Of this retirement, the Official History relates:—“For over twelve days General Townshend’s force—largely composed of young soldiers—had been fighting, marching or working continuously, frequently without sufficient food or water and often deprived of sleep. This forty-four miles’ march (General Melliss’ Column did fifty-one miles) coming, under pressure from the enemy, at the end of this period and carried out in thirty-six hours, was therefore, a severe test of discipline. Their soldierly execution of it must arouse our admiration and add greatly to the reputation they had already won.”
The following decorations were subsequently awarded for these operations:—Distinguished Service Order, 1; Indian Order of Merit, 1; Indian Distinguished Service Medal, 2.
Many very deserving rewards could not be granted owing to the loss of the recommendations during the siege.
CHAPTER VII
KUT
The Siege of Kut.
On the 3rd the force moved into Kut-al-Amarah. Some sick and lightly wounded men rejoined, bringing the strength up to about 333. The 30th Brigade was detailed as reserve brigade and was allotted camping space in gardens on the edge of the town.
Work was at once commenced on the defences and pushed on with the greatest vigour possible. The Battalion was employed night and day digging the second line and communication trenches to the front line.
On December 5th the enemy began to close round Kut and opened with artillery fire and a few snipers. The Cavalry Brigade and greater portion of land transport crossed the river on their way to Ali Gharbi on the 6th, on which day the last steamer also left, and Kut was isolated. Work was continued on the defences to the limit of the men’s endurance. The enemy strength increased daily and he gradually closed in on the front line. Intense artillery bombardment was kept up for about two hours morning and evening when the mirage disappeared and enabled observation of fire to be made. On the 9th the enemy attacked the bridgehead on the right bank and captured it. Under cover of fire from the left bank it was temporarily reoccupied, but again captured by the Turks. After dark the bridge was cut adrift, the right bank having been occupied in force by the enemy.
The Turkish artillery fire had become so severe by the 10th that orders were issued to discontinue working in the open in daylight.