'Critical Study of the Campaign in Mesopotamia up to April 1917: Part I - Report' [‎41r] (86/424)

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Turkish attack delivered by 5 battalions of the 51st Division from tlie
Reserve, while their flank was threatened I y Turkish Cavalry and
Arabs. They had to retire, and by 1115 they were echelonned some
distance in rear of Column B.
The situation then, about noon, was that the whole Turkish front
line was in our possession.
Column C were actually in the position from the Water Redoubt
for a short distance riverwards. Columns A and B were held up roughly
mid-way between the 1st and 2nd Turkish lines, with the Flying
Column some distance to the right rear of Column B.
There were no reserves : the force of the attack was spent.
As there was no chance of the Flying Column now being able to
.fulfil -its role, and as it was suffering severely in horses, orders were given
for it to withdraw to the sandhills (the old canal), the infantry battalion
joining Column B.
The fight was now stationary : but clearly a counter attack was to be
►expected.
This began, about 1500 to 1530 carried out by 2 battalions of the
1)1 st Division, the remains of the 45th Division, and one battalion from
the 105th Regiment (35th Division). The counter-attack succeeded in
pushing back the remains of Column A towards V. P., and caused
them to lose 8 guns which had previously been captured. The Column
maintained a position 800 to 1,000 yards in front of V. P. till dusk.
Column C was ordered to advance to take the pressure off Column A
•and succeeded in doing so. Column B now seemed to be somewhat
isolated : but it maintained its position and even made a short advaoce
towards the evening.
At dusk firing died away completely on both sides. Orders were
jgiven for the troops to concentrate in V. P. for the night. Consequently
most of Columns A, B and C were collected in this spot. General Dela-
main was sent to command and collect what troops he could in the Water
Redoubt. Thus the night passed with the British in the Turks 1st line,
and the Turks in their 2nd line. Next morning, 23rd, re-organization
was taken in hand : units and columns had become much mixed. Column
€ held V. P., Column A (less 2-7th G. R. and 24th Punjabis) held Water
Redoubt: while Column B went to High Wall (less 2 battalions to Water
Redoubt).
As the enemy could pass by the left of our position near the river,
the mound, near the Arch of Ctesiphon (Gurkha Mound) was held by the
2-7th G. R. and 24:th Punjabis. The rifle strength of these two units
was only 300 and 100 respectively. The machine gun battery was also
located here. The day passed quietly till about 1600 when the Turks
showed signs of advancing for a general counter-attack. The counter
attack started about dusk and for the remainder of the night, the works