"مذكرات الحرب. مقر قيادة الجيش، الهند. [...] قوة المشاة الهندية «د». المجلد ٣٢. الجزء II. (من ١٦ إلى ٣١ مارس ١٩١٧)." [و‎‎١‎٠‎٣] (٢٩٤/٢١٤)

Bombing. —A 336 lb. bomb was dropped ; it exploded well just short of
camp on hostile aerodrome.
Twelve 20 lb. bombs were dropped on Cavalry Camp near Imam Mahdi.
All the horses in the camp stampeded. The enemy aerodrome was bombed
three times later in the day—on the first occasion tw r o 20 lb. bombs fell within
10 yards of a Eokker, and a third close to an Albatross.
During the third attack four 20 lb. bombs fell on the aerodrome and
damaged a hostile machine. It had part of its undercarriage carried away and
collapsed on to wing tip of the top right plane. Two hostile machines were seen
but retired at once on approach of our machines.
16th February. —Heavy rain during night 15—16th.
Reconnaissances ... ... 2
Bridge observed to have been towed further upstream from Imam Mahdi
and partially reconstructed at Bghailah.
Bombing —A direct hit with a 20 lb, bomb was obtained at Bghailah on a
steamer which emitted clouds of smoke for a few minutes. Two men of a
column of infantry were killed near Dahra Barracks.
17th February. —Very violent storm night 16—17th.
Attack on Sannaiyat position .... Strong South wind.
Reconnaissances 2
Artillery co-operation . . . . . .3 0, Ks. on an N. F.
target.
Bombing. —Three 20 lb. bombs dropped on a patrol of cavalry near Imam
Mahdi who scattered.
ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS—BASRAH.
December 1916 .—Early in this month the 160 pontoon carts made out of
A. T carts were completed in the workshops and sent up-country.
On the 1st of the month an Ordnance Mess was started for Indian and
Army Ordnance Officers.
On the 5th December the 30th Army Ordnance Company arrived from
Erance with 3 Officers, and an Inspecting Ordnance Officer, M. E. E, Also
reinforcements from the Indian Ordnance Department, Warrant Officers and
Temporary Sergeants.
In the middle of this month there were very heavy shipments of ammuni
tion, both up-country and arriving.
The foundations of the 60 feet shedding were completed by the end of the
month and the erection of the sheds commenced.
Reclamation work at the River Eront Ordnance Dep6t commenced with
Ordnance Labour. It was found that four feet below the level of the bund
there was a layer of from 6 inches to 2 feet Gypsum sand. This layer caused
part of the Ordnance area and Ordnance House to be flooded last year, but it
is hoped that by putting in a two feet clay wall it will prevent a recurrence
during the next flood season.
On the 29th December 1916 the Deputy Director, Ordnance Stores, left
Mesopotamia invalided. The Assistant Director, Ordnance Stores, became
Deputy Director, Ordnance Stores, and the Deputy Assistant Director, Ordnance
Stores, 7th Division, was sent to the Base as Assistant Director, Ordnance
Stores (provisional).
By the end of the month the first armoured train was fitted up and com
pleted and trials made early in January.
Three letters were sent to the Base Commandant. The first gave a resume
of the work done at Ma’gil. The second pointed out that the area allotted to
the Ordnance, Ma’gil was quite indequate for present needs and would become
still more so in the near future. The immediate result of this was that it
was decided that the Clothing group should remain in its present position on
the River Eront and not go to Ma’gil. It was also recommended that
the Remount Paddocks on the south-east side of Rumela Creek should be
moved and this side handed over to the Ordnance when Rumela Creek has been
diedged.