Military History

Rupert is listed as being killed in action on 25th March 1917 during the Samarra Offensive. The 2nd Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below.

Jebel Hamran – 25 Mar 1917: The orders were given verbally by the G.O.C 9^th Bde and were to the effect that the Brigade would march in diamond formation, 2^nd Dorset Regt leading. On reaching the summit of the ridge the Brigade would turn to the left and move along the ridge with intention of rolling up the enemy. H Coy under Major A.S. Weldon formed the advance guard.

At 5.55am the first shot was fired. The Battalion without much ? advanced about 1 mile on the heading of 55 up to the point the bodies of the enemy who were between 20 to 50 strong and scattered.

At about 7 o’clock the enemies rifle and M.G. fire increased in intensity and their guns opened fire. Owing to the difficult nature of the ground which was composed of a large number of small hills intersected by deep millahs? it was found very difficult to prevent the enemy working around our flanks. The enemy appeared to be in considerable strength on our left where these was [a] gap between our left Coy and the next Battalion of over a 1000 yards thus enabling the enemy to do manoeuvre as to bring very heavy enfilade fire to bear.

At 8am the position was explained to the Brigade and assistance was called for. Before help arrived our left Coy was compelled to retire thus widening the gap. Eventually the remainder of the Battalion was compelled to retire to an irregular ridge some 600 yards back.

At 9am one Coy 93 Burma Infantry were ordered up on our left but owing to the nature of the ground and the enfilade fire from which we were still suffering they were unable to come up into the line.

About 11am Coy of the 105^th Mahrattas took up a position on our left flank. Our right being protected by the remainder of the Mahrattas. The Battalion remained in this position until about 1.15pm. During this period great difficulty was experienced in getting up ammunition.

At 12.30pm the 105^th Mahrattas on our right were driven back thus leaving our flank in the air enabling the enemy to command our right flank. The Battalion retired to the position held by the 2^nd Manchester Regt.

At about 3.30pm the battalion was ordered to by the G.O.C 9^th Brigade to pass through the Manchester Regt on to Campbells Ridge. A large number of wounded had to be left behind owing to utter inadequacy of the medical arrangements to remove them.

Total casualties: 3 O’s [Officers] killed 2 wounded & missing, 3 wounded.
O.R.B Killed 17, wounded and missing 37, missing 49, wounded 98.
Native establishment wounded 1, missing 4. Total B.O.S casualties 14, ORB 201, Native establishment 5. Grand total 220.