Tigers on the Tigris - The 2nd Leicesters in Mesopotamia

In 1915, the 2nd battalion of the Leicester regiment suffered heavy losses in some of the battles on the Western Front ( Neuve Chapelle, Hooge etc).  But in December 1915 they were transferred to Basra in present-day Iraq, and began a 4 month campaign to try to relieve British force trapped at Kut-Al Amara.

They were poorly equipped, short of supplies and had to contend with disease and clouds of biting insects. Despite every effort, they could not break through the Turkish lines.

Under General Maude, a reorganized and well-equipped force of roughly 50,000 troops drove Ottoman forces out of their entrenched positions at the Second Battle of Kut in February 1917. Despite a coordinated Ottoman retreat, British forces successfully pushed through and established an open route to Baghdad. 

Facing overwhelming British numbers and naval flotillas advancing up the Tigris River, Ottoman commanders and their German advisors evacuated Baghdad in March 1917. British-Indian forces entered the city without a fight, dealing a massive psychological and economic blow to the Ottoman Empire.  The advance continued to Mosul in November 1918.

Our speaker Nigel Atter has given many talks on this subject and is the author of several books on the 2nd battalion of the Royal Leicestershires.

Members and non-members of The Western Front Association are equally welcome. Any new members are guaranteed a friendly atmosphere and a warm welcome from a group of like-minded enthusiasts.