2nd Garrison Battalion The Essex Regiment - What were they doing in Basra?

[Blue Dragoon]

LLT says

2nd Garrison Battalion Essex Regiment
Formed at Halton Park in January 1916, soon moving to India where it then remained.

 

What were they/he doing in Basra in early 1917?  My wifes cousin John Hutchin was with their D Coy and spent  some time in hospital there and some of the 2nd GB Essex Regt appear on the Basra memorial.  Did part of the Bn re-deploy from India for a period to release regular troops for the Mesopotamia campaign? 

 

John Hutchin's service records show he was in hospital in Basra over these periods

 

19 -27 May 1917 – No.3 British General Hospital, Basra

10 -19 Jun 1917 – No.3 British General Hospital, Basra

13 Jul 1917 – No.3 British General Hospital, Basra

16 Jul 1917 – Invalided to India

 

I assume because they weren't front line is the reason these men never got any ww1 campaign medals?

 

 

Edited 23 May , 2019 by Blue Dragoon

[MaureenE]

The July 1917 Indian Army List has the Battalion in India.

https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.285011/page/n402/mode/1up

 

One company,  2nd Garrison Battalion, Essex Regiment, was on Line of Communications at Basra, as stated in

https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.$b746029?urlappend=%3Bseq=404

Moberly, The campaign in Mesopotamia 1914-1918,  v.4.  page 344.

 

Cheers

Maureen

Edited 23 May , 2019 by Maureene

[Blue Dragoon]

what a great spot Maureen!!  Many thanks!!