Barrett takes command in Mesopotamia
- Category:
- Military
- Front:
- Middle East
- Date:
- 13 November 1914
- Author:
- Łukasz Skowroń
- Tags:
- British India, Ottoman Empire, Great Britain
On 13 November 1914 Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Barrett, appointed in September to command Indian Expeditionary Force “D”, arrived on the Shatt al-Arab. Some sources state that his transports reached the spot a day later. Barrett took over command from Brigadier-General Walter Delamain, who a week earlier had landed at Fao and then pitched camp at Saniya, north of Abadan island.
With Barrett came the second part of the 6th (Poona) Division: Brigadier-General Charles Fry’s 18th Indian Brigade, made up of the 2nd Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment and three Indian battalions, as well as the 10th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, with three batteries, the 48th Pioneers and two squadrons of the 33rd Light Cavalry. In all this came to about 7,000 men. Delamain kept command of his 16th Brigade.
Barrett’s arrival also changed the aim of the expedition. Delamain’s task had been above all to protect the Anglo-Persian Oil Company refinery at Abadan. Now that Great Britain was at war with the Ottoman Empire, the force was to occupy Basra, the main port and administrative centre of the Ottoman province on the Persian Gulf.
Barrett’s soldiers were still coming ashore when scouts were already reporting that the Turks were gathering at Saihan, a few kilometres from the British camp. Barrett decided not to wait until the whole force had been unloaded from the ships. As early as 15 November Delamain set out to break up this concentration.
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Related events
(04)The same battle, people or subject.
- 15 November 1914 · Middle EastAction at SaihanOn 15 November 1914 Gen. Delamain's brigade routed a Turkish force at Saihan on the Shatt al-Arab. It was the first step on the road to Basra.
- 17 November 1914 · Middle EastAction at SahilOn 17 November 1914 two brigades of Gen. Barrett routed the main Turkish force at Sahil on the Shatt al-Arab in rain and mud. The road to Basra lay open.
- 6 November 1914 · Middle EastBritish land at FaoOn 6 November 1914 Indian troops, after a naval bombardment, landed at Fao on the Shatt al-Arab and took the Turkish fort. The Mesopotamian campaign began.
- 22 November 1914 · Middle EastThe British occupy BasraOn 22 November 1914 British and Indian troops entered Basra, abandoned by the Turks. The next day the occupation of the city was formally proclaimed.