The First Fights

The first fighting occurred on November 5, 1914. The Capture of Basra was the first battle of the Mesopotamian Front, and it showed that the British were ready to go. When Turkey finally did enter the war, they threw their power to the German side, officially making them "the enemy". Sir Arthur Barrett (British Chief-and -Commander) saw his chance and took it at once. Leaving the Turks no time to act, Barrett quickly moved his forces up the coastline, capturing several little outposts along the way. He effectively pushed the Turks into the nearby city of Basra. The Turkish Commander (Sunhi Bey) attempted to gather nearby forces, but was unable to do so quickly. On November 19, after making a steady advance up the coast, the full force of the British was unleashed. Faced with bad weather conditions, and extreme heat, the British continued their barrage of Basra until November 21, when the remaining Turkish forces fled the city. This battle was not one between man and man, but rather a show of the British power. The artillery strikes on the city lasted only a few days, and the Mesopotamian Front was officially a battle ground.