War Diary 25 Oct 1918
Mushak – 25 Oct 1918: At 6am the Battn acting as Adv Guard to the Brigade and again preceded by Cavalry continued its march northwards until 8.30am when it came under fire from Turkish light artillery, the Cavalry having been withdrawn from its front. Orders were received to occupy the positions then hold, while the road which was destroyed in several places, was repaired to allow the advance of wheeled traffic.
The Battn remained so halted until about 2.30pm when two Coys, B & D, were pushed forward across the flat plain which there existed between the road and the river. These Coys advanced about 1 ½ miles, being greatly impeded by the densely growing high thistles which covered the plain, and gained touch with the ? about half a mile short of the point where the river again closely skirted the road.
At this time Coningham’s column on the hilltop was about level with the Battalion. When darkness set in the Battn was ordered to push forward along the road towards the Turkish position at Mushak and an endeavour was made to withdraw the 2 Coys out on the right flank in to the road to form position of the main guard, A Coy being the vanguard.
At about 8pm the vanguard closely followed by the head of the main guard came under heavy and accurate fire from rifles and machine guns on the left of the road, at as close a range of 50 yards. The two flank Coys had not yet rejoined but the other two, A & C, after a very temporary confusion, promptly rushed the enemy’s position forcing their way through a double high wire entanglement, occupying the Turkish front line (20 prisoners were taken) and pushing on towards the Turkish line on a hill on the left of the road which they temporarily occupied. Their position there was enfiladed and too isolated to be held with any hope of success and they were therefore withdrawn to the original Turkish front trench which though only 2 feet deep and exposed to heavy machine gun cross fire was stubbornly held till dusk the following day, when it was evacuated under the orders of the B.G.C General Wau/chope & the troops being freshly distributed in depth. Shortly before midnight B & D Coys rejoined HQ’s.
Casualties: Lt Hamilton, 2 Lts McIntyre & Gibb and 30 OR killed. Capt Villiers, Lts Whitelaw, Gilmour & Hutcheson and 70 OR wounded. Percentage 20%.
War Diary 26 Oct 1918
Mushak – 26 Oct 1918: Before dawn, having been shelled during the night, the company was posted on a ridge of the hills to the westward to guard the left flank as we were then out of touch with the Gurkhas on the hilltops and B Coy, with battalion headquarters, was placed in the next valley about 200 yards to the rear.
At 6.10am the two Coys in the Turkish trench again attempted to reach the enemy’s line on the hill but were unsuccessful.
At 7am the 14th Sikhs advanced across the open to attack the enemy's position, as they passed through our line which however the heavy fire to which they were subjected and the difficult ground through which they had to work prevented them reaching. B Coy, which joined the attack from Battn reserve with this attack, occupied a rocky position to the left rear of A & C Coys, being joined there by some machine gunners and 14th Sikhs, and Battn HQ was moved up to that spot as well.
Desultory fighting occurred on out left flank during the day, the Turks, who had been reinforced by one Regiment pushing forward machine guns and rifleman onto several slopes above and to our left and left rear, D Coy being outflanked and forced to fall back to the ridges in rear of this first position.
Towards the afternoon the advance of the Gurkhas along the hilltops and the advent of a portion of another Battalion enabled a more or less continuous line to be formed.
At 6.30pm, the 14th Sikhs having been withdrawn, our right flank was laid bare should the Turks have attempted an improbable advance. The Battalion dispositions were therefore slightly altered, 2 Coys (B&C) were dispersed along the most northern rocky ridge, being assisted in preparing it for defense by a party of Sappers and Miners, while 2 Coys (A&D) & Bttn HQ held a strong position two ridges back, with D Coy up high on the hillside.
Brig Gen Wauchope, who assumed command of the operations during the afternoon, in conversation with the C.O. asked him to tell the men that he considered they had had a very hard fight and had done remarkably well. That he considered it an honour to have had the Highland Light Infantry under his command, if only for one day.
Casualties: Captain K. Hardman and 40 B.O.R killed; Captain I.M. McDonald and 112 B.O.R wounded. Percentage 22%.
