'Water course used by the Turks as their first line trenches on right bank at Hibsh', 7 January 1916

Photograph, World War One, Mesopotamia (1914-1918), 1916.

This photograph was taken during the Battle of Shaik Saad (7-9 January 1916), an engagement fought by Lieutenant-General Sir Fenton Aylmer's Tigris Corps during its ill-fated attempt to relieve the besieged British garrison at Kut. Although the British attack was initially repulsed the Turks later withdrew, perhaps overestimating British strength.

From a collection of 265 photographs compiled by Major W Leith-Ross, Indian Army Staff, 1915-1917.