INSURRECTION IN MESOPOTAMIA 1920

After the Great War and the break-up of the Ottoman Empire, internal security and control of Mesopotamia (as it was then known) was placed in Britain’s hands who exercised that control through the government of India which provided and administered the main garrison of two divisions -17th (34th, 51st and 52nd Brigades) and 18th (53rd, 54th and 55th Brigades) – plus five (Indian)battalions for L of C and Baghdad defence and a cavalry brigade. The British component in all this consisted of six battalions, two cavalry regiments, divisional artillery and MG units. In August/September reinforcements arrived in the form of the 6th (Indian) Division, newly created to replace the 6th Division that had been forced to surrender in Kut-al-Amara in April1916.The detailed order of battle of the force is given in an appendix. The C in C, appointed in March 1920, was the author of this book, Haldane, who was commanding 10th Infantry Brigade in August 1914 whose doings he described in A Brigade of the Old Army, also reprinted by N&M Press, was promoted to command of the 3rd Division in November 1914 and finally to command of VI Corps in August 1916. He was on half pay when recalled to take command in Mesopotamia.
The trouble began in May 1920 when certain Arab tribes rebelled against the occupying force and presented a threat to the new Arab government soon to come into existence. It had been estimated there were 300,000 rifles in the country and of these the rebels had between 50,000 and 60,000. Haldane had been instructed to complete the job of disarming and punishing them and depriving of rifles all who possessed them for self-protection and use in inter-tribal feuds. This book describes a classic colonial type campaign in which the object was achieved in five months. In all 12,000 British and 61,000 Indian troops were involved along with 60,000 followers (non-combattants). Casualties amounted to 2269 of which 375 were British (19 officers and 28 other ranks killed). Rebel casualties were estimated at 8,450. One VC was awarded, posthumously, to Capt G.S Henderson DSO, MC, 2nd Manchesters. There are some very informative appendices including one describing in detail the tactics applied. There is a good index. A most interesting account, especially in light of operations in Iraq today.