Lieutenant Richard Ayres Ritchie, (Overstrand), 2nd Norfolks KiA Ctesiphon 1915

Lieut. R.A. Ritchie

 

2nd Norfolk Regt. Aged 24. He returned from Canada and obtained a commission.

 

Lieutenant RITCHIE, RICHARD AYRES

Died 22/11/1915

Aged 24

3rd Bn. attd. 2nd Bn.

Norfolk Regiment

Son of Thomas and Alice Ritchie; husband of Enid Kathleen Ritchie, of The Shack, Crowborough, Sussex.

Commemorated at BASRA MEMORIAL

Location: Iraq

Source: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1658969/ritchie,-rich...

 

Soldiers Died in the Great War records that Lieutenant Richard Ayres Ritchie was Killed in Action on the 22nd November 1915 whilst serving with the 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment, attached 2nd Battalion. As with all officers no place of birth or residence is shown.

 

The Medal Index Card for Lieutenant Richard Ayres Ritchie, Norfolk Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/17/12666

Source: discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D4876333

He qualified for the 1915 star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal – although the 1915 Star was issued showing his rank as 2nd Lieutenant. The card notes that he was Killed in Action between the 22nd and 24th November 1915. As with all officers his medals had to be applied for – in this case posthumously by his widow in June 1924. She gave her address then as Melbourne House, Crowborough, Sussex.

 

His Officers’ Service Records are held at the National Archive under reference WO 339/48410

Source: discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1102267

 

No match on Picture Norfolk, the County Image Archive.

 

No obvious Missing Persons enquiry received by the International Red Cross.

 

The 1916 Probate Calendar records that Richard Ayres Ritchie of Overstrand Lodge, Cromer, Norfolk died between the 22 and 24 November 1915 at Ctesiphon in Mesoptamia killed in action. Probate was granted at the London Court on the 30th October 1916 to Enid Kathleen Ritchie, widow, and Archibald Thomas Ayres Ritchie, lieutenant in Grenadier Guards. His effects were valued at £273 4s 1d.

Source: probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Ritchie&amp...

 

He is remembered on the Roll of Honour for Sedbergh School, Yorkshire, which in turn is featured on the website “Craven Remembers” which also includes a different cut of this picture.

Source: www.cpgw.org.uk/soldier-records/richard-ayres-ritchie/

The actual panel can be seen here: www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/457

There are a number of pictures of the pre-war School Cadet Force here:-

pilgrimage.sedberghschool.org/

The site notes that he was born 10th November 1891 and that he was at the school from 1905 to 1910. There is more on his sporting prowess as well as his interest in Natural History. Although he did go to Oxford, the site adds he only spent a few terms at Oxford, before moving to British Columbia to start a fruit ranch.

Source: pilgrimage.sedberghschool.org/category/surname/r

 

Richard is also on the War Memorial in the Library at Trinity College, Oxford, shown in the names for the year 1910, which is probably the year he started there.

www.trinity.ox.ac.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/08...

www.trinity.ox.ac.uk/library/war-memorial/

 

Richard is also listed in the Book of Remembrance in the church of St Martin, Overstrand, the wooden memorial in the church and the war memorial in the churchyard – see comments box below for images. The entry in the Book of Remembrance reads:

 

Son of Thomas and Alice Ritchie. Born at Newton House, Ireland, November 1891. Educated at Sedburgh School and Trinity College, Oxford. Married Enid Stuckey, April 1915. Joined the Norfolk Regt. February 1915. Lieutenant. Died of wounds received in Mesopotamia., November 1915.

 

There are another two pictures of Lieutenant Ritchie aboard the SS Arabia, which was ferrying reinforcements from London bound for Bombay in May 1915.

www.greatwarforum.org/topic/252329-major-ag-boldero-3rd-s...

 

A younger brother, Thomas Pearsall Ayers Ritchie , born 28th July 1894, also attended Sedbergh, in his case from 1908 to 1913. A Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade, he would fall on the 15th March 1915. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial. The Sedbergh School Pilgrimage site believes he too has a connection to the Cromer area.

Source: pilgrimage.sedberghschool.org/category/surname/r

(Thomas, like his brother, is remembered at St Martin, Overstrand. Neither appear on the Cromer memorials.)

 

 

1891/92 – Birth………………….

 

The Sebergh School website records him as born on the 10th November 1891

The Overstrand Memorial Books records him as born in November 1891.

 

The birth of a Richard Ayres Ritchie was registered with the Civil Authorities in the Naas District of Ireland in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1892.

Source: www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FB6C-SZL

Then, as now, you had 42 days after the event to register the birth without facing prosecution and a fine in the UK – of which the whole of Ireland was a part at that time. Thus the date of birth in the Overstrand records and the period of registration in the civil record are not entirely incompatible – although it is close.

 

The birth register is available online, but the exact date is difficult to make out other than it was November 1891 and that the birth was registered on the 5th February 1892. His father was Thomas Ritchie, a Farmer of Newtown Strabban.

Source: civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth...

 

Naas is the County Town of County Kildare, now in the Republic of Ireland.

 

1901 Census of England and Wales

 

This may be a complete co-incidence but the 1901 census has a 9 year old “Dick” Ritchie, born Ireland, who was recorded as a Student Boarder at Suffield Park School, Cromer. Amongst the other pupils on the same page is an 11 year old “Archie” Ritchie, also from Ireland.

 

1911 Census of England and Wales

 

On the 1911 census the 19 year old Richard Ayres Ritchie, from Kildare, Ireland, and an Oxford University student, is recorded as a visitor at 105 Jermyn Street, Westminster, London. This is a lodging house, but seems to have a mix of boarders and visitors.

 

The 21 year old Archibald Thomas Ayres Ritchie, also from Kildare, Ireland, and a Student, was recorded as a boarder at the Lands End Hotel, Semmen, Cornwall.

 

The most likely candidate for Richards future wife is an Enid Kathleen Stuckey, aged 17 and from Lewes, Sussex, who was recorded as a student boarder at Cheltenham Girls College.

 

A Richard Ritchie, born Ireland circa 1891 sailed aboard the SS Empress of Britain bound for St. John, New Brunswick, Canada in March 1912. He had been a Scholar but looks like he was heading to Canada to become a Farmer. His final destination looks like Baynes Lake, British Columbia. (The newspaper report has him returning from Canada to take up a Commission.)

Source: www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HGY-VBT

 

The marriage of a Richard A Ritchie to Enid K Stuckey was recorded in the Steyning District of Sussex in the January to March 1915 quarter - which doesn’t quite tie in with the Book of Remembrance details.

 

It may be a co-incidence, but the birth of a Richard D Ritchie, mothers maiden name Stuckey, was recorded in the Steyning District of Sussex in the January to March 1916 quarter. This is the only instance of this combination in England and Wales up until 2006, when the on-line records I have access to ends. It does not look like Enid ever remarried - the death of an Enid Kathleen Ritchie, born 11th June 1891, was recorded in the Uckfield District of Sussex in the April to June quarter of 1975.

 

The Overstrand connection

 

The British Ornithologists Union Quaterly for 1914 lists amongst its members an Archibald Thomas Ayres Ritchie of Magdalen College and Overstrand, near Cromer, Norfolk.

archive.org/stream/ibis_21914brit/ibis_21914brit_djvu.txt

 

(This is presumably the same Archibald who was one of the Executors of Richards estate.)

 

From 1907 onwards a Thomas Ritchie appears on the Norfolk Register of Electors as entitled to vote in Parliamentary, County Council and Civil Parish Council elections as he was the householder of the dwelling house Overstrand Lodge, Overstrand.

1907 Edition: www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HYL-V66

1908 Edition: www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CM4-LWT

1909 Edition: www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2H1P-3BG

1910 Edition: www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CMH-85J

1911 Edition: www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CM8-6HL

On the 1911 Census of England & Wales the 52 year old Norman Ritchie, born Kill, Ireland and living on “Private Means”, was recorded as the married head of the household at Overstrand Lodge, Overstrand, Cromer. He lives there with his wife Alice Jane, (45, born Edgbaston, Warwickshire). The couple have been married 21 years and have had four children, although only three were then still alive. There were also four live-in servants.

Thomas was recorded on the 1912 to 1915 editions of the Norfolk Register of Electors – production of the 1916 & 1917 editions were cancelled nationally.

1912 Edition: www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HBW-GLG

1913 Edition: www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CMX-9WS

1914 Edition: www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CMF-ZP5

1915 Edition: www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2CM5-DKY

 

 

On the day…………………………………

 

While the CWGC and SDGW records him as died on the 22nd, the Medal Index Card and the Probate Calendar records him as killed in action between the 22nd and 24th.

 

For the following the sources are the journals of Major F.C. Lodge, commanding the 2nd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment (Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum), and Captain A.J. Shakeshaft, also of the 2nd Battalion (The National Archives).

The force which advanced on the road to Baghdad, on 19th November 1915, consisted of the 6th Division, the Cavalry Brigade, the 30th Brigade (12th Division), and forty two guns of all sorts – a total strength of under 14,000 combatants, of whom 8,500 were infantry. Of the Turkish forces, Captain Amarinder Singh writes this:

‘Townshend now estimated the enemy strength at 13,000 regular infantry and thirty-eight guns, The Turkish account puts the strength of the 15th Division comprising the 7th, 9th, and 44th Regiments, which had recently arrived, up to 18,000 troops. The Turkish account further adds that the 35th and 38th Divisions were in a better condition than they had been at Kut, although their morale was comparatively low. The 51st Division, comprising Anatolian Turks and the 45th were in good shape.’

 

20th November 1915: “Left Zuur about 8 am. We formed the vanguard with the 110th as the main guard, cavalry ahead. A certain amount of opposition from the enemy’s cavalry. Reached Lujj… [A seven mile march on a dusty road] Received orders to move with 110th at least 2 miles up the Baghdad road… [To reconnoitre, take ranges, and cover the Lujj camp] Saw a few of the enemy’s cavalry who ‘haired off’ as we approached. I could see the Arch of Ctesiphon quite distinctly this morning. Had a conference of C.O.’s and Adj’s at 12 noon on the prospected night march… Battalion marched off to our starting point at 6.40 pm. We had a meal about 5 pm. … Left divisional rendezvous at 8.30 pm in 3 columns, A. B. C. & Cavalry. Bad going at first but improved later. (Diary of F. C. Lodge)

We now obtained a good view of the famous arch of Ctesiphon, said to be the ruins of the banquetting hall of the Phoenician kings. It stands out like some gigantic building as compared to the puny objects around. The enemy’s position consisting of many miles of trenches and reboubts formidably protected by barbed wire entanglements, all around the famous arch.” (Diary of A.J. Shakeshaft)

 

21st November 1915: On the 21st, Townshend issued his operational orders. Column ‘A’ under Major General Delamain consisting of the 16th Infantry Brigade (2nd Dorsets and 104th Rifles) and the 30th Brigade (24th Punjabis, less half battalion, the 2/7 Gurkhas, the 66th Punjabis, and the 117th Mahrattas), the 82nd Battery Royal Field Artillery (six guns), the 1/5 Hants Howitzers (four guns), and half a company of the 22nd Sappers.

Column ‘B’ under Brigadier General W.G. Hamilton comprised the 18th Infantry Brigade (2nd Norfolks, 7th Rajputs, 110th Mahrattas, and the 120th Infantry [Rajputanas], the 63rd Battery R.F.A. (six guns), and half a company of the 22nd Sappers.

Column ‘C’ under Brigadier General F.A. Hoghton included the 17th Infantry Brigade (1st Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, 22nd Punjabis, 103rd Mahrattas (less half battalion), and the 119th Infantry, 76th Battery R.F.A. (six guns), 86th Heavy Battery R.F.A. (one section two guns), 17th Company Sappers, 48th Pioneers, and one squadron of the 23rd Cavalry Divisional Cavalry).

A ‘flying column’ under Major General Mellis comprised the 6th Cavalry Brigade, 6th Battery R.F.A. (six guns), 7th Lancers (four squadrons), 16th Cavalry (three squadrons, 33rd Cavalry (three squadrons), Maxim Battery, motor machine-gun section (two armoured cars and two lorries), 76th Punjabis with enough transport to carry half the battalion at a time.

His plan, in brief, was for Column ‘C’ to carry out a preparatory attack, Column ‘B’ with the ‘Flying Column’ to launch the turning attack, and Column ‘C’ would then carry out the decisive onslaught. The columns would move out on the night of 21-22 November.

 

At 0700 on the 22nd, the naval bombardment of the Turkish defences commenced. All the columns advanced as planned and the battle continued all day with the Turks moving in reinforcements as and when required to check any British breakthrough. Townshend had no reserves.

 

2nd Norfolks

 

“Reached our rendezvous, ie the gap in the dry high level canal about 2 am. … We took up a position of readiness and then took any rest that was going… At dawn we could see the enemy in formed bodies about 4 miles off; a squadron of Turkish cavalry approached but no notice was taken as we did not want to disclose our whereabouts. … The 110th and ourselves issued from our position about 7.45 am in Artillery formation. We were on the right. We moved over perfectly level ground with no cover of any sort. The visibility of objects was very difficult owing to mirage. We advanced in perfect silence for some time when suddenly rifle & machine gun fire was opened upon us and we were soon heavily engaged. … We could make very little progress and we were being heavily fired into from our right. … I was hit… just as I had got into the 1st line, the shot came from the right point and luckily for me I had just turned to the left to see how things were going, the bullet passing obliquely under my left ribs. It knocked me over for a time. Cramer Roberts took over command from me. I had a most unpleasant hour or so lying out in the open: there were 3 or 4 machine guns firing hard, luckily they were all high. … I reached the field dressing station where I found several officers and men, some badly wounded, also a Turkish officer. … Stayed at the field ambulance for some considerable time and then orders came for us to move to V.P. or (Vital Point) the strong point in the Turkish position, which had been captured by us. We made to make a long detour as the Turkish Artillery was busy. At last we reached a point somewhere near V.P. and were preparing to doss down when we were ordered to move inside the barbed wire round V.P. as it was not considered safe outside owing to marauding Arabs. The trenches were filled with dead Turks and, where I eventually laid down, the odour was so unpleasant that they had them either removed or buried. Spent a most uncomfortable night, ground very hard and there was constant movement of carts close to us which raised clouds of dust. No food since yesterday except a tin of milk between 4 of us. Luckily the Turks had had enough so there was little or no firing during the night. (Diary of F. C. Lodge)

 

In all we were 21 officers and 519 men in the Battalion. Two of the officers… were with Brigade Headquarters.

 

We tried to snatch a few hours sleep, but it was a bitterly cold night and lying on the hard ground without even a blanket was hardly conducive to sleep. As a matter of fact I did get and hour or two sleep and woke up about daybreak, with a dreadful cramp and feeling stiff in every joint of my body. We sat and shivered munching hardboiled eggs and biscuits, awaiting events.

 

At about 8 a m. our Battalion moved out from behind the cover of the sandhills. … After advancing for about half an hour in artillery formation, we came under very heavy rifle fire… Even at this early stage of the day we began to get a large number of casualties. Cooke was hit in the foot, whilst I was talking to him, so I had to leave him to be carried back by the stretcher bearers. Major Lodge was also wounded early in the day, probably from the fire of one of the machine guns, which the Turks had cleverly concealed.

By about 11 a.m. the whole Battalion was in the firing line and we were advancing by short rushes under a hail of bullets. About 11.30 we found it impossible to advance further owing to the heavy casualties we were suffering…

About 1 p.m. …the order came down the line from Major Cramer-Roberts, now commanding the Battalion, to advance. So we sprang forward and gained another 100 to 150 yards by short rushes. Just as we were about to move off, my company sergeant major Porter was hit in the foot. I pulled off his boot and told Corporal Edwards who was near me to look after him, as I had to lead my company forward.

About 2.30 or 3 p.m. I noticed a number of troops, possibly about 3 battalions, advancing across our left front out of a sunken road on the river bank, at about 1400 yards range. The question was were they Turks or our own Column C. Owing to the dense mirage I could not make out for certain. But presently our guns opened fire on them and there was no longer any doubt. They were Turkish troops who had crossed the river and were preparing to launch a counter-attack. … To our front the view was distinctly unpleasant, the country appeared to be black with troops massing for the counter-attack. They proceeded to advance in thick masses, all had their bayonets fixed. I distinctly saw the sun’s rays shining on them.

Our left flank [was] exposed, so we had to retire back to our original positions. As soon as we reached our old position Corporal Edwards asked me if he might go back and bring some men in. He went out three times a distance of some 100 yards, under a hail of bullets, bound up three men’s wounds and carried them back on his shoulder in rear of our line. I recommended this act of heroism very highly and the G.O.C., Division, recommended him for the V.C. Northcote was dangerously wounded during this retirement and had to be carried in.”

(Diary of A.J. Shakeshaft)

 

-------~~~O~~~------

 

“Reached our rendezvous, ie the gap in the dry high level canal about 2 am. … We took up a position of readiness and then took any rest that was going… At dawn we could see the enemy in formed bodies about 4 miles off; a squadron of Turkish cavalry approached but no notice was taken as we did not want to disclose our whereabouts. … The 110th and ourselves issued from our position about 7.45 am in Artillery formation. We were on the right. We moved over perfectly level ground with no cover of any sort. The visibility of objects was very difficult owing to mirage. We advanced in perfect silence for some time when suddenly rifle & machine gun fire was opened upon us and we were soon heavily engaged. … We could make very little progress and we were being heavily fired into from our right. … I was hit… just as I had got into the 1st line, the shot came from the right point and luckily for me I had just turned to the left to see how things were going, the bullet passing obliquely under my left ribs. It knocked me over for a time. Cramer Roberts took over command from me. I had a most unpleasant hour or so lying out in the open: there were 3 or 4 machine guns firing hard, luckily they were all high. … I reached the field dressing station where I found several officers and men, some badly wounded, also a Turkish officer. … Stayed at the field ambulance for some considerable time and then orders came for us to move to V.P. or (Vital Point) the strong point in the Turkish position, which had been captured by us. We made to make a long detour as the Turkish Artillery was busy. At last we reached a point somewhere near V.P. and were preparing to doss down when we were ordered to move inside the barbed wire round V.P. as it was not considered safe outside owing to marauding Arabs. The trenches were filled with dead Turks and, where I eventually laid down, the odour was so unpleasant that they had them either removed or buried. Spent a most uncomfortable night, ground very hard and there was constant movement of carts close to us which raised clouds of dust. No food since yesterday except a tin of milk between 4 of us. Luckily the Turks had had enough so there was little or no firing during the night. (Diary of F. C. Lodge)

 

“In all we were 21 officers and 519 men in the Battalion. Two of the officers… were with Brigade Headquarters.

 

We tried to snatch a few hours sleep, but it was a bitterly cold night and lying on the hard ground without even a blanket was hardly conducive to sleep. As a matter of fact I did get and hour or two sleep and woke up about daybreak, with a dreadful cramp and feeling stiff in every joint of my body. We sat and shivered munching hardboiled eggs and biscuits, awaiting events.

 

At about 8 a m. our Battalion moved out from behind the cover of the sandhills. … After advancing for about half an hour in artillery formation, we came under very heavy rifle fire… Even at this early stage of the day we began to get a large number of casualties. Cooke was hit in the foot, whilst I was talking to him, so I had to leave him to be carried back by the stretcher bearers. Major Lodge was also wounded early in the day, probably from the fire of one of the machine guns, which the Turks had cleverly concealed.

 

By about 11 a.m. the whole Battalion was in the firing line and we were advancing by short rushes under a hail of bullets. About 11.30 we found it impossible to advance further owing to the heavy casualties we were suffering…

About 1 p.m. …the order came down the line from Major Cramer-Roberts, now commanding the Battalion, to advance. So we sprang forward and gained another 100 to 150 yards by short rushes. Just as we were about to move off, my company sergeant major Porter was hit in the foot. I pulled off his boot and told Corporal Edwards who was near me to look after him, as I had to lead my company forward.

 

About 2.30 or 3 p.m. I noticed a number of troops, possibly about 3 battalions, advancing across our left front out of a sunken road on the river bank, at about 1400 yards range. The question was were they Turks or our own Column C. Owing to the dense mirage I could not make out for certain. But presently our guns opened fire on them and there was no longer any doubt. They were Turkish troops who had crossed the river and were preparing to launch a counter-attack. … To our front the view was distinctly unpleasant, the country appeared to be black with troops massing for the counter-attack. They proceeded to advance in thick masses, all had their bayonets fixed. I distinctly saw the sun’s rays shining on them.

Our left flank [was] exposed, so we had to retire back to our original positions. As soon as we reached our old position Corporal Edwards asked me if he might go back and bring some men in. He went out three times a distance of some 100 yards, under a hail of bullets, bound up three men’s wounds and carried them back on his shoulder in rear of our line. I recommended this act of heroism very highly and the G.O.C., Division, recommended him for the V.C. Northcote was dangerously wounded during this retirement and had to be carried in.

 

It was great relief to me when the sun went down, for we all felt sure that the enemy would never counter-attack by night., after the appalling loses he must have suffered during the day.

As was usual in all our battles there were no ambulances, nothing but transport carts in which the wretched wounded had to suffer hellish agonies, jolting over the uneven ground. It was a hideous nightmare, this walk back some 1400 yards, through a mass of dead or suffering and shattered humanity. I found Major Drum, our Brigade Major, he gave me orders that we were to retire on V.P. and some limbered wagons, the only sort of vehicle available, were sent out to bring in the wounded. I shall never forget the sight of one poor fellow with a compound fracture in the leg trying to sit or hang on to a limbered wagon. Before retiring we searched round the field and brought in all our wounded, the dead had to be left on the field. At about 8 p.m. the Battalion formed up and commenced retirement on V.P. There was no firing now, but the numerous camp fires in the distance showed that the Turks had not fled to Baghdad or even beyond the Diala.

 

We reached V.P. about 11 p.m. after a very tiring march and were allotted a position inside the wire enclosure by the Staff captain. The place was one mess of corpses after fighting here earlier in the day. Fortunately we met our mess cart at V.P. and had some hot tea and food and then tried to snatch a few hours sleep in preparation for what might await us on the morrow. The night was dreadfully cold. Hall and I lay side by side with our greatcoats and a Turkish blanket over us, but the cold was so intense that every now and then we had to get up and walk about.” (Diary of A.J. Shakeshaft)

 

Fighting for their lives, Townshend’s exposed men found their rifles jammed with dust, and were obliged to kick back the bolt after each shot – thereby exposing their heads to the sniper’s bullet. … Separated from their battalions, men formed scratch units and fought till they had no more ammunition. Then they lay low and fell instantly asleep. …

 

By 1700 hours, Townshend had come to the conclusion that he would not make any further advance that day and ordered the columns to concentrate at ‘VP’ (‘Vital Point’ – Ctesiphon) for a renewed attack the next morning. As the concentration took place, Townshend, however, came to the conclusion that casulaties were exceedingly high and it would not be possible to renew the attack. General Hoghton could muster 700 men, General Delamain 1000, and General Hamilton about 850.

The casualties suffered by Townshend were very heavy. Of the 317 officers, 130 had been killed or wounded; 111 Indian officers had become casualties out of the 255 that went into battle that morning and of the 12,000 other ranks, over 4,200 had been killed or wounded. The 24th Punjabis, 104th Rifles and the 110th lost 60 per cent of their strength. The Turkish casualties were put at 9,500, though Turkish accounts put them at 6,188.

 

When day dawned on 23rd November the results of yesterday’s battle were clearly seen on the bloodstained field, strewn with the dead of both sides; for if the British had suffered heavily, the enemy had lost still more. The casualties in the Norfolk battalion had been terrible; half the machine-gun section had been wiped out but the rest of it were doing determined service, for which Lieutenant Campbell afterwards received the Military Cross. At nightfall General Townshend decided to establish his force in the captured Turkish first line trenches, and the 18th Brigade were withdrawn to V.P.

 

Trenches were full and spewing over with dead. Piles of Turkish corpses, dyed yellow with lyddite, lay everywhere. In every irrigation ditch the water ran red as those who were slightly wounded attempted to keep those who were helpless or unconscious from dying. Every dried-up water-course was littered with wounded who, frozen over-night, groaned with thirst now that the sun was high. A crazy convoy of of ammunition and commissariat carts jolted load after load of bleeding men to the river’s edge – passing an endless line of men who preferred to crawl.

 

Colonel Lodge being now one of the wounded, his diary departs for a few days from that of Captain Shakeshaft.

 

“In the morning I found that the regiment was near & Cramer Roberts came round to see me and from him I learnt that our casualties had been very heavy especially amongst the officers, 14 out 19 had been either killed or wounded. (Diary of F. C. Lodge)

 

When day dawned a dreadful sight presented itself to our gaze, the trenches in V.P. were filled with dead Turks and outside the wire were scores of bodies of our own men. Early in the morning Q.M. Sergeant Eastel arrived with ration carts from Lejj, so that the men were able to have a meal, the first they had had since leaving Lejj on the evening of the 21st. Shortly after breakfast I had to read out to a “battalion” of 250 men a communiqué from Sir John Nixon to the effect that we were to remember that the goal set before us by our King and Country was still to be attained – namely the capture of Baghdad… This published to a force that had lost more than 50 percent of its fighting strength, while the enemy had been reinforced by several divisions sent down by rafts from Mosul.”

 

Colonel Nur-ud-Din, aware of Townshend’s predicament, launched an attack at 14.30 hours which carried on throughout the night and the next day, and by 1930 hours on the 25th, General Townshend had ordered the withdrawal to Lajj.

norfolkinworldwar1.org/2016/02/19/the-second-battalion-of...

 

The 22nd November 1915 saw the Battle of Ctesiphon involving British and Indian Army units who were attempting to advance on Bagdhad,.A British force of 11000 defeat a Turkish force of over 18000. Battle ends with a bayonet charge across open ground. Norfolks suffer 6 officers killed 27 men killed, 225 wounded and 2 missing.

 

However by the 24th the Brigade under the command of General Townshend suffering losses and sickness has to withdraw to Kut. The Norfolks form the rear guard as the Brigade withdraws. The 44 miles to Kut is covered in 36 hours. The 2nd Norfolks now comprise half their effective fighting force.

www.stephen-stratford.co.uk/pte_wilby.htm

 

Abandoning the battlefield to the advancing Turks, it is perhaps not surprising that Richards final resting place is now unknown.

 

Done