Siege of Kut al Amara

After retreating from Ctesiphon the 6th (Poona) Division under Major General Charles Townshend fell back to the town of Kut. The British troops that arrived there on December 3rd had lost many men in the failed attack on the Turkish positions and were down to around 11,000 men. Townshend decided to stay and defend Kut, instead of retreating downriver to Basra, despite the overextended supply lines from Basra to Kut. On 7th of December 1915 the Ottoman army, commanded by Nurredin Bey, arrived and began to lay siege to the town of Kut. The Ottomans initially numbered 11,000, the same as the British forces, but Townshend ordered his cavalry to escape to the south and German reinforcements bolstered the Ottoman forces. they soon outnumbered the British. Over the last decade, the Ottoman army had been modernized under the direction of German General Baron von der Goltz. Under his direction, the Turks began building siege fortifications and defensive positions further down the river to cut off any relief and guard against a possible attack from the Tigris River.
Townshend waited at Kut for reinforcements, from the Suez Canal, reporting that he only had a month's worth of food, but in reality he had four months supply.

21st Nov 1915

Siege of Kut al Amara

15th April 1916 Air drops to besieged garrison

29th April 1916 Fall of Kut

29th Apr 1916 Bad Luck

3rd May 1916 Surrender

9th May 1916 Privations

13th Dec 1916

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There are:8 items tagged Siege of Kut al Amara available in our Library

These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.

Those known to have served in
Siege of Kut al Amara
during the Great War 1914-1918.

Adams MM. James. Pte.
Boulding Edward. Capt.
Briselden Charles George Ernest. Pte. (d.30th June 1916)
Chandler Reuben. Cpl.
Cleverly Stephen G.. Pte.
Kingdon Ernest William Francis. L/Cpl.
Kirk DCM Edward Ernest. Gnr. (d.7th Feb 1917)
Martin Arthur Robert. Bmdr. (d.3rd June 1916)
Steel W.. Dvr.
Zorn Charles Jacob. Pte. (d.9th Apr 1916)

The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, please Add a Name to this List

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Those known to have served in
Siege of Kut al Amara
during the Great War 1914-1918.

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The Wartime Memories Project - Siege of Kut al Amara in the Great War -

Siege of Kut al Amara

Want to know more about Siege of Kut al Amara?

Those known to have served in Siege of Kut al Amaraduring the Great War 1914-1918.

Can you help?

If you enjoy this site please consider making a donation.

Announcements

Recomended Reading.

Links

The Wartime Memories Project
- Siege of Kut al Amara in the Great War -

Those known to have served in
Siege of Kut al Amara
during the Great War 1914-1918.