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'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎139v] (283/454)

The record is made up of 1 volume (223 folios). It was created in 1923. 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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254 HISTORY OF THE WAR : MESOPOTAMIA
The right half of the force (Oxfords and Sirmur Sappers)
were to capture first Norfolk Hill and then One Tower Hill,
while the left half (103rd and Sirmur Sappers) were to take
Gun Hill. The machine guns of the Oxfords were to direct
the whole advance and to regulate its pace ; and each unit
was instructed to move on a point westward of their respective
objectives in order not to mask the supporting gunfire till
the last moment. Their right flanks having reached a point
about four hundred yards to the south-west of the hill to be
attacked, each unit was to change direction towards the right
and assault the enemy’s flanks.
Before 5.30 a.m., the 30th Mountain Battery had opened
fire upon Norfolk Hill at a range of 2,700 yards, apparently
with good effect; and about 6 a.m., Colonel Climo pushed
forward a section of the mountain battery, advancing with
them himself, and from this time onwards this battery pushed
forward by alternate sections in close support of the infantry.
These were advancing without a check, steadily and method
ically.
From his headquarters on board the Espiegle, General
Townshend could see the 22nd Punjabis making good progress
in their attack against One Tree Hill, which they captured
at 6.30 a.m. The opposition they encountered was easily
overcome, as the hill was only held by twenty of the enemy,
three of whom were killed and the remainder captured. The
22nd now entrenched themselves here and opened with their
machine guns on One Tower Hill, suffering seven casualties
from the Turkish guns at Abu Aran in the operation. About
7 a.m., the mine-destroying helium rejoined them, having
destroyed a number of mine connections en route.
Just before 6.30 a.m., the 4-inch and 5-inch guns of the
river section were pushed a little distance up the Tigris to
engage the enemy guns on One Tower Hill; and soon after
this General Townshend ordered the ships containing Nos. 1
and 2 Groups (i.e., 16th Brigade Group and the Norfolks)
to advance through the boat bridge at Qurna.
Less than half an hour later, the machine guns of the Oxfords
and of the 119th* came into action against Norfolk Hill.
The enemy replied with rifle fire, which was quickly suppressed,
except on the extreme west flank, by the 30th Battery mountain
guns firing at 1,750 yards range. Under cover of the machine
and mountain gun fire, the Oxfords rapidly covered six hundred
* The 119th machine guns had been sent forward to join those of the Oxfords
a short time before.

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Content

The volume is the first volume of an official government publication compiled at the request of the Government of India, and under the direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence, by Brigadier-General Frederick James Moberly. The volume was printed and published at His Majesty's Stationery Office, London.

The contents provide a narrative of the operations of 1914-1918 in Mesopotamia, based mainly on official documents.

The volume is divided into two parts. The first part, entitled, 'Part I. Before the Outbreak of Hostilities', consists of the following five chapters:

  • General Description of the Country
  • The Turks in Mesopotamia
  • British Pre-War Policy
  • The Army in India and Pre-War Military Policy
  • Inception of the Operations

The second part, entitled, 'Part II. The Campaign in Lower Mesopotamia', consists of the following seven chapters:

  • The Landing in Mesopotamia of Force "D" and the Operations Leading to the Occupation of Basra
  • The Occupation of Basra and the Capture of Qurna
  • Commencement of the Turkish Counter-Offensive
  • Development and Defeat of the Turkish Counter-Offensive
  • Operations in Arabistan and the Capture of Amara
  • Operations on the Euphrates and the Occupation of Nasiriya
  • The battle of Kut and Occupation of Aziziya

The volume also includes nine maps, entitled:

  • The Middle East
  • Lower Mesopotamia
  • Map 1 - To illustrate operations described in Chapter VI
  • Map 2 - To illustrate fighting near Qurna
  • Map 3 - To illustrate fighting round Shaiba
  • Map 4 - To illustrate operations in Persian Arabistan
  • Map 5 - To illustrate operations in the Akaika Channel 27th June to 5th July 1915
  • Map 6 - To illustrate operations near Nasiriya 6th to 24th July 1915
  • Map 7 - To illustrate the Battle of Kut 28th September 1915
Extent and format
1 volume (223 folios)
Arrangement

The volume contains a page of errata (folio 5), a list of contents (folios 6-8), a list of maps and illustrations (folio 9), appendices (folios 185v-192), an index (folios 192v-214v), and eight maps in a pocket attached to the inside back cover (folios 217-224).

Physical characteristics

Foliation: the foliation sequence commences at the inside front cover with 1 and terminates at the inside back cover with 225; 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.

Pagination: the volume also contains an original printed pagination sequence.

Written in
English in Latin script
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'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎139v] (283/454), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/MIL/17/15/66/1, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100048172214.0x000054> [accessed 19 March 2024]

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