The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment 7th February 1916

7^th February 1916  –

1st Battalion – Relieved by 2 R.W.F. went to BEUVRY. (2 Killed 3 Wounded).

2nd Battalion – BRAY.

 ¾ Battalion on fatigues.

Officers 30.    Other Ranks 856.

2/4^th Battalion –

G.S. Wagon Wireless telegraph sections & baggage. 12th Bde Signal Section Baggage. 34th Bde, H.Q. 12th Cavalry. 1/5th Queen’s 30th M. Battery. 114th Mahrattas. 2nd R.W. Kents Supply Section Bearer Sub division. No 19 C.F.A & riding mules.

1/5^th Battalion – The remainder of the Column under Br Gen Tidswell moved back to NASARIYEH. It was known that the column was to be attacked & dispositions made were as follows:- The West Kent outposts at No 3 Post & the Leaning Tower remained in position till 8.30am when they were relieved each by a double company of the 114^th Mahrattas. At the same time a force under Major Tahourdin 12^th Cavalry consisting of 1 Squadron & machine guns  12 Cav & 1 Section Mountain Battery & A Company 1/5^th Queen’s under Major Hodges took up a position on the Sandhills 3 miles from camp. At the same time also a force under Lt, Col, Andrew 114^th Mahrattas consisting of the 30^th M Battery (less one section), the machine guns of the 2^nd R.W. Kents, 1/5^th Queen’s & 114^th Mahrattas under Lieut Chisholm (114^th Mahrattas) & the 114^th Mahrattas (less 2 D Coys) took up position at the Ruined Tower. The baggage convoy under the command of Lt, Col Brodrick 1/5^th Queen’s was ordered to paass a point on the NASARIYAH RD about 1500x from camp at 10am.

The convoy consisted of details shown in the margin & was to move in that order.

G.S. Wagon

Wireless telegraph sections & baggage.

12^th Bde Signal Section Baggage.

34^th Bde, H.Q.

12^th Cavalry.

1/5^th Queen’s

30^th M. Battery.

114^th Mahrattas.

2^nd R.W. Kents Supply Section

Bearer Sub division.

No 19 C.F.A & riding mules.

 The orders received were to have 1 company in front, 1 in rear, 1 on the right flank facing NASARIYEH. The column was ordered by the newer road leaving the Sandhills on its right and as it passed, Major Hodges & A Company were to join in & strengthen the right flank guard. The C.O. detailed the Battn, Scouts, signallers, & C Company in front B Company right flank guard & D company in rear. The 2^nd R.W. Kents were ordered to form the rear guard to the force.

Accordingly tents were struck shortly after the reveille, & the baggage of the Battn, loaded partly onto camels, partly onto mules. All loading up was completed without any trouble from the Arabs & it was not till the Battn, was moving off at 9.30am that the firing started from the direction of the Leaning Tower.

The column moved off at 10.4am in the above order, the 2^nd West Kent mules having been a little late. The camel transport moved between the column & the right flank guard.

The march of the convoy into NASARIYAH was uneventful. Heavy firing had started between the enemy, Col Andrews force & rear guard before the column started & continued throughout the day but no shot whatever was fired into convoy though both the convoy & the flank guards went through or near the villages which later in the day turned on the rearmost troupes. The only trouble in the convoy was caused to D Company by mules throwing their loads particularly those of the R.W.Kents.

A strong column came out from NASARIYAH to meet the BUTANYEH column, the cavalry coming right on to the Sandhills where Major Tahourdin’s force was, the infantry 44^th Mehrwaras 90^th Punjaubis & ½ Sussex Battery taking up position across the   BUTANYEH–NASARIYAH Rd about 7 miles out.

The baggage column passed through these about 12.15pm & reached NASARIYAH safely about 2.30pm. After arrival the Battn, was ordered to stand by & at 3.10pm it was ordered out again with ambulance tongas & riding mules. It marched out about 3½ miles & took up a position across the road. The remainder of the force were retiring diagonally from E to W across its front but the Arabs drew off and pressed no further. All firing ceased at 5pm & the Battn, returned to NASARIYAH. The Battn, left BUTANYEH 23 Officers 535 other ranks.

------1425 rounds of ammunition were fired, of which 1340 by the machine guns.

1/6^th Battalion – Battalion remained in billets & continued training.

7^th Battalion – Quiet day nothing to record.