T H E C O V E N A N T E R
houses. On the same day some old men had heretofore. All the old articles were burned.
come into the camp stating that they were We had now to march to Altun Kupri
starving and had lost all their possessions. where, it had been decided, the composition
They were interviewed by the General, who of Koicol would be changed. The 2/11th
allowed them to be given food. Sikhs had to go straight on to Baghdad and
Next morning Koicol started on the return to India immediately. Afterwards
return journey. ‘C’ Company were the 2nd West Yorks and ourselves were to
piqueting troops and were sniped at quite march to Baiji independently, and there
considerably, until our machine guns entrain for Baghdad. Meanwhile the Indian
opened fire on to the Khud, when the regiments at Mosul and Baghdad were
sniping hastily ceased. On their arrival ordered to assemble at Altun Kupri, whence
in camp, one platoon of ‘C’ brought in a Colonel Vincent intended to continue
most reluctant prisoner, who must have the march to Sulaimania. The reasons for
thought he was going to be burned alive at the change were several, one being that it
the very least! was becoming too hot for British troops
The following day we marched on the to take part in operations; another that
Balassan, a collection of villages, where Colonel Vincent wished as many units as
some good work was done by the Sikhs, possible in the country to have a chance
who came across an Ali Baba’s treasure cave of seeing service. As for the Sikhs they
whilst chasing the stout-hearted villagers. were overjoyed at the prospect of making
This cave contained the local dark-eyed their long-overdue return to India. One is
beauties, a few carpets, some rations, very happy to think that the comradeship-
and other articles regarded in Balassan as in-arms between their fine Battalion and
valuable. That evening, when darkness ourselves was such that our rank and file,
had fallen, the Pack Battery opened fire on their own suggestion, are making a
from the camp on to the cave and behind presentation of a cup to the rank and file of
the villages, in the hope of catching some the 2/11th Sikhs to commemorate it.
optimistic Kurd returning to see what was After four hot days’ marching along
left of the family possessions. the Lesser Zhab River we arrived at Altun
Next day a long march was made, Kupri on May 5th. The great advantage
bringing the column within six miles of of these marches were being able to bathe
Serkuma, or ‘Mud Camp,’ as the troops in the river after arrival in camp. Reveille
preferred to call it. was usually about 3.30a.m., and the day’s
For some days past there had been march would be over by 10.30 at the latest.
considerable sickness in the Battalion, and We had more that a suspicion, though, that
increasing numbers of men were suffering the chroniclers of the Old Testament were
from dysentery and diarrhoea. Several prone to exaggerate their evils. For instance,
Vernon aeroplanes landed at this camp Pharaoh himself could hardly have suffered
and evacuated large numbers of men. One more than we did from the flies which
Vernon unfortunately crashes and, as the earned an honest living on our food and
column was marching the next morning, it faces; from the-locusts which ate up the
was decided to leave the Battalion where it land we passed through; from the frogs
was a guard to the aeroplane until the latter which croaked so incessantly, insistently,
should have been dismantled. We therefore and noisily at night that one could hardly
halted till the 30th, by which date we were hear oneself snore; and from all the minor
able to march on to Serkhuma. Here we plagues and discomforts we encountered in
found our khaki drill awaiting us, much to the Garden of the World.
everyone’s relief, as it had been getting very We left Altun Kupri, which is an old
warm. The discarded serge clothing was and strongly-built village, on the 8th May,
collected and burned. and marched for the next five days along
On May 1st the column marched to Koi the Lesser Zhab. Except for annoyance
Sanjak. Here we found boots, shirts, socks, from Arab rifle thieves, who are extremely
and puttees in more respectable quantities cunning and well versed in the art, those
than heretofore. All the old articles were marches passed off without incident. On
burned. the 13th we had a 16-mile march from the
On May 1st the column marched to Koi Zhab to Saltah, on the Tigris, the scene of
Sanjak. Here we found boots, socks, and some of the last fighting with the Turks
puttees in more respectable quantities than in 1918. This march took us over a desert,
34
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