War Diary

29^th March 1917: At 1.30am Bde advanced on bearing of 340°° Few obstacles were met with after passing a single line railway (not shown on map) running from river inland. At dawn the force came under long range shell fire from NW and W and a left wheel was ordered followed by an advance in the new direction of about 1500 yards. An enemy patrol appeared about 3000 yards away to NW but were dispersed by our armoured cars which drew heavy shell fire upon themselves.

It was announced that the 40^th Bde had attacked and secured enemy’s first line and were dug in about 300 yards from his second but could make no further headway. About 10.30am a further advance of the Glosters & Warwicks was ordered closely supported by artillery. The ground was remarkably flat and devoid of all cover but in spite of heavy enemy fire at least another 1500 yards were gained with few casualties. At this period the men did not attempt to dig themselves in but offered as little target as possible to enemy’s gunners by lying prone and remaining motionless.

To assist the 40^th Bde still more the 7^th N Staffs came into action on the Glosters left and two Coys (A&B) of this battalion were withdrawn into Brigade reserve. About midday the heat of the sun was most intense and very few men had any water left.

The two Coys in Bde reserve returned at 9.30pm when orders were received for the Bde to advance and capture the enemy’s position about the Ruin (about P of Marl Plain). The Battalion with its left on the Ruin immediately advanced and after capturing the enemy’s first line (of hurriedly dug linettes running NE – SW about 1000 yards on West Side of Ruin) pushed on under heavy shrapnel fire and secured our objectives taking about 100 prisoners. In this action our casualties were heavy 10 Officers and 140 other ranks killed and wounded.

The ground gained was at once consolidated. Throughout the night the ground in front was constantly patrolled by us and our outposts were thrown out 100 yards in front of the defensive line whilst on our exposed right flank was bent back and defended by Machine & Lewis guns in addition to one battery R.F.A. which had registered a barrage in case of enemy’s counter-attack by night.

List of officers killed and wounded.

30^th March 1917: The night (29^th/30^th)had been remarkably quiet and it was no surprise to learn that they enemy had evacuated his Mara position and was retiring Nth to Adhaim River (a repetition his movements after Iman Mahdi & Tel Muhammed. After the dead had been buried and battlefield cleared Bde was ordered to return to Jadaida. Starting at 2pm it proved a very trying march as men were very tired and had no water until we reached Palm Grove irrigation canal. Jadaida was reached about 7.30pm.