"تاريخ الحرب الكبرى استنادًا إلى وثائق رسمية. الحملة في بلاد الرافدين ١٩١٤-١٩١٨. المجلد IV". [و‎‎١‎٩‎٠] (٥٤٠/٣٨٤)

TURKISH SURRENDER
319
17th Division, the whole of the Turkish Tigris group
surrendered, its commander, Ismail Hakki Bey, giving himself
up to Lieutenant-Colonel Shoubridge, 112th Infantry, at
7.30 a.m.
Soon after 8 a.m. General Cassels, whose force was advancing
southwards, learnt that the whole enemy force had surrendered
and ordered the 7th Cavalry and Light Armoured Motor
Brigade under General Norton to sweep northwards at once
and capture any stray enemy bodies. This task these brigades
proceeded to carry out with energy, dash and skill. They came
upon an enemy detachment near Qaiyara, about sixteen miles
north of Huwaish, where, by means of an encircling movement
and a bold charge by the 14th Lancers, some 200 Turks, 10
machine guns and a camel gun were captured. Moving on again,
a paddle steamer, much material and many stores were captured
at Qaiyara. The 13th Lancers then sighted a convoy moving
north. They galloped after it and captured about 1,000 men of
the Turkish 14th Regiment. General Norton’s force bivouacked
for the night at Qaiyara, having suffered only seven casualties
during the day.
Between the 18th and 30th October General Cobbe’s force
captured 11,322 prisoners, 51 guns and 130 machine guns,
besides three steamers and much ammunition and other w r ar
material. The total British casualties during the same period
were 1,886, of which 1,504 were incurred by the 17th Division.
Although the difficulties of supply of food, water and ammuni
tion had proved to be very much greater than had been anti
cipated and although some temporary deviations from his plan
had occurred, General Cobbe’s hopes of destroying the greater
part of the Turkish forces covering Mosul had been fulfilled
in the most striking manner. The Turks had been out
manoeuvred and surrounded, with the result that their Sixth
Army had almost ceased to exist. In fact, but for the armistice,
its remnants must soon either have surrendered or retreated,
for they could not have hoped to hold Mosul.
The daring and brilliant leadership of Generals Cassels and
Norton and the gallantry in action of their brigades ; the
excellent work of the armoured cars ; the fine marching and
skilful co-operation of General Fanshawe’s division; the
dogged endurance and courage of General Leslie’s men ; the
energy and resource of the staff and adminstrative services,
hampered throughout by the shortage of transport, the bad
roads, and the distance from railhead ; all had contributed to
the complete success which had been gained.