Aug1915Orders

3. Politics

4. Training

Staff Officers : by now most staff officers should be familiar with Turkish army organisation, practices and weaknesses. Continuing education on arab customs and basic phrases to ensure good relations with the locals. Recommed adoption of arab headress when dealing with them. Assign vetted arabs as guides and interpreters.

_All troops_ : continue desert acclimitization and arab customs training (basics).

_Snipers_ : trained to work in pairs and co-ordinated with each other.

_Night-fighting_ : 1 platoon in each brigade trained up to fight at night.

_Garrison troops_ : mix training and patrol duties, training in morning and early evening to avoid summer heat. Training orientated around desert acclimitization and survival.

_33rd Brigade_ : assigned special training to develop ability to operate independantly for longer periods. Replace heavy general kit (eg Lewis guns for Maxims). Assign 1 mountain gun per battalion, parts split and carried by 6 horses. Ensure able to carry 1 weeks rations and water. Equip with suitable hats and sunglasses (+?).

_Artillery_ : Navy to train up more QF crews. Cross train artleery crews on the captured 77mm guns and train up new artillerymen to man new batteries. Use some of new artillery officers from India as trainers.

_Aircrew_ : train up an additional 20 pilots and mechanics using current pilots and ground crew. See if additional trainers available from England or South Africa.

_Maps and Stats_ : run daily briefing sessions for scouts, gunboat captains, survey team and pilots to share recon info. Bring in arab guides to help build up map detail.

_Armoured car crew_ : armoured cars not arrived yet but start preparing crews from volunteers with driving or mechanic experience.

5. Troop movements

Corps HQ moved to Kut, all artillery, all cavalry (except below) and most assets advance to Ctesiphon

Transportation to Ctesiphon : 11 rivers steamers + barges + launches (supported by Naval gunboats)

Approx 25 vessels each capable of carrying 300 men or equivalent. Assume artillery, cavalry and assets will require approximately half the transport space.

8th August ? transport troops by river to Ctesiphon : 30th Infantry Brigade (12th Division). Arrive at Lejj on the 10th

8th August (overland to Lejj) : 1st Bn (White Company); 1st Natal Brigade (6th Division). Arrive at Lejj on the 15th

10th August (overland to Lejj) : 16th Infantry Brigade (6th Division); 17th Infantry Brigade (6th Division); Pioneers; Jaipur Transport Company and Mule Corps with supplies. Arrive at Lejj on the 18th.

12th August - transport troops by river to Ctesiphon : 12th Infantry Brigade (12th Division). Arrive at Lejj on the 14th.

16th August ? transport troops by river to Ctesiphon : 18th Infantry Brigade (6th Division). Arrive at Lejj on the 18th

20th August ? transport troops by river to Ctesiphon : 33rd Infantry Brigade (12th Division). Arrive at Lejj on the 22nd

Garrison duty and pipeline guard :

76th Punjabis : A Company - Nasiriyah; B Company - Basra (and pipeline); C Company - Amara (and river transport); D Company - Abadan (and port)

1st Squadron 23rd Cavalry : pipeline

2nd Bn (Zulu) 1st Natal Brigade (6th Division) : Kut garrison

Attack up the Euphrates