'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎64v] (133/470)

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Early September brought us uniform, which was received with enthusiasm by all ranks, and made
a tremendous difference to the appearance and efficiency of the force. With the majority of our
Shabanah the first attempt at carrying themselves like soldiers dates from putting on uniform.
Our first 100 Peabody rifles, with ammunition, also arrived about this time, and were at once
issued to our most efficient men. We were fortunate in getting a good proportion of our strength
clothed and armed at this time, as I had been warned by P.O. Shamiyah that a strong force of smart
Shabanah would be required in Najaf, during September, to cope with the crowds which were expected
in the Holy City during the two Ids, and for the great September pilgrimage. With this in view I
moved every available trained man from Kufah headquarters to Najaf on 17th September, bringing
our strength up to 122 of all ranks, exclusive of the force of 47 smart Municipal Police, who are
employed constantly on internal duty in the city. With the Shabanah we increased all our existing
Gate Guard, made a strong post under an Arab officer close to the principal door of the Mosque, and
started a system of patrols whereby the streets were never without two patrols, each consisting of a
N.C.O. and four men. In spite of the fact that the crowds increased day by dav until it was estimated
that there were not less than 60,000 pilgrims in the city, there were no disturbances of any description.
This was particularly gratifying in view of the fact that this was the first pilgrimage since the outbreak
of w r ar, and also that the pilgrims were almost entirely tribal Arabs, many of them representing tribes
which are far from friendly with one another. The duties required from our Shabanah at this time
were both heavy and trying to patience, but through it all the conduct of the men was exemplary,
and when on patrol they bore themselves in a soldierlike and dignified manner. While in Najaf,
Lieutenant S. H. V. White, of the 275th M.G.C., reported for duty with the force, and immediately
and with characteristic energy took a grip of his duties; my thanks are due to Lieutenant White for
the enthusiasm with which he has worked for the wellbeing and efficiency of the force; since his
arrival discipline has hardened and smartness increased very noticeably.
During September we started mounted parades for our sowari, and had to accept much less
encouraging results than with our piada; this is principally due to the fact that many of our sowars
are too old, and have passed the time of life when habits are changed and drill learned easily Never
theless we have progressed, and our sowars can at least move quickly to a given point and come into
action with some degree of smartness. What we require in our sowari is an influx of youncr recruits
of the type we get m the piada; unfortunately lads of this age are seldom possessed of a horse or the
means to purchase one.
During September we received orders from Civil Commissioner that Najaf Municipal Police would
in future, be considered as a part of the Shabanah force for purposes of organisation and discipline’
These police came originally from Baghdad and Kut, and have been acting as Municipal Police at
Najaf since prior to the riots in the early part of this year. The police are specially trained for internal
work in the City, dealing with crowds, grain distribution, checking extortion in the sale of water etc
etc. Their military training is not so comprehensive as that of the rest of the Shabanah, but such
movements of rifle and arm drill which they do are carried out with commendable smartness and
precision The police are m charge of a very efficient British sergeant, Sergeant Fear l/4th
Somersets who has been with them since the early summer and thoroughly understands the police
routine of the town. Sergeant Fear has a corporal to assist him. October’brought heavy duties to
our Shabanah through rather unexpected calls of the military to take over the post at—
( 1 ) ‘Abbasiyah Bridge
(2) Abu Sukhair Post
(3) Shinafiyah lake Post
20 men.
12
20
J ?
5>
The first two posts being near us did not present difficulties, being easily accessible for inspections
and relief Shinafiyah lake post on the other hand, is both inaccessible and unpopular; it occupms
a lonely island surrounded by lake and marsh, in very sparsely populated country, offering few oppor-
tun, ,es for the purchase of food It rs relieved every 15 days, but it takes two days for the new
relief to get there and three days for the old one to return, so that we are without the services of 40
operations' ^ ' P “ ** ““ P roteotion of » irrigation Party who are conducting drldging
we “ o^^ a^^ar — ^ ™ry
rrsZairtnP&i Bar'^ 6 “ P0 “ ° f ^ Principal out^t
This month also brought the celebration of the Mnharram ^4 i j xi •
Najaf detachment. We had only a few men available, and these had a very trySrS® PutTll
one stay at Abu Sukhair and two at Umm Tla-rur Dtilf hwl W„ »°rk done, and made
some time, but at Umm al Ba‘rur it had not been attempted f to G'r" at Sukhair for
myself, and found the men quite willing to drib AcW&PeaPP 6 ** parades “ pK»oe
excellent work. At Umm al Ba‘rur we have had our best Ss f mmons ' Vas P 0 u sted ™d did
to the efforts of Ghawi Effendi, the very energetic D A P 0 at 11 ,', i’" f eorulL,ln g, this is entirely due
Effendi was successful in enlisting upwards of 80 recrPts P 1 ” ab<mt a month Ghawi
lowards the end of the month we were joined bv two other R O R a „i • > i i ,
three for posts and inspection and two for headauarters Ti • A' s ’ W11C ^ ena kled us to have
thoroughly sound office system. Rolls w”re brought up ^ ™S”ated a
books issued. orougnt up to date, clothing stocks started, and pay
Most of November I was off dutv with eve-tmuKio t-u
to Lieut. White. I left hospital in mid-month for the purpose of Sng a trip^tto Qusur U buj htd