Mesopotamia

[Jerrymurland]

Grandfather's diaries - (kept during the Mesopot campaign from Feb 1916 until Feb 1917) mention a General Austin, does anyone know anything about him. GF was with the 14th Div with the 61 Madras Pioneers - was Austin the Divisional Commander perhaps?

March 11th 1916

It rained in the morning. We got to Amara about 9am, two other transports are here. A bridge of boats (Turkish) enables one to cross the river, they are swung back for steamers. This is not a bad looking place. Went to find O.C. Defences and saw General Austin and Ogle, his Brigade Major. General Austin was horrified to find I had only a company and not a double company and I had not been told what I was coming for! The work is apparently to repair a breach in the river bund at Filai Filah and I must cross the river every day. We have no boats which are an absolute necessity. I got a few things from the Engineers Field Park, no time to buy stores for myself – the Basra staff are absolutely bloody.

He later mentions a General Money - Who was he?

April 2nd.

Quite fine. Regular procession of boats up the river and at 4pm the ‘Malainir’ came alongside with our rations which I was getting quite worried about. On board were General Sir Percy Lake, General Money, Colonel Beach, Major Hopwood, Wilkie Dent (at Sandhurst with me). The General asked various questions and said an echelon was coming up which was having a very bad time of it. I told him it was already here! Had a talk with Wilkie and the others and arranged for a ‘stinker’ to the supply people about rations. On the boat I managed to buy some tobacco and biscuits.

Any help guys (and gals!) very much appreciated

Jerry

[sotonmate]

Jerry

Did you read this in the Long Long Trail ?

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

Sotonmate

[Ron]

A W Money was Chief of the General Staff at General Headquarters in Mesopotamia.

Ron

[Jerrymurland]

Thanks Ron, that clears that one up! Any idea of rank? Major General, Lieut. General?

Still no go on Austin - he might be a Brigade Commander.

Jerry

[Jerrymurland]

Found Money now - Major General.

Jerry

[Ron]

Found Money now - Major General.

Jerry

Jerry

Brigadier-General H H Austin, General Aylmer's senior General Staff Officer may be your man.

Involved in muddle over withdrawal of some guns and infantry at Hanna when the general in charge, Younghusband, thought that Austin had the authority to sanction the movement. Aylmer was not pleased since it was too late to put things right.

Ron

[Jerrymurland]

That fits - sounds like my man. Thanks Ron

Jerry