Siege of Kut

[mickawinn]

A letter I have found suggests that a member of the family was a prisoner after the fall of Kut and 'had some dreadful experiences, but was exchanged and sent home eventually'
I believe his name was Joseph Anthony (Anton) Isenbegger and that he was in the 6th Poona Div but I know nothing more until he arrives in South Africa about which I have all the info I need.
Can anyone tell me whether any records exist of these prisoners? Thanks

[martin hooper]

Hello

This document https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DMF9yM004XvV8mwO1NaAiX35qSEK-hKyLJ_e10bFMSg/edit?usp=sharing is an account of a soldier who came through the siege. My own relative was also part of the siege and he died on the march to Constantinople.

[Kiltaglassan]

Siege of Kut
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Kut

[mickawinn]

Thanks for the responses. The 6th Poona Div under Charles Townsend was mentioned so I am on the right track. Does anyone know where the regimental records might be or whether the prisoners were recorded or whether they were debriefed?

[martin hooper]

They were certainly debriefed when they were repatriated. That was how the fate of those who died was revealed - my relative amongst them. But I don't know where those records are or if they still exist.

Martin

[Andy J2022]

Given that Britain very much wanted to pursue war crimes charges against the Turks after the war, I'm pretty sure the debrief reports will have been well documented, and given their historical value, retained to be transferred to TNA. May need some skilled searching to find them though. You could try here first: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C2617773
amd here: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7697

[jim1]

The 6th. Poona Div. was made up of the below.
You need to know which Regt. he was in.
I'm not seeing a medal card for him even with variations of his name.
Cavalry
33rd Cavalry (less two squadrons that were with 12th Indian Division)
Artillery:
10th Brigade Royal Field Artillery
1st Indian Mountain Artillery Brigade
6th Divisional Ammunition Column
Engineers:
17th Company, 3rd Sappers & Miners
22nd Company, 3rd Sappers & Miners
34th Divisional Signal Company
Infantry:
16th Indian Infantry Brigade
2nd Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment
104th Wellesley’s Rifles
117th Mahrattas
20th Duke of Cambridge’s Own Infantry (Brownlow’s Punjabis)
17th Indian Infantry Brigade
1st Battalion Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
119th Infantry (The Mooltan Regiment)
103rd Mahratta Light Infantry
22nd Punjabis
18th Indian Infantry Brigade
2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment
110th Mahratta Light Infantry
120th Rajputana Infantry
7th Duke of Connaught’s Own Rajputs
48th Pioneers