'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎159r] (322/454)

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FIGHTING ON THE RIGHT BANK 293
Brigade had succeeded in clearing the enemy out of all their
positions south of the Maiyadiya creek. The creek itself was
crossed by the enemy’s boat bridge and the Maiyadiya position,
including six guns, fell into our hands. The 12th Brigade was
then reorganised by its commander and shortly after noon
resumed the advance northward, the 67th Punjabis leading,
with the West Kents and 90th Punjabis following in support.
Meanwhile, on the right bank, at 6.40 a.m.(when it was seen
that the force on the left bank had established themselves in the
Thornycroft Point trenches), the 30th Brigade under General
Melliss was ordered to advance. At the same time, the Sumana
started to tow the armoured barge across the river to the
Majinina creek, and the Shushan, Mahsoudi and Muzaffari
(Maxim battery) moved up-stream to co-operate by close range
fire. On board the Sumana, commanded by Lieutenant Harris,
R.N., were the 17th Sapper Company under Captain Loring,
R.E., and fifty men of the 48th Pioneers, under Captain Hewett;
and in the armoured bridging barge was a covering party of
the l/4th Hampshire Regiment, under Captain Parsons. The
barge was to be run aground both to afford a means of crossing
the creek and to bring to the spot material for the erection of
two trestle bridges.
The operation was carried out most gallantly, under heavy
artillery and rifle fire, with great coolness and skill. The
enemy’s position had to be approached very closely and both
the Sumana and the barge were swept with bullets, and the
barge was holed by enemy shell. The Sumana was badly
damaged, but managed to withdraw pitted with bullet marks,
after successfully grounding the barge in the required position,
about 8.15 a.m. The British casualties on board these two
vessels had been considerable, especially in the Hampshire
and the 17th Sapper Company, which had suffered twenty
casualties each out of the detachments numbering thirty-five*
and fifty-five respectively.
While this was being effected, the enemy's position was
being heavily bombarded by the British guns ; and the assault
ing line of the 30th Brigade—composed of the 1 /4th Hampshire
and 2/7th Gurkhas—were advancing on the Majinina creek.
They were met by heavy fire and the ground they had to cross
was devoid of cover except for grass about two feet high.
But this high grass rendered it almost impossible for men
to fire when lying down. By 7.30 a.m., however, the line had
established itself close to the south bank of the creek about
* This was the total effective strength of No. 3 Company on this date.