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Archiver > GREATWAR > 2000-07 > 0963053428


From: "Paul Rason" <>
Subject: Re: [WW1] BOWRING
Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2000 11:50:28 +0100


Hello Mark,
I note the reply sent on the action that lead to the British defeat at Al Kut, or Kut-al-Amara, what
has not been said is that after a period of about 5 months of being besieged by the Turks the
British had to surrender due to lack of water and of other supplies. Although attempts were made to
relieve the garrison, with further loss of British life. About 10,000 troops were thus captured who
were then forced marched across the desert for 1,200 miles under terrible conditions with over 60%
of the British and 50% of the Indian troops dying on the march. The Turks had little regard for the
lives of their enemy or their own troops for that matter, and it is well recorded the harsh and
cruel treatment of these prisoners, and of course they have no known grave. For example of 400 Royal
West Kent captured only 69 survived the war. Townsend himself survived the war but never given
command again I believe. He had been treated well by his captors, perhaps thought he would be a
bargaining pawn at the end. A very sad and not much remembered event. Families were very upset here
and in India when news of the conditions suffered by their loved ones reached home after the war and
it is sometimes mentioned on war memorials i.e. 'Killed in the desert by the Turks' which I have
recorded on a local memorial here in Bromley, Kent.
Paul Rason.

> >Maurice Burns wrote in reply to Mark Rowe:
> >>On searching the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
> >>website, I have located a Captain Francis Stephen
> >>BOWRING, of the 22nd Punjabis, who died on Monday 22
> >>November 1915, aged 37.
> >>There is a reference to the Bosra Memorial, Iraq.
> >
> >>Is this your Capt Frank Bowring?
> >
> >If it is, it may be reasonable to assume that he was killed in action
> >while taking part in General C.V.F.Townshend's gallant, but doomed
> >advance up the River Tigris to attack Baghdad. General Townshend's
> >division reached Azizie (on the River Tigris) on 13 Oct 1915 and
> >remained there until early November when the advance was resumed.
> >After the village of Zaur had been captured, the attack on Baghdad was
> >launched against the main Turkish defensive system which had been
> >constructed near the ruins of Ctesiphon, less than 20 miles from
> >Baghdad.
> >
> >On the morning of 22 November 1915, the allied force, comprising
> >British and Indian troops (including 22nd Punjabis) attacked the
> >Turkish force and drove them out of their defensive positions. Despite
> >fierce counter-attacks, the captured positions were held until 24
> >November, but, as a result of losses and a shortage of water, a
> >withdrawal back to Kut-al-Amara was ordered and completed by the end
> >of the month.
> >
> >I hope this is of some interest.
> >Regards
> >Tony Grange-Bennett

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