The next day the Battalion was employed collecting wounded, ammunition and equipment between the enemy’s first and second lines, and in keeping off marauding Arabs. By 3 p.m. it was evident that the enemy was advancing from the direction of Ctesiphon Arch. The Battalion was on its way back to High Wall for a much-needed rest, when it was urgently recalled to reinforce the troops holding “V.P.” It came under artillery and rifle fire on the way, and eventually took up a position in a converted Turkish communication trench, which it held all night. The Turks appeared to have lost their direction, as large bodies were moving about in the vicinity all night, but no serious attack took place, any visible movement by them being at once stopped by our fire. A patrol, under Havildar Neki, carried out a daring reconnaissance during the night and brought in valuable information.
November 24th.
Bitter cold was experienced all night, officers and men being dressed in shirts and shorts only. “V.P.” was held all the 24th under fire from guns and snipers, while the wounded were evacuated to the rear. About 4 p.m. the 24th Punjabis and 2/7th Gurkhas sent up all their water mules to the Battalion, which was highly appreciated as the men had had no food or water, except what they carried, since the night of the 21st. The final retirement to High Wall was covered by the 76th and the 76th Battery, and was completed by 6.30 p.m.
The losses of the Battalion during the three days were very heavy, viz.:—Killed: Major C. L. Perrin, 2nd-Lieutenant Gosney, Indian Army Reserve of Officers, Subadar Abdullah Khan, Jemadars Saida Khan and Umrao Singh (99th), and 42 rank and file. Wounded: Lieut.-Colonel A. C. H. Smithett, 2nd-Lieutenant Spowart, Indian Army Reserve of Officers (99th), Subadars Sohan, Mehdi Khan, and Chuni Ram (99th), Jemadars Sher Singh and Jalal Khan, and 225 rank and file. Missing, 5; died of wounds, 3; wounded and missing, 2.
Lieut.-Colonel Smithett, the Commandant, died of his wounds on the 25th, to the great regret of all ranks.
The Retirement to Kut.
During the 25th the wounded were evacuated to Lajj, one double-company piqueting the road. In the afternoon dense columns of the enemy were seen to be advancing, and the force retired under cover of darkness to Lajj, where it halted till the 27th. On the 27th at 4 p.m. the arduous retirement commenced, Aziziyeh (22 miles) being reached at 8.30 a.m., 28th, the left half battalion there covering the bridgehead. On the 30th the 30th Brigade with the 16th Cavalry and Howitzer Battery was ordered to move rapidly on Kut, where the shipping was being held up by the enemy, and marched at 8 a.m. At 4 p.m. after covering twenty miles, camp was formed for the night.
Umm-al-Tubul.
At 6.30 a.m. the Brigade was ordered to march as fast as possible back to the Division’s camp at Umm-al-Tubul, which was being attacked, in order to render it assistance. On arrival the Battalion came under shrapnel fire, and, on the division retiring, it took over the duties of rear guard and marched till 5 p.m., halted for half an hour, and then continued the retirement to Monkey Village, which was reached at 12.30 a.m. on the 2nd, having covered thirty miles. The march was resumed at 5 a.m., only interfered with by Arab snipers, and bivouac within three miles of Kut was reached at 8 p.m., all ranks being exhausted, having marched seventy miles since 8 a.m. 30th, and been on the move for forty-eight hours without food. The cold was bitter and no food or blankets could be obtained till nearly midnight.
During the retirement one man was killed, one wounded, and one missing. The strength of the Battalion on arrival in Kut, under the command of Major Cotton (99th Infantry, attached), was—Officers: British, 8; Indian, 13; rank and file, 320.