On Thursday, I wondered where the voices to the major events of Britain’s Mesopotamian campaign were, acknowledging the value of David Omissi’s collection of letters against the stacks of history books that detail and dissect the war via the Government of India, London, and the memoirs of British generals and high officers on the ground.

Here are more excepts from Omissi’s book, three that give at least some voice to the thousands of Indian soldiers besieged at Kut along with commanding General Townshend, soldiers who then became Ottoman prisoners of war. Their experience as prisoners is vague. Again, British accounts exist of captivity after Kut, but their authors are mostly officers who received far better treatment than the ranks of the Poona Division (the 6th Indian Division). Over half of the soldier who surrendered at Kut died in captivity afterwards, some in prisons in Baghdad, Mosul, and elsewhere, and others in the desert between those cities, casualties of grueling marches. General Townshend, meanwhile, was sent to live in comfortable "captivity" near Constantinople. He was knighted by George V in 1917 while still a prisoner, for his service at Kut.

Gunga Singh (Sikh) to Dafadar Jaswant Singh (attached to 6th Cavalry, France)

16th Cavalry Depot
Lucknow
21st April 1916

The 7th Brigade is surrounded in Mesopotamia. Attempts have been made to rescue them, but without success. There was a fight on 6th March and heavy losses to us in he attempt to relieve them. Some men of ours are in the besieged force, twenty in number. They have eaten their horses and mules. They have a quarter of a pound of flour each per diem. We are hopeful of being sent to join the relieving force. [Letter passed]

David Omissi, Indian Voices of the Great War, 178.

Risaldar-Major Kalandar Khan Bahadur to Risaldar Khurshed Ali Khan (Hindustani Muslim, 20th Deccan Horse, France)

7th Lancers
Poona Division (6th Indian Division)
Bombay, 5th Mary 1916

It is with great regreat that I tell you that our besieged for in Kut-al-Amara (of which our squadron formed a part) surrendered on 28th April after a five months’ siege, owing to want of provisions. They fought to the last with the greatest gallantry. There were 9,000 of them. It was a great grief to all that relief could not reach them and that all our efforts were in vain. The greatest regret of all is that our squadron with all the Sirdars are prisoners. Risaldar [Ressaidar?] Ajaib Singh and Jemadar Manna Singh were with them, as they were in hospital with wounds and the hospital was taken. [Letter passed]

Omissi, Indian Voices of the Great War, 181.

Karm Singh (Sikh) to Kalyan Singh (Jhelum District, Punjab)
Machine Gun Section
Sialkot Cavalry Brigade
France, 8th June, 1916

It is a matter of very great regret that our brother Chet Singh has been taken prisoner at Kut-al-Amara. Other men from Dhudial [Jhelum District, Punjab] who were with him have also been captured. Well, we should no grieve; nothing is to be gained by grieving. At the end of the war, they will return home alive. [In fact, many of them did not.] All those brave fellows did their duty faithfully to the very end. They deserve the highest praise. This event was written in their fate, and no one could have prevented it.

Omissi, Indian Voices of the Great War, 194-195.