The Thirteenth Hussars in the Great War [Illustration: _From a photograph by The Mendoza Galleries._ _Lt. Col. J. J. Richardson. D.S.O. Commanding 13^{th} Hussars from August 1915 to the present time._] The Thirteenth Hussars in the Great War BY THE RIGHT HON. SIR H. MORTIMER DURAND G.C.M.G., K.C.S.I., K.C.I.E. _WITH MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS_ William Blackwood and Sons Edinburgh and London 1921 _ALL RIGHTS RESERVED_ _DEDICATION_ To the Unfading Memory of the _OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, AND MEN OF THE REGIMENT WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES DURING THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918_. “I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above, Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love; The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test, That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best; The love that never falters, the love that pays the price, The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.” --(_Ode to Duty_, by the late Sir CECIL SPRING RICE, G.C.M.G., G.C.V.O.) CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. INTRODUCTORY 1 II. CAVALRY BEFORE THE GREAT WAR 3 III. EARLIER HISTORY OF THE REGIMENT 17 IV. 1910-1914--OUTBREAK OF THE GREAT WAR 42 V. THE INDIAN ARMY--BEGINNING OF WAR 55 VI. VOYAGE TO FRANCE 60 VII. 1915 IN FRANCE 67 VIII. 1916 89 IX. MESOPOTAMIA 98 X. SUMMER IN LOWER MESOPOTAMIA 109 XI. MARCH TO THE FRONT--MAUDE’S PLAN OF CAMPAIGN 124 XII. DECEMBER 12, 1916-FEBRUARY 24, 1917--FIGHTING ON THE TIGRIS 140 XIII. THE RECAPTURE OF KUT--RETREAT OF THE TURKS 158 XIV. THE FIGHT AT LAJJ, 5TH MARCH 1917 173 XV. OCCUPATION OF BAGHDAD 200 XVI. OPERATIONS IMMEDIATELY AFTER CAPTURE OF BAGHDAD 216 XVII. THE SUMMER OF 1917 229 XVIII. AUTUMN OF 1917--RAMADIE, MENDALI, TEKRIT 235 XIX. WINTER OF 1917-18 262 XX. THE SUMMER OF 1918--KULAWAND AND TUZ KERMATLI 272 XXI. THE AUTUMN OF 1918--LAST BATTLE WITH THE TURKS--CLOSE OF THE WAR IN MESOPOTAMIA 291 XXII. SCOPE AND MEANING OF THE MESOPOTAMIAN CAMPAIGN--THE SHARE IN IT OF THE THIRTEENTH HUSSARS 319