At daybreak, the guns with Column “A” could be heard away to the south-west. A few enemy camel patrols were rounded up by our cavalry and armoured cars. Columns “B” and “C” soon after advanced, and took “V.P.” after fierce fighting. At 8.15 the Flying Column advanced, cavalry on the right, 76th on the left, supported by the Machine Gun Battery and “S” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery. To quote the official “History of the War in Mesopotamia”:— “After advancing about 1,200 yards, the 76th came under heavy fire from enemy infantry in their front, and a hot fight ensued. The 76th, behaving with great gallantry, gained some ground, but the hostile force opposing them—evidently part of the 51st Division—was too strong, and about 10 a.m. the further advance of the 76th was definitely checked and they dug themselves in. They had suffered heavy casualties, including the loss of their two senior British officers.” The cavalry now withdrew to ward off an Arab attack on the transport and rear of Columns “B” and “C.” The Battalion had by this time lost severely and any attempt to advance was at once stopped by enemy rifle and machine-gun fire. Meantime, many gallant actions were performed by various men, in bringing up ammunition and distributing it and bringing the wounded into the shelter of the shallow entrenchment that had been made. During this time severe fighting was taking place in the enemy second line. At about 4 p.m. the enemy counter-attacked with two fresh divisions, whose presence was, up to that time, unknown, and Columns “B” and “C” were finally ejected from the enemy’s second position. The right of the Battalion was now attacked by about two battalions and the flank thrown back to meet the attack; the enemy advanced to within four or five hundred yards, where he was stopped. As darkness fell piquets were pushed forward and to the right flank, and the Battalion commenced to concentrate and dig itself in. The enemy showed no signs of movement. At 7 p.m. orders were received to rejoin the Brigade at “V.P.,” and this was done, very slowly and with great difficulty owing to the very large number of wounded, who had to be carried. On arrival at “V.P.” the Battalion bivouacked on the enemy’s first line trenches, and the night passed quietly. The following extract from the official history serves to show that the efforts made by all ranks on this memorable day were not without considerable effect:—“According to the Turkish account, the five infantry battalions of the 51st Division here had now all been absorbed into the firing line, which covered a front of about four miles. That they could make no further progress seems to have been due mainly to the stout fighting qualities of the 76th and the fine work of “S” Battery.” [Sidenote: November 23rd.]