Kitchener's speech on fall of Kut
On 29 April 1916, after a siege lasting almost five months, 11,800 British and Indian troops surrendered the Mesopotamian town of Kut to the Turks. News of this setback, which happened just a few months after the evacuation of Gallipoli, was greeted with dismay in Britain. Kitchener's speech to the House of Lords on 4 May thus aimed to portray the surrender in a heroic light. Both the besieged troops of General Townshend (now 'in their honourable captivity') and the relief force that was sent unsuccessfully to rescue them are given fulsome praise. Recriminations were saved for a late date.
PRO 30/57/71 (4 May 1916)
Transcript
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
