William Stanley Webb

William Stanley Webb was born in Probus in the summer of 1896. His parents were Frank and Clara. Frank worked as waggon driver for a miller, and William took an apprenticeship to the baker when only 14. He had at least four sisters, Ethel, Elizabeth, Margaret and Annie. They lived in Truck, Probus for many years. When it came time for William to enlist he did so in Paignton. Devon, initially into the Devonshire Regiment (no. 18126). He later transferred to the 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment.

 

Mesopotamia

 

We know Mesopotamia today, as Iraq. At the time of the First World War, this area of the Middle East was part of the Ottoman or Turkish Empire, which had been established in the 14th century. It grew to extend its influence over a large area including south-eastern Europe, the Arab homelands of the Middle East and on into North Africa. The Ottoman Turks were allied with the Central Powers of Germany and Austria Hungary. The Turks had active support in the fight in the form of men and material from the Central Powers, and from Arab Irregulars who fought alongside them. The Turks had defeated British and ANZAC (Australia & New Zealand Army Corps) forces on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915.

 

When Turkey entered the war on the side of Germany, this threatened the supply of oil to the British. The Royal Navy for one needed this supply to operate its fleet. British forces were then sent to Mesopotamia to oppose the Turks. Due to initial British success, troops were drawn further and further into Mesopotamia, which created problems of supply. There were insufficient vessels to ferry supplies up and down the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The climate was severe, extremely hot in summer and in winter, freezing temperatures at night. Fever caused by insect bites was widespread. The 2nd Battalion Dorset Regiment had been in Mesopotamia since November 1914. In December 1916 they took part in the capture of Kut, which was thereafter besieged by superior Turkish forces. British forces were insufficient to break the siege. After a humiliating surrender, British troops were taken into captivity. Their treatment was very severe. Only about 70 men survived, of 350 captured of the 2nd Dorset.

 

The Battle of Jebel Hamlin, 25th March 1917

 

This battle formed part of the Samarrah Offensive, which ran from March to April of 1917. The objective was to capture the Turkish railway at Samarrah. As part of this campaign an Anglo-Indian force of 8,000 men, led by General Keary attempted to encircle 15,000 Turkish troops led by Ali Ishan Bey. This force was retreating from Persia away from Russian forces and trying to link up with 10,000 men under the regional Turkish C in C, Khalil Pasha. Pasha was retreating from Bagdad which had been captured by British forces on the 11th March. Keary was trying to prevent these two forces meeting Ishan with 4,500 of his menwithdrew to the base of the Jebel Hamlin Mountains and began to dig entrenchments between two canals. Keary was hoping to trap this force between his forces and those of the Russians. He was not aware that the February Revolution in Russia had meant that Russian forces were no longer operating. Consequently it was Keary's forces alone that confronted the Turks, in their prepared positions. The attack by the British came as no surprise to the Turks, as they could clearly see Keary's Anglo-Indian forces approaching. The Turkish defences were well prepared, as at Gallipoli, and so the British attack was repulsed. There was a high cost: 1,200 casualties. Private William Webb of the Dorsets was among them.

 

The Dorset battalion had fought well but at a heavy cost to them: 220 of their number became casualties, from an approximate strength of 500. William is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Al Basrah, Iraq which commemorates 40,639 men in total.

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Researched and written by Stephen Jackson