'Critical Study of the Campaign in Mesopotamia up to April 1917: Part I - Report' [‎66r] (136/424)

Ill
9iad been believed so that the fire was not effective. At about ]500
however, the infantry of this Brigade pushed forward, 97th being on the
left then came the l-5th Buffs, and the 37th Dogras formed the right;
the 102nd and two companies of the 28th were held in reserve. About
400 yards were gained, but the attack then came to a standstill under a
very violent fire of rifles and machine guns ; and although the two com
panies of the 28th were put into the fight on the left and the fire of the
.'Sussex Battery was directed on to the enemy's trenches, no further
^progress was made. At nightfall the troops of the 35th Brigade drew
back for about 100 yards, and then entrenched in spite of the enemy's
fire, and at about 2230 the 102nd relieved the Buffs who became the
Brigade reserve.
It seems that the Turkish gunners, who had kept up a heavy fire all
'day on our artillery, were equally unsuccessful in locating the batteries;
and the number of casualties among the personnel was in consequence
.small. At 1730 (about 15 minutes after sunset) the whole of the
British batteries on the left bank were withdrawn for purposes of security
to their bivouacs near the bridge, and this movement was completed
without loss.
Some compensation for the grave situation which had developed on
the left bank of the river had fortunately been found in a success that had
;been gained by the units under Kemball. While making his dispositions
for attack, Kemball had carried out a thorough preparation for the ad
vance with the guns that were at his disposal. At 1330 when heavy
firing was heard on the left bank, all was ready for the attack ; and
keeping the 56th near the river, and a reserve consisting of the 92nd,
one company of the 51st and the 13th Sappers and Miners, Kembal! now
■ gave orders for the rest to push on. The 53rd, three companies of the
51st and the Leicestershires therefore moved forward from their trenches.
The fire of the Turks was, however, so strong and accurate that, not
withstanding the bold rushes that were made by the men of the Leices
tershire Regiment, the British had not been able to close with the enemy
by 1500. At this hour General Kemball directed the 92nd to push for
ward on the left of the Leicesters, and at 1530 he committed the rest
-of his slender reserve to action on the left of the line. After very heavy
fighting and mutual loss, the Turks were unable to resist the pressure of
the British and, by 1600, with the close co-operation of the 28th Field
Battery which was in action on^y 1,500 yards behind our leading troops,
a first line of trenches was captured together with 2 mountain guns, 3
machine guns and between 500 and 600 prisoners.
The Turks, however, were not demoralised by this incident and
attempts to move forward again were met with so strong a fire from
trenches both to the front and flank of our line of advance, that Kemball
ordered his men to secure their positions and place battle outposts.