'HISTORY OF THE GREAT WAR BASED ON OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS. THE CAMPAIGN IN MESOPOTAMIA 1914-1918. VOLUME II.' [‎280v] (569/660)

520 HISTORY OF THE WAR : MESOPOTAMIA
and protect the left flank of the two brigades of Column
B, which will actually carry out the assault.
Column A will not take part in the assault itself.
(Note .—The wing of the 34th Pioneers will remain
in reserve with B Column until it can be returned
to the 37th Brigade. This should be done at first
favourable opportunity.)
12. The G.O.C., Column C, will take the following
action in sufficient time to enable all the artillery with
Column C to come into action by 6.15 a m. about 3,500
yards from the enemy’s position from Dujaila redoubt
to Sinn Abtar redoubt. (The B.G.R.A. will select the
actual positions for the artillery, in the vicinity of 32-b-3-6,
which will then come under the direct orders of the Corps
Commander) :—
(a) Detach the 37th Brigade to carry out the follow
ing operation. Two battalions and the machine guns
of the two and a half battalions to move forward
and occupy by 6.15 a.m. a position about 32-d-0-2
within effective machine gun range of the enemy’s
position at the Dujaila redoubt. the remaining half
battalion following in reserve. When this position
has been reached, this brigade will come under the
direct orders of the Corps Commander.
The two forward battalions will further co-operate
with Column B in the assault by pushing their infantry
attack to within 500 yards of the enemy’s position, the
left of this attack being directed on the south end of
the Dujaila redoubt. The G.O.C., 37th Brigade,
will arrange that the above attack is so timed as to
synchronise with the assault made by General Kemball
on the above redoubt vide 11 {b) above—the half
battalion will still be kept back in reserve.
(b) Move forward one brigade of the 3rd Division
to the vicinity of 32—b—2—10 to a position of readiness
to assault the Sinn Abtar redoubt. The first line of
leading battalions and the machine guns of this
brigade will move to within effective machine gun
range of the enemy’s entrenchments by 6.15 am -
The other brigade and its machine guns will be
formed up and held in reserve on the right rear of the
guns about 32—b—4—4 by 6.15 a.m.
13. The G.O.C., 35th Brigade, will keep his force
in the position assigned to him for the night 7th/8th March
until 8th March, when he will concentrate on his left ready
to march at 6 a.m. on the flank of the transport and
ammunition columns, referred to in paragraph 14 below,
to 33-a-5-5. On arrival at 33-a-5-5 the G.O.C., 35th
Brigade, will continue to protect the above transport, etc.
14. The second line transport of the whole force and
ammunition columns will be formed up under the direction
of the A.A. and Q.M.G. Corps, and will remain during the
night of the 7th/8th in an area which is being selected for
this purpose in square 16-c under the following escort.
One battalion of not less than 500 rifles (to be detailed
by G.O.C., 37th Brigade).
20th and 21st Companies, Sappers and Miners.