Military Service with the Army in India and Iraq

World War 1 British Soldier Koyli Ernest Whitaker

Ernest was born in 1897 of Walter and Harriett Whitaker nee Pitts. He became a private in the KOYLI ‘s (King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry), fighting for his country during World War 1.Whilst he was in service in India, he kept a diary; it makes quite poignant reading!

Scroll down for:

Pay received by the koyli soldier whilst in active service.

Transcript of the diary, along with a summary of the route taken to India and Iraq (Mesopotamia) by the Koyli Soldier.

Scanned images of the original 85 year old diary.

A poem by Ernest Whitaker entitled ‘Demobilization Orders Mespot’. Please take time to read this as it’s rather sad!

Transcript of the poem ‘Demobilization Orders Mesopotamia’.

Scanned images of the original 85 year old diary containing the poem.

In 1920, the trials of war behind him, he married the love of his life,
Ada Dodsworth, who on January 9th 1923, bore him a daughter, named Ada after her mother. Sadly, baby Ada died 7th May 1923 and was buried in City Road Cemetery, Sheffield. Not two years later, Ernest’s beloved wife, Ada died also, aged just 25 years old.

Ernest never married again though he lived to the ripe old age of 83!
In 1998. Ernest’s sister, also named Ada, died, and all her belongings passed to myself. Sifting through some old papers, photographs and trinkets, I found a photo of wife Ada Dodworth. I scanned it in and when I zoomed, was amazed to see the locket she wore was the one that was amongst the old trinkets!! Amazingly, this locket held two photos of baby Ada, and also a lock of her own hair!

Whose Was The Baby in the Grave?
Amongst the old papers were four burial certificates which belonged to Ernest Whitaker. Two were as stated, Ernest’s wife and daughter, another was appertaining to the burial of his mother, Harriet.
The fourth was for a two-year-old child named John Nightingale. As I knew of no Nightingales in the family, I was very inquisitive to know whose this baby was, to be buried in a family grave. Was there a skeleton in the family cupboard? I ordered the birth certificate without delay! It transpired that Ada Dodsworth’s sister, Nellie married a John Nightingale and the baby belonged to them.

Route taken by British Soldier to India and Iraq (formerly Mesopotamia)

Sheffield ( England )

Liverpool

Bay of Biscay

Gibraltar

Malta

Port Said and Suez Canal

Minden Day

1st August 1759 The Battle of Minden, North Germany in 1759

fought by the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

Gulf of Aden

Arabian Sea

Bombay

Rhow

Wellesley Barracks

Rhandwa

Alexandra docks

SS Barala

Karacher / Karachi

(photo taken around 1917)

Quetta

Karachi

SS Chakdina

Makina

Nasiriyah

Kidder

Samawah Wood

Iman Abdullah

Juttah

Rumaithia

Iman Hamz/ya

Dwianiyah

Iman Hamyah

Kidder

British Base Depot Makina

Askar

SS Barala

Tigress

Persian Gulf

Arabian Sea

Bombay

Deolale

Alexandra docks Bombay

HM Brandenburg

Port Said

Malta

Gibraltar

Bay of Biscay

England

Southampton

Military Pay Received by British Koyli Soldier in India and Iraq

The table below is compiled from the original diary written by a Koyli soldier in 1919/1920. It documents the pay received whilst in service in India

Date	Rupees	Date	Rupees	Date	Rupees
Aug 15th	NONE	Jan 3rd	14	May 7th	16
Aug 22nd	26	Jan 9th	14	May 14th	16
Aug 29th	20	Jan 17th	5	May 28th	15
Sept 5th	15	Jan 23 rd	5	Jun 5th	14
Sept 12th	14	Jan 30th	8	Jun 9th	14
Sept 19th	15	Feb 6th	9	Jun 17th	14
Sept 26th	15	Feb 13th	9	Jun 25th	14
Oct 2nd	15	Feb 20th	5	Jul 2nd	14
Oct 10th	15	Mar 1st	5	Jul 8th	14
Oct 17th	15	Mar 5th	5	Jul 15 th	14
Oct 25th	15	Mar 11th	5	Jul 28th	20
Nov 1st	15	Mar 18th	5	Aug 5th	16
Nov 5th	16	Mar 25th	5	Aug 11th	17
Nov 12th	15	Apr 6th	14	Aug 18th	17
Nov 18th	15	Apr 9th	14
Nov 24th	15	Apr 16th	14
Dec 12th	28	Apr23rd	14
Dec 19th	14	Apr 30th	16
Dec 24th	15	May 7th	16

A Letter of Commendation for Military Services during World War 1 from King George V
received by KOYLI soldier Ernest Whitaker

Diary of a Koyli Soldier

by Ernest Whitaker

Pte E Whitaker No 4682220
1st Battn KOYLI
India
Pte E Whitaker No 4682220
1st Battn KOYLI
NEF Mesopotamia
Pte E Whitaker No 80215
D Cop 13 Platoon
1st KOYLI
White Barracks Quetta
NWF India
Pte E Whitaker No 80215
D Cop 13 Platoon
1st KOYLI
Wellesby Barracks
Rhow India

July 18th 1919
We entrained at Sheffield station 1.30 pm for Liverpool docks got on the boat after tea the same day and had a night on the ship and we set sail the next day July 19th it was peace day and we were bound for India. What a time we had on the boat the first week all sea sick and felt like throwing ourselves over. Well we’ve passed some big places on our way. Bay of Biscay it was a rough place that and then came Gibraltar with the big rock and then Malta some place and then we came to Ports-Said with big white buildings what a place it looked.
We sailed down the Suez Canal and stopped there for an hour or two. It was very hot as we got further on and on August 1st we entered the red sea and [local people] were trying to sell us all sorts of things and they were diving under the boat for pennies and the 1st of August is called Minden Day in the KOYLI We had a good time to say we were on boat. So we sailed through the Gulf of Aden into the Arabian Sea it was grand and we had a bath on the boat every morning at 6 and we had a grand voyage all way. I fell down the steps three or 4 times with the dinners what a time learning to be a sailor. Well we landed in India at a place called Bombay it was about 7 o’clock at morning so we got off the boat and helped to unload the things and had a bit of breakfast and we had finished with the sea for a bit.
On HT Titan
Well we got on the train just off the docks and we were in two days and we stopped at a place called Rhow. We had about two miles to walk and came to a place called Wellesley Barracks.
November 25th 1919
Tuesday we left Rhow about 6 o’clock at night and we marched down to the station we had to stop there all night and then the next day we did not go we weren’t on a route march till dinner, Had rest all afternoon had tea and just before we went away we had supper and just after we went and **** to. We stopped at a place called Rhandwa for an hour or two then we set off again and the next place was Bombay. So we got out of the train and had breakfast on the station. After that we had to get ready for an inspection and after that we were put on the boat in the Alexandra docks on the SS Barala. It was a mail boat and clean. It took us 2 days to go to another place called Karachi so we got off and unloaded again and put it on the train and then we got on and set off again on our journey. What a time.
We stopped at a place called Quetta it did look a fine place. Well we got out of the train and had about 4 miles to walk to our place called White Barracks. Well the same night we had to stand to as the MGC Magazine [Machine Gun Corps (ammunition store)] had caught fire. We were up an hour in the middle of the night just as we’d got out of bed no shoes on we did look fine lads.
Well we had a few weeks there and had to leave. We left Quetta on Sept 1st full pack and arrived at Karachi .
Sept 2nd 1920
We left the train at Karachi and got on another boat bound for Mesopotamia on the SS Chakdina. We were on there 6 days and had a rotten time.
Well we disembarked at a place called Basra Sept 8th and got into a train and stopped at a place called M/Nakina for 10 days then we set off again Sept 18th for Nasiriyah . It was a rotten place not much there only sand and most of the boys went down bad. We stopped there 12 days and went again this time it was fighting orders and that was bad for us.
Oct 1st we marched 9 miles and rested all night up to the knees in sand.
Oct 2nd we marched 10 miles and was on out post duty. I was dead beat that day it was very hot.
Oct 3rd we marched 10 miles and when we put our tents up we fell asleep with being tired and foot sore.
Oct 4th we set off again on the march and went 11 miles this time. I fell out and they took rifle and arms off me and left me laid in the sand with my tongue out of my mouth wanting water. I had some in my bottle so I supped it and it made me want more but I managed to catch them up and they camped there and I fell again. I thought I was dying.
Oct 5th we set off again and marched 6 miles this time. Was a bit better that day and we were getting closer to the Arabs.
Oct 6th we marched 5 miles and got up to the enemy
. We acted as supports to the Ghurkhas and Sikhs and we captured Kidder and a train which the Arabs and captured and looted.

Oct 7th we went out looting and burning villages outside Kidder and further out we found the Green fly and all the men on it had been murdered by the Arabs.
Oct 8th and 9th we were on out post duty at Kidder. It was a rum job out there the Arabs had gone.
Oct 10th marched 8 miles this time and camped in a place could not sleep for sand flies we were walking about all night.
Oct 11th we marched 4 miles, a bit shorter
Oct 13th 1920 we went into action we went about 2/7 miles and when we were about a thousand yards from Samawah Wood the Arabs opened fire on us and we extended and advanced to within 500 yards of the Arabs. In 50 yard rushes we had one man killed at my side in our platoon. We were ordered to stop as the 1/11 Ghurkhas were on our flank and they advanced through the wood and drove the Arabs out except them what got killed. They lost heavy and we still kept on for a bit and then stopped again. Our aeroplanes came over and dropped bombs on their town, a big place and they all came out of the town A&C boys covered out retirement until we got back and camped there.
Our losses was 4 killed 17 wounded. Ghurkhas 50 casualties and the Arabs estimated at 2,000 what a war.
Oct 14th My birthday today. We marched into the town of Samawah built in the old clay houses. We went looting in all the places and got some prisoners what a sight they were.
Oct 15th stopped in the town and were on out post duty all the time we were there.
Oct 16th we were in the same place.
Oct 17th in the same place.
Oct 18th we marched out of the town and got relieved for the night.
Oct 19th crossed the river and camped there all that night.
Oct 20th we went out reconnoitering [reconnoitering] to Iman Abdullah returned back to camp again.
Oct 21st still in camp rest
Oct 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th still in camp and doing out post duty in turns.
Oct 27th & 28th went out burning villages and we fought a rear guard action both days and there was heavy rifle fire. Some men killed and some wounded very badly.
Oct 29th & 30th went out again burning villages. We went about 10 miles from Samawah not much firing this time.
Oct 31st stopped in camp.
Nov 1st to 10th still in camp.
Nov 11th we marched 5 miles to Iman Abdullah and camped again one man in A coy [?] killed and the Sikhs got in action made a bayonet charge and took a bridge off the Arabs they had burnt it all down. Our losses was small this time.
Nov 12th we waded across the river and was covering party to Sikhs while they were wiring there was a bit of firing going on at the time.
Nov 13th, 14th, 15th 16th we were still in camp.
Nov 17th went out looting villages and then burning them down and came back to camp.
Nov 18th , 19th up to 29th we were still in camp resting for a day or two.
Nov 30th we crossed the river again and the railway and camped again for the night.
Dec 1st marched 3 miles up the railway and stopped at a place called Wawizah .
Dec 2nd & 3rd in the same place.
Dec 4th marched 4 miles to Juttah and camped again.
Dec 5th in camp again.

Dec 6th marched 5 miles to a place called Rumaithia and camped there but it was cold at night but red hot in day time.
Dec 7th, 8th, 9th, & 10th still in camp.
Dec11th we marched 13 miles in full pack and camped there for the night. Our platoon was on outpost duty and we were dead beat and our feet was sore big blisters on them.
Dec 12th marched 10 miles to Iman Hamz/ya and met the R B and escort.
Dec 13th camped at Iman Hamz/ya and I was on guard that night not much sleep.
Dec 14th marched another 9 miles what a life.
Dec 15th on the march again for another 9 miles and arrived at a place called Dwianiyah some old Turkish barracks more like pig sties.
Dec 16th up to 20th we were in Barracks having inspections and P.T. instead of rest.
Dec 21st had us out again on the march for 15 miles in fighting order this time and when we got there was on guard for the night very cold.
Dec 22nd we fell in at half past 8 and pulled down our tents and packed the AT carts and set off again this time 6 miles. My feet was sore when we camped by the side of the river and 25 out of our Coy [?] went across the river to the village to try and get the rifles off them bus [?].
Dec 23rd we set off again this time back and we were rear guard and as we went back all them who did not hand their rifles in to the Arab Levies [?] we burnt their places down and we camped later on we went 6 miles that time with full pack.
Dec 24th we set off again for Diwanigh 15 miles away this time fighting order keep changing. We were all tired but had to stick it or get left and it was Christmas Eve. When we got back did not no what to do with ourselves. They had got us some dinner and then they sold us a bottle of beer a man 1 rupees 2***** and then they paid us out at half past 5 we had tea and was still tired after that big march so I supped my beer and got in bed and was soon fast asleep so that was Christmas Eve not very nice.
Dec 25th was Christmas Day. Well we had a good breakfast and then after that a nice big dinner and a bottle of beer a man from the battn and after that I had 4 more bottles of this asker beer in the afternoon and was drunk. Got woke up for tea had 4 eggs and half a loaf not bad and about 7 o’clock we all had a good rum ration and allowed two more bottles of beer. No shops there so we bought beer with it we were all having a merry time when our platoon Sagt bought us two bottles of whiskey in. You ought to have seen us nice lads. I was carried to bed by my pal so that ended our good Christmas Day.
Dec 26th I was waiting man on guard and glad to as I had a very bad head, And I got no mail for 4 weeks………..
Dec 27th we had to clean up all our things for inspection and the same day I went and washed two shirts and two pairs of pants and socks.
Dec 28th we were still in Dwanigh
Dec 29th & 30th still in camp and cleaning up a bit
Dec 31st was New Years Eve. I had a bottle of beer and went straight to bed at 9 o’clock did not want much this time
Jan1st New Years Day we could not get any beer so you see I started the New Year in style.
Jan 2nd the CC had us all out for a big inspection.
Jan 3rd we were getting ready for a big show and it rained so hard we did not have it.
Jan 4th we had the show this time and I was in the L gun team. It was a fine turn out but C Corp beat us. We had two men too many so lost.
Jan 5th still in camp.
Jan 6th went on parade till 11 o’clock and then finished for the day and at seven we had a rum ration.
Jan 7th went on CC parade and went a route march about 6 miles we were left flank guard. Came back had dinner and after that had rifle inspection and feet then at 5 o’clock we went on outpost and it rained all night.
Jan 8th still in camp and was orderly man.
Jan 9th well the two years men left Dwaniyah where the Batt was stationed and set off on the march again 9 miles full pack camped all night.

Jan 10th set off again and marched 9 miles to the train what a relief [?] for us. We went from Iman Hamyah at half past 5 in the afternoon and the same night we stopped at Rumathah and I was on guard by the train.
Jan 11th set off again about 8 o’clock and then stopped at Samawah station. Off again and stopped at Kidder half an hour and then off again till we came to a big junction and stopped there all night.
Jan 17th we set off again from the junction went a few miles then stopped again for the night.
Jan 18th we went again and stopped at a place called M/Nakina. Got out of the train and went to the British Base Depot and they gave us some hot tea and put us in tents and we got our beds down and was ready for a good sleep.
Jan 14th still at the base.
Jan 15th we had a rifle inspection and finished for the day.
Jan 16th I was on a funeral party at Makina. One of the staff Sgt got murdered and thrown into the river. We did not get to no who did it.
Jan 17th we had another rifle inspection and in the afternoon we got paid out 30 rupees and went down to Askar and had a good supper.
Jan 18th still at the base.
Jan 19th we had another days rest and I wrote two letters in the YMCA.
Jan 20th we had another rifle inspection bus.
Jan 21st still at base doing nothing we were waiting for a boat.
Jan 22nd still at the base.
Jan 23rd still at the base.
Jan 24th cleaning up for inspection.
Jan 25th 27th 28th still at base
Jan 28th ready for home. We got up at half past 5had breakfast and marched off to the docks and got on the boat called SS Barala at 10 o’clock. We set sail at 1 o’clock and sailed down the Tigress into the Persian Gulf.
Jan 29th still in the gulf.
Jan 30th still in the gulf
Jan 31st still in the gulf. We had a concert on deck very good three ladies present.
Feb 1st out of the gulf into the Arabian Sea it was very rough. I had breakfast and went on top deck and let it come up again. At 4 o’clock I went on ship guard.
Feb 2nd it was very calm and getting hot we came off guard at 4 o’clock.
Feb 3rd still on the boat resting.
Feb 4th landed at Bombay about 9 o’clock got off the boat and had to wait for a train so we had a walk round very nice place Bombay. Came back got on the train and set off at half past 9.
Jan 6th we stopped at a place called Deolale [?] a big camp. We got beds out of stores and was soon in them.
Feb 6th 7th 8th still in camp.
Feb 9th we set off from Deolale [?] about half past 10 at night and got in Bombay three next morning.
Feb 10th we set sail from Alexandra docks Bombay on the HMS Brandenburg what a boat an old German one.
Feb 22nd arrived at Port Said set off again on the same morning and glad to.
Feb 23rd very rough weather.
Feb24th same
Feb 25th a bit calmer.
Feb 26th we passed Malta
Mar 2nd we passed Gibraltar
Mar 3rd we passed the Bay of Biscay it was very calm and getting very cold for us as we were getting nearer home we soon felt it.
Mar 4th and 5th getting nearer.
Mar 6th we got to Old England landed at Southampton docks about 12 o’clock in the morning. We got off the boat and stopped there till next day and then got on the train and went to Farnborough Aldershot into huto [?]
Mar 8th 9th and 10th up to the 16th we were still in camp.
Mar 16th we left Farnborough about 3 o’clock in the afternoon arrived London 20 past 4 did not stop long there. Changed trains and left London 5 o’clock for Sheffield.
So that finished our big journey over the sea and land to good Old Blighty once more.
This concludes the transcription of the main part of the diary.
Images of the original diary will be posted shortly.

Some if the terms, abbreviations and places mentioned in the original script are unfamiliar to me, I would therefore appreciate any help on this, either by email of via the web board.
Thank You

Yet to be transcribed are
‘Instructions for Cleaning a Rifle’

©skegnessuk.org
You may use this transcription on the Internet so long as
the transcription is used in it’s entirety including the title and author
©skegnessuk.orgis used
a link to skegnessuk.org is inserted

The transcription is not to be published without the consent of
Angela Gooch

Poem written by Koyli Soldier whilst in Military Service with the

British Army in India and Iraq 1919 to 1920

‘Demobilization Orders Mesopotamia’

by
Private Ernest Whitaker No 4682224 13 Platoon
1st Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI)

“If it seems strange that my actions seem queer
If I look like a wandering Jew never fear
I’m perfectly harmless never fear
On Demob from Mesopotamia

John Bull on an article touchingly said
He declared that the Mespot army was mad
And they lost all the sense that they had
Since they came out of Mesopotamia

They gave us no money but we did not complain
We should have had some if we’d been properly paid
But money they say is a cause of all pain
So we left ours in Mesopotamia

If I should do things that seem senseless to you
You’ll find there’s a method on all things I do
I’m a marvel at catching fly fever and ’flu
In the Desert of Mesopotamia

They sent us to Blighty I think as a test
To see if a change or a few years of rest
Will bring back the sense that the sun has sent west
Of the soldiers of Mesopotamia

And if in the Strand I am found in a bus
Or otherwise making a damnable fuss
If I’m squashed and smashed up don’t stand there and cuss
At the madman from Mesopotamia

So if I’m looking lost in the street
With cap in my hand and kit at my feet
Just pity me kindly and say it’s the heat
And the date palms of Mesopotamia

Take me up tenderly and treat me with care
I’m one of the crowd England sent over there
I’ve lived in the dessert for years trying to scare
The Arabs of Mesopotamia

We were stationed a while in Eden they say
the place we were told from which Eve ran away
and out there she’s never been seen since that day
She’s bolted from Mesopotamia

We found milk and honey floating about
Peaches, melons and cream grew with fine Brussels sprouts
But they fed us on grass when the Bully ran out
Near Baghdad in Mesopotamia

There’s no disease known that does not thrive out there
The heat dries your blood and the ink in your pen
And the dust covers thousands of English white men
In the desserts of Mesopotamia

And if when I die and I’m sent for a rest
To the place where stained souls are made clean and well
I’ll pray to Peter in mercy to send me to hell
But not back to Mesopotamia

And whilst all the wounded were laid in the train
And the bullets were whizzing and it was pelting with rain
They wondered how it is that he soldiers got insane
When they were fighting in Mesopotamia

When Lady Astor was here to inspect
The troops of Mespot with best respect
She said they looked like some farmer’s shipwreck
With shorts on in Mesopotamia

And if her daughter should wear a yellow band
Whilst walking to meet her young man in the Strand
He would just say to her when refusing her hand
Get back to Mesopotamia

And when Lady Astor arrived in the quays
She saw a few soldiers with their brown knees
And said “Good Gracious what horrible men are these”
They are the soldiers of Mesopotamia

And when to Mesopotamia she came out
She made such a noise and began to shout
But someone arose and said not to spout
When you’re in Mesopotamia

Whilst writing this in the canteen
You’ll see by the poem to Mespot I’ve been
It’s not in a show or behind a screen
But it’s just in Mesopotamia”

©skegnessuk.org

Images of the original poem will be posted shortly.

You may use this poem on the Internet so long as

the poem is used in it’s entirety including the title and author
©skegnessuk.org is used
a link to skegnessuk.org is inserted

The poem is not to be published without the consent of
Angela Gooch

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