Action of Khan Baghdadi

Part of the Mesopotamian Campaign of World War I

The 2nd Battalion, 6th Gurkha Rifles of 42nd Indian Brigade, 15th Indian Division march towards the Action of Khan Baghdadi, 22 March 1918

Date	March 26–27, 1918
Location	Khan al Baghdadi, west of Baghdad (present-day Iraq)
Result	British victory

Belligerents

United Kingdom

British India

Ottoman Empire

Commanders and leaders

Major General H.T. Brooking

Nazim Bey

Strength

15th Indian Division

50th Infantry Division

Casualties and losses

159

~5,000

United Kingdom

The Action of Khan Baghdadi was an engagement during the Mesopotamian Campaign in World War I.

The 15th Indian Division had been at Ramadi since its capture of the town in September 1917. On 9 March 1918, it advanced and occupied the town of Hit in a bloodless victory, the Ottoman forces evacuating without a shot being fired.

The next objective along the Euphrates was the town of Khan al Baghdadi. Most battles in Mesopotamia had been tied to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. If an attack was successful, the loser would withdraw along the line of the river to prepared positions further back. Securing a proper victory was difficult. In an attempt to break with the usual pattern, the 15th Indian Division were supplied with 300 Ford lorries, the 8th Light Armoured Motor Battery (armoured cars), and the 11th Cavalry Brigade. A mobile blocking force was assembled using divisional infantry in the lorries, the armoured cars, the cavalry brigade, and one of the divisional artillery batteries equipped with double the usual number of horses.

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