The Leicestershires beyond Baghdad

In the quiet aftermath of the Great War, a handful of men who fought far from the familiar battlefields of Europe found their stories buried beneath censored reports and half‑heard rumors. A chaplain‑author, whose own regiment—the 2nd Leicestershires—was eclipsed by more celebrated Highland units, gathers letters, diaries, and personal recollections to give voice to this overlooked chapter. The opening pages set the stage in the dusty plains of Mesopotamia, where the quest to capture Baghdad became a silent test of endurance.

Readers are drawn into the daily grind of marching along the Tigris, the tension of river crossings, and the uneasy camaraderie that blossoms amid makeshift camps. The narrative balances the stark realities of combat with moments of humor and humanity, revealing how ordinary soldiers coped with heat, disease, and the constant threat of ambush. Through vivid anecdotes, the author paints a picture of a unit whose pride and resilience went unheralded.

As the campaign pushes toward the strategic railhead and the contested town of Tekrit, the tone shifts from descriptive record to a more personal reflection on loss, duty, and the yearning for recognition. The preface promises a straightforward, honest account that will help future historians piece together the larger mosaic of the Mesopotamian war.