Mesopotamia

[Guest]

My Grandad 21498 Pte. Michael Garrity who served in 7th Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment (Service Regiment). They served in Iraq then known as Mesopotamia.He was wounded on 21st March 1917, but survived the War. does any one know which battles the 7th Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment where in. I would like to find out where in Mesopotamia he was wounded

thanks

Steve

[Paul Ormerod]

Information on the deployments of Gloucestershire Regiment battalions is available at The Long, Long Trail at:

http://www.1914-1918.net/glos.htm

However this would seem to suggest that the 7th Bn were in Egypt in March 1917, rather than Mesopotamia.

7th (Service) Battalion

Formed at Bristol in August 1914 as part of K1 and attached to 39th Brigade in 13th (Western) Division. Moved to Tidworth but by January 1915 was in billets in Basingstoke. Moved to Blackdown (Aldershot) in February 1915.

Sailed from Avonmouth on 19 June 1915 and landed on Gallipoli next month.

January 1916 : Division evacuated from Gallipoli and moved to Egypt.

July 1918 : Brigade transferred to North Persia Force.

Regards,

Paul

[Paul Ormerod]

Having done some more digging it would appear that the 7th Bn, Gloucestershire Regiment were in Mesopotamia in March 1917, as part of 39th Brigade, 13th (Western) Division.

Between December 1916 - February 1917 they were involved in the Battle of Kut al Amara; subsequently:

The capture of the Hai Salient, 25 January - 5 February 1917

The capture of Dahra Bend, 9-16 February 1917

The passage of the Diyala, in the pursuit of the enemy towards Baghdad, 7-10 March 1917

During the rest of March and April 1917, operations were undertaken to consolidate the position won at Baghdad, by pushing north across Iraq. As part of "Marshall's Column", the Division fought at Delli 'Abbas (27-28 March), Duqma (29 March), Nahr Kalis (9-15 April), crossed the 'Adhaim (18 April) and at Shatt al 'Adhaim (30 April).

Regards,

Paul

[Guest]

Thank you Paul for that info its a big help

Steve