Newton-le-Willows and Earlestown War Memorial

6th Battalion in Mesopotamia

February 25th 1917

Captain H. Whalley-Kelly, in his book “Ich Dien – The Prince of Wales’s Volunteers”, gives the following account:

“At 6 a.m. on 25th February the advanced guard of the 13th Division commenced to advance up the left bank of the Tigris from the Shumran Peninsula, with the Battalion as right flank-guard. About 10.30 a.m. the advanced-guard mounted troops (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) gained contact with the Turkish rear-guard posted in a canal running roughly north-east from the north-west corner of the Husaini Bend. By 12.30 p.m. the whole advanced guard was involved in a sharp encounter action, and the Battalion was ordered to try to turn the enemy's left flank, as the other battalions of the 38th Brigade were held up.

"After passing through the dismounted yeomanry the Battalion came under intense machine-gun fire, and the enemy waS also putting down a thick curtain of bombs and rifle grenades. One of the main centres of resistance appeared to be a hill and dry watercourse on the left of the Battalion front, and these localities were attacked by a party under Second-Lieutenant A. G. Jackson. In the face of a veritable hail of machine-gun bullets, Jackson's party gallantly cleared the watercourse with the bayonet after an hour's severe fighting, in which the leader was himself killed. Private John Readitt immediately took over command, and on his own initiative organized a further advance which drove back the Turkish machine guns and enabled the survivors of the party to reach the barricade the enemy had erected in the watercourse. Here a counter-attack forced them back, but Readitt gave ground slowly, continuing to throw bombs. Shortly, after, reinforcements arrived and the position was consolidated.

"The action of Jackson's detachment enabled the remainder of the Battalion to effect a lodgement in a section of the Turkish trenches where, although isolated, it maintained its position with barricades on either flank until night fell, and the enemy withdrew. This was a day of continuous fighting, and 4 officers and 79 other ranks were killed and wounded.

"Private Readitt was awarded the Victoria Cross for his conspicuous bravery and fine leading. Prior to Second-Lieutenant Jackson being killed, Private Readitt had five times led small parties up the watercourse under machine-gun fire at very close range, returning each time as the sole survivor. In fact, the success of tbe day's operations on the Battalion's front largely turned on Private Readitt's devotion to duty and determination."