The Thirteenth Hussars in the Great WarDurand, H. Mortimer (Henry Mortimer)
History
The Thirteenth Hussars in the Great War
Durand, H. Mortimer (Henry Mortimer)
Great Britain. Army. Hussars, 13th; World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
“We were sent well out on the left flank, where we stayed all the
morning, and from where we saw our Infantry take two lines of trenches
under cover of a heavy artillery barrage, and also where we were
bombed again twice. This time I actually could see the bombs leave the
aeroplane, and watch them drop right up to the moment of exploding
on striking the ground. About 3 P.M. we were moved right up
on the Infantry’s flank, and stayed in some hidden ground. At 4.39
the Infantry attacked, and a ¼ hour later we were galloping through
our Infantry, who cheered us like mad, towards the Turks. Robinson’s
squadron led, followed by ‘C’; then about 1000 yards behind ‘C’ the
Colonel took us--‘D’ followed by ‘A.’ ‘B’ and ‘C’ got right into the
Turks and beyond, or as much into them as you can expect, considering
the place was full of deep trenches (we who were some way behind ‘B’
and ‘C’ crossed four lines of trenches), and Bob was killed at the
farthermost point reached by the charge--instantaneously--shot through
the head. We got his body and buried it the next day after the Turks
had cleared off. Williams-Taylor, also in ‘B,’ was last seen lying
wounded under his dead horse. However, as his body was nowhere to be
found next day, we hope, and have reason to, that he is alive and a
prisoner. ‘D’ was the third squadron in the charge, and though we
crossed four trenches we never actually reached the Turks, whom we saw
just in front; and when the Colonel, who was leading us, saw ‘B’ and
‘C’ galloping back, he gave the order to retire and took us some way
back where we got into dismounted action. My horse (not Matches, whom
I was resting) was badly cut through the stifle, just as we got the
order to retire--however, he just managed to get me back and out of it,
altho’ he had to jump four trenches; he was a very good young horse,
and I was sorry to lose him. The Rgt. was again very fortunate, as the
rifle-fire, altho’ of course (why, I don’t know) not at all on the same
scale as at Lajj, was quite unpleasant enough. We only had some 28
casualties and 60 horses. Personally, I don’t think the game was worth
the candle, especially when you think of Bob, the best fellow in the
Rgt.; but other people don’t all seem to agree with me, and the Corps
Commander gave the Division great praise for our assistance all that
night, and the Rgt. got it doubly from the Brigade Division. The most
pleasant part was to hear our Infantry cheering us as we cleared the
trenches, and galloped between them and the Turk.
[Illustration:
SACRED TO THE MEMORY
OF THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS, MEN
OF THE
13TH HUSSARS
WHO FELL IN ACTION AT THIS SPOT ON THE
5TH NOVEMBER 1917
CAPTAIN S. O. ROBINSON
N^{O.} 6993 SERGT. J. GRAY
-- 4791 -- A. H. NEWMAN.
-- 5882 P^{TE} A. W. FRANCOMBE.
THE GRAVE AT TEKRIT]
“Now we are back in that central position, for a few weeks’ rest, I
hope, I mentioned before on the Tigris.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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