"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. المجلد IV". [و‎‎١‎٦‎٩] (٥٤٠/٣٤٢)

COBBE’S ORDERS
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bank, would probably retire northwards during the night. The
Turkish 5th Division might have reached Erbil four days
previously and might be moving down the Great Zab to the
Tigris, but General Lewin’s column was still containing the
enemy’s Kirkuk group.
The following moves were to take place as early as possible.
The 11th Cavalry Brigade was to ford the Tigris thirteen miles
above Sharqat and intercept the enemy’s retreat. A column
under General Fanshawe, consisting of the 7th Cavalry Brigade,
two troops 32nd Lancers, a field artillery brigade, one section
of a 60-pounder battery, an infantry brigade and part of the
bridging train, was to advance before daylight on the 26th
October along the Tigris left bank direct to Sharqat. The
17th Division was to continue to gain ground during the night
and would pursue along the right bank, reporting as soon as
it had secured Ain Dibs and Balalij, so that rations might be
sent forward by the desert road.
General Cassels, whose brigade had rations up to the 27th,
did not receive General Cobbe’s orders to push on till about
8 p.m. He made arrangements to do so early next morning.
General Cobbe s order of 3 p.m. to the 17th Division to press
its attack was not received by General Leshe till 5 p.m. and
did not reach the Highland Light Infantry, the leading battalion
of the 51st Infantry Brigade, till after dark. The two leading
companies of the Highland Light Infantry started to advance
along the road at 7 p.m., the two remaining companies which
had been detached to the right being called in to support them.
At about 8 p.m. the head of the battalion suddenly came under
heavy rifle and machine gun fire at close range. The two
supporting companies had not yet rejoined, but the two leading
companies, with great gallantry, promptly closed with the
enemy, forcing their way through a double high-wire entangle
ment. Taking twenty prisoners they captured the Turkish
trench, which, lying astride the road and to the west of it,
was apparently a. piquet post. Their own losses amounted
to over one hundred. Soon afterwards, the 14th Sikhs in
brigade reserve were ordered to send forward two companies to
support the Highland Light Infantry. But they were with
drawn again to reserve an hour later when the Highland Light
Infantry had consolidated their capture and had established
close contact with the enemy, making it clear that, here at
any rate, he had not yet retired.
On the extreme British left the Light Armoured Motor
Brigade had found Sharqat occupied by about 1,000 enemy