'Naval Staff monographs (historical) vol 4 no 15 - Naval operations in Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf' [‎64] (81/150)

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to the extreme heat, 1 a great deal of sickness and fever, and the
regiments were far below strength. Further reinforcements
were, therefore, asked for, and arrived on the 19th and 20th
July. They included an infantry brigade and some heavy guns
and howitzers. Two aeroplanes were sent, but one only arrived,
the other making a forced landing near Suk-as-Shayuk. 2
48. Battle of Majinina 3 and Capture of Nasiriya.— By the
evening of the 23rd July the heavy guns and howitzers had
been landed and registered on their targets. The Sumana had
rejoined after expeditious repairs to her main steampipe at
Basra, and everything was in readiness for the advance.
At 5 a.m. 4 on 24th July bombardment was commenced of the
enemy's positions on both banks, naval guns co-operating with
the military. Half an hour later the infantry went forward on
the left bank, and as soon as this attack was seen to be
developing favourably the attack was developed on the right
bank. Under a heavy fire the Sumana 5 towed up a barge, and
amid a hail of rifle bullets 6 she placed it successfully across
the mouth of the Majinina Creek. The Sumana''s steampipe
was again fractured, and the barge was holed by a shell, the
troops in her suffering heavily. 7 But the successful placing of
the barge had the effect of lowering the water in the creek so
that it could be forded by the troops, which were now advancing.
Supported on their right by the Shushan and Massoudieh, and
the Muzaffri with a Maxim battery aboard, the troops carried
the trenches, and by 10 a.m. the whole of the Majinina position
and five guns had fallen into our hands.
The Shushan and Muzaffri at once went forward and the
Musaffri landed the Maxim gun battery at the captured enemy
position on the right bank, north of the Majinina creek. This
piece of work was carried out by Lieutenant Curry under rifle
and artillery lire, the Muzaffri being holed by a shell, the
Shushan also being hotly engaged.
The advance continued slowly; the enemy, though re
treating, offered considerable opposition, and the ships and 4 - 7-
inch guns were heavily engaged throughout the forenoon. Two
R.F. A. guns were mounted and some troops were now embarked
in the Medjidieh in order to have the means available for rapid
1 Average temperatures, month of July 1915; noon, 94-9° F., midnight,
SB'S 0 F. (from Espiegle's log).
2 It was repaired and flew to Asani on 22nd July.
3 Also called the Battle of Nasiriya.
4 Captain Nunn's Report, p. 161, says 4.30 a.m. and that the infantry
attack began at 5 a.m.
5 Lieutenant W. V. H. Harris.
6 Eighty-seven bullet marks were afterwards counted between Sumana s
bows and funnel.
7 Out of 90 men on board there were 40 casualties.