War Office,
27th July, 1916.

The following despatch from General Sir John Nixon, K.C.B., relative to the operations at Bushire and its vicinity between July and September, 1915, has been forwarded by the Government of India for publication: —

15th January, 1916.
From General Sir John Nixon, K.C.B., A. D. C. General, Commanding Indian Expeditionary Force " D."
To the Chief of the General Staff, Army Headquarters, India.

Sir,
I have the honour to furnish a report on operations conducted at Bushire and in its vicinity between July and September, 1915.

2. On July 12th, 1915, a force of Tangistani tribesmen, at the instigation of enemy agents in Persia, made an unprovoked attack on the British detachment at Bushire.

3. The attack was repulsed, but two British officers (Major E. H. Oliphant, 96th Berar Infantry, and Captain J. G. L. Ranking, Assistant Political Officer) and one sepoy were killed, and two sepoys wounded.

4. As the Persian Government failed to make reparation for the hostile action of the Tangistanis, His Majesty's Government ordered forcible measures to be taken.

5. It was decided that the port and town of Bushire should be seized and occupied by a naval and military force until the Persian Government complied with our demands.

6. Further, as a punishment to the tribesmen implicated in the incident of July 12th, orders were issued for a naval and military force to attack Dilwar, a fortified village which was the headquarters of the hostile Tangistanis.

7. On August 8th, Bushire was occupied by a British force without opposition.

8. A naval squadron under the command of Captain D. St. A. Wake, R.N., arrived off Dilwar on August 10th, but weather conditions were unfavourable for landing operations until August 13th. On that day a mixed force, composed of troops and a naval landing party, under the command of Major C. E. H. Wintle, successfully disembarked on the beach in the face of opposition by the Tangistanis. The operation was assisted by the naval guns which made excellent practice and drove the enemy inland.

9. Several actions took place with the tribesmen on August 14th and 15th. Stiff opposition was encountered and the heat was great. As a result of the operations Dilwar fort and village were destroyed, and heavy losses were inflicted on the Tangistanis by rifle and machine gun fire, also by shell fire from the ships. Our casualties were comparatively small.

10. The object of the expedition having been successfully accomplished, the force was reembarked without interference by the enemy, on the night of August 15th-16th.

11. The combined naval and military expedition against Dilwar is an excellent example of co-operation between the two Services, and it was very creditably carried out by all concerned.

12. On the eastern side of Bushire, a low lying sandy tract joins the"island" to the mainland. This is known as the " Mashileh." It is about seven miles across to the mainland, and the same distance divides the sea, which flanks the Mashileh on the north and south. During high tides it is liable to inundation. Along the edge of Bushire Island, overlooking the Mashileh, extends a line of cliffs, much intersected by nullahs and broken ground.

13. During the period under report the British garrison at Bushire maintained an outpost line for the protection of the northern part of the. island from attack from the mainland. The eastern section of the outposts lay along the line of cliffs; the southern section extended across the island to the sea on the west side of the island.

14. Tangistani raiding parties frequently crossed the Mashileh at night and attempted to break through the outpost line. Early in September it was reported that they intended to make an attack in force.

15. At daybreak on September 9th a patrol from the outposts located a party of enemy in the nullahs at the edge of the Mashileh, at a spot where the Tangistanis had collected a strong force on a previous occasion.

16. On receiving this report, Brigadier-General H. T. Brooking, C.B., commanding the British garrison, immediately made dispositions to attack the enemy in front and to turn their left flank, and for the cavalry to move out on the Mashileh on their line of retreat.

17. After several hours fighting, the turning attack, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Lane, 96th Berar Infantry, charged with the bayonet. The enemy, some 600 strong, broke and fled across the Mashileh. The cavalry then charged them in the open, and our guns shelled them across the Mashileh until they were out of range.

18. Throughout the period of his command at Bushire, General Brooking dealt with an awkward situation in a most capable manner. On the occasion of the action of September 9th, thanks to his energetic and skilful command, the Tangistanis were defeated and lost heavily before they had time to deliver a serious attack.

19. In this action, the bravery and endurance of the troops in most trying heat, which claimed several victims, was most commendable. A landing party of the Royal Navy afforded valuable assistance. The charge by a squadron of the 16th Cavalry, led by Major W. H. Pennington, 12th Cavalry, in which both British officers and half of the Indian officers lost their lives, was a most gallant affair.

20. I append a list of names of those specially brought to notice in connection with the operations at Bushire and Dilwar.

I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
JOHN NIXON, General,
Commanding Indian Expeditionary Force " D."