Reinforcements were received at Amarah, and Lieut.-Colonel Smithett rejoined and took command.
First Battle of Kut.
The 2/7th Gurkha Rifles and 76th then proceeded, partly by steamer and partly by march, to join the concentration of the 6th Division at Sannaiyat. The camp was shelled by the enemy on September 25th, and our force advanced and occupied Chahela Mounds on the 26th with little opposition. The 2/7th and 76th were detailed to guard the left flank and shipping during the coming battle, and entrenched themselves in redoubts on the right bank. On the 28th the First Battle of Kut took place. The Turks were beaten back and the 6th Division occupied Kut-al-Amarah.
The Battalion was left to guard the hospitals and a few days later marched to Kut.
During the month spent in Kut, drafts were received from the Depot, and a company of Jats from the 99th Infantry, under Major Cotton, with 2nd-Lieutenants Spowart and Rogers, Indian Army Reserve Officers, brought the Battalion up to full strength again.
CHAPTER VI
CTESIPHON AND THE RETIREMENT TO KUT
On November 8th the Battalion marched with a column and joined the 6th Division at El Kutunie on the 15th.
Battle of Ctesiphon.
The advance on Baghdad commenced on the 19th, by a move against the Turkish positions at Zeur, but, after an exhausting day, the enemy was found to have retired. The main body continued its march to Lajj the next day, but the 2/7th and 76th were detailed to escort the shipping round the thickly-wooded Baghailah bend, and did not arrive at Lajj till the 21st. The same evening the whole force moved out to attack the enemy in his position at Ctesiphon. The plan for the attack was as follows:—(a) One brigade, supported by the heavy artillery and ships, to attack, with its left on the river, the enemy position from “High Wall” to “Water Redoubt.” (b) One and a half brigades to attack “V.P. Redoubt” (the left of the enemy’s first line) from the east. (c) One brigade to attack “V.P.” from the north-east, these being supported by the Royal Field Artillery Brigade and the Howitzer Battery. (d) A flying column, consisting of the Cavalry Brigade, two armoured cars, Machine Gun Battery and the 76th Punjabis, to attack the left rear of the enemy, and on his retreating to pursue him to Baghdad.