CtesiphonBattle02

On August 22nd, 1915, 3 divisions of the Ottoman Sixth Army advanced from Baghdad on our hastily defended positions at Ctesiphon in order to dislodge the Tigris Force.

Fighting lasted 2 days with the Turkish attacks repulsed and they retreated with heavy casualties and light casualties in the Imperial forces.

Following the attack, we will press the retreating forces to limit their ability to re-group whilst pushing on to Baghdad to dislodge what we expect to be light defences.

Battle report

Before the start of the battle, forces were positioned around the main defences to slow the enemy advance.

The Dorsets were positioned near the bridges over the river xxxxx, close to the confluence with the Tigris where 4 gunboats were waiting. The White Company patrolled the north side of the xxxxx with the 7th Lancers screening the ford where we expected the Turks to cross.

The Ghurkas were positioned close to the ruins of Seulicia in anticipation that an attacking ofrce would camp there overnight prior to attacking.

Action on the 22nd

Reconaissence reports indicated that, as anticipated, there were 2 Turkish advances from Baghdad, one swinging wide on the eastern side of our psoition and the other pushing south. Loss of one of the scouting planes aleted us to the first encounter with Turkish aricraft. The remaining 9 planes (1 lost and 1 damaged previously) were sent north and chased 2 Turkish planes from the area.

The first action took place at a fording point 10 miles up the xxxxx river where the 45th Division attempted to ford the river. The White Company beat off the screening Tribal Cavalry Brigade whilst simultaneously the 6th Cavalry Brigade, led by the Bengal Lancers attempted to block the crossing. In fierce fighting, the 6th slowed the crossing sufficiently for the Dorsets to arrive and drive the 1st Regiment of the 45th back with casualties on both sides. Significantly however, the 4 gunboats under the command of Captain Nunn had destroyed the bridges, moved upriver and lay down fire on the 45th. Accurate fire from the ships took out 4 of the enemy gun batteries before they could be brought to bear and the whole 45th Division withdrew under the cover of darkness.

As a result of this action, the 45th were forced further east which delayed their arrival the next day and also depleted both their artillery and cavalry.

That night the Gurkas, White Company and 6th Cavalry attacked the Turkish encampment at the ruins of Seulicia. With no casualties on our part, we estimated that there were approximately 2000 Turkish casualties from the 36th Division.

At 8:00 the 30th brigade advanced along the west bank of the Tigris to take on the Arab irregular units in a redoubt opposite the main Ottoman lines. The 16th brigade advanced slowly towards the primary defences, the Punjabis moving wide to flank the secondary defences. They started receiving fire from Ottoman guns placed behind the main lines.

At 9:00 the 2nd and 30th battalions of the 30th brigade advanced on the redoubt and charged the position. They were repulsed several times before driving off the Turks and taking the position with light casualties. The rest of the brigade moved to the banks of the Tigris and started crossing.

At 10:00 the 16th brigade with artillery support drove the Arab irregulars from the primary defences. The 2nd and 30th battalions completed taking the redoubt and swung round to take provide covering fire from the banks of the Tigris. The Wellesleys and the Mahrattas completed crossing the river near the ruins of Ctesiphoin and flanked the secondary Ottoman defences.

At 11:00 the Wellesleys and the Mahrattas advanced through the Turkish defences with enfilading fire from machine guns and the 77mm battery. The 16th brigade assualted the defences with a flanking action from the Punjabis.

At this point the Ottoman resistence crumbled with heavy casualties and the remainder (with the Gendarmerie resrve) attempted to retreat whilst harried by the 7th Lancers and the White Company.

The Turkish 6th army present (with casualties were) :

The British units involved (with casualties were) :

Commendation to the 76th Punjabis who maintained good order whilst under artillery fire and succeeded in enfilading the main Turkish positions despite losing 1/3 of their force.