Includes 56 original illustrations and a map of the area. Our anonymous author was part of the 6th Poona Division, Indian Army, the first of the British Empire's forces to be deployed to Mesopotamia during the First World War. Fighting and marching through sweltering temperatures forced much inactivity on the British and Indian troops as much as their Turkish and Arab opponents. The author in his irreverent style remarked: "From 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. it was hot. From 9 a.m. to 12 damned hot. From 12 to 5.30 much too damned hot." The campaigning seasons in this part of the world were hot, difficult and fraught with ambush and disease. Black Tab's struggles and travails as he marches with his comrades to the relief of Kut are punctuated with witty asides, and amusing vignettes, maintaining spirits in the face of adversity. An interesting memoir from an often forgotten campaign.