A campaign fought overwhelmingly by the Indian Army, including the siege and surrender of Kut-al-Amara.
The Mesopotamia campaign was largely an Indian Army undertaking. Following the advance towards Baghdad in 1915, Anglo-Indian forces were besieged at Kut-al-Amara from December 1915 and surrendered in April 1916 after relief attempts failed. Conditions during the siege and in the captivity that followed were severe, and losses among the Indian units were heavy.
Lance-Naik Lala of the 41st Dogras was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in Mesopotamia on 21 January 1916, repeatedly going out under fire to bring in wounded officers and men.
Source: Imperial War Museums; National Army Museum, London
An in-depth study of this engagement is in preparation. See the battles already published.