The battle of Ctesiphon, August 17th 1915

On the morning of August 17th, 1915, 2 brigades of the 2nd Indian Corps with naval, RFC and artillery support successfully engaged and defeated the Ottoman 37th Division in entrenched positions near the ancient ruins of Ctesiphon. This was the last Ottoman defensive position south of Baghdad. Fighting was fierce with heavy Ottoman casualties and some Indian army casualties.

Following the attack, we will reinforce the position against Ottoman counter-attack in preparation for an advance on Baghdad whilst the weather is still favourable.

Battle report

Before the start of the battle, the 7th Lancers were moved to a staging post 2 miles east of the Turkish lines with additional personnel to simulate a major flanking attack. The White Company moved 5 miles north to cut off retreat at the river.

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 37th division involved (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.