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Please!’ The brigadier held up his hand to silence the hubbub of protest. ‘All decisions about evaluating and transporting the sick will be made by our medics as well as the Turks.’
    â€˜That doesn’t bode well for our sick given the way the Turkish doctors dismissed the advice of our medics in Kut,’ Crabbe observed.
    â€˜All we can do is to try and make them listen.’ John finished one cigarette and lit another.
    â€˜Will we be held in Baghdad, sir?’ Lieutenant Bowditch asked.
    â€˜No, we’re being sent on into prison camps in Turkey.’
    â€˜Ranks and officers?’ Crabbe pressed
    â€˜Ranks and officers, Major Crabbe. Officers will be separated from the men at the earliest opportunity and our Indian troops will be separated from our British troops. From what the sepoys have told me, the Turks are doing all they can to try to bribe our Muslim soldiers to change sides and fight for them.’
    â€˜Our Hindu and Sikh troops, sir?’ Vincent asked.
    â€˜Are not being treated as well as our Muslim troops, or our ranks. And despite my protests the Turks absolutely refuse to allow more than one officer to remain with each regiment.
    Crabbe rose to his feet. ‘Permission to remain with the Dorsets, sir?’
    Other officers jumped to their feet and the brigadier held up his hand again. ‘I’ve been assured we’ll remain with the men until we reach Baghdad. All decisions as to deployment of officers will be made there. I’d appreciate a report on the medical situation, Major Mason.’
    â€˜Grim, sir.’ John looked to Captain Vincent. ‘Would you like to elaborate on the supply situation, captain?’
    â€˜We’re out of medical supplies, sir.’
    â€˜You’ve applied to the Turks, Captain Vincent?’
    â€˜I talked to their medical officers, sir. They don’t have medical supplies to meet the needs of their own troops, let alone ours,’ Vincent confirmed.
    â€˜Let’s hope the supply ship the Relief Force has promised us exists on more than paper and turns up soon. Anyone else want to say anything?’ The brigadier looked around the silent group of demoralised men. ‘Good night, gentlemen. Although I doubt any of us will get much sleep. I have a premonition that even worse times lie ahead, so I advise you to get as much rest as you can, while you can.’
    John lingered after the other officers dispersed. ‘Permission to discuss medical matters, sir?’
    The brigadier nodded and offered John his flask.
    â€˜I’d like to volunteer to act as rear guard and follow the men who will be marched to Baghdad, sir. Dysentery, scurvy, beriberi, and diarrhoea are endemic. If the way the Turks drove us to this point is any indication of their future behaviour towards us, they won’t be expending their resources caring for our men. Not while they treat their own ranks so abominably. I suspect that when, not if, our ranks fall out they’ll be left where they lie to die.’
    â€˜I believe your suspicions to be correct, Mason. What are you proposing?’
    â€˜That if the supply ship exists and appears, Captain Vincent set up a floating hospital on board to ferry the worse cases of sickness amongst our men to Baghdad. As we haven’t enough medical officers to delegate one to each regiment, I’d like to travel with volunteer orderlies behind the Dorsets, Norfolks, and Hampshires with whatever tents and equipment I can scrounge and set up respite centres to care for our men who can no longer walk.’
    â€˜I’d be happy to give you permission, but even should the Turks agree, they’ll insist on giving you a Turkish guard.’
    â€˜I’m aware of that, sir.’
    The brigadier lowered his voice. ‘You’ve no thoughts of escaping?’
    â€˜Not while any of our men requiring medical help remain in Turkish custody, sir.’
    â€˜You do realise that