ront of the old
city of Samarrah, but training was carried on continuously so that the
Regiment might be ready as always for whatever operations were to take
place in the coming cold weather. The Battalion had now spent nearly
two years in Mesopotamia, and of the thousand who landed not two
hundred remained, and of these many had been wounded. What contrasts
the two years offer. In the first period one effort succeeded another,
but neither training nor valour were sufficient to redress the balance
of the scales, and despite every sacrifice Kut fell. Then came the
months when we held San-i-yat, when there were few men and arduous
duties, intolerable heat and no comfort.

The spring of the second year was marked by a succession of victories,
and achievements for all time memorable; the forcing of San-i-yat, the
entry to Baghdad, the battles of Mushaidie and Istabulat; and finally
the last few months of comparative peace and plenty.

Throughout the two years the indomitable spirit of the Battalion
showed itself true to the finest traditions of the Regiment, and it is
open to question whether memory of the hundred survivors fighting
their way back from the Turkish trenches on the 21st of January, does
not extort as much admiration as the memory of the three companies,
after 30 hours of continuous marching and successful fighting,
charging at midnight into the station at Mushaidie.

SUMMARY OF OFFICER CASUALTIES suffered by the 2nd Bn. during its
service in Mesopotamia,

July 1916 to May 1917.

Killed in Action | 16 | Includes Captain Duncan, R.A.M.C.,
| | and 2/Lieut. A. E. Sinclair
Died from wounds | 8 | ...
Died from disease | 1 | ...
Missing | 2 | Captain D. C. Hamilton Johnstone
| | and 2/Lieut. H. F. Forrester.
| | Both wounded
Prisoners of War | 1 | 2/Lieut. A. H. Quine.
Wounded in Action | 42 | Includes officers wounded more
| | than once, each occasion being
| | counted separately. Does not
| | include cases where officers have
| | subsequently died from wounds.
Invalided to India | 50 | As above, includes instances of
| | invaliding more than one as
| | separate items. Also includes all
|