'REPORTS ON MINOR OPERATONS IN SOUTH PERSIA UNDER Brigadier-General Sir P. M. Sykes, K.C.I.E, C.M.G., from May to July 1918. GENERAL STAFF INDIA' [‎19r] (44/194)

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reported Burma Mounted Rifles still hung up; and Officer Commanding
column arriving about same time, the two guns and D company were moved
to their help.
D company soon drove off the enemy and moving forward two platoons
prevented the enemy from getting round the left of Burma Mounted Rifles.
Enemy retired and D company was sent back to rejoin me for an advance on
a long hill (one tree* hill, not on sketch) distant about a mile.
C company was also now coming off the southern slopes of Kuh**i-f
Phan ; as soon as C company was nearing, I moved off with A company.
We came under some long range fairly accurate flank fire from a high hill on
out left, but “ one tree* hill ” was occupied without opposition. f ihe Burma
Mounted Rifles now swept ronnd the right of the hill and turning to the
left came up on to a ridge 600 yards in front of me. I went forward and
spoke to Major Dyer, and he agreed to take his Burma Mounted Rifles off to
the open country to the left of ridges, while I advanced straight forward ; at
the same time I sent orders to C company to come on in Echelon behind
my right flank to protect it.
The advance was distressing work ; as each ridge was topped we found a
dip down and another in front 600 to 1,000 yards off. Each ridge was held by
the enemy who fired fairly heavily on us. But Lewis and machine guns drove
them off and the advance continued. The opposition got less, and eventually
some two or three hundred mounted men rode off in the direction of Khan eh
Khabis.*
A strong party of them later, suddenly appeared on C company’s right
flank as if to about to attack, but this company beat them off and Captain
Gardner is of opinion that he inflicted a good few casualties.
It was now late and camping ground and water-supply was required. I,
therefore, not being in communication with officer commanding column,
directed the advance on a highish hill, which it could be seen overlooked the
river.
We were still fired on, hut not heavily; this last hill however was occupied
by the enemy and lor a moment it seemed as if they meant to try to prevent us
getting the water by daylight. However D company fixed bayonets, hut
when within 400 yards, the enemy retired, the hill was occupied, and a few
fleeting enemy were speeded up on the way by Lewis guns. Time was about
6-50 p.m. Nothing more was seen of the enemy and the camp was not
molested. A and D company suffered following casualties during the day :—
A company—
Killed ...... Captain Dobbs.
Wounded ...... 4 men.
D company—
Killed
Wounded .
1 man.
1 man.
Total casualties in battalion—killed 8, wounded 10.
This new 7 battalion of mine worked exceedingly well all day and I am
very pleased with it. There was plenty of go and dash even late in the even
ing after 14 hours w r ork,
C company was rather exhausted, but had more marching than the other
companies and fewer halts. The ccmpanies were very well commanded, and
the company commanders all speak w 7 ell of their subordinate leaders.
It w as a good stiff trial for a young battalion, and it stood the test well
and I am more than pleased with it.
Shiraz ;
The 1st June 1918.
B. E. R. HOLBROOKE, Lieutenant-Colonel,
3-124th Baluchistan Infantry.
* Sketch,
t „