'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' [‎22v] (51/194)

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Report of Colonel E. F. Orton on the action against Saulat-ud-Dauleh’s forces,
Bagh-i-Janat-Kushan, Near Shiraz, June 11th, 1918.
A. column of Indian troops assembled at Shiraz at 9 a.m. on 11th June
1918, for a tactical exercise under my command.
1 Squadron, 15th Lancers.
3 Squadrons, Burma Mounted Bifles.
36th Indian Mounted Battery.
3-124th Baluchistan Infantry.
2 Company?, 16th Rajputs, and M. G. section.
Indian Field Ambulance (2 dressing stations).
2. Reliable information was received at 8-45 a.m. that parties of Kazarunis
had advanced from Chinar Rahdar* into the Bagh-i-Janat* and Kushan*
village, and that 200 or 300 Kazarunis had moved forward to Masjid-i-Bardi
village. e e
I resolved to give some reality to the tactical exercise, by shelling the
enemy out of Bagh-i-Janat* and Kushan*, and see whether such action would
make the enemy vacate Masjid-i-Bardi.*
One squadron, 2nd Cavalry, South Persia Rifles, under Captain Chapman,
was sent 3 miles south-west of Shiraz, in observation, to guard our left flank,
and worked well.
3. One section mountain artillery was left in occupation of an entrenched
position near the cantonment perimeter, wheie there is an excellent field of
five to cover an advance or a retirement.
Certain strong points along the line of march, on both flanks, were occu- |
pied by small units, to make good each “ bound ” of advance and of the
subsequent return march.
A line 2.U00 yards from the Bagh-i-Janat* was occupied by 10-10 a.m.
just west of the Afifabad* outpost, and called the “ Abambar * position. ”
From 10-20 a.m. to 10-50 a.m. the Bagh-i-Janat* and Kushan* village were
cleared of the enemy with a few shells and some long-range machine gun fire.
About 300 Kazarunis retreated, some mounted and some on foot.
4. The Burma Mounted Rifles then advanced past the south side of the
Bagh-i-Janat* to beyond its western border. Two companies, 3-124th Balu
chistan Infantry, made good the gardens of the Bagh-i-Janat* and the
vineyards on the Kushan* side, after a little skirmishing, in which one sepoy Term used in English to refer to an Indian infantryman. Carries some derogatory connotations as sometimes used as a means of othering and emphasising race, colour, origins, or rank. of
the Baluchis was wounded.
One section mountain artillery was then pushed forward to the west side
of the Bagh-i-Janat,* and fired a few shells into Chinar Rahdar* fort at long
range, 1L30 a m.— 12 noon.
Lieutenant-Colonel G. P. Grant had been sent forward by me, to co ordi
nate the movements of the advanced units and I had ordered the retirement to
commence at 12 noon at latest. I remained at the “ Abambar position, *
to observe the right flank, and to cover the retirement.
5. At 11-45 a.m. about 200 men from Masjid-i-Bardi* retired out of the
gardens on my right flank, and retreated to the lower spurs of the Kuh-i-Barfi .
A few shells were fired at these men at rangos of 3,000 to 4,500 yards, and
some casualties were observed.
6 The rear guard of the advanced troops were clear cf the Bagh-i-Janat*
by 12-25 p.m. and the enemy was kept back by 2 or 3 shells, and did not press
the retiring troops.
A steady retirement was practised back to Shiraz, where the cantonments
were reached at 2 p.m. without molestation by the enemy.
7. The main object of this day’s operations was to give practice to the
young troops and young officers, in advance, in retirement, and in the co-opera
tion of all arms Also to b arn the value of various tactical features of that
locality.
(* Are shown in Sketch ill.)