs & staff. Embarked Melb. 5 Feb. 1916. Colombo transhipped, also Bombay ^ arr end Feb Mar 10. 

Row over mens messing allce. Mar 10 sail for Mespot. Mar 19 arr. Basra Makina (nr Basra)

under Lt S. J. White.

Wireless Each stn to be 13 - 7 operators, 6 dvrs - all mtd & 5 horses (18)

To be C Tp. 1st Wireless Sqn. A ws at front, B in India.

Anor ^ pack tp to arrive found to be NZ - it arrd Makina Ap.18 under Lt Clarke.

They too were pt of C Tp. (4 stations A.I.F., 4 N.Z.)

1st Stn had to up river to 15 Div on Ap 25th & joined in on 28th. (Day of surrender of Kut).

May 9. 1st NZ Stn sent up - above Amara.

21 Camp moved to Magil.

May - 2nd A & 2nd NZ Stns sent up Tigr & Euphr - Ali Gharbi & Nasiriyeh.

June 17 3rd A & 3rd NZ Stns ^ sent on expdn to straf Arab tribes; retd on 20th.

July 1. Dvr died of malaria.

Jy 6 Sqn HQ & "A" tp arrd from Aust & took ch - under title 1st A & NZ Wireless Sig Sqn.

2 Aust pack stns had bn operating for 2-3 months.

No 1: 1st ^ movd w 42 Bde, marching 140 m - v. trying on Brit. inf.  Stn stayed at Khamsiyah.

Lt White here left for Basra, sick. Stn Did v.g. wk on way.

No.2: Embkd May 31 on barges, w horses & 6 Indn towed by launch by aid of Miss

Gertrude Bell thro' uncharted Lake Hammar. Nas. ws last outpost
on Euphrates, but only activty Arab raids. Tels. often down, so 

much wireless traffic.

Later, advance ordered up river, & a few wireless men sent on
gunboat wh accpd advance.
1916

Early March. W.O. (?) infd Govt of wish to increase wireless by adding tp & ^ Sqn H.Q.

15% rfts to sail quarterly.  ^ To be raised in S. States by Capt Gartrell (SA)
& N by Lt Marr. Gartrell accidently drowned - so Maj. Sutherld apptd to

raise in S. Tried to get men w technical knowledge throughout Aust.

Ap.26. N S W sectn left for Broadmeadows.
May 30.  Sailed by Morea. At Colombo nothing known of pty.

Transhipped to Novara - tp deck so filthy tt mutiny necy to get decent 2 class

accdtn.

Bombay gn topees & spine pads.

July 4 Basra. Disembkd Jy 6.

A & NZ Wireless Sig. Sqn now created. SHQ & staff.

Tps: A. 2 wag. 2 pack

B. (Pack Tp) 1 wag. 3 packs

C. NZ Tp.       "           "

Jy 6 - NZ tp lost O.C. Lt Clarke. (3 mths later SHQ lost Sqn S.M. Newman)

Midsummer v. trying. By Jy 31 B had only 27 men, C 21, A abt same.

Sandflies, mosquitoes, & flies pests. Nights at Basra also hot.

Arrgd w 2nd (Brit) Sqn for ANZ to take over f.l. work & leave them base & l. of c.

2 sorts of sets - ½ kilowatt & 1½ kilowatt.
Lighter set ws in 5 loads - (1) 2¾ Douglas petrol air cooled motor & alternator.
(2) sendg & receiving gear, (3) rigging (4) masts, (5) petrol oil &
spare parts. 13 men in all. 18 hs. All mtd.
Set cd be up & going in 7-8 mins. Later, mechanic for each stn, &

farriers, saddlers, carpenters added.
Waggon set - 2 - 6 horse wagg. limbered waggons (of 2 waggons). 15 men.

Sept 17 Maj Sutherland to hosp.; soon after, Capt White - both sent to Aust. Capt Marr
in/c. 2 NZ stns were wkg up river. Oct 14. 3 Aust stns sent up.

 

1916. Oct 14. 2 NZ Packs (J & K) already wkg at Madelis & Ali Gharbi betwn Amara & Kut.
3 Austln (E wag, F G Pack) embk for GHQ. E & F to 1st corph HQ (left Bk 13 Div)

G to 13 Div (Es Sinn).

Oct 23. H (Pack) sent to GHQ for 6 Cav. Bde.

Nov 12. D (Aust P.) & L (NZ Pack) to Sheikh Saad (advd base) & Es Sinn.

Nov 17. 3 Waggons (A B & I) & 1 Pack (C) to Ali Gharbi (I) & GHQ. (reached Dec 10 by rd.)

Nov 18. HQ to GHQ (Arab village) by bt (reach Nov 25)

Dec 3. dispd as folls:

[*A B C D } Aust
E F G H    }

? I J K L    NZ.*]

(Aust.) SHQ.     G.H.Q.               Kut opns

A  wag.              GHQ.                 No move

B   "                    III Corps             "      "
C  pack             Cav DHQ

D  pack             III Corps                           Intn Jan to 14 Div.

E   wag              I Corps.         -    No move

F   Pack             I Corps                "      "

G   Pack            7 Cav Bde          

H.  Pack            6 Cav Bde

(NZ.)

I   wag.              Ali Gharbi          no move
J  Pack              Sheikh Saad. (Advd Base). no move.

K  Pack             Ali Gharbi          no move.
L  Pack             GHQ                                         Dec. to Cav Div.

Winter & summer passed since Kut fell. In Jy ^ 1916 W.O. had tn over. Indn Exp. Force D became

Mespot. Exp. Force. Maude, prevly div cdr, took ch. in Aug. 1916,
By Dec. 1916 Maude ws ready, & these moves were pt of prepn.
In 9 wks Ts were cleared from rt side of Tigris
Diagram - see original document
Hai tn, bridge at Shumran.

Flankg opns at Kut.

Dec. 13 Cav Divn (C. G. & H.) moved from GHQ to Hai & beyond as fl. gd for inf. Wireless
not much used. Objve gained & div reformed on 14th at Atab.

Done by night march, C G & H at head of col. At dawn on bank of Shatt-al-Hai,

Dec 14  almost dry. In action under fire from T. monitor on aftn of 14th while cav. attg river.

Dec 15 D joins Cav. div. also L. N.Z. in opns. of next week.

Next wk. G H & D joined raid on Arab desert village of Qussab's Fort. Grain seized & compound's burnt.
Jan 10-15. C H & G provide commn for Cav Div on Hai - town stunt. Grain, & 7000 rifles &

gt store of ammn seized.

Jan 19.-27 C H & G on Wadi stunt - to outflank Sanniyat on N around ^ foot-hills bordering the Suwacha marshes.

But thunderstorm foiled it.
Early Feb. more activity to help inf - 2nd raid on Hai town & bomb of T. commns.

A & F had to copy down whole of enemy wireless as well as receive from Cav.

Kut ws finally won by infy.

 

1917.

Feb 23. After long bombt of Sanniyat & raids by arty on T comms. Feints of bridging 

& ferrying - but Maude attd at Sanniyat.

At Shumran bridge built, ferries failed. By dusk river bridged & Xd.

Feb 24 3 a.m. "D" xd, 1st of Mtd tps (strafed for this by Engrs.) C H & L folld w Cav.

Tried to outflank T. reargd but failed. Monitor came thro'.
Failed to catch Ts.
Feb 25. T. reargd gone. Followed enemy trying to outfl. reargd - Monitor did

so, cav. cdnt. (or A.G.)

Feb. 26. Cav. struck across plain to intercept Ts, but Ts mostly too quick. H Stn

nearly hit by shell. Rations short, ice on water bottles in mg.

Feb.27. Cav. again struck across but Ts escaped, leaving limbers, TMs, ammn

money, car, (Arabs began to loot) followed to Aziziyeh (2 stns rushed
two T. barges by bank - found to be store barges).

All commns now were devolving on wireless - in t. w GOC's paddle steamer

P54. All stns moving up.

Feb 28-& 29. Cav. waited for inf. Feb 29 embked Aziziyeh.

Pursuit here broken off for some wks for supplies to arr.

March Stns now reunited.

Mar 5 Adv contd. to Lajj where Ts met.

Mar 7. Cav in t. w Ts all along the Diala. Ferrying failed.

Pt of 35 Bde ferried across Tigris at Bawi & bridged there.

Mar 8. Cav. xd.

Mar 9 I Corps xd. & while fighting contd at Diala ^(w Pack stn) tried to outflank. 

Mar 10. 13 Div xd Diala (& pack stn) on rt bk. Cav within few miles of Bagdad.

Bagdad. Mar 11. Inf reached Bagd. rly stn. Ts had retired beyond city.

One stn "came to grips w a pty of Arab marauders who were 

casting eyes at a dump of Brit. ammn & rifles.

Marshall found Ts leaving Tel Mahomet posn. Maude entd Bagdad,
to relief of citizens who were afraid of Kurds & Arabs.

By 4.30 p. a scratch set ws wkg from Residency in t. w Basra,

taking whole of GHQ traffic for 3-4 days.

Cavalry went on to Kazimain & then to rest at Hinaidi.

1st job - to drive Ts beyond the bunds up river.

xxx 7 Div therefore imdly advd (& G stn) after capt. of Bagd. By Mar 14 Gurkh & Bl. Watch

drove back Ts. far.

For Tigris - 7 Cav Bde (& 9) sent twds Feliya (30 m) to catch Samarra

garrn retreating.
Persia. A T. corps ws retiring from Persia, at Dali Abbas (on Diala)

Anor. on the Adhaim.

Mar 25. Therefore Cav & C H & L sent towds Dali Abbas while 13 D to follow Tigris &

beat Adhaim Corps.

13 D. drove Ts beyond Dogameh; & Dali Abbas abandoned.

7 D advg on rt bk of Tigris.

April 9-14th Dali Abbas Corps outmanoeuvred & driven into ^ the Jebel.

38 Bde ^ now advd on Adhaim Xg. Ts driven beyond it.

Next adv. pressed across Tigris to Samarrah (Ap 23) By early

May trains running from Bagdad to Samarra. No danger 
now of flood.
Ap. 23-29 Fighting agst T. force coming down the Adhaim - beaten by 29th. 

[XIII T. Corps retreating from Kermanshah had bn 3 times beaten -

now in Mtns. XVIII T. Corps 5 times beaten, now beyond Tekrit.]

 

Enemy mss: Deciphering Intercepting began at Basra - Autumn 1916. When Maude heard of it he

asked ^ for a W.O. Expert to be sent. Capt Clauson arrd & interpd all mss.

This took 2 stns, 2 staffs of best operators, for 2 yrs. Much infn gained.

Also Rn - tho ^ over 30 Morse letters -  Also Basra, Bombay, Malta, Eiffel T. , & Berlin.

Before Clauson we had located many Germ Stns by direction DAS Damascus

SMR Samarrah & so on.

Persia:  Baratov in Hamadan had early in 1916 thought of coopg. w Engl.

His patrols reached Khaniken ^ (in Turkey), but Kut disaster ended this.

Now in Bagd. we hoped to coop. & cut off T. retreat thro Qarah Toppeh

Therefore Mar 15 Keary's Column (8 & 9 Bdes 3 Div with "D") ^ started NE.

Mar 17. Attd Ts at Bagubah by surprise. Rns had tn Kermanshah.

Ts began to be squeezed - put out gds on Jebel Hamrin and Paitak 

Diagram - see original document

Delay occurred at Ruz.  Att. on Jebel mistimed - 9 Bde suffd heavy

loss. (E stn had replaced D)

End Mar. Ts had escaped after fighting at Dali Abbas and Rns joined

w Brit. at Kizil Robat - but only a Cossack patrol (Sotnia) -

short of food.

Col. Rowlandson, liaison offr. w Baratov (1st Caucasian Divn)

wanted liaison, so "A" Stn sent to him early in April from Bagdad.

Ap 23. "A" reached Khanikin, & Ap 24  Kasr-i-Shirin to Russians.

Hindiyeh:  One of early opns ws to see condn of Hindiyeh Barr. on Euphrates.

Diagram - see original document                                

works got going again at once.

Summer  Rest. E Stn retd & with F joined 7 Bat Div on Tigris at Samarrah (f. l. on Tigris).

[*(Some Indn leave - not v. good - gn)*]

C W Lucas' Column on reprisals agst Arabs down Euphrates.

H with 37 Bde to occ. Beled Ruz as Rns (& A) had retd to Kermanshah.

K on straf.

July. Last 2 N.Z. stns arrd Bagdad from L. of C.

Euphrates. Ts. were at Ramadie, a little above Feluja, keeping Arabs restless.

7 ^ Ind Bde & "D" sent, but beaten by sandstorm. (130° in shade). (After this 7 Inf Bde

went w 3 Div to Palestine).

Persia. In Aug. a small column ^ (& C) retook Sharoban on rd to Khanikin as Ts were fortifying there.

As A ws suppd to be cut off a new stn, A x was formed, & A became AA.

Rfts. Lts. Clark & Hilary had come with rfts.

In 1917 Cav. Divn Sig Sqn despatched from Aust. but after 12 mths disbanded.

Dec. 1917.  "D" troop (light motor wireless sectns) sent from Aust.

 

Autumn 1917:  Ts held  

Diagram - see original document

Rumours of new German army to drive Brit out.  

Persian Rd:      

Sept 29. 7 Cav Bde & H, from Bagubah attd Mandali on Persian border where Ts were gathering supplies.

Ts fled.

Ramadie:

Sept 27.  2 inf cols. advd from Brit posn. (& G.) & 6 Cav Bde ("C").

Sept 28. Demonstrn on left bank. Ford motors carrd 12 000 gals. Cav. got round across

Aleppo rd. Brit. surrounded them & took whole lot, 4000.
Few of Cav Div Sig Sqn were w this adv for expce.

Oct.  12 Inf Bde reconnd to Hut (& G)  No Ts found

After Ramadie "C" & 6 Bde back to Es Salaikh where formed a new Calvary unit -

1 Aust. Cav Div Sig Sqn, Capt Payne.

Cav. Div. are forming ^ up at Istabulat for its 2nd campaign season.

Diala. Oct 18th tried to cut off Ts on Diala as on Euphrates by convergg movt,                    

but Ts had slipped out.

(I, L & H Stns w this)

Nov. Tekrit. Cav. & 7 Div advd to Tekrit also trying surprise, ^ but Ts had cleared beyond towns.

Nov 18 Maude died of Cholera. Gen. Marshall III Corps replaced him.                               

Persian rd.  After Rn retirement this had bn abandoned to Ts.

Dec 2-5. Attack on Quarah Tappeh. Diversion N. of Adhaim by Cav Div. (C.F.H.)

13 D. for Quarah Tappeh (L)

14 D. for Kurdarrah (D)                

On upper Diala a Brit force & 

Partizanski demonstrd (Rn 8SD)X

III HQ. (1) under Gen. Egerton.

T. reargd ws cut off.  35 & 50 Bdes reached Quarah T. on Dec.5 & Ts fled.
thro Kifri towds Mosul. Tps withdn to Sakultutan.

At Nov 29 at Mandali a pty of Rns had appd - Partizanski under 

Bicherakov who had waived right to desert allies. They had a 

mobile wireless & late in Nov. a pty of Austlns ws sent to 

handle English traffic - call 8SD.X                                                                

1st to travel rd - to Khanikin - was coy of 1/4 Hants w D. On Khanikin.  

being reached AA , w Baratov, was ordd to return to sqn, & an escort sent to it.

AA. AA, when Rns left Kasr-i-Shirin after looting town & bazaars, were raised on Chakar

Fabar - Rns suffd many cass, but AA lost only its tpt gharis looted.

At Kermanshah v. short of food but got money from Brit. consul. Rns began to

turn agst them as T. propaganda v. good. Steads of American Inn & Duries of
Impl. Bk of Persia were v. kind.

Jan 1918 - news tt now ald return to Bagdad. A pack in Ford vans VIS coming

instead. Col. Kenyon (Consul) & Persian guard accpd them. Snow bitter.

Jan 6 met escort on Paitak.

17 Jan. Back in Bagdad. Disbanded.

Partizanski also on way to Hamadan. 

[XOn 26 Nov 4 wireless

opers. were sent to join

Bicherakov 8SD. &

reached them on 29th

Made 3 long marches

agst Ts at Kizil

Robat but on

Dec. 3 found Ts.

retiring - so

expdn & Kifri ended.

Retired w Bicherakov

to Kermanshah in Jan. (passing AA)

Mr & Mrs Stead here

looked after them

Mar 11 all Cossacks

exc. HQ left for

Hamadan.

Mar 14. Baratov

& Bich. left for

Hamadan. Mar 14 Dunsterf. came.

Mar 31. F Stn came.

May 25 9 Stn came (NZ)

Reld by 2nd Sqn Aug 27.*]

 

1918.
Persian Rd:  Jan 1918. Pn Rd now seized by Brit.

H.Q. 36 Bde at gt caravanserai, Khanikin.

Advance pty of 1/4 Hants Kasr.i.Shirin (NZ "I" waggon stn Jan 13)
After them 14 Hsr Sqn to Kasr.i-Shirin on 18th. with F.
Abt Jan 20, operators of F w pln of 1/4 Hants sent to Paitak - to foot

of it - on Ford vans, & climbed pass on foot – rd being remade.

F in summer kits practly at snow level.

Crops & seed gone – roofbeams tn for firewood – inhabts

starving.

Two days after F Stn ^ & Hants came Dunsterville & advance pty.

Euphrates front now at Ramadie (G stn. 15 Div).

But in New Yr Ts. evidly moving – stores colld, etc. Therefore Marshall ordd

occupn of Hit, 40 m on.

[*A 1

B 2

C 7         Nos. 3,4,10,      

D 4         39, & Hogge's

E 5          in this.

F 6

G 3

H 8

I 9 

J 10                                                                                            

K 11

L 12 .*]     

Feb. 21  42 Inf. Bde. w "3". "10" w 11 Cav Bde. "4" - 15 D.H.Q.

Mar 8  Ts retd. Resolved to hit hard at Khan Baghdadi.

Mar 26.  11 Cav Bde, having made forced march, w col. of  armd cars (& "39" orgd in field)

Cut to Aleppo rd, far behind Ts, while 15 D attd T. left.

Completely successful. Inf took Kh. Baghdadi.

Mar 27  noon reached Arah. 70 m ahead & A.C.s 70 m further.

4 operators went with the ACs. (Hogge's Col). formed from spare set &

4 men sent up to relief men for leave.

At Arah ws T. HQ. with offices & several 1000 Ts. We blew up

30,000 shells.

Scratch wireless here had to come back as out of t.

No 3 & Cav. went on.

Mar 29.  They ACs covered 73 m on Aleppo road - to recover Lt Col Tennant

Dirr of Aviatn & Maj Hobart captd at K. Baghdadi on

Mar 25 (forced landing) Ts trying to get them to Aleppo, but

Cars caught them.

Kirkuk

Marshall cd now turn on Ts. E of Tigris, behind Jebel Hamrin, who had

road from Mosul thro Kifri to Kasr-i-Shirin.

Therefore feinted at Kifri but attd distant Kirkuk & Tuz.

III Corps Egerton depended entirely on wireless here, using all available

Anzac Stns.  He ws gn Cav Bdes.

III HQ ."1"  Mandan

20 April all ready.  13 Div (Cazaley) "10" Dali Abbas

6 Cav Bde "8" & "11"

38 Bde. "12" (from Khanikin)

7 Cav Bde. on feint at Adhaim (Tang Khana) "7"

24 Apr. moved.  Ts had cleared & only met on Ap 27. 6 Cav Bde got ^ met them near Tuz.

Ap 28 Inf forced positn.

Ap 29 adv. to Tuz. Battle in open. Finished w cav. charge.

Ap 30 ACs on to Tang. We intercepted T. ms.s on old tel. at Tuz.

betw Tang & T. H.Q.

GHQ ordd adv to cont. to Kirkuk.

May 5 - 6 Cav Bde advd. to Tang

May 6 - Kirkuk reached - Ts seen to be retreatg. As inf not up, cav withdrew

¼ way to Tang.

May 7. Operator got a ms from GHQ - v. faint. Entd Kirkuk

May 10. Passed Kirkuk -  Got t. w Ts.

Over 3000 prisoners tn in these opns for 236 cas. After a fortnight withdrew, as

all supply cols. wanted on Persn. rd. (No 1 wag. went w III Corps advd HQ to Tang)

 

Mosul & Kurdistan Expns - see Bourke's book

 

Numbers

First  ½ flight.     6.57     63

Pack Troop          4.51      55

SHQ & A Tp.         4.84    88

Ref  D Tp.              2.70.    80

Cav.Div Sig Sqn   3.57     60

R&S.                        3.31      34

Rfts:    21               3.238   241       

             30                          621

             43                            63  A.F.C.

              13                            558 Sigs.
              15

              20

              11   

              16

              12

               7

               7

              46     

            3.238
621
46
667.

 

Aeropl. in Mesp.

188  255

I  339  Aeropl.

III / 224  263 m.  281

II  / 206 , 212n, 264n., 285-6n. 271-5. 282n.  415.

I / 350 Ind. govt on 1/4/15 decides that D Force shall be 2 Ind. Corps under Nixon.

6 Cav Bde., 6 Poona Div 16 17, 18 Bdes (Towash), 12 Ind Div 12, 30, 33 Bdes. (Gorringe) Corps Tps. Wireless Sig Tp.

Adv. to Bagdad.

Aug 1915

Urged by Nixon as counter to G. moves in Persia

But xlia div to take Bagd.

Tribes attd Brit Residcy at Bushire & failed. P Govt

did nothing so Brit sent tps to Bushire.     

Also steps tn to est cordon W of Afghanistan.

Sept 1915 Rns - to opp. Germ activity

landed at Enzeli.

Germ. mission reached Kabul

Amir friendly but those wkg behind him.

Getting 2nd inf out of Fr before winter.

17 Sept Hardinge says Bagd. wd be as effective

as Dlles.

Ind gs had toyed w idea.

Townshend 6 D  Gorringe 12 D.

II / 2 some bands formed by G. agents in Persia had forced Brit &

Rn consular offls to leave districts.

Trying to force Persia to help Ts in war. T-G. union ws

trying to get Amir to invade India.

 

 

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