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Report on the Operations in the Vicinity of Shaiba 12th-14th April 1915. Simla: General Staff India, 1915. [‎17] (28/70)

The record is made up of 35 folios. It was created in 1915. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

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*7
• vide large map p OS t e( j j U st nortti of House C,* covered the retirement by a well sustained
No. iv m pocket. accurate fire. 1 ordered the withdrawal to camp of this battalion on the
retirement of the Cavalry.
From Kiln Post, where I established my Headquarters, an excellent view
of 'he whole of the terrain to the north of Shaiba is obtainable and large bodies
of the enemy were visible advancing near North Mound and to the east of
it. At 8-30 a. m. I ordered Brigadier-General Delamain, Commanding 16th
Brigade, to move out from the defensive perimeter with 3 battalions' 2nd Dorsets,
I04ih Rifles and 24th Punjabis) wiih Notth Mound as his first objective, cover
ing liis advance with the concentrated fire of the 63rd and 76th Batteries, Royal
Field Artillery, and 23rd Mountain Battery, whilst " S " Battery, Royal Horse
Artillery, also co-operated. The concentrated fire of the guns and the engaging
of successive enemy's targets was most skilfully controlled and directed by r be
Divisional Artillery Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Cleeve, whose valuable
assistance throughout the operations of the i3ih I particularly desire to brmg
to notice.
The co-operation between Infantry and Artillery in the attack and indeed
throughout the action of the 13th was most marked, and very largely contributed
to the success of the operations. By 11 a.m. Brigadier-General Delamain
was in occupation of North Mound and the enemy, many of whom had clun<*
to their trenches with great tenacity, were in full retreat to the northward*!
Oyer 90 of his dead were found on North Mound itself. Meanwhile consistent
sniping and desultory attacks were in progress to the west-south-west, and
south of my perimeter, and troops, computed at 3 battalions, were visible to
the south-west of the Brick Kiln and a considerable force to the westward.
I now decided to continue the clearing movement against this unbroken enemv,
and incidentally to capture two of their guns, which their teams owing to our
accurate shell fire had been unable to remove.
With this object I ordered the General Officer Commanding, 16th
Brigade, to make a partial left wheel pivotting on North Mound, which was to
be held to protect his right flank. I pushed a ^ Battalion npth Infantry
(Lieutenant Colonel Chitty) to reinforce Brigadier-General Delamain's left
and ordered Battalions of the 18th Brigade (2nd Norfolks, 2 Double Com
panies 48th Pioneers) under Lieutenant-Colonel Peebles to prolong the line of
the 16th Brigade to the left, co-operating with their advance. ^ The Cavalry
Brigade were again moved forward and placed under Brigadier -General
Delamain's orders to protect his right flank. Supported by a sustained and
accurate shrapnel fire from our batteries, the enemy, though in considerable force
in well constructed trenches, were unable to withstand the elan of our Infantrv.
Many, surrendered and the two abandoned mountain guns were secured The
Cavalry Br.gade on the right flank succeeded In gettmg home Into the now
btoken enemy and accounting for more than ioo of them.
By 2 .30 p. m the whole vicinity of the camp was clear of the enemv hut
large numbers could st.ll be seen to the southward in direction of South Mound
TfifhV H gUnS j been located - The General Officer Commanding'
6th Bngade reported at 2-35 p. m . that he was advancing on South Muond
some 3 miles distant and hoped to capture these guns.
I decided that at this late hour it was not desirable to undertake a trenpral
engagement with the enenn's main forces with mv troops who had been under
a ms continuously throughout the previous night and were in need of a
I therefore Issued orders to break off the enoao-ement W a j
ordered a general retirement to the Fort at 3 p. m . 00 y
entirely undisturbed by hostile sniplngor the^fire. 8 ' t0 previous n 'S ht ' wa *

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Content

This file contains military despatches regarding the Battle of Shaiba that took place between British and Ottoman forces on 12-14 April 1915.

The file begins with an introductory letter from General Sir John Eccles Nixon, Commanding Force "D" to the Chief of General Staff, Simla (folios 4-6) that is followed by a report related to events of 11-12 April written by Major-General C. I. Fry (folios 8-10) and another report that concerns events of April 13-14 written by Major-General C. J. Melliss (folios 14-19).

The file contains a number of maps and sketches of the battlefield and surrounding area.

Extent and format
35 folios
Arrangement

The file contains an contents page (that uses the original printed pagination system) on folio 3.

Physical characteristics

A bound, printed volume. The file's foliation sequence commences at the front cover and terminates at the inside back cover; these numbers are written in pencil, are circled, and are located in the top right corner of the recto The front of a sheet of paper or leaf, often abbreviated to 'r'. side of each folio. Please note that ff. 31-34 are housed within f. 35.

The volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
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Report on the Operations in the Vicinity of Shaiba 12th-14th April 1915. Simla: General Staff India, 1915. [‎17] (28/70), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/15/95, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100023699676.0x00001e> [accessed 29 March 2024]

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