"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. المجلد IV". [و‎‎٦‎٣] (٥٤٠/١٣٠)

95
THIRD ACTION OF JABAL HAMRIN
The Turks had been reported as holding a trench line astride
the Kifri road about one and a half miles north of Qara Tepe ;
and General Cayley decided that the 35th Brigade should
attack them from the south-east and the 40th Brigade from
the south-west, while the 12th Cavalry threatened their line
of retreat from the eastward.*
The advance commenced at 6 a.m. on the 5th December,
the 35th Brigade Group moving towards the east of Qara
Tepe and the 40th Brigade Group towards the west. At
about 7.30 a.m. the one and a half squadrons 12th Cavalry
covering the advance of the 35th Brigade came under shell
fire from the south-eastern slopes of a high hill to the north
of Qara Tepe ; and about half an hour later, joined by the
squadron and three quarters 12 th Cavalry and four armoured
cars from the 40th Brigade Group, moved off to try and work
round the enemy’s left flank. The 37th Dogras, leading the
35th Brigade, came under shell-fire from about 8.30 a.m. and
the attack progressed gradually and steadily till about 11 a.m.,
when the 2/4th Gurkhas came up on the right of the Dogras
and there was a temporary check owing to the heavy hostile
machine gun fire. About this hour, the 40th Brigade, having
reached without opposition a point about two miles north
west of Qara Tepe, deployed for attack. The opposition this
brigade encountered was never very serious and, moreover,
its advance was facilitated by the convex slopes and by the
excellent covering fire of its field and mountain artillery.f
The enemy did not await the 40th Brigade assault and about
12.45 p.m. it gained the crest. On the south-eastern slopes
the enemy offered a more stubborn resistance to the 35 th
Brigade and at 11.30 a.m. it was found necessary to send the
l/5th Buffs forward to support the firing line. Then, about
the time that the 40th Brigade reached the crest, the left
platoon of the 37th Dogras made a most gallant charge and,
followed immediately by the remainder of its company, seized
a strong point on the enemy’s right, capturing or killing 31
Turks. This ended the fight, as everywhere the enemy then
made a rapid retreat, which our cavalry, being held off by gun
and machine gun fire, was unable to interfere with.
* The Russian Cossacks were not present owing to Bicharakoff being ill.
Though sick, he had commanded his men from a stretcher on the two previous
days. But he could do so no longer and there was no one to replace him.
f The heavy artillery had been unable to accompany it owing to the difficult
country.