Disaster in the Desert - Turks Defeat British at Siege of Kut 1916

[@Prometheus-Unbound]

My Grandfather was on one of the last boats to leave (they had been engaged on regular supply trips using small vessels along the river). He was interviewed by researchers from Durham university in the late '60's as I recall.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching & your feedback.

[@alkanisilakli1920]

My Grandfather served as a Turkish soldier in this war,the letter he sent from there is steel in our family.Ww did not have enough historical information about this war,thank you for the detailed information.However,we know that my grandfather was captured by the British in the 2nd Kut war and was taken to india under bad conditions,the next process is lost

[@jamespowell5259]

A very sad story. And the inspiration for one of Rudyard Kipling's most powerful, and angriest poems: "Mesopotamia". It's a scathing reminder of how Townshend's division went through hell in the name of an Empire in which they had totally believed... Some reward!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for taking the time to watch and also to comment.

[@rogergummer5173]

Never knew such it was big deal in that theatre. My grand uncle, a New Zealander was there, I think.

[@harryshriver6223]

I think I am going to use that phrase as a quote from now on. It is somewhere between Marseille and Basra! 😂😅 I am glad you are focusing on the forgotten side of World War I, well done, amigo. I have no idea the conditions which existed on all fronts of the war.. I remember when I was in the Middle East, how cold and miserable the desert can be in winter.

[@TheHistoryChap]

It is a fun phrase. Looking forward to hearing how you get in slipping it into discussions -:)

[@DarrenMarsh-kx8hd]

Bloody tragic story, and very well told Mr Green. Thankyou for sharing.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Many thanks Darren.

[@stephenperry5849]

I was not remotely aware of this, but I suppose that such a big loss is not shouted about at home. Thanks for sharing.

[@malpreece5008]

We could fill volumes with important historical events that people aren’t aware of. I first read about this when I was a kid and I got a copy of P. J. Haythornthwaite’s ‘World War One Source Book’. The campaign started off well, but Townsend overstretched and disaster occurred. Still, General Maude thrashed the Turks in 1917, which likely overshadowed the earlier disaster.

[@philhawley1219]

I didn't know the finer details of this tragic campaign but as a small boy I remember my great grandmother mentioned her brother died in a Turkish POW camp in terrible conditions. RIP Ernest Morris, Worcester Hussars.

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@tng2057]

@@stephenperry5849 Have to say, these days WW1 history taught at Western school are very biased towards the western front, Gallopili and Lawrence of Arabia. Many major battles away from these fronts have been obscured.

[@geoffburrill9850]

They never learn. The Turks were good soldiers and even better when trained by the Germans.

[@tng2057]

The British troops occupying the area after Operation Iraq Freedom tidied up and restored the British and Indian war graves. Sadly the day after this the local Iraqis had them all vandalized.

[@malpreece5008]

That’s awful. Let the dead rest in peace.

[@AKguru762]

Stay in your own homeland if you want to rest in peace!

[@Frankenspank67]

​@AKguru762 haha, that's funny considering that has never happened in all of human history. Especially in this area.

[@malpreece5008]

@@AKguru762 Did the Ottoman Turks stay in their own homeland, or the Arabs when they established the Rashidun Caliphate? Should all Turkish-Muslim graves located outside of Turkey be vandalised?

[@MrCarcass1978]

​@@AKguru762pos💩= u

[@Gogsnik]

I've read the diary of one of the British Officers from the Siege of Kut, my Dad has a few bits and pieces about it, in the end the only thing he had left of his horse was the tail. During the march he talked about ill soldiers dragging themselves through streams of liquid faeces to drink water from the river that was full of the same stuff, terrible conditions and treatment for the soldiers.

[@TheHistoryChap]

That is a harrowing description. Thanks for sharing.

[@marvwatkins7029]

Never heard of this campaign. Thanks for telling it, "Chap"!

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure.

[@johnroche7541]

As usual a top class documentary. This was not the first time General Charles Townsend was besieged in his military career. He endured being besieged in his early career on the North West Frobtier in the 1890's.. A young Irishman serving as a Bombardier in the Royal Field Artillery which tried to break the siege at Kut was Tom Barry. He would later be the most successful rebel field commander during the Irish War of Independence 1919-1921.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Fascinating about Tom Barry. Thanks for sharing.

[@malpreece5008]

It’s nice to see someone is covering these lesser known actions of WW1. Would you consider doing a video on General Maude’s successful campaign of 1917, including the Second Battle of Kut?

[@colinedwards9874]

I too Would be very Interested in this as well, My Great Uncle, served with the 8th Cheshires who were part of the 13th Western Division, who were Part of General Maude's Force

[@malpreece5008]

@ Great family history. 👍🏻

[@TheHistoryChap]

On the cards. Watch this space!

[@tomsenior7405]

The numbers. The casualties. The suffering. The humiliation. Disaster doesn't seem to do the outcome justice. Once one sets out to study history, one must consider the men who endured these challenges. This is a deeply humbling experience. Thank you for sharing the reality of warfare through these lesser known campaigns. Please keep up your grand work. Cheers.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Great comment. Thanks for taking the time to post.

[@oguz74000]

tout ca pour du petrole

[@thomasfennell7838]

Thank you History Chap, this was a very tragic event of WWI which, as you described has been lost to history. Now I must research more of the history of the Turkish theater of WWI, to learn more. Well done. I always enjoy your work.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Many thanks for your support.

[@jamesbeeching6138]

Good video... Townshend didn't try and break out to assist the relief force. If he had done this there was every chance he would have got out. However Townshend wanted to be "heroically relieved " as he had at Chitral 20 years before. He failed his troops badly and after surrender lived in relative luxury while his British and Indian troops suffered horrendous conditions. Only once did he raise a complaint against the Ottomans treatment of his men...When he returned to Britain he was rightfully ostracised and retired from the Army in 1920.

[@hugh_ghennaux]

The other ranks were used as slave labour building roads and railways while officers led a comfortable existence living in village houses and were even allowed to ski in the winter and visit the shops unaccompanied.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Interesting observation. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheHistoryChap]

I hadn't read that. Have you a source please?

[@backrowbrighton]

I came across an account of Townshend's less than gallant behaviour during the siege in The Guinness Book of Military Blunders by Geoffrey Regan ​@TheHistoryChap

[@jamesbeeching6138]

@@TheHistoryChap Keegans Military Blunders (1 or 2) goes into the Seige of Kut in quite good detail...Especially Townshends "issues"

[@HTM95]

Another excellent video Chris!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for watching.

[@buckgulick3968]

Excellent video!! Even if not so, I like to think you saw my suggestion for this several videos ago. Love your channel. 🙂

[@TheHistoryChap]

I do note suggestions in the comments & emails that I receive. Also had a few requests for this one from Indian viewers.

[@johnedreslin]

Another fascinating and on my part, unknown, saga. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure! Thanks for watching.

[@ronswanson8155]

A very sad story, with the majority of those taken prisoner eventually dying in Turkish captivity whilst the foolish Townsend spent his POW time in relative luxury. The British eventually losing more men overall trying to relieve Kut than those who actually surrendered in the first place.

[@ajudygarlandfan3019]

A contributing factor is that the Turks treated POWs horrendously. Their German advisers were appalled by this and advised them how to treat them humanely - they were ignored.

[@pootisengage6672]

Get rekt brits 😂😂😂

[@kennethhanes5438]

Officers were always kept seperate from lower ranks and treated better to attempt to get information or turn them

[@TheHistoryChap]

It is your last point that hit me. Talk about a poor return on investment!

[@karacaddy]

As if the British and Russians treated the Turkish prisoners perfectly, 400,000 Turkish soldiers as prisoners of war died in the hands of the Russians and the British!

[@robinwhitebeam4386]

I have a book called '800 Miles To Freedom' which is a record of a group of British Army Officers held in captivity in Yozgat , central Turkey. The group plan and execute an escape by foot from Yosgat to the coast. Acquiring a boat they arrive in British Administered Cyprus. A great ripping yarn of a story that would make for a great film. Thankyou for the story.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your feedback & for sharing the book details.

[@oguz74000]

je savais pas qu il y eu des captifs a Yozgat, ma femme est originaire de cette ville ,est ce une histoire vraie ?

[@Azrael1st]

As A Bengali, I have no idea what possessed those Indian men to fight for the British who treated me unfairly.

[@AlfredoCalalang]

I remembered this in encyclopedia, but this is well presented and very educational😊 thank you Sir!

[@sarahbaines3723]

Thank you for your informative video on the Siege of Kut. My grandfather died trying to relieve Townsend. He was a 2nd Lieut with the 62nd Punjabis and volunteered from India. He died of Cholera in Basra. His brother died at the Somme a few months later but this dreadful mess of a campaign seems to make for an even more wasteful and poignant death

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & for your feedback.

[@thegraybeards2568]

Hey, i feel like we share a similar story. Well, at least our grandfathers shared a similar story. I am Turkish and my great grandfather fought in Kut and then later on fought in fighting retreat in Hejaz front (modern day Syria) and died before the end of war. His wife, now left with multiple orphaned children who were living in the balkans also had to evacuate and move to modern day Turkey, where after the war they endured a great disaster, the great fire in Bursa in 1958. They then moved to İzmir, where we were living ever since. It seems like both our families fought each other and both suffered immensely. They both fought in actually foreign lands to them. And for what reason? To what end? I struggle to answer this. Much love from Turkey to both you and your family.

[@QALibrary]

Another great video - no wonder you closing in on the 200k mark - very well done

[@TheHistoryChap]

Very kind of you, thanks.

[@andrewwedgner3486]

Another excellent story Chris. As you said, this is one of the least known campaigns of WW1. I suggest that you continue the story and describe what happened in the latter part of the campaign.

[@TheHistoryChap]

I will do. Watch this space!

[@jaydunno8266]

Good video, I had read bout the Hell at Kut years ago, but it was not very detailed. Your video brought out the true horrors of the siege and the subsequent captivity.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & for your feedback. Thanks.

[@rustyford3406]

Despite the horrible casualties to the Brits and Indians, I am reminded by the poem, "Have You Seen My Ahmed?" as to the Turkish losses.

[@anorthernsoul5600]

Yet another great video Chris. I was aware of the Kut disaster from an early age, I was regularly bought A4 size hard back historical books for Christmas from M&S in the late 1970's early 80's. One was "The Great War" and it still is an excellent account of WWI. It mentioned Kut and the disastrous efforts to relieve it. It also goes on to describe the march into captivity and Tikrit, it didn't actually go into too much detail about the deprivations for obvious reasons, but it did make reference to POW's being dragged into alleyways and shall we say dehumanised. A terrible way to end for many of those soldiers. After the war between 2019 and 2022 the British government made concerted attempts to have Enver Pasha arrested for not just the treatment of British and Indian POW's (non-Muslim), but also for the Armenian genocide. But Charles Townshend said he would testify for the defence of Enver Pasha if he came to trial denying that the death march took place. They had become good friends during Townshend's luxurious captivity. This did not go down well in London. Lastly there was a 1999 BBC film starring David Jason called "All the King's Men", it's based on a book "The Vanished Battalion" by Nigel McCrery. It describes a Territorial Battalion of the Norfolk Regt which included men from the King's estate Sandringham House, thus forming the Sandringham Company. It describes their experiences in Gallipoli and subsequent "disappearance". A possible future video Chris if you have not done so all ready.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your informative feedback

[@K_one_w_one]

My god those Turks were tough troops. They proved it at Kut & Gallipoli. Maybe if Kut had been defended by the magnificent ANZACS they would've put up a better fight. The ANZACS were the best & the Brits used them as shock troops on the Western Front.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@johnroche7541]

@@K_one_w_one Gallipoli was not just the Turkish Army against the Anzacs. The British played a crucial role and there was French involvement. Over one third of the "Turks" at Gallipoli came from what is now Palestine,Lebanon,Syria Jordon etc which were part of the Ottoman Empire.

[@K_one_w_one]

​@@johnroche7541The Industrial Revolution had a negative effect on British manpower in WW1. Many of the British working class were undernourished who lived and worked in terrible conditions. Compared to the tall, suntanned outdoorsy ANZAC and Canadian soldiers, a great deal of the British troops, although brave, were physically scrawny.

[@asmirann3636]

​@@K_one_w_one No offence to you or anyone personally, but this Anzac narrative is nonsense. Australians, Canadians are not even half as capable as British or Indian soldiers. Till date its Britain and US that guarantees Australia's, New Zealand's and Canada's security. So it is extremely distasteful and also dishonest when you push a completely nonsense narrative that the British soldiers were underfed or inferior than some Anzacs.

[@Vj77_Win]

Wow!This and your further comment about British soldiers really are unnecessary!..,look up "6 V.Cs Before Breakfast" Lancashire Fusiliers Gallipoli...1915, thousands of Anzacs lives were wasted and never should be forgotten, but please show a little respect to our fallen please.

[@BootsontheTable]

Another fascinating video thanks Chris. The ‘other’ fronts in WW1 are very interesting and often under covered in books and videos

[@Fred-px5xu]

Admirable bit of work Sir. I am running out of accolades. I am looking forward to your next video lecture.

[@TheHistoryChap]

So many more in the pipeline.

[@Fred-px5xu]

Looking forward to your next offering ​@@TheHistoryChap

[@maxreed2343]

MY GOD, Chris old bean, WHAT A STORY THIS WAS, yet again for the umpteenth time, haha, YOU’VE had to deliver it to me as I’d NEVER EVER heard of THIS long forgotten whatsoever WW1 story, us Brits’ largest defeat since the eventual surrender of the besieged General Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, to George Washington and the Americans in 1781. God, those POOR poor men, after those TERRIBLE terrible months of siege on them by the Turks, all sorts of god knows what affecting them AND having to eat THEIR OWN HORSES 😱😱😱😭😭😭💔💔💔… THANK GOD this didn’t put me off my food, as I WAS eating dinner whilst enjoying THIS, the latest of your absolutely incredible history giving videos, our superstar KZbinr, one of quite a few I’ve irresistibly relived and refreshed myself upon again over the last two days since Sunday. And this predated by over two decades the horrificness and shocking stories of the Death March on American forces in the Philippines by the Japanese in WWII. How DO you keep up all this incredible amazingness EVERY SINGLE TIME, Chris me old mucker? Damn am I so so happy your Lance Corporal Jones video from last year gave me you in the first place 😊😊😊. And now, I REALLY really hope we’ll FINALLY have that Lawrence of Arabia video you’ve promised before next, as he was mentioned in tonight’s update, if I just given myself the right opportunity in free time availability to FINALLY see the almost 4 hour long Peter O’Toole lead film too… And btw, I hope ya DID see my review in last week’s topic on the Trent Affair, just to say, is all

[@TheHistoryChap]

Max, I am building up to Lawrence of Arabia (he also got a mention in my video about Tommy Cooper too).

[@paullesliehutson5818]

Great research and presentation Chris.

[@criso6164]

Thanks for this, very interesting and enlightening as these type of defeats for the British never attract the same level of coverage.

[@TheHistoryChap]

They are worth telling.

[@allanburt5250]

Another fantastic video I didn't know much about this one, sad story. Cheers

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@christopping5876]

Another excellent video, thanks, Chris.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Brian-----]

16:55 Classic understatement. Reportedly his POW experience was disgracefully comfortable and he further exhibited no clue as to why this should be an issue.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your feedback.

[@kennethrouse7942]

Thanks for bringing this tragic and little known episode of history to a modern audience. 👍

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching.

[@nathanappleby5342]

What a horrifying chapter among many in British military history. Thank you for presenting it.

[@MWM-dj6dn]

Greetings of great admiration, respect and appreciation for your esteemed channel that presents accurate and useful information in a wonderful way. I thank you with all the beautiful words and sincere feelings for your sincere efforts in presenting this distinguished and exceptional work. I wish you permanent success. I wish you happiness and goodness and I ask God Almighty to protect you and take care of you at every moment and step.. Thank you.. Thank you

[@IbrahimCanatar]

I have watched it and waited eagerly to hear Lawrence had tryed to bribe ottomans to release and keep the incident of brits becoming prisoners of this campaign to not to tarnish Britton, disappointed you haven’t mention this.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Sorry, can't include every detail.

[@mohammedsaysrashid3587]

It was an informative and wonderful historical coverage video

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks.

[@LonelyRanger902]

Calling this a disaster is somewhat dwarfed by the surrender of 90,000 British troops to the Japanese in Singapore at the beginning of World War II. By the way, the Japanese only had 30,000 men during the campaign.

[@TheHistoryChap]

You are welcome to your opinion.

[@theblackbear211]

Thank you for yet another excellent presentation.

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@niccracknell9780]

As always an interesting tale and like many not one I was familiar with. Super stuff !!!

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@jamesmurray8558]

Never heard of this in school.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video

[@JoeRitchie-e5l]

Such a sad part of British history. I had never heard of this part of WWI. Thank you for educating me

[@johnking6252]

A helluva story of another theater of the Great War often overlooked but not forgotten especially in light of recent events. Thanks for keeping the memories of brave soldiers alive. On both and all sides. 🙏

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching & your feedback.

[@colinedwards9874]

My Great Uncle John Williams, served with the 8th Cheshire Regiment, who were part of the 13th Western Division, that formed part of the force that were sent to relieve Kut, so I was really looking forward to this video. So Thank you Mr Green.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Colin, I'm glad that you enjoyed it. As a former resident of Cheshire and now Worcestershire, I have a soft spot for both regiments but need to be careful that I tell stories that involve others as well -:)

[@colinedwards9874]

@@TheHistoryChap I don't think anyone could ever accuse you of bias towards any Regiments or areas, you videos are so diverse and seem to cover absolutely every thing

[@mumtazdurmaz88]

Thank you for the labor you put into. It looks like , things dont go well for brits to fight turks; churchill also had to resign for the mistake of fighting them. Poor fellow!

[@davidwoods7720]

Thanks so much Chris

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for waching.

[@diffsmasher4824]

I would love to see more on the battles of the Boer War. I saw an old photo of a shallow trench on top of a hill called 'Spion Kop' I can't say for sure..But i think it may be the reason Australian soldiers were called 'Diggers'...Some of the Boer's tactics were inspired

[@Trebor74]

Seem to remember reading the orders were to pull out from kut but they were ignored as the general in charge wanted to become famous,like Baden-Powell and Ladysmith.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for your feedback.

[@janlindtner305]

Good work Chris👍👍👍

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you very much.

[@ferretman6790]

There’s very little information about this battle. Thank you

[@erpecom]

Excellent video, well told and beautifully illustrated. This is sadly a bit of a classical case study (Norman F. Dixon, On the Psychology of Military Incompetence, 1976), but very well worth retelling. I may be wrong but shouldn’t Hardinge rhyme with sing rather than binge?

[@TheHistoryChap]

Goodness only knows, although I pronounce it the way it is pronounced in George MacDonald Fraser's audio books on "Flashman"

[@erpecom]

@@TheHistoryChap According to Debrett’s (2019) entry for Lord Hardinge of Penshurst the name and title are pronounced ‘Harding’. Unexpected pronunciations of names and places in English are a joy, aren’t they?

[@beachboy0505]

Excellent video 📹 👏 BRITISH 🇬🇧 STALINGRAD This is an exact blueprint for STALINGRAD 43 Like the 6th Army, the British captured an insignificant town. The commanders also forgot to forget their FLANKS. Before the enemy could encircle them, the British should have broken out. Like the Soviets, the Ottomans didn't plan this. They improvised on an opportunity. The British 🇬🇧 , like Manstein, tried many relief spearheads. Like the Luftwaffe, the British Air Corp, brang in inadequate resources Like the Soviets, the Ottomans used propaganda. Finally , a British historian did a proper writeup If Hitler knew the details about Kut, would he have done otherwise?

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & your interesting feedback.

[@ianbell5611]

Another Great video

[@TheHistoryChap]

Many thanks.

[@mnk9073]

Notice how the British landed in Basra to "secure their oil", i.e. _invaded the Ottoman Empire,_ way before the Ottomans joined the war.

[@GodGuy8]

6:06 after describing a form of hell on earth, “scandalous is it?” -british person😂💀

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you found it amusing

[@GodGuy8]

@ gallows humor

[@Kage342]

I wish he had pointed out the sheer idiocy and absolute callousness Townsend displayed during the campaign for his men. He went up the Tigris with the idea of taking Baghdad, seeing himself as a modern day Alexander the Great. He was an ambitious man with no qualms about losing lots of men if it meant victory and gaining him glory. He had been told he should try to break out from Kut, but he continued to refuse time and time again by making up bullshit excuses regarding low ammo and low food. When he found out who was coming to relieve him he openly wept on a junior officer's shoulder. The battle and surrender at Kut was an event entirely of Townsend's own making. A foolhardy folly of an ambitious butcher.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for sharing your opinion.

[@gchuven]

I for one, greatly appreciate your videos on these less-known incidents. Perhaps one day you will research British participation in Task Force 45; Italian campaign in WW2. I have some information from the American perspective.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Please send to me via my website: www.thehistorychap.com

[@michaelsummers5001]

Very interesting thanks

[@TheHistoryChap]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@earnestwanderer2471]

I’m going to have to read up on this theatre of WWI. The focus, in school, was always the western front.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Yes, we tend to forget that it really was a world war.

[@paulcochrane1028]

Thomas Cameron, great grandfather, killed on 8th March near Kut.

[@barukkazhad8998]

Thanks for this, my grandfather was captured there and survived the war as a pow

[@TheHistoryChap]

Wow, thanks for sharing your family story.

[@barukkazhad8998]

@TheHistoryChap I have a picture of him as a pow with Turk guard ....I took it to Basra with when I went lol

[@sheenapearse766]

Great detail and research . Mesopotamia was a miserable place to be , with no glory to be had . This history was unknown to me , and shows the importance of logistics and resupply - especially in remote , alien locations. I am glad I wasn’t there ! Thanks .

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for both watching and taking the time to comment.

[@turktorpido3535]

Mezopotamya çöl ve kumların üstünde senin için bir şey yok ama altında petrol var ingilizler bu yüzden orada savaştı 😁

[@Lassisvulgaris]

I heared about this campaign, but not so detailed, so thanks.....

[@TheHistoryChap]

My pleasure.

[@peterodonnell5820]

Evelyn Waugh's Sword of Honour trilogy, roughly based on his own experiences in the second world war, indirectly refers to this event. In the first part of the trilogy, 'Officers and Gentlemen' newly recruited trainee officers for the fictional Halberdiers regiment are billeted in a requisitioned private school called Kut al Amara House. In the novel the training is chaotic and ineffective and Waugh seems to expect readers in 1952 to recognise the reference to the Kut campaign.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & for your feedback.

[@castoresnegros]

Was Wiston churchel on charge? Kind of sounds familiar ???

[@davidreid8075]

Many Indian Moslems fought bravely along side their British comrades.

[@TheHistoryChap]

They did indeed.

[@crishamedet4863]

5:37 la ville de 'Basra' : ce ne serait pas : Bassorah ?

[@napalmholocaust9093]

Weeds by definition are plants in an undesired location and does not apply away from fields and houses. It would just be "native" or "wild" plants out there, or native flora. I take slight umbrage on behalf of the botanical community.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@rgriffinRETIRED_SHEEPDOG]

Can you recommend a couple of good book titles that deal with the American Revolution from the UK’s perspective?

[@TheHistoryChap]

Not off the top of my head.

[@Ned-e9o]

General Townsend was taken to Istanbul and apparently paroled in a lovely villa for the duration of the war. He was never given another command when repatriated to England.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for sharing.

[@phildunk7381]

I think my grandfather was involved in this and survived the march.

[@jimdale6001]

Its a shame you couldn't mention the mesopotamian half flight.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Tell us more...

[@karlheinzvonkroemann2217]

The first go around at Kut was pretty bad for the Brits. They got in over their heads and got those same heads handed to them. The second try went a lot smoother. I've been hitting the WW1 books quite a bit on Audible over the past year. I really recommend Audible's WW1 collection of books. I went through at least a half a dozen of them. The series that I was waiting for for years to be translated into English was Alexander Solchinitsyn's "The Red Wheel". It begins with Ludendorf and Hindenburg's epic battle of Tannenberg in late August, 1914 in East Prussia where the German 8th Army countered the Russian invasion of East Prussia by their skilfull use of the German Reichsbahn (railroad) to concentrate first here, then there against the Russian 2nd Army under General Aleksandr Samsonov driving his army into the swamps and practically destroying it right there, resulting in General Samsonov's suicide. Then the Germans turned on the Russian 1st Army and mauled it rather severely too. The second Book in the trilogy is titled 1916 and covers the June 1916 Brusilov offensive against the mainly Austro-Hungarian Army. Wherein a large portion of the Austrian Army was wrecked. Another excellent campaign that's not really covered all that well in the Western Front centered history of the first World War. The third and final book is titled 1917 and covers the Bolshevik Revolution and all of the attempts to maintain the Russian Army in the field, save the Romanov Dynasty and keep the war going. Even though it's Historical Fiction it remains some of the best WW1 history that I've ever run across. If you want to learn about WW1 in the East don't miss it.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for taking the time to share. Much appreciated.

[@warrenmilford6848]

I'd be really interested to know how, if he was one of the intelligent blokes negotiating that attempt at a parole, T.E. Lawrence actually escaped being captured as part of the actual surrender. It's probably quite an interesting tale.

[@TheHistoryChap]

No, they came under a flag of truce as negotiators. They were never part of the surrender itself.

[@Legitpenguins99]

Originally heard of this on The Great War about 7 years ago. Indy unfortunately did a great job of capturing the despair and misery

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for watching.

[@erdincyilmaz9619]

I think what makes Turks so powerful is not their weapons or whatsoever. Look back at the independence war of Turkey. Turkey had no ressources and had to fight against France, Brits, Greeks and italia, russia. Turkey still won that war and became independent in 1923. Its their mindset and their love for their country and their family what makes Turks so strong. Even tho on Paper Turkey is 8th strongest millitary in the world, Turkey SURELY would have no problem defeating most of the Top 7. Because these lack experience and brave soldiers. They purely rely on quantity and technology.

[@Brian-----]

6:30 I did not know the key detail that the Turks also initially retreated from Ctesiphon. How strange that the Indian Army retreated first? What drove the decision?

[@TheHistoryChap]

Townshend initially hoped the Turks would leave under cover of darkness but when they didn't he decided to withdraw. It was almost at the same moment that the Ottoman commander made the same decision.

[@jonmcgee6987]

I'm guessing another outcome of this. The # of recipes with horse as one of the ingredients went up significantly.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Ha ha.

[@jakegarvin7634]

Indian Troops "Uhm, excuse me...we don't like eating horse meat either" British Officers "Oh for fuck sake"

[@TheHistoryChap]

That did seem to be Townshend's sort-of opinion.

[@PMMagro]

And why do you need to go further than Basra at all? Persia being a neigbour of both Russia and Great Britain whould never dare anything, even less so with Basra in British hands near the oil fields. It whould have been a lot easier to supply the army from the coast in Basra... The closer to the coast the fighttakes place the better for the British (as in Egypt and Palestine).

[@midnightteapot5633]

People come here to learn and share information ! Why are comments being removed or censored ?????

[@TheHistoryChap]

Maybe YT removed. What information did you share?

[@midnightteapot5633]

@@TheHistoryChap I replied to your question and it was deleted as well, I am not making this up . Extraordinary!

[@presidentxijinpingspoxdoct9756]

When I was a child, I used to live in Kut for two years. Ahhhhh, the 60s.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for sharing

[@pipodeschoen8308]

Dutch people knew in before how this would end...

[@TheHistoryChap]

Did they?

[@Gryphon6668]

My grandfather was killed at Kut. He was an officer in the Ottoman army

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & your feedback.

[@Gryphon6668]

@ thank you for a very interesting video!

[@musfikinsan3423]

Türk müsün?

[@Gryphon6668]

@ Hayir buyukbabam Dagestanliydi

[@Gryphon6668]

@@musfikinsan3423 Hayir, buyukbabam Dagestanliydi

[@TopHotDog]

Well told story.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you.

[@HaurakiVet]

Townsend was held to be a hero post WW1 but his behaviour during the siege was questionable at best. He exceeded his brief which resulted in his getting stuck in Kut. His messages of being besieged and short of food was interesting as his original figures seemed to stretch over time. In short he was not very low on supplies certainly in the early part of the siege but seemed to want to stay out and be relieved rather than liaising with relief forces for a break out, which was viable, certainly in the early phase. This could be traced back to his early career when he was besieged at a fort in India for some time and was hailed as a hero on his relief, kick starting his career. He was not the most stable of human beings which is shown by his response when told of one of his peers being promoted, leaving no chance for him to attain similar rank at that time. He is recorded as crying on a cringing subaltern's shoulder when he got the bad news. After the surrender he left in some comfort, more a guest than a prisoner, and only one officer chose to stay with the men on what became a nightmare journey into captivity, many dying of illness. The result of his decisions, to exceed his orders and not take the opportunity to break out cost many lives both among his own men and the relief force.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thank you for taking the time to add this information and your thoughts on it.

[@HaurakiVet]

​@@TheHistoryChap Not my thoughts, but from a book, The Psychology of Military Incompetence by Norman F Dixon.. a bit of an eye-opener.that gives a bit of insight to otherwise puzzling decisions, which as a former Officer I find illuminating. I do enjoy you posts so, keep them coming..

[@holgerkoschel9009]

A narrative of the siege of Kut without even mentioning Field Marshal Colmar Freiherr von der Goltz who was in charge of the Ottoman 6th Army?

[@selvoselvo1]

Overconfident operation, with terrible logistical support, and combined with wrong decisions. Attacking twice the larger entrenched force armed with modern weaponry in the hope they would scatter and run. The decision to stay and fight at Kut, while far from any support and still with the option of continuing retreat where he could be saved by ships...

[@MichaelCairns-fv2vi]

The irony of Britain interceeding for Turkey (the weak man of Europe) against Russia in Crimea decades before.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Political circumstances change over time. Do you remember when Vietnam and USA were enemies?

[@blutsven]

Ja hab die türkischen Truppen dafür immer bewundert das sie diese Operation erfolgreich durchführen konnten unsterblich Führung des deutschen General. Den Türken ging es ja nicht besser ….

[@sabahtaha1746]

british worst defeats ever were singapour 1941 and afghanistan in 1841

[@TheHistoryChap]

Thanks for watching my video & your comment.

[@annehersey9895]

CHRIS-When you say the Brits had 3 1/2 thousand non-combatants, what do you mean by ‘camp followers’? Were these refugees, valets for the officers or what? And were the British obliged to feed these camp followers also? I’m used to Camp Followers in the Feudal Agewhen wives, wares-men, etc would follow behind armies but have never heard the term in Modern wars before.

[@TheHistoryChap]

Various non combat roles ranging from cooks to valets to clerks. All sorts who wouldn't normally be in the front line. Yes, they would need to be fed, as were the local Arab inhabitants.

[@annehersey9895]

@ Thanks so much for bringing my understanding of this term into the modern iteration! I love learning from you about the exploits of my British cousins!

[@adriancherrett7798]

Listed as Administrative Services for the Garrison (but no numbers of staff) are the following Supply and transport Corps. Supply Units. Transport units (animal) detachments , 13th, 26th and 3oth Mule Corps. Medical units 3 field ambulances. 3 field hospitals . 1 section Veterinary field hospital . 3 Chaplains, Army Chaplains Dept, Military Governor. Survey Party , Field Post Office.

[@annehersey9895]

@ Thanks for such a detailed response!

[@crishamedet4863]

6:25 la ville de Kut-El-Amara

[@jayfelsberg1931]

The Ox and Bucks....everywhere from South Africa to Kut to Flanders to Russia to Pegasus Bridge....Up the Ox and Bucks.... to Arnhem!. A great sag. Now part of The Rifles after going to The Green Jackets en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxfordshire_and_Buckinghamshire_Light_Infantry

[@TheHistoryChap]

They did get around a bit.

[@Kitiwake]

"1,700 men and 1,300 Indians died."

[@TheHistoryChap]

I think you misheard or chose to mishear. The actual quote from the script is: "1700 (or 70%) of the British troops died or where never heard of again with at least 1,300 Indians suffering the same fate."