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Diaries of men of the First AIF and the First NZEF. A Digger History Associate site
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Stalky's Forlorn Hope by Capt S G Savige DSO MC. |
| later Lieutenant General Sir Stanley George Savige, KBE, CBE, CB, DSO, MC, ED. | |
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Part of the story of Dunsterforce The main purpose of Dunsterforce was to reorganise resistance in Mesopotamia and Persia (Iraq) to German penetration of Asia during the period 1918 to 1919. |
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Part of the cover of the 1920 edition of the book. |
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DEDICATION This Book is Dedicated to MRS. SHED of The American Missionary Society of Persia,
whose dedication to her cause and unrivalled valor during those terrible days of July-August 1918 inspired each of us to greater efforts in the rescue of 60,000 Armenians
and Assyrians from Turks and Kurds. |
Index to pages
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FOREWORD In presenting this story, I have been faced not only with the problem of the elimination of my own personality, but what was still more difficult. the portrayal, when one was only in close touch with his own party of approximately thirty men, of the whole scheme of operations which covered a field so large as North-West Persia. My desire has been to place on record a plain unvarnished story of our exploits in that far-away theatre of the Great War. I have carefully avoided placing myself as the centre of interest to the reader, and, only when forced, have spoken of myself in the weaving of this story. It is quite obvious to the reader that I would not have the facilities nor the opportunity of knowing the details of the whole campaign. Others on the same stunt will notice that part of their show has not been mentioned. To them I point out that this is by no means a history or a full account of the doings of the whole force, but chiefly the experience of that portion under the command of Major Staines, D.S.O. In quoting figures of the various detachments I have been guided entirely by my own observations and general reports, and, as far as I know, are correct in every respect. |
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As will be seen. I did not figure in the operation at Baku, but have as my informants, General Dunsterville, who told me the whole story at Agra, India, in December, 1918, and several other officers who took part in that sphere of operations. Therefore, with these remarks I launch this story as the truthful narrative of my experiences in North-West Persia during 1918. THE AUTHOR. |
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1918-08.
Portrait of Major General L. C. Dunsterville, British Officer of the
Indian Regular Army, leader of the Dunsterforce expedition which
included forty members of the AIF.
He is seated in a Ford car with a Russian officer and members of his staff (not seen) . The main purpose of Dunsterforce was to reorganise resistance in Mesopotamia and Persia to German penetration of Asia during the period 1918 to 1919. |
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Major-General L.C. Dunsterville, C.B., C.S.I. |
Map showing the parts of Persia and Mesopotamia over which Dunsterforce operated. |
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Captain Percy Lay, MC, DCM, MM, 8th Battalion, 1st Australian Imperial Force, also British Army in campaign 'Dunsterforce'; |
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