'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME I.' [‎178v] (361/454)

330 HISTORY OF THE WAR : MESOPOTAMIA
shelled them and did some damage. The cavalry were thus
forced to retire, which they did slowly and in good order under
heavy shell fire. They had incurred several casualties among
their men and a good many among their horses.
While retiring they received instructions to co-operate with
General Hoghton, who was advancing southward. Moving
in his supposed direction, they were diverted from their course
by hostile shell fire and missed him, eventually reaching
General Delamain’s position about 2.30 p.m. From here the
armoured cars were sent back to Clery’s Post.*
The slow progress in the action of General Delamain’s column
had necessarily affected General Fry’s attack south of the
Suwada marsh. Leaving their trenches—some two thousand
yards from the Horse Shoe marsh and fifteen hundred yards
north of the Tigris—the infantry of the 18th Brigade com
menced their advance at 6 a.m. Their front line consisted of
the 7th Rajputs, 120th Infantry and 110th Mahrattas, with the
Norfolks in local reserve. The 63rd Field and 86th and 104th
Heavy Batteries supported the advance, having as their escort,
and to assist them generally, the 48th Pioneers. As the attack
was not to be pressed home till news of success in the north by
General Delamain had been received, the advance was made
slowly and methodically. The Turkish guns were well
entrenched and concealed, and the British artillery found
observation and communication very difficult, owing to the
flatness of the country, the mirage, the dust and the strong
wind.
The naval flotilla and the four 4.7-inch naval guns in barges
were to keep up a bombardment of the enemy’s position on
the right bank of the river. The 4.7-inch guns, which were
on the river near the position of the 104th Battery and had
been placed for the operation under the fire control of the
6th Divisional Artillery Commander, opened fire at 6 a.m. and
were at once replied to with considerable accuracy by hostile
guns on the right bank.
By 8.30 a.m. the right of the 18th Infantry Brigade was
fifteen hundred yards from the enemy’s trenches north of the
Horse Shoe marsh and their left was twelve hundred yards
from the trenches south of that marsh. In the meantime,
General Townshend had received a few reports from General
Delamain. At 7.30 a.m. he was told that the 17th Brigade,
* They had done very good work, and proved the utility of motor cars in
this country. They subsequently did useful work in conveying wounded
back to the river. But being of too light a type, their axles got bent and
put them out of action.