Baghdad01

On the evening of August 24th, 1915, 4 battalions of the 2nd Indian Corps with naval and artillery support successfully attacked the Ottoman city of Baghdad and, after fierce fighting, captured the city and took surrender of the city garrison. This forced the remaining Ottoman units in the area to retreat north. There were limited casualties on both sides.

Following the attack, we will hold the city and push north to secure the railway to it's limit at Tikrit.

Battle report

The opportunity to take Baghdad was made possible when Nuruddin was forced to take a wide approach to attack the positions on Ctisiphon and the 4 Navy gunboats provided a deterrant to a straight-line retreat. As Nuruddin retreated from the defended position in Ctisiphon a decision was taken to make an immediate strike for the city whilst the main body of the army pursued the Ottoman forces.

The transport ships were ready at Ctisiphon apart from those transporting the 33rd Punjabi Bn from Kut and already appraoching Ctisiphon.

At 16:00 our forces approached Baghdad and the 2 battalions on board (76th Punjabi and 66th Punjabi battalions along with engineres and some mountain guns) were dismebarked and continued approach on eother side of the bank. The left bank was commanded by Colonel Howard and the right by Bigadier Hawkwood. The White Company had been instructed to sweep wide on the right flank to meet up close to the South Gate.

Ar 19:00 xxx At 20:00 xxx

Overnight there was continued sporadic fighting.

At dawn, the garrison commander realised that the Ottoman 51st Division would not be reinforcing the garrison and at this point surrendered.

The Turkish garrison forces involved (with casualties were) :

The British units involved (with casualties were) :

Commendation to the Colonel Howard who personally led the charge to take the Saladin bridge whilst under machine gun and artillery fire.