Battle of Nasiriyah (1915) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Nasiriyah (1915)
Part of the Mesopotamian Campaign of World War I
This map shows the British advance into Southern Mesopotamia, 1915
Date 27 June–25 July 1915 Location Nasiriyah, southern Iraq Result British victory
Belligerents
British Empire  India	Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend Sir John Nixon G. F. Gorringe	?
Strength
5,000	around 5,000
Casualties and losses
104 killed 429 wounded	2000 killed or wounded 1,000 taken prisoner 17 field guns captured

The Battle of Nasiriyah was an important fight during World War I. It happened in July 1915 in the city of Nasiriyah, located in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). British and Indian soldiers fought against forces from the Ottoman Empire.

About 5,000 British and Indian troops, led by Sir George Frederick Gorringe, attacked Nasiriyah. Their main goals were to protect the British base at Basra and to destroy a key supply center used by the Ottoman army. The British forces won this battle. It was another success for them in the Mesopotamian campaign, following their victories at Amara and Qurna.

Why Was Nasiriyah Important?

Oil and Power: The British Goals

When World War I began, British leaders were worried. They needed to protect their oil supplies in the Persian Gulf region. This oil was super important for fueling their ships. The Ottoman Empire had joined the war against Britain. They were the closest enemy to Abadan, where much of the oil was.

Britain also wanted to show its strength to its subjects in British India. They feared a revolt if they seemed weak. The Ottoman army didn't have many soldiers or much equipment in Mesopotamia. They saw it as a less important area.

Starting the Mesopotamian Campaign

Even so, British forces landed at Fao in November 1914. This started the Mesopotamian Campaign. By June 1915, the British had captured several cities. These included Basra, Qurna, Shaiba, and Amara.

The British won these battles partly because the Ottoman forces weren't very strong there. Nasiriyah was a key place for the Ottoman army. It was a major supply hub. It also threatened the British base at Basra. So, Sir Charles Townshend ordered Major General G.F. Gorringe to capture it.

The Battle Unfolds

Journey Through Swamps

The battle started on June 27. General Gorringe led about 5,000 British and Indian soldiers. They moved up the Euphrates River towards Nasiriyah. The area was very wet due to floods. So, the troops traveled in small boats through marshes and canals.

The weather was extremely hot, over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Mosquitoes were also a big problem. Despite this, the soldiers reached Nasiriyah in early July.

Breaking Through Defenses

British engineers worked hard to destroy a dam. The Ottomans had built it to block the British. The engineers faced heavy gunfire but succeeded. This allowed the British and Indian troops to move forward. They also found out where the Ottoman mines were from a captured soldier.

The main Ottoman defenses were trenches on both sides of the Euphrates River. Marshes protected their sides. On July 13, more British soldiers arrived. The British tried to attack through the marshes but were pushed back. For the next two weeks, fighting slowed down. Many soldiers on both sides got sick or suffered from heat stroke.

Final Attack and Victory

On July 24, the British launched a new attack. They used information from a British observation aircraft. Engineers tried to build a bridge across the river using a barge. They worked under fire but couldn't finish it. However, the barge helped block the river enough. This allowed British and Indian troops to wade across.

With help from gunboats, they quickly took over the Ottoman positions. The Ottoman defenders were completely defeated. Nasiriyah fell on July 25. The remaining Ottoman troops retreated.

Aftermath of the Battle

In the battle, 533 British and Indian soldiers were killed or wounded. The Ottoman side had about 2,000 killed or wounded. The British also captured 1,000 Ottoman soldiers. They took large amounts of Ottoman military supplies too.