My specilisation is the Mesopotamian Campaign, Ron wrote the book (and very good it is to) but I may have the library. Look ups are offered from the following:

Wilson – Loyalties – Mesopotamia 1914-17
A Clash of Loyalties – Mesopotamia 1917-20
Lloyd George – War Memories
Chandler – Long Road to Baghdad Vols 1+2
Townshend – My Campaign
Bailey – Mission to Tashkent
Burke – With Horse and Morse (ANZAC Forces in the Middle East)
The Kia Ora Coo-ee – ANZAC Magazine in the Middle East
Wipers Times
Ed Erickson – Ordered to Die
Ottoman Army Effectiveness in World War 1
Sandhu – The 18th Cavalry (History of 7 th Hariana and 6th KEO)
Staff College – Critical Study & Map Case
Anglesey – History of the British Cavalry – vol 6 (Mesopotamia)
Occleshaw – Armour Against Fate (British Mil Intelligence in ww1)
Winstone – OC Desert (Leachman)
Hopkirk – On Secret Service East of Constantinople
Tennant – In the Clouds Above Baghdad
Moukbil Bey –La Campagne De L’Irak 1914-18
Thompson – Beyond Baghdad
Barber – Besieged in Kut
Leland – MT in Mesopotamia
Byrne – Mesopotamia – The Last Phase
Cato – The Navy in Mesopotamia 1914-17
Young – The Independent Arab
Braddon – The Siege
Sherson – Townshend of Citral and Kut
Winstone – Gertrude Bell
Bell – Selected Letters
Rawlinson – History of 2/6th Rajputana Rifles
Kearsey – The Campaign in Mesopotamia
Begg – Surgery on Trestles
‘Black Tab’ – On the Road to Kut
Bird – A Chapter of Misfortunes
Hall – The Inland Water Transport in Mesopotamia
Evans – The Campaign in Mesopotamia
Barker – Townshend of Kut
Von Sanders – Five Years in Turkey
Roosevelt – War in the Garden of Eden
With a Highland Regiment in Mesopotamia
Official History of the War – Mesopotamia Vols 1 -4
Operations in Persia
War in the Air Vols 5 & 6
Barker – The Neglected War
Letters of TE Lawrence
History of No 30 Squadron
Angier – A Hussars War (13th Hussars)
Dixon – On the Psychology of Military Incompetence
Yeats-Brown – Bengal Lancer
Golden Horn
Jones – The Road to Endor
Atkinson – The Devonshire Regiment 1914-18
History of 1st & 2nd Battalions The Leicestershire Regiment
Handbook of the Turkish Army 1916
The Sky Their Battlefield
Casualties of the German Air Service 1914-20
Sandes – In Kut and Captivity
Volume II of the Handbook of Mesopotamia
Field Notes – Mesopotamia
Cox – The Red Cross Launch Wessex on the River Tigris – Diary of Sydney Cox
Clark – To Bagdad with the British
Marshal – Memories of Four Fronts
Buchanan – The Tragedy of Mesopotamia
Davis – Ends and Means
Ron Wilcox’s – Battles on the Tigris
Slim – Unofficial History
History of the Corps of Royal Engineers – Vol VII
Millar – Death of an Army
Neville – History of the 43rd and 52nd Light Infantry in the Great War – Vol 1
A History of the Punjabis 1857 – 23
Keogh – The River in the Desert
4th Battalion, 16th Punjab Regiment
Account of Operations of the 18th (Indian) Division
Hamilton – History of the 20th (Field) Coy Bombay Sappers & Miners in the Great War
6th Battalion, 13th Frontier Force Rifles
Report of the Mesopotamian Commission
Watson – Sieges, A Comparative Study
Mousley – Secrets of a Kuttite
Long – Other Ranks of Kut
Durand – The Thirteenth Hussars in the Great War

I also have various downloads (a lot of books from online archives around the world - some open some not), extracts, articles and notes from over 20 years interest in the Campaign. Thanks to the forum am just discovering the joys of War Diaries.

Mike Etherington

Wow! What a collection. I haven't even heard of many of those publications. How long has it taken you to amass such a collection? It must be worth a fortune as I suspect most of them are now out of print and extremely old.

I too have an interest in Mespot because many Ashford casualties served and died with the 5th Buffs throughout present day Iraq (mainly at Basra, Amarah and Kut). If you have an interest in men who fell in Mespot, we have documented quite a few on the kentfallen website.

Welcome to the Great War forum. Your expertise (and library) will be put to good use here I'm sure. To my knowledge there are'nt many real Mespot specialists on here. But there are plenty of people trying to find out more about this "forgotten" Great War campaign. I'm sure that most people in the U.K still don't realise our involvement in Iraq prior to the present day conflicts. Men are now falling in the same places that British soldiers fell in 1916/17.

Hello Mike, would you have anything on the RHA in Mespot. I believe my father. Samuel Moore, served there, possibly in the pre war period also. Thanks, Tom

Great collection, Mike! Only just about describable as Mespot campaign - but do you have any mentions of Lewin's Column or 1055 Company ASC? (went up to Persia)?

Tom,

Sorry, cannot find anything on your man in my electronic resources or a quick persual of the hard copy. To give you an idea re RHA in Mes though:

S Battery RHA (6 x 13pdr) was despatched from India to Mes in Feb 1915. Involved in their first action on 3 March at Nukhaila. As the force withdrew the battery was attacked by Arab cavalry whilst in the act of limbering up. Arabs got in amongst the battery and hand to hand fighting ensued rifles, pistols and swords being used to protect the guns. 5 Officers and 20 other ranks were lost but all the guns were saved.

Due to the lack of artillery in theatre S battery was involved in almost all the actions in Mesopotamia up until the siege of Kut being transferred between 6th and 12th Divisions as required.

Following Ctesiphon and the withdrawal to Kut the battery left Kut with the 6th Cavalry Bridge on 6 Dec 1915. They left 2 guns behind due to lack of horses one presumes and are shown as being in the line with the relieving forces on 3 Jan still with the 6th Cavalry Brigade but only 4 guns strong. The Battery took part in the attempts to relieve Kut.

V Battery (6 x 13pdr) arrived in theatre from France with the 7th Cavalry Brigade on 15 Jul 1916 and following the resumption of operations by Gen Maude the two batteries where in constant action from then on.

W Battery arrived with 11th Cavalry Brigade from India late Dec 1917. By this time the RHA batteries in Mes had been reequipped with 18pdrs to increase the weight of fire and were quite often operating with doubled teams due to heavy going in the field.

To show how involved the batteries were this is a quote form Mesopotamia - The Last Phase (Byrne) re action at Khalis in Apr 1918: 'But " S " Battery, on the extreme right, covered itself with glory, obtaining what an enthusiastic subaltern described as
"the target of a lifetime. " One section was detached and the remainder (three guns) came into action in four successive positions, exacting a heavy toll of the enemy. In the third position it remained in action, with a squadron as escort on the right flank, long after the cavalry had retired. It then got away under gun and rifle fire, losing its captain and five men in so doing ; but it managed to rejoin the division which was then two miles in rear, near the previous night's bivouac. The Battery fired over 500 rounds that day.'

Recommended reading:

Farndale – History of the Royal Artillery; The Forgotten Fronts and the Home Base, 1914-18 – this follows the movements and actions of the batteries in great detail. Sorry have not got the ISBN number I only have a photocopy of the relevant chapters.

Ron Wilcox - Battles on the Tigris: The Mesopotamian Campaign of the First World War – Superb concise overview of the campaign. ISBN 1 84415 430 0

Hope this helps.

Mike

Wow, what a collection!
Is there any hope to find some information about Second Lieutenant Roger Smith, of 4th South Wales Borderers? He died in Mesopotamia on 25/1/1917...But I have no idea on what of those books you could find anything!
Thanks
Elena

Chris,

Chapter XLI of Vol 4 Official History covers operations in Kurdistan April-May 1918 – 20 odd pages which includes actions by column commanded by Gen Lewin. This unit had a changing consistency - I can attempt to scan and PM these if you wish.

Ops in Oct included a small flanking column commanded by Gen Lewin:

War Diary of 5th Wilts shows this column as consisting of:

Headquarters 40th Infantry Brigade
Brigade Signal Section
12th Cavalry (less 1 Squadron)
A/66 Btty R.F.A. (less 1 Section) (18pdr)
1 Section 61st Btty R.F.A. (4.5 How)
Portion B.A.C.
4th South Wales Borderers
5th Wiltshire Regiment
Headquarters and 2 Sections 40th Machine gun Coy
1 Section 71st Field Coy R.E.
13th L.A.M.B.
'B' Flight 30th Squadron R.A.F.
Portion 72nd Squadron R.A.F.
No.8 Pack Wireless Station.
1/2 of 40th Brigade S.A.A. Section
Detachment 39th Field Ambulance

This column was to advance on the line Tauq – Kirkut – Altun Kopri and prevent enemy forces in that area from moving down the Little Zab.

If you need more info on this column please advise and I will provide more detail.

Official history is unfortunately very light when it comes to mentioning ASC units.

OOB for 19 Oct 1918 shows 1055 ASC Coy as being Army Troops based in Baghdad as part of No.2 Mechanical Transport Column

I have notes from : Army Service Corps 1902-1918 by Mike Young. ISBN: 0850527309 but have not typed them up and can’t find them at the moment.

Just noticed that our friends at Naval & Military Press have published : ROYAL ARMY SERVICE CORPS A HISTORY OF TRANSPORT AND SUPPLY IN THE BRITISH ARMY Vol 2 of which covers WW1 ISBN 1843427613

Trip to the library might be in order.

There is no mention in OH of Ops in Persia or any of the books I have on the Dunsterforce Ops.

Not much help there.

Mike

Neil,

Thanks - I have been interested in the campaign for years. The only great grandfather I knew was ex 13th Hussars who served in Mes not with the regiment but in the Machine Gun Corp and Military Police.

What you say about history repeating is true my day job actually involves dealing with the guys and girls in Iraq and Afghan. Places and events resonate throughout history. There really is nothing new under the sun. History is definitely NOT bunk.

Mike

Elena,

25 Jan 1917 was attack on the Hai salient opposite Kut. 4th South Wales Borderers formed part of 40th Brigade, 13th Division along with 8th Cheshires, 8th Royal Welch Fusiliers and 5th Wiltshires.

40th Brigade launched their attack along the east bank of River Hai at 0940 on 25 Jan. Leading battalions were Royal Welch and Wiltshires with the other battalions in support. By 10am the Brigade had achieved its objectives and were pushing eastwards along the Turks front line trenches. By the evening they had gained ground to the east and had a foothold in the 2nd line trenches. Two Turkish counter attacks had been repulsed with ease after being broken up by artillery.

I can find no mention of your man but he may have been temporarily attached to one of the attacking battalions. 5th Wilts were only allowed(!) to take 11 officers into action the remainder being held in reserve… 2 were killed and 3 wounded. Leading from the front was expected and often costly.

Not much help, but a bit of background.

Mike

Chris,

Bit more on 1055 ASC Company. (Ford vans)

Arrived in theatre 7 Jun 1918. Company sign : Snake (unfortunately I cannot find a picture).
By 16 Jan 1919 was based in Kermanshah.

Officers: T/Major P Weir, A/Major GLR Smith, Capt EMGE de Wilton, A/Capt T Kirwan, Lt R Maiden, 2/Lts: FS Rainbow, FS Adcock, HC Mitchell, CH Gibbs, JN Gillies, HB Rodgers, LO Daltry, AT Boundford.

OPS: Hillah and Persian LoC.



In Aug and Sep 1918 British forces were involved in disaster relief involving Russian refugees fleeing the Turks via Persia.

From: With the MT in Mesopotamia by Lt Col LELAND, London 1920.

'The outstanding feature of this work performed by 102 vans of No 1055 Company, under the command of 2Lt Kirwan. Proceeding from Khanikin to Kasvin, Enzeli, and Zinjan, it left Khanikin on Sep 14 and reached Surkhadiza, just above Pai Tak Pass, a distance of 53 miles in 14 hours. This was entirely due to the fact that this company had recently arrived, and none of the drivers had experienced hilly country or rough roads. The negotiating of Pai Tak pass always proved a considerable difficulty to the Indian drivers, one of whom drove his car over the Pass at Pai Tak, smashing it to pieces. The Indian, luckily, escaped unhurt. (NOTE. It had originally been thought that driving of Ford vans was beyond the "Asiatic" temperment. ASC companies in Mes, due to the shortage of British drivers had converted to a manning rate of 60% British, 40% locally trained Indian). The Burmese companies were formed at the same time for the same reason).

On Sep 15 the convoy reached Kermanshah between the hours of 1730 and 0100 on the 16th. The next two days were spent on the road between Kermanshah and Hamadan.

The chief cause of trouble on this particular road was the Asadabad Pass, where the up-going convoy had to pass several returning convoys, both mule and MT. On this pass too, another Indian driver drove his car over the side, completely smashing the vehicle, and had to be taken to hospital, injured. The convoy left Hamadan at 9am 18 Sep and the tail arrived in Kasvin 2100 on 19th.

Maintenance petrol and lubricating oil had to be carried from Kermanshah. On 20 Sep cars were off-loadedand sufficient petrol was drawn to take the convoy to Enzeli - a distance of 160 miles - where they arrived on the evening 22nd. They loaded up with 5000 gallons of petrol, which was badly wanted and which came from Baku and began the return journey to Kasvin morning of 23rd. Tail of convoy however, did not arrive at Kasvin until 1100 on 26th. Most of the vehicles were in a bad way for transmission band linings, owing to very steep gradiants and the continual use of the brakes on the forward journey and the use of the first speed on the return (NOTE Ford Model T's from what I remember from a Top Gear programme only had two forward gears. The second of which Clarkson found suicidally fast on the flat).

On 27 Sep the convoy had orders to proceed from Kasvin to Zinjan, 120 miles with all available vans loaded with troops. The road was fairly good, and little difficulty was experienced, convoy returning to Kasvin on evening 30 Sep.

Oct 1 was spent doing repairs at Kasvin and preparing for the return trip to Hamadan. Loaded up with numerous sick officers and men and left Kasvin at 0930 Oct 2 arriving at Hamadan morning of Oct 4.

It left the latter place morning 5 Oct, arrived Kermanshah mid day 7th and reach Khanikin on 9th. Total distance covered was approx. 1600 miles, and the following spares were used:

800 new tubes (250 of which were repaired by vulcanisers and a further 250 repaired with Patchquik outfits - total of 1300 punctures in all). 278 covers, 35 front springs, 100 feet of transmission band lining, 14 radius rods, 15 connecting rods, 25 rear wheels, 16 front wheels and 10 rear springs. 90 % of the vehicles required new transmission band linings.
3 cars had been completely wrecked, 20 British ORs and 19 Indian ORs were admitted to hospital at various stages of the journey.

This was considered to be a good performance.'

Mike

Fantastic, Mike. Thank you. If you would like it I have a copy of 1055 Coy war diary. I am researching an officer who was attached to it for a while - an Archibald James Bone.

Excellent Collection, really good, presumably many have not been reprinted.

What are you missing? You never know a forum member might be able to help.

Mart

[quote name='Mikemeso' date='Feb 15 2008, 10:57 PM' post='861752']
<....>
Not much help, but a bit of background.


Thank you very much Mike, I didn't know absolutely anything about what happened and this at least gives me an idea.

Elena

Mike what an amazing collection and a very generous offer for look ups. Do you have anything about the Battle at Barjisayah Wood in April 1915 in particular the part played by 2 Norfolks. My man was award the DCM there . Also do you know anything of Special Ammunition Column RGA? I've asked on the GWF but I'm afraid even the Pal's don't seem to know of it.
Lionboxer

Mike,

I have bios of Maude and Marshall, If you come across anything substantial about these two or even Nixon and Lake I would be grateful. Scans of any pics would be even better.

regards
Arm

Lionboxer,

I will post on Barjisayah Wood later in the week - time is a bit scarce at the moment to give you a comprehensive reply.

Re Special Ammunition Column RGA - not a unit title I am familiar with and cannot find it from a quick scan of all the OOBs I have for formations in Mes. If you can give me a bit more I may be able to help. Farndale is very very brief on the Ammunition columns concentrating on the actions of batteries and brigades.

What's the name of your man - I can try for something specific.

Mike

Chris,

Most grateful of offer of 1055 War Diary can you PM?

You say Bone was attached. Do you know what regiment he actually belonged to - maybe I can find something from that angle.

Do you need any more on Lewin's Oct column Ops?

Mike

Thank you Mike. I have Wheeler Sgt Hurring's service record and that's where I picked up his unit. He was with the Meerut DAC 6/1/15 then Spec Amm Col 27/3/16 and then Indian 1st DAC 1/12/16.
Lionboxer

An impressive list!

I would be interested in anything about the 104th Wellesley Rifles and in particular what they were doing on 13:4:1915 when the chap I am interested in...Captain Frederick James Chadwick was killed.

The Captain was a career soldier and had joined the Indian Army on the 9th Nov 1903 transferring to the 104th as a 2nd Lt on the 15th Nov 1903

Were the 104th involved in the Battle of Shaiba? It took place on that date I believe.

Hi Mike,
Your library is fantastic.
Thanks for the generous offer for look ups.
Could you post some information regarding The Queens (West Surreys) in the Mespot campaign.
My wife's grandad, Pte.Bertie Brooker, took part in the campaign but family details are very vague.
Many thanks,
Cliff

Arm,

Not much of Nixon or Cox beyond some basic biographic details however, this may of interest:

From: A Brief Outline of the Mesopotamian Campaign – Maj Evans, London, 1926.

‘A cavalry soldier, a polo-player and a pig-sticker, General Nixon had a well earned reputation for dash, and he himself – as well as many others in India – was under the impression that he had been selected for command largely on account of this particular characteristic. Energetic, inclined to the Napoleonic in his decisions, he was s successful Army Commander in India and had got a name at manoeuvres and at tactical exercises for “ginger”. He was a natural leader rather than a highly trained commander; consequently he was, perhaps, somewhat prone to regard war as an affair in which the “practical man” who was not afraid of accepting responsibility could achieve his end by ordinary “common sense” untrained methods, and, confronted at every turn by administrative parsimony in military affairs, to look at it purely from the fighting point of view, leaving administration to arrange itself as economically as it could.

Now towards the close of his service, he found himself afforded an opportunity which had come the way of few soldiers of his generation, the supreme command of what appeared likely to become an important and brilliant compaign,’

Mike

Scanner is unfortunately on the blink at the moment. So no pictures.

Mike thats great thanks, its nice to get junior officers opinions etc. I assume this Major Evands served in the campaign?

many thanks
Arm

Hi Mike !

I don't know if you can help me as I don't have much information but here goes ........ I'm looking for an Army Chaplain ... The Rev Hubert Furlong and this is all I have .... I'd appreciate anything you can find !

Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood
St James's Palace SW
3rd March 1919
The King has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointment to the Most Excellent Order Of the British Empire for valuable services rendered in connection with military operations in Mesopotamia.
The appointment to date from the 1st January 1919

The Rev Hubert Furlong T/Chaplain to the Forces 4th Class Royal Army Chaplains Department

Father Hubert Furlong OFM renewed his contract on 4th July 1917 in Mesopotamia ...... HQ Noper Force

Thanking you in advance !

Annie

Hi Mike,
Many thanks for your offer of lookups for the Mesopotamian campaign. Could you check your material for any mention of a R.C. Chaplain called Fr. Philip Moore. I'm afraid I don't know what unit he was attached to!

Regards,

Liam.

Thanks for this Mike,
I'm interested in the 1st Seaforth Highlanders. My grandfather, Henry Woods S/16077 was a Lewis gunner with them. I've seen
With a Highland Battalion in Mesopotamia
written by a 2nd Black Watch officer, it's great, but have yet to see the Seaforth side of things. Do you have access to their war diaries?
Thanks again,
Tom

tommarmot@netscape.net

Lionboxer,

I unfortunately do not have the Norfolk’s Regimental History but the following may be of interest.

Battle of Barjisayah Wood 14 Apr 1915 (3rd day of Battle of Shaiba).

Norfolks formed part of 18th Brigade. After two days of fighting Gen Mellis decided to attack Turkish positions in the vicinity of Barjisayah Wood.

Advance began between 1130 and noon and proceeded for about 1 mile without incident but by 1230 front line was hotly engaged with rifle and machine gun fire at effective ranges. Enemy line being 900 yards from the Dorsets to 400 yards from 120th. Gap between 24th and the Norfolks had grown to some 1200 yards. Turk trenches where at an angle to the advance and faced upwards on a glacis-like slope leading down past them to the wood and opened heavy fire as regiments cleared the skyline. The second Turk line was some 600 yards back, particularly well sighted and concealed amongst scrub and against the background.

By 1300 Norfolks and 24th Punjabis had managed to push slightly forward and were able to lie down to return fire. The gap between the 16th and 18th Brigades however remained large and attempts to close it had failed.

The fight resolved into an intense fire fight all along the front line. The heat was extreme and heavy casualties being endured.

At 1530 Melliss called for a fresh effort and a little more ground was gained under extremely close artillery support despite a mirage hindering the gunners. Captain de Gray, Adjutant of 2nd Norfolks managed at great personal risk to signal the gunners to shorten their range and eventually 63rd Battery RFA ‘embedded’ a liaison officer (Lt Gilpin RA) into the Norfolk’s firing line to direct the fire with the result that a well placed shell put out of action a Turkish machine gun section that had been particulary annoying and responsible for many casualties. By 1600 decisive progress had still not been made and Melliss took precautionary measures to cover a retirement. Shortly after though the Turkish guns fell silent and resistance seemed to weaken. British forces were now within 200 yards of the Turkish first line trenches and about 1615 parties all along the line dashed into the enemy trenches. The line was so extended by this time that it proved impossible to decide who got first in. By 1700 the entire first line was taken and as the men caught their breath prior to assaulting the second line (note the two trenches were not connected by communication trenches) white flags began to appear and almost immediately a mass of fugitives was seen streaming out of the wood. The artillery was unable to take full advantage of this target due to lack of ammunition.

Mellis had planned to call off the attack if position not carried by 1730 but even so ordered a retirement back to Shaiba. This commenced at 1800 and all troops including wounded were back in the camp by 2030. The infantry had lost 20% of the 4900 engaged – 120th (29%), 24th (27%), Dorsets (23%). Melliss called it a real ‘Soldiers’ Battle’.


Mike

Tom,

Not much on the Seaforth's but Rev Ewing's book From Gallipoli to Baghdad has just been placed online at

http://www.archive.org

He was attached to the Seaforth's for a time.

Hope this is of interest.

Mike

Thank you very much for that Mike, it's "fleshed" out a little more of what we know. Any reference to Norfolks casualties? Also any luck with my other query about the Special Ammunition Column? This is a real poser!!
Lionboxer

Mike

I'm interested in any information on the RE in Mesopotamia 1918-19. My grandfather Spr. JG Wilkinson WR554135 (previously 320117) after being a medical discharge from the CEF(1084129) in June 1917 enlisted with the Engineers and was sent to the middle east. I have some pictures of himself, commrades and local people that he photographed but have no idea what his last year of the war would have been like. The title in your library, The Inland Water Transport in Mesopotamia by Hall is intriguing as I suspect this is the unit in which he served.

Thanks
Graham Coutts

Mike
Thank you for the offer of look ups
I am looking for anything on 2nd Lt Norman Hampson, 6th Battalion Loyal North Lancs, died 15/2/1917.
All i know is that he died in the Battle of Dahra bend,
anything at all would be most appreciated
cheers
Nick

Hi Mike

I noticed that in your book list you did not know the author of

With a Highland Regiment in Mesopotamia it was written by H. J. Blampied

Regards
Fred

Thanks for the offer of look ups - some fantastic stuff has come up in this thread.

I am interested in anything relating to my Great Uncle Private 204164 AV Sweet 1/4 Hampshire Regt KIA 25.02.1917 at the Crossing Of the Tigris.

Anything at all about this action or the Hants in Mespot in general would be much appreciated.


Thanks
Chris

Hello Mike,
wonder if you can be of any help. my wifes grandfather John William Flower from Sheffield was involved in the Mesopotamia campaign with armoured cars, his one Cleopatra being the only original one from his unit to survive. I've got some photos and postcards, mentioning Basra, Hit, Nepal, the Tigris, Gwalior, HMS Torpedo boat 98, Chaldians in Mosul, Ramadi, Abu Kemmel, Nazareth,Baghdad... there are some pictures of armoured cars, and tractors, one being identified as "one of 901's". He was an engineer who worked with rolls royce, and was involved with the taking of baghdad and the advance up to the khyber pass. He was allegedly involved with 6 Land Armoured Brigade?? but this doesnt ring any bells so could be a battery number? not sure whether he would be an RE...,
thanks , matt

I have had a post on the soldiers section of the GWF but with little succes so i will try this thread and hope for any clues or help which would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to find out about the military career of William Harold Roberts, who served in the Great War from 1914 i believe (could be wrong about this but i think it would be fairly early) all i do know is that he lost a leg apparantly in the Mesoptamia campaign. He was a soldier but cant find a regiment or number for him. He was born in 1896 in Aston, Birmingham and by 1911 i believe the family lived in Burton upon Trent. I dont know what regiments served in Mes or what actually happened there and cannot find a helpful book or web page that seems to cover the campaign. Perhaps if i knew what regiments served in Mes i could re search the medal cards and try and match them with a William H Roberts ( although many of these appear to be William Henry according to the pension records. Please can anybody help.......

This link will help with Mesopotania.


http://www.1914-1918.net/mesopot.htm

Regards. Llew.

The 7th (Meerut) Division landed at Basra on the 31.12.1915.


http://www.1914-1918.net/Meerut_div.htm

Llew.

Hi Mike,

Have you any details on 14th Bty, 4th Brigade RFA. I have Farndale's "Forgotten Fronts.." Looking to confirm when they arrived (Jan 1916?) and left (June 1918?) and principal operations.

Thanks

Mark

Hi Mike

Seems you are the man to come to for information on Mesopotamia. I'm researching some information on my great uncle Francis William Down, who died on 14th June 1918 in Meso, and is mentioned on the Basra memorial. Up until 1 week ago we had always been told he had died at sea, and had no idea about the Mesopotamia situation. It seems from around 13 photos he took that he was in India in 1916 (Barackpore and Barcatcha are mentioned), having joined the teritorials in 1915 (I think the Devonshires but purely a guess as he enlisted in Exeter). He even has photos of 2 (maybe 3) other guys, Billy Ide (with horse Rosie), and Jack Snell and Haydon (not sure if Haydon was the other person in photo or the horse!). Also a photo of "sub A gun", so we assume he was in A battery. After some research on this site, it seems when he died he was with 337th Brigade RFA, attached to 18th Indian Division. I'm really keen to find out which unit he was with when he joined up, when he was in India, and when he might have gone to Mesopotamia. Also, roughly where he might have been on 14th June 1918 (we were also told it as dysentry, which I understand got a lot of the guys there). Any information you have at all would be fantastic, and if anyone wants pdfs of the photos we have, let me know.

on my village war memorial i have 2 casualties for mesopotamia can you let me know what there regiments were up to on there dates of death.

john goulding 1st bn highland light infantry k.i.a 11/01/1917 buried amara war cemetery

thomas harrison 8th bn cheshire regiment k.i.a 13/021917 commemorated basra memorial.

any information on these 2 regiments would be welcome

Hello,

I have three men connected with Mesopotamia

Major Everard Henderson died 6.1.1916
Leicestershire Regiment
Born Edinburgh, Scotland Died Tigris/Sheik Saad, Mesopotamia.

Sergeant George T Powell died 25.1.1917
North Staffs 7th Battalion
Born Burntwood

Captain Philip Wood, 33 died on April 5 1916 in Tigris/Baghdad as a POW
Educated at Wellington and Sandhurst and spent most of his time in Burma. He spoke fluent Japanese

Any information would be much appreciated. Thanks JPG

Mike

Ron Wilcox's book mentions a letter from a 7th Hussar to Townsend (Page 108). I suspect he got this from Sherson – 'Townshend of Citral and Kut'. Can you check if that source has any more information on the Hussars and if it mentions where this letter may be now found please?

Many thanks

Patrick

Hi Mike

If the offer is still open, my Great Uncle died in Iraq on 18 Feb 1916. He was in the 2nd Dorsets (I think) he had never been to the UK as he was Anglo Indian and went straight to Iraq from India. He is remembered at his School in Lucknow (I took pictures on a trip last year). He is commemorated on the Basra Memorial. I think he was involved in the Kut campaign, but my knowledge on this is sketchy. His death plaque (which I flukily inherited) has pride of place on my landing.

Any information whatsoever will be greatly appreciated!

Agh57,

What was your relations name?

History of the Dorsets states that on the evening 18th Feb whilst the composite 'Norset' regiment were in the lines opposite El Hanna the Turks attempted to retake a trench and were beaten off. The battalion was relieved that night having suffered about twenty casualties including 3 Dorsets killed.

If you can provide the name I may be able to establish which draft he was in and additional information on his movements prior to his death.

Please be aware that I currently have limited opportunities to have computer access along side my books.

Mike

Hello Mike ,
I have a distant relative who was killed in Mesopotamia. He was Private William Lovering 2005 , 4th Btn Devonshire Rgt aged 22 and was killed on 16/9/1916 and is buried in Bagdad Cemetery. Anything you can add above CWGC would be very much appreciated. I guess his gravestone no longer exists ?
Regards
Alan

Patrick,

Ron's statement is slightly wrong (sorry Ron). Sherson actually says that ... A private of the 7th Hussars has TOLD ME that while in hospital, weakened from pain and the loss of his leg.... As the 7th did not arrive in Mes until Dec 1917 the man must have been an exchanged prisoner of war or Sherson got the Regiment wrong.

Mike

Hi Mike,

May I thank you, and take up for the kind offer of help re: Mesopotamia.

I am trying to research my gypsy Great Grandad - all I have are family recollections of his service in Mesopotamia and his medal card. Unfortunately his Service Record is not at Kew. Apparantly he was wounded (shot) in the knee and also served in India after the war. From his date of entry I am guessing he was involved in the 2nd battle of Kut?

ANY help at all would be more than appreciated. I do not even know which Battalion of the Seaforths he served with.

Thank you VERY much.

Charlie.

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Mike,

I have been researching my Great Grandfathers world war one experience and wondered if you can help.

His name was Gnr (promoted to Corp) Thomas Peaty 59875 who served with the R.F.A. I think he was in the 1/5th Hampshire 216th Bde (Howitzers) who joined the 6th Poona Division from the Wessex Division in March 1915. He appears in the roll of honour which states he served in France from the beginning (He joined the army in 1909) and was then transferred to Mesopotamia. He fought in the capture of Amara and the battle of Ctesiphon. It then says he was discharged in March 1918. He has cap badges for the Royal Artillery, Hampshire Regiment and Devonshire Regiment.

I would like to know how he got back from Mesopotamia and what happened after the battle of Ctesiphon. It doesn't mention Kut on his roll of honour but was this delibretly missed off?. On his MIC it states he was eligible for the SWB (LE1119) so does this mean he was injured? Could he have been a prisoner of war?

Thanks in advance,

Mike

Dear Mike
I have just discovered my great uncle Private Richard Clent 43115 died of his wounds on 8 December 1917 and was buried in Basra war cemetry. He was serving in the 40th Company Machine Gun Corps Infantry, which appears to have been part of 40th Brigade in the 13th Division. He enlisted in Shrewsbury into the Shropshire Light Infantry no 3248. Is there any information on what 40th Company was doing between 24 Oct 1916 and December 1917?
I would be grateful for any assistance.
Richard somerset

Hi Mike,
I am researching our Great Grandfather, William Godfrey Swindells, no 16985 of the 6th Loyal North Lancs. He was in the Dardanelles and after the evacuation went to Mesopotamia. He died of wounds 19/4/16 with the entry Biet Aiessa. Can you give me any details of the 6th Loyals involvment or any other information on Beit Aiessa. Can you recommend any books I can get that outline this battle ? Thank you.
Regards Karen Swindells

Hi Mike,

I have just seen your offer for look ups on the Mesopotamian campaign. I have just discovered that my grandfather, Lionel Walter Long, served in Mesopotamia in the Royal Engineers Inland Waterways Transport. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal which was Gazetted on 22nd September 1919. At that time his regimental number was given as WR/552128 and his rank was "Spr (A/C SM). His medal card states "registered paper 68/GenNo/3451". I wondered whether your book
Hall – The Inland Water Transport in Mesopotamia might mention anything about him as I have been unable to find why he was awarded the medal.

Any help would be gratefully received.

Claire Fraser