Battle of the Marl Plain

| casualties1 = 514

| casualties1 = 514

| casualties2 = 200 dead
180 [[prisoners of war|prisoners]]

| casualties2 = 200 dead
180 [[prisoners of war|prisoners]]

| place = Mara, 4 miles south-east of {{ill|Duqma|ar|الدوجمة}}{{efn|Although it is referred to as the “Affair of Duqma” after a nearby village about four miles north-west of Mara, the British nevertheless attacked Ottoman forces in the village of Mara during the engagement.{{Sfn|Majd|2006|p=314}}{{Sfn|Moberly|1925|p=293}}}}

| place = Mara, 4 miles south-east of {{ill|Duqma|ar|الدوجمة}}{{efn|Although it is referred to as the "Affair of Duqma" after a nearby village about four miles north-west of Mara, the British nevertheless attacked Ottoman forces in the village of Mara during the engagement.{{Sfn|Majd|2006|p=314}}{{Sfn|Moberly|1925|p=293}}}}

| units1 = {{tree list}}

| units1 = {{tree list}}

* [[13th (Western) Division|13th Division]]

* [[13th (Western) Division|13th Division]]

*** [[Wiltshire Regiment|5th Wiltshires]]

*** [[Wiltshire Regiment|5th Wiltshires]]

*** [[South Wales Borderers]]

*** [[South Wales Borderers]]

** [[39th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)| 39th Brigade]]

** [[39th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|39th Brigade]]

*** [[Royal Warwickshire Regiment|9th Royal Warwicks]]

*** [[Royal Warwickshire Regiment|9th Royal Warwicks]]

*** [[7th (Service) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment|7th Glosters]]

*** [[7th (Service) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment|7th Glosters]]

| units2 = {{tree list}}

| units2 = {{tree list}}

* [[Sixth Army (Ottoman Empire)|Sixth Army]]

* [[Sixth Army (Ottoman Empire)|Sixth Army]]

** [[XVIII Corps (Ottoman Empire)| XVIII Corps]]

** [[XVIII Corps (Ottoman Empire)|XVIII Corps]]

*** [[XVIII Corps (Ottoman Empire)#Order of Battle, August 1916|52nd Division]]

*** [[XVIII Corps (Ottoman Empire)#Order of Battle, August 1916|52nd Division]]

{{tree list/end}}

{{tree list/end}}

==Background==

==Background==

{{Main|Battle of Mount Hamrin}}

{{Main|Battle of Mount Hamrin}}

[[Ali İhsan Sâbis|Ali Ihsan]]’s force was far from being crippled. He was now aiming for the Marl Plain, and the route he had chosen followed the Khalis Canal via {{Ill|Delli Abbas|ar|ناحية دلي عباس}}. To assist him, [[Halil Kut|Halil]] transferred {{Ill|Shefket|tr|Şevket Galatalı}}’s [[XVIII Corps (Ottoman Empire)|Corps]] across the [[Tigris]] to the [[ʿAdhaim|Shatt El Adhaim]]. While the [[Battle of Mount Hamrin]] was being fought, a force of about 5,000 infantry and 500 cavalry was moving toward [[Sindiya]] to secure Ali Ihsan’s flank.{{Sfn|Barker|1967|p=344}}

[[Ali İhsan Sâbis|Ali Ihsan]]'s force was far from being crippled. He was now aiming for the Marl Plain, and the route he had chosen followed the Khalis Canal via {{Ill|Delli Abbas|ar|ناحية دلي عباس}}. To assist him, [[Halil Kut|Halil]] transferred {{Ill|Shefket|tr|Şevket Galatalı}}'s [[XVIII Corps (Ottoman Empire)|Corps]] across the [[Tigris]] to the [[ʿAdhaim|Shatt El Adhaim]]. While the [[Battle of Mount Hamrin]] was being fought, a force of about 5,000 infantry and 500 cavalry was moving toward [[Sindiya]] to secure Ali Ihsan's flank.{{Sfn|Barker|1967|p=344}}

[[File:AISabis.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Ali İhsan]]

[[File:AISabis.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Ali İhsan]]

[[Stanley Maude|Maude]] realized what was taking place and, determined to prevent Shefket and Ali Ihsan from joining forces, set two simultaneous operations in motion. The [[7th Cavalry Brigade (United Kingdom)|7th Cavalry Brigade]], already with [[Henry Keary|Keary]]'s column at Baquba, was reinforced by the rest of the Cavalry Division, and [[British First World War cavalry generals#Cavalry generals|Leslie Jones]], the divisional commander, was ordered to stop Ali Ihsan from moving beyond Delli Abbas. At the same time, [[Walter de Sausmarez Cayley|Caley]]'s [[13th (Western) Division|13th Division]] was sent up the Tigris to deal with Shefket's column near Sindiya. Finding the Turks entrenched near {{ill|Duqma|ar|الدوجمة}}, Caley attacked, and what became known as the "Battle of the Marl Plain" followed.{{Sfn|Barker|1967|p=344}}

[[Stanley Maude|Maude]] realized what was taking place and, determined to prevent Shefket and Ali Ihsan from joining forces, set two simultaneous operations in motion. The [[7th Cavalry Brigade (United Kingdom)|7th Cavalry Brigade]], already with [[Henry Keary|Keary]]’s column at Baquba, was reinforced by the rest of the Cavalry Division, and [[British First World War cavalry generals#Cavalry generals|Leslie Jones]], the divisional commander, was ordered to stop Ali Ihsan from moving beyond Delli Abbas. At the same time, [[Walter de Sausmarez Cayley|Caley]]’s [[13th (Western) Division|13th Division]] was sent up the Tigris to deal with Shefket’s column near Sindiya. Finding the Turks entrenched near {{ill|Duqma|ar|الدوجمة}}, Caley attacked, and what became known as the “Battle of the Marl Plain” followed.{{Sfn|Barker|1967|p=344}}

==Battle==

==Battle==

===The 40th Brigade’s Assault on the Turkish Forward Rifle Pits===

===The 40th Brigade's Assault on the Turkish Forward Rifle Pits===

At daybreak, the [[40th Brigade (United Kingdom)|40th Brigade]] was about 5,000 yards from the Turkish advanced line, which consisted of rifle pits less than 1,000 yards in front of the main position.{{Sfn|Burne|1936|p=25}} Caley's intention had been that only the [[39th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|39th Brigade]] would make a frontal attack; this would serve to hold the Turks while the other brigade swung around and enveloped the Turks left flank. However, finding that this flank extended far beyond expectations, The [[Wiltshire Regiment|5th Wiltshires]], the strongest battalion in the brigade, was selected to lead the assault.{{Sfn|Barker|1967|p=344}} At 7 a.m., they advanced. They moved forward under artillery and rifle fire and took the forward rifle pits, driving out the defenders. Of the roughly 500 men engaged, more than 195, including seven officers, were killed before reaching the first Turkish forward line.{{Sfn|Candler|1919|p=146}}

At daybreak, the [[40th Brigade (United Kingdom)|40th Brigade]] was about 5,000 yards from the Turkish advanced line, which consisted of rifle pits less than 1,000 yards in front of the main position.{{Sfn|Burne|1936|p=25}} Caley's intention had been that only the [[39th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|39th Brigade]] would make a frontal attack; this would serve to hold the Turks while the other brigade swung around and enveloped the Turks left flank. However, finding that this flank extended far beyond expectations, The [[Wiltshire Regiment|5th Wiltshires]], the strongest battalion in the brigade, was selected to lead the assault.{{Sfn|Barker|1967|p=344}} At 7 a.m., they advanced. They moved forward under artillery and rifle fire and took the forward rifle pits, driving out the defenders. Of the roughly 500 men engaged, more than 195, including seven officers, were killed before reaching the first Turkish forward line.{{Sfn|Candler|1919|p=146}}

They were later joined by half of the [[South Wales Borderers]] advancing on their left rear.{{Sfn|Burne|1936|p=26}} The combined force dug in while artillery moved forward to closer positions for support.{{Sfn|Burne|1936|p=26}} As the exact location of the main Turkish line was uncertain and casualties were heavy, they were ordered to hold position until the 39th Brigade’s attack developed.{{Sfn|Barker|1967|p=344}}{{Sfn|Candler|1919|p=146}}

They were later joined by half of the [[South Wales Borderers]] advancing on their left rear.{{Sfn|Burne|1936|p=26}} The combined force dug in while artillery moved forward to closer positions for support.{{Sfn|Burne|1936|p=26}} As the exact location of the main Turkish line was uncertain and casualties were heavy, they were ordered to hold position until the 39th Brigade's attack developed.{{Sfn|Barker|1967|p=344}}{{Sfn|Candler|1919|p=146}}

===The 39th Brigade's Advance and Assault===

===The 39th Brigade's Advance and Assault===

===Consequences===

===Consequences===

Following the defeat of the Turkish Tigris force, the division at Delli Abbas withdrew to the hills and joined the remainder of the Turkish forces from [[Persian campaign (World War I)|Persia]]. British forces occupied the village at dawn on 31 March. On the same morning, the Turks evacuated [[Hamrin Mountains|Mount Hamrin]] on the left bank of the [[Diyala River|Diyala]]. The crossing of the Diyala had been completed.{{Sfn|Candler|1919|p=146}} After running into the Cavalry’s block at Deli Abbas, [[Ali İhsan Sâbis|Ali Ihsan]] was assumed to be retiring along the [[Kifri]] Road toward [[Mosul]].{{Sfn|Barker|1967|p=344}}

Following the defeat of the Turkish Tigris force, the division at Delli Abbas withdrew to the hills and joined the remainder of the Turkish forces from [[Persian campaign (World War I)|Persia]]. British forces occupied the village at dawn on 31 March. On the same morning, the Turks evacuated [[Hamrin Mountains|Mount Hamrin]] on the left bank of the [[Diyala River|Diyala]]. The crossing of the Diyala had been completed.{{Sfn|Candler|1919|p=146}} After running into the Cavalry's block at Deli Abbas, [[Ali İhsan Sâbis|Ali Ihsan]] was assumed to be retiring along the [[Kifri]] Road toward [[Mosul]].{{Sfn|Barker|1967|p=344}}

Halil had failed in his attempt to unite the two Corps of the [[Sixth Army (Ottoman Empire)|Sixth Army]] west of the [[Hamrin Mountains]]. He then aimed to achieve the same objective farther back. Reinforcements consisting of two divisions were on their way to him, along with some [[German Empire|German]] airplanes. However, by this time, he was short of ammunition, supplies were running low, and the morale of Shefket's Corps was very weak.{{Sfn|Barker|1967|p=345}}

Halil had failed in his attempt to unite the two Corps of the [[Sixth Army (Ottoman Empire)|Sixth Army]] west of the [[Hamrin Mountains]]. He then aimed to achieve the same objective farther back. Reinforcements consisting of two divisions were on their way to him, along with some [[German Empire|German]] airplanes. However, by this time, he was short of ammunition, supplies were running low, and the morale of Shefket's Corps was very weak.{{Sfn|Barker|1967|p=345}}