T H E C O V E N A N T E R
Yorks had reached Rania the smoke from Meanwhile the Sappers and Miners had
a burning village was to be seen, and done some good work in locating a Pack
intermitted firing was heard. Few Kurds Battery gun - minus a breech-block - which
escaped the vengeance of the Indian had been lost during the previous autumn,
soldiers; eleven of their number that day under the floor of the chief sinner’s house,
walked in Paradise. The Sikh casualties were as well as seven saddles, three of which
three wounded. belonged to the Sikhs, the remainder to the
Rania, by far the more important Pack Battery. In the evening the village was
objective, was naturally found empty set alight. The column en-camped nearby,
of any persons of importance when the returning to Serkhuma on the following
column arrived. The village was therefore day. All the ponies which had been
entrusted to the energies of the Sappers and captured by different units, amounting to
Miners, who proceeded to dig for hidden about two dozen, were turned out into the
treasure beneath and above the houses. Blue that night by the veterinary section
These had all been left, as was obvious to owing to nearly all of them being diseased.
a cursory glance, in the greatest disorder. On the night of our return to Serkhuma
The inhabitants had apparently taken their news was received through Column
barest necessities with them, and their Headquarters - obviously the only channel
floors were scattered with boxes, clothes, for information of such importance - of the
food, and the peculiarities of Kurdish birth of a son and heir to Lieut. Douglas.
indoor life. A certain amount of grain was We remained at Serkhuma till the 17th,
found, and was procured for the animals, during which time the elements of earth
who were on short rations throughout the and water did what they could towards
expedition. Chickens were also to be had, transforming a smiling countryside into
provided that one used intelligence with a sea of mud. The best, thickest, and most
speed! All that could be done to ‘strafe’ enduring mud was to be found within
the fleeing enemy was for the Pack Battery the perimeter. Tents were swamped out,
to come into action against him on the and many men spent nights of misery
reverse slope of the hills behind Rania. standing up under canvas which had long
Meanwhile ‘B’ Company had received since given up the unequal struggle, and
orders to burn a village some two miles through which the eternal drip, drip, drip
south of Rania. Under Major Ferrers the never ceased to fall. Under these conditions
Company went off and considerably the men remained remarkably cheerful,
surprised the villagers, who were standing through inevitably the sick list increased.
on their housetops complacently watching Rations were poor; canteen prices were very
their neighbours burn. No resistance was high; what beer there was could only be
offered, and the village was set alight. obtained in bottles - this remained the case
The Company now received fresh orders throughout our period of active service -
to proceed to another village two miles and cigarettes were very scarce. Clothes and
further on and to burn it too. This they did boots began to exhibit signs of senile decay.
although the day was exceedingly hot, and A certain amount of supplies were dropped
the men had had nothing to eat since four by aeroplanes, but not nearly enough for
in the morning. They were subjected to the column.
some little sniping from a few of the enemy On the 15th ‘C’ Company and the
about a thousand yards distant. About forty Machine Guns went out to meet an
prisoners were eventually brought into incoming convoy. Their march passed off
camp when the Company returned at five without incident.
o’clock, as well as three Arab ponies and On the day following, the Battalion was
quite a number of chickens, which could assembled and informed that the Levies,
have had no better ending to their lives who had been operating further north
than to be eaten by a Company which had with three Battalions and Pack Battery,
done such good work. That night the camp and had intended to push on and capture
was like a sparkling jewel from the fires Rowanduz, a notorious Turkish centre,
which glimmered in the darkness, and over had been brought to a stand-still owing
each fire a mess-tin or other dish reposed to defection in their hire transport. It was
full to the brim with some hard-earned therefore necessary for Koicol to take the
morsel. Several flocks of sheep and a herd reduction of Rowanduz in hand.
of cows were captured that day as well. The same evening the Field Cashier
put in a very welcome appearance, being
31
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