The battle of Ctisiphon, August 17th 1915

On the morning of August 17th, 1915, 2 Brigades of the British Indian with naval, RFC and artillery support successfully engaged and defeated the Ottoman 37th Division in entrenched positions near the ancient ruins of Ctisiphon. 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.

Estimated Turkish casualties :

Arab irregulars : 2 battalions dispersed (unlikely to re-form) with 600 casualties in the battle of which 200 were dead or invalided and 200 captured wounded.

37th division with 3 regiments present :

• 2 battalions (1200) destroyed : 600 casualties (200 dead) + 600 uninjured prisoners
• 1 battalion (600) damaged and retreated : 300 casualties (100 dead), 150 captured in retreat
• 2 battalions (1200) lightly damaged and harried on retreat : 100 casualties (75 dead), 200 captured in retreat

In addition 3 gun batteries were captured or destroyed.

The British units involved (with casualties were) :

30th Infantry Brigade - Bde CJ Melliss *1st Battalion, 4th Hampshire Regiment *24th Punjabis 76th Punjabis *(300 casualties) *2nd Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles

16th Infantry Brigade - Bde WS Delamain *2nd Battalion, The Dorset Regiment *20th Duke of Cambridge's Own (Brownlow's) Punjabis 104th Wellesley's Rifles *(60 casualties) 117th Mahrattas *(60 casualties)

1st Natal Brigade, 1st Natal Volunteer Mtd Infantry (The White Company)

6th Cavalry Brigade, 7th Indian Lancers

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.