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9 unusual facts about Mesopotamian Campaign


14th Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry

In the last weeks of the war in Europe, during February 1945, the 14th Battalion proceeded overseas for service in Iraq (Mesopotamian campaign).

Hew Dalrymple Fanshawe

Later in 1916, he took over the 58th (2/1st London) Division on home service, and in 1917 was given command of the 18th Indian Division, serving in the Mesopotamian campaign.

Mesopotamian campaign

From the Ottoman perspective; Siege of Kut prevented Sixth Army to perform other operations.

The British resumed their offensive in late February 1918 capturing Hīt and Khan al Baghdadi in March, and Kifri in April.

On 20 January, Enver Pasha replaced Nureddin Pasha with Colonel Halil Kut (Khalil Pasha).

The main Ottoman army, under the overall command of Khalil Pasha was located 275 miles north-west around Baghdad.

By early March, the British were at the outskirts of Baghdad, and the Baghdad garrison, under the direct command of the Governor of Baghdad province Halil Kut (Khalil Pasha), tried to stop them on the Diyala river.

QF 13-pounder 6 cwt AA gun

At the end of World War I there were only 20 of the guns in service worldwide, with 12 in Egypt and Palestine, 4 in Mesopotamia, 2 in Greece (Salonika front) and 2 on the Western Front.

Robert Jesson

Jesson fought in the Mesopotamian campaign, where on 22 February 1917 he was killed in action.


1st Wessex Artillery

With a reformed Brigade Ammunition Column, CCXV Bde moved in October 1916 to Basra to take part in the Mesopotamian campaign, and on 8 December 1916 it joined 3rd (Lahore) Division of the Indian Army on the Tigris front.

Beauchamp Duff

During the war, the Mesopotamian Campaign was under the responsibility of the Indian Army up until the disaster surrounding the surrender at Kut.


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