X-343 - RAB Khamshi (50) Odisho Moshe
1919-2005
GK- When and where did you join the Levies?
RAB 50- I joined the Levies in Habbaniya, on the 4th-11-1937.
GK- when were you promoted to RAB 50?
RAB 50- In 1941 I was a corporal. In 42 I was a Sergeant and on the 22nd-4-1952 i was promoted to RAB 50.
GK- were you in Habbaniya in 1941?
RAB 50- Yes.
GK- what do you remember about the battle for Habbaniya?
RAB 50- Habbaniya was surrounded by the enemy. The road to Ramadi was blocked, Suglawia, a beach running along Habbaniya was blocked, the road to Baghdad was blocked, the enemy was on the plateau above Habbaniya Station. The enemy strength was estimated at 10,000.
An enemy General drove to London gate and demanded to speak to the commander of the Station. Our Levies asked him what he wanted. He said he has business with him. So the Levies escorted him to the British commander. The General was very arrogant. He told the commander to surrender the station or he burn it and everyone in it!
The day was Thursday, the commander asked him to wait until Saturday for a reply because he had to contact HQ in Cairo. The General made more demands and went back to the plateau. The commander sent an urgent telegram to Cairo informing them of the situation. On Saturday about 4.30 PM, RAF Bombers arrived and bombed the plateau. They must have had good information because they hit the enemy HQ and killed everyone there, including the General.
GK- How did the enemy react?
RAB 50- A large number fled in all directions. The CO called in all the Levie officers and ordered the Plateau to be cleared. Number 4 Assyrian company went out to clear the Plateau, they captured around 700 prisoners.
A second order was given, this time to Captain Graham, his assistant was Ramsden. They were told that number one Assyrian company [my company] was to take Falluja because the enemy was re-grouping there.
GK- Did you have Assyrian officers with you?
RAB 50- Yes, Our RAB 100 was Odisho Baznaya. The other officers were Stepo Baznaya, Ramya Barwarnaya, Beju Saranaya and Youkhana Narse Ishatnaya.
GK- Tell me about Falluja.
RAB 50- The CO told us to cross the river at night because the way was clear up to Humond Bund. We crossed and took up defensive positions on the left flank. We were ordered not to attack until our Bombers arrived. I want to thank the RAF Pilots at this time because they helped us allot. They also said we have nine Guns at Hamond Bund, and when the Bombers and the Guns finish their job, our attack will begin.
The Planes arrived and started their work, the bombing was very intense. At that time my job was a range finder and a Vickers Gunner. I calculate distance between our Guns and the enemy. Captain Graham ordered me to climb a hill full of date trees and find the distance to our Guns at Humond Bund. The climb, i don't mind saying was very difficult. I calculated the distance and gave it Captain Graham.
Then we were told to take up positions near the Bridge. Zero hour we were told was 3.45 PM, the time we would attack. The attack was led by Officer Lazar be Coca Bnemata. He led the attack with 65 Assyrian Levies. Sgt Khoshaba was wounded in the attack, right on the Bridge. The attack was very fierce, our boys wanted revenge for Semele, the enemy had two choices, stay and die or run!
We captured 18 Vickers machineguns in that attack. Then the whole company joined in the clearing of the town. I want to say that Captain Rumsden, a very brave man, drew his pistol and also started clearing the houses. The Essex regiment was on the right flank, they suffered many casualties. We took the whole town and only lost three men.
GK- I believe the enemy also had Tanks?
RAB 50- yes the Tanks came straight at us, it was after midnight, I was there with Officer Odisho and a fellow named Iskhak Nano. We were manning the Vickers and BOYS guns. We had armor piercing rounds; we fired at the Tanks not expecting results. Suddenly the first tank turned sharply to the right and ran straight into a ditch, the second tank was following the first and drove into the same ditch, they were both put out of action. A third tank tried to take the bridge so we kept all our guns at it, the driver must have panicked; he got himself stuck in a shell hole. He was also put out of action.
GK- did you serve anywhere else during the war?
RAB 50- I served in Iran, for eight months, mostly for defense of RAF bases. I stayed with the Levies until the end in 1955. Then I became a civilian.
RAB 50- I joined the Levies in Habbaniya, on the 4th-11-1937.
GK- when were you promoted to RAB 50?
RAB 50- In 1941 I was a corporal. In 42 I was a Sergeant and on the 22nd-4-1952 i was promoted to RAB 50.
GK- were you in Habbaniya in 1941?
RAB 50- Yes.
GK- what do you remember about the battle for Habbaniya?
RAB 50- Habbaniya was surrounded by the enemy. The road to Ramadi was blocked, Suglawia, a beach running along Habbaniya was blocked, the road to Baghdad was blocked, the enemy was on the plateau above Habbaniya Station. The enemy strength was estimated at 10,000.
An enemy General drove to London gate and demanded to speak to the commander of the Station. Our Levies asked him what he wanted. He said he has business with him. So the Levies escorted him to the British commander. The General was very arrogant. He told the commander to surrender the station or he burn it and everyone in it!
The day was Thursday, the commander asked him to wait until Saturday for a reply because he had to contact HQ in Cairo. The General made more demands and went back to the plateau. The commander sent an urgent telegram to Cairo informing them of the situation. On Saturday about 4.30 PM, RAF Bombers arrived and bombed the plateau. They must have had good information because they hit the enemy HQ and killed everyone there, including the General.
GK- How did the enemy react?
RAB 50- A large number fled in all directions. The CO called in all the Levie officers and ordered the Plateau to be cleared. Number 4 Assyrian company went out to clear the Plateau, they captured around 700 prisoners.
A second order was given, this time to Captain Graham, his assistant was Ramsden. They were told that number one Assyrian company [my company] was to take Falluja because the enemy was re-grouping there.
GK- Did you have Assyrian officers with you?
RAB 50- Yes, Our RAB 100 was Odisho Baznaya. The other officers were Stepo Baznaya, Ramya Barwarnaya, Beju Saranaya and Youkhana Narse Ishatnaya.
GK- Tell me about Falluja.
RAB 50- The CO told us to cross the river at night because the way was clear up to Humond Bund. We crossed and took up defensive positions on the left flank. We were ordered not to attack until our Bombers arrived. I want to thank the RAF Pilots at this time because they helped us allot. They also said we have nine Guns at Hamond Bund, and when the Bombers and the Guns finish their job, our attack will begin.
The Planes arrived and started their work, the bombing was very intense. At that time my job was a range finder and a Vickers Gunner. I calculate distance between our Guns and the enemy. Captain Graham ordered me to climb a hill full of date trees and find the distance to our Guns at Humond Bund. The climb, i don't mind saying was very difficult. I calculated the distance and gave it Captain Graham.
Then we were told to take up positions near the Bridge. Zero hour we were told was 3.45 PM, the time we would attack. The attack was led by Officer Lazar be Coca Bnemata. He led the attack with 65 Assyrian Levies. Sgt Khoshaba was wounded in the attack, right on the Bridge. The attack was very fierce, our boys wanted revenge for Semele, the enemy had two choices, stay and die or run!
We captured 18 Vickers machineguns in that attack. Then the whole company joined in the clearing of the town. I want to say that Captain Rumsden, a very brave man, drew his pistol and also started clearing the houses. The Essex regiment was on the right flank, they suffered many casualties. We took the whole town and only lost three men.
GK- I believe the enemy also had Tanks?
RAB 50- yes the Tanks came straight at us, it was after midnight, I was there with Officer Odisho and a fellow named Iskhak Nano. We were manning the Vickers and BOYS guns. We had armor piercing rounds; we fired at the Tanks not expecting results. Suddenly the first tank turned sharply to the right and ran straight into a ditch, the second tank was following the first and drove into the same ditch, they were both put out of action. A third tank tried to take the bridge so we kept all our guns at it, the driver must have panicked; he got himself stuck in a shell hole. He was also put out of action.
GK- did you serve anywhere else during the war?
RAB 50- I served in Iran, for eight months, mostly for defense of RAF bases. I stayed with the Levies until the end in 1955. Then I became a civilian.
RAB 50 Odisho Moshe-RAB 50 Iskhak Dinkha-Sgt Benyamin Shlimon
...Three days after this victory, the enemy delivered a very well timed counter attack with the object; it was subsequently learned, of securing a hold on the Bridge in order to blow it up. Our own forces in the town had been reduced, and the guns which had covered from the breach in Hammond's Bund had been withdrawn so that when the enemy delivered a sudden attack with Infantry and light tanks at 0300 hours local time on the 22 May, they were able to drive in our very weak outposts and penetrate into the Town. At one moment the situation looked serious, but a stout hearted counter attack by two Assyrian Companies of Levies and a series of extremely effective dive bombing attacks on the enemy Infantry approaching the Town broke up the enemy attack and finally restored the situation. ]
Air Vice-Marshal, B A Casey Commanding Royal Air Force in Iraq.
Air Vice-Marshal, B A Casey Commanding Royal Air Force in Iraq.
