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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0393.PDF
BRITISH OPERATIONS IN KURDISTAN IN a supplement to the London Gazette (June 10) are published' which the informed use of air power had given me for con- the despatches of Air-Vice-Marshal Sir J. M. Salmond, Com- ducting this kind of warfare ; and I venture to suggest that manding British Forces in Iraq, covering a period from Febru- the experience gained foreshadows important new develop- ary 15, 1923, to June 19, 1923. These despatches describe ments in the conduct of ' small wars.' some successful operations carried out in Kurdistan against It is not too much to say that in a ' small war ' no com- the pro-Turk intrigues of Shaikh Mahmoud, Governor of mander has ever before been so closely in touch with his Sulaimaniyah. We can only, in the space at our disposal, columns, and at the same time with the general situation outline briefly the details of these operations, but in view of throughout the country. the important part played by aircraft—special mention of Indeed had it not been for this power of rapid inter- which was made by Sir John—we will deal fully with the communication which I possessed in aircraft and R.A.F. air side o! this "' small war." wireless in this country of great distances and crude means of During February, 1923, it was ascertained that Shaikh communication, I should have hesitated to undertake this Mahmoud had formed a plan to attack Kirkuk, that he was operation at all ; while to have timed the out-flanking move- in communication with the Shiah Divines of the Holy City ment I have described above would have been impossible. of Najaf, with the object of raising simultaneously a general I shall submit a separate report in this connection at an insurrection in Iraq, and that he had entered into an arrange- early date, and shall not, therefore, touch in this despatch ment with Ramzi Bey, propagandist officer for Euz Demir, upon the normal work of air co-operation bv reconnaissance, the Turkish Irregular Commander in Kurdistan, for the re- photography and sketching, and by the engagement of capture of Koi Sanjak. These, and other activities were ground targets, which was daily carried out : nor upon considered sufficiently mischievous and dangerous to warrant independent air operations by more than twentv machines- prompt action. Shaikh Mahmoud was accordingly sum- which, as occasion required, were carried out against moned to Baghdad, and at the same time two companies of enemy positions. A few instances, however, mav be set down 14th Sikhs were transported by air from Kingerban to Kirkuk, here of those uses of aircraft which gave me the particular weather conditions having at that time rendered the march- advantages lor conducting this type of warfare to which I have ing route impracticable. referred above An evasive reply having been received from Shaikh Mali- On March 12 I was able to examine the situation personally moud, proclamations were dropped by air warning both on all sectors of the threatened front, travelling altogether Shaikh Mahmoud and the people of Sulaimaniyah that the some 550 miles. From my advanced headquarters I was in town would be bombed if he did not comply before sundown personal touch with the acting High Commissioner at three on March 1. Delay action bombs were dropped outside hours' notice, and could obtain by dropped and picked-up the limit of the town in emphasis of our intention to enforce message a report or appreciation from either column in the compliance. As the immediate result of this operation same time. On one occasion my presence was required at Shaikh Mahmoud resigned, 42 notables petitioned for mercy, Baghdad in the afternoon ; I left Arbil at 4 p.m. and had and a delegation was sent to Kirkuk. returned there next morning by 8 a.m., having travelled over Shaikh Mahmoud, however, did not leave his headquarters 400 miles, in the town within the time limit, so this particular quarter Landing grounds were selected up to four davs' march into of the town was bombed, whereupon he fled at once to the the hills over ground impossible for wheels. By means of neighbourhood of Serdash. these, either I or one of my staff was able to discuss events The despatch then describes in detail how the situation personally with column commanders. Although many days' then stood and the main problems which confronted Sir rain had rendered the ground boggy, I was able to land at John and the various actions necessary for their satis- Rowanduz two days after the column had entered it. factory solution. Sir John states he considered a combined Where heliograph was almost useless R.A.F. pack sets air and ground operation would attain the main object—which enabled either column to call my headquarters at any time ; was to restore the Kurdish situation and to re-secure his and, in addition, kept a regular watch of 6 hours daily when the threatened right flank. In the meantime, he flew to Kirkuk columns were halted. On one occasion a supply of petrol and and Arbil to consult the political officers on the spot. charged accumulators was dropped successfully to a pack set. Two columns were formed, known respectively as Koicol, When the columns were on the march and all other means (under the command of Col.-Commandant 13. Vincent, C.B., of communication with them were, therefore, impracticable, C.M.G.) and Frontiercol (under the command of Col.-Com- messages dropped and picked up by aircraft kept the column mandant H. T. Dobbin, D.S.O.), the former being directed commanders in close personal touch both with each other and to move from Mosul to Arbil and thence to Koi Sanjak, with myself, and proved in practice the superior even of and the latter was to concentrate at Arbil after the departure W/T in rapidity. A mounted air message section was of Koicol, and thence to proceed to and occupy Rowanduz. improvised by Koicol. For the aerial force in this combined operation the R.A.F. Air messages from the columns to co-operating aircraft Wing at Mosul, consisting of Nos. 1. 30 and 55 Squadrons, were of unique value in ensuring that special information was directed to co-operate with the columns until the arrival required in regard to, for instance, dead ground, concealed of Koicol at Koi Sanjak, when co-operation with Koicol positions, defiles and so on, was immediately furnished when would then be taken over by No. 6 Squadron operating from otherwise considerable delay to the progress of the column Kirkuk. This squadron in the meantime carried on intensive and arduous work for the troops would have been occasioned air action against Shaikh Mahmoud in the Serdash hills. to get it. Saiyid Taha, a prominent figure in this part of Kurdistan, At a most important juncture in the operations, when the having considerable religious and temporal influence, was columns were at Khaniwatman and Benawi respectively, dispatched by air to Aqra for the purpose of bringing in the and were preparing their plans for the combined advance leaders of the tribes in this district and thus making it impos- to Rowanduz, an appreciation and operation orders were sible for Euz Demir to create a diversion through them against exchanged by air message between the two columns, and the Aqra division. Some 8,000 proclamations, some bearing I myself received a copy at the same time. This was not- his seal, were dropped by aircraft, exhorting the tribes not to withstanding very adverse weather conditions, and there hinder the advance of the columns or take part in active hos- was, moreover, at the time no other means by which the tilities. Saiyid Taha iustified the confidence placed in him, messages could have been exchanged, and thus relieved considerable anxietv with regard to this Aircraft picked up in all some 120 messages, quarter. Ration dumps under a strong guard had been established Sir John was in constant touch by R.A.F. wireless by Officer Commanding Koicol at his march stages. It was outstations with the frontier posts of Levy and Iraq Army of considerable importance for him to know how his hired Units, and thus felt assured throughout the operations that transport convoys had progressed and the ration state of no hostile activity could develop of which he would not have each post. Aircraft provided the only means by which he early and ample warning could keep in touch with these posts. On one occasion The despatch then proceeds to describe in detail the questions were dropped on each post in turn, and replies operations of the columns, during which aircraft figured very picked up and dropped to the column commander within prominently. Further on in the despatch Sir John writes two and a half hours. as follows ' *^n one occasion at least the column was enabled to make " These operations were carried out in difficult hill country very rapid marches through very difficult country because over little known routes of which even the most recent maps closely co-operating aircraft obviated the necessity of are of small value for military operations. Throughout their piquetting the heights commanding their line of march, course I was impressed by the'manv and particular advantages This increase in their mobility proved a most important 393 c 2
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