Military History

Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
Mesopotamia	1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals	Basra Memorial
Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
14 Nov 1915 (Balkans)	~	Arrow
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted	Other War Memorials
The Battle of Kut al Amara	March 1915 at Cheltenham
Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units
near Dahra Bend

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

Henry's battalion took part in the Battles of the Hai salient, Dahra Bend and the Shumran Peninsula between the 11 January and 24 February 1917 which ended with a decisive defeat of the Turks.

Picquet [picket] established at N40 and a line of picquet posts established by D Company in a dry and shallow water course N33-N40. On orders of 39^th Brigade to send out a strong patrol to reconnoiter and capture enemy trench N45a to N45 which was believed to be lightly or not held by the enemy.

A Company under Lt F.L.C Hodson advanced under over of machine gun at N$6 N46A and some artillery. A dust storm prevailing however rendered machine gun and artillery support difficult to effect. On the company reaching a point 400 yards from the objective a heavy enemy frontal line was opened accompanied by enfilading fire from, apparently, N44 K redoubt and N44C mullah? and the company sustained severe casualties. Lt  Hodson was wounded and also 2^nd Lt’s Lewis, Watkins and Latter. The remainder of the company dug themselves head cover and remained in front of the enemy’s positions until dark when under 2^nd Lt Machin it retired to N46A. Casualties for the day were 3 officers wounded 70 OR killed and wounded including Arthur.