With a Highland Regiment in Mesopotamia

by Anonymous

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Pages: 190

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About this book

Written by one of its officers for the children of the regiment's men, this account follows the 2nd Battalion through its service in Mesopotamia in 1916 and 1917. The opening recalls muddy trenches in France, close comradeship and the departure by sea for Basrah. Expectations of a swift advance towards Baghdad give the move east a hopeful beginning, while the officer's stated purpose keeps hardship and remembrance at the centre of the narrative.

Descriptions of the Tigris valley bring the campaign down to the level of what soldiers could see and navigate. Irrigation channels hinder transport, dust obscures movement, and mirages turn crows into apparent horsemen. Alongside reports of fighting and praise from commanders, these observations show how landscape complicated decisions. Readers interested in regimental history will find a personal account of service, shaped by loyalty to the battalion and concern for its families.