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Loading... Captured at Kut, Prisoner of the Turks: The Great War Diaries of Colonel William Spackmanby Colonel R.A. Spackman
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. Spackman served as the medical officer for the Indian 48th Bombay Pioneers. Spackman’s observations as a junior officer accompanying Townshend’s advance towards Baghdad are anecdotally interesting, however his perspective serves as a very small microcosm of the overall advance and doesn’t necessarily add much to the history of the campaign. His view after the surrender however does add a different perspective since he did not go straight to Anatolia like many of his comrades. He stayed back in Baghdad and Mosul to treat British wounded until the Turks moved him in 1917 back to a prisoner-of-war camp. Spackman relates his acquaintances with the likes of Maj E. W. C Sandes, Capt Hill (See Road to En-Dor), and Leonard Woolley, as well as his not-so-kind remarks about his run in with Sven Hedin. A brief, but interesting point of view from a junior medical officer. ( ) no reviews | add a review
This edited diary is Colonel Bill Spackmans extraordinary personal record of his experiences as the Medical Officer of an Indian Infantry battalion during the Mesopotamian Campaign 1914 1916. In particular he describes the harrowing events of the five month siege of Kut and, after the surrender of the 10,000 strong garrison in April 1916, the hardships of the 1,000 mile forced march to Anatolia in Turkey. As a doctor he witnessed at first hand suffering the and deaths of many POWs, both British and Indian.The book goes on the record life in Turkish captivity which was relatively relaxed and fortunately, in sharp contrast to their earlier experiences.Written with humorous understatement and infinite good sense Captured at Kut : Prisoner of the Turks is a gripping read and will appeal strongly not just to Great War enthusiasts but all who enjoy reading of the triumph of men over extreme adversity. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)940.472561092History & geography History of Europe History of Europe Military History Of World War I Prisons, hospitals, charities Prisons Asia Turkey in AsiaLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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