29^th March 1917: At 1.30am Bde advanced on bearing of 340°° Few obstacles were met with after passing a single line railway (not shown on map) running from river inland. At dawn the force came under long range shell fire from NW and W and a left wheel was ordered followed by an advance in the new direction of about 1500 yards. An enemy patrol appeared about 3000 yards away to NW but were dispersed by our armoured cars which drew heavy shell fire upon themselves.

It was announced that the 40^th Bde had attacked and secured enemy’s first line and were dug in about 300 yards from his second but could make no further headway. About 10.30am a further advance of the Glosters & Warwicks was ordered closely supported by artillery. The ground was remarkably flat and devoid of all cover but in spite of heavy enemy fire at least another 1500 yards were gained with few casualties. At this period the men did not attempt to dig themselves in but offered as little target as possible to enemy’s gunners by lying prone and remaining motionless.

To assist the 40^th Bde still more the 7^th N Staffs came into action on the Glosters left and two Coys (A&B) of this battalion were withdrawn into Brigade reserve. About midday the heat of the sun was most intense and very few men had any water left.

The two Coys in Bde reserve returned at 9.30pm when orders were received for the Bde to advance and capture the enemy’s position about the Ruin (about P of Marl Plain). The Battalion with its left on the Ruin immediately advanced and after capturing the enemy’s first line (of hurriedly dug linettes running NE – SW about 1000 yards on West Side of Ruin) pushed on under heavy shrapnel fire and secured our objectives taking about 100 prisoners. In this action our casualties were heavy 10 Officers and 140 other ranks killed and wounded.

The ground gained was at once consolidated. Throughout the night the ground in front was constantly patrolled by us and our outposts were thrown out 100 yards in front of the defensive line whilst on our exposed right flank was bent back and defended by Machine & Lewis guns in addition to one battery R.F.A. which had registered a barrage in case of enemy’s counter-attack by night.

List of officers killed and wounded.

30^th March 1917: The night (29^th/30^th)had been remarkably quiet and it was no surprise to learn that they enemy had evacuated his Mara position and was retiring Nth to Adhaim River (a repetition his movements after Iman Mahdi & Tel Muhammed. After the dead had been buried and battlefield cleared Bde was ordered to return to Jadaida. Starting at 2pm it proved a very trying march as men were very tired and had no water until we reached Palm Grove irrigation canal. Jadaida was reached about 7.30pm.

"The Royal Warwickshire was employed in searching the houses in Baghdad on March 12, and afterwards for some days were in charge of part of the citadel. On March 23 they moved out to Dowdiyah, and three days later had orders to advance up stream to Deltawa, near which place the 18th Turkish Corps was concentrating. Marching by night, at dawn on March 28 they arrived within 3000 yards of the Turkish position on the Maal Plain.

The 40th Brigade was to make a front attack, whilst the 39th was to turn the enemy's left. The attacking battalions in the latter were the 7th Gloucester and the Royal Warwickshire. The advance began at ten o'clock in terrific heat, with a mirage which prevented any definite view of the Turkish position. Nevertheless, though the ground was very flat with no cover, nearly a mile was gained. Then a halt was made till two o'clock, when the whole brigade advanced and captured the enemy's first line. It had been a sharp fight; in the Royal Warwickshire 3 officers were killed and 7 wounded, with 140 casualties in other ranks.

Next day [29 March] the Turks fell back to the Shatt-el-Adhaim and the Royal Warwickshire returned to Deltawa, where they bivouacked for a week. They then rejoined the brigade, and were ferried across the Tigris to guard the left flank. But the 13th Turkish Corps, which had been driven back by the Russians from the Persian frontier, was now approaching Deli Abbas. General Maude then recalled the 13th Division to take the Turks in flank at Shiala. A running fight ensued, which lasted four days, till the enemy were driven back into the hills".

Left Warloy 7-30pm and relieved the 7th Border Regiment in right Battalion area of left Brigade sector - 35th Brigade on right (dividing line Albert - Bouzincourt Road) 9th Battalion Royal Fusiliers on left (junction about W.21.a.8.8)

Line Organised as follows:

B Coy - Right front Coy
D Coy - I Platoon
A Coy - Centre Coy
C Coy - Left front Coy

Line Quiet       

Bouzincourt: Increase in enemy shelling on Divisional front. Captain L. Fenton wounded

Bouzincourt: 4am - Received warning of probability of attack at dawn

7am - Heavy Barrage came down on Batteries on line in front of Bouzincourt and on front sytem of trenches.

Intense barrage opened further south where attack developed earlier but spread further north and culminated at 9.30am in intense T.M. [Trench Mortar] barrage and all calibre shells on whole system

9-30am - Enemy launched attacks along whole Brigade front. These were repulsed at all points. Enemy advanced in close formation 3 different times against out left and centre Companies but were repulsed each time with the help of the 9th Royal Fusilier

10am - the situation appeared to be normal

12 noon - a heavy barrage again opened up on whole system and enemy succeeded in entering trenches held by centre and left Companies. The position of right Company and I Platoon D Company remained intact.

2.30pm - Commanding Officer sent up remaining 3 Platoons of Reserve Coy to try to restore the situation. The side of the slope which the Company had to advance was exposted to intense M.G. fireand the Company suffered 50 casualties including the Company Commander Capt J.R. West MC and Lieut A.G. Punnett. The company reached the line of the support trench and dug themselves in there.

The situation remained obscure but reports were received from the O.C. 9th Royal Fusiliers (whose front remained intact) that he was gradually re-occupying the line held by our left Company, till at 6pm he was holding the original front line for 300 yards S of his original boundary. This left a gap of about 600 yards still occupied by the enemy or under his control.

8.15pm - Officer Commandined decided to deliver a counter attack with two companies 7th Royal Sussex Regiment at dusk. This attack was delivered under a barrage at 8.15pm but was only partially successful owing to the intense M.G. fire om the ridge which had to be crossed. END