The Defence and Evacuation
of Sidi Dris
Morocco, June – July 1921
History
The position of Sidi Dris,
established on the coast of the Rif as part of Spanish military operations in
their Moroccan protectorate. Initially occupied on March 12, 1921 by a column
of two thousand men commanded by Colonel Gabriel Morales y Mendigutia that was landed
from the merchant ships Reina
Victoria and Gandía with the support of the gunboat Lauria and a squadron of
airplanes.
Sidi Dris was located near the mouth of the Amekran River, it had
a strategic purpose to serve as both a support point for future operations
towards Alhucemas and to act as a coastal defence point, since both Alfrau & Sidi Dris were the only
maritime access points for the Riffi rebels through which they could receive shipments
of weapons by sea.
However,
its exposed location and immediate hostility from local tribes made it a
constant target and was under siege practically from the moment it was
installed. The siege culminated in the destruction of the camp on 25 July 1921,
this coming after the widespread collapse of the positions around Annual which
resulted in Sidi Dris becoming totally isolated and exposed to an all-out
attack.
Initially the garrison was commanded by Major D.
Julio Benítez, of the Ceriñola Infantry Regiment No. 42, who had a force
composed of 190 men (Benitez would be killed
heroically at Igueriben a month and a half later).
The
garrison featured an artillery battery equipped with 75mm Saint-Chamond mountain
guns commanded by
Lieutenant Galán, though these had limited
ammunition and the close terrain limited their effectiveness. In addition, they
had a radio and optical station, essential for maintaining communications with
other positions and Melilla and there was also a contingent of indigenous
police.
The
position faced its first significant test on June 2, 1921, just one day after
the fall of the nearby position of Abarrán, a setback that demonstrated the
fragility of the Spanish deployment on the Rif. That day, the Rifeños, emboldened
by their success at Abarran, launched a
coordinated attack against Sidi Dris. The garrison, led by Benítez, resisted
tenaciously, enduring a siege that tested its resources and its ability to
respond.
Gunboat Laya
They
called for support which arrived in the form of the gunboat Laya, who, taking advantage of its manoeuvrability,
managed to land a small reinforcement detachment of sixteen ratings under the
command of Pedro Pérez de Guzmán. This group, equipped with two machine guns,
manages to strengthen defences and counteract the enemy's numerical
superiority. De Guzman also took over the command of the mountain guns when Lt.
Galán was wounded and directed the gunners with great skill and personal
bravery which turned back the enemies attack. The airforce also contributed to
the defence by dropping around 50 bombs, the Laya also added her gun fire to
the defence.
Pedro Pérez de Guzmán
Due to
his actions de Guzmán was promoted to second Lieutenant and awarded the
military medal and two (2) naval medals!
However
this partial victory did not change the positions overall vulnerability and throughout
June and July, pressure across the Spanish lines intensified and their defences
began to crumble!
The
fall of Annual on July 22 and the subsequent collapse of key positions like
Igueriben left Sidi Dris isolated, with no possibility of receiving significant
supplies or reinforcements.
By July
21 the Sidi Dris garrison had
265 men, of whom 205 were Spanish and 60 were indigenous personnel, commanded
by Commander Juan Velázquez Gil de Arana second
in command of the II Battalion of the Infantry Regiment "Melilla" 59.
The garrison was made up of:
·
4th Company, 1st
Battalion, Ceriñola Regiment 42: under
the command of Lieutenant Julio Borondo Sánchez and Second Lieutenant José
Quintero Ramos, with a total of 93 troops. They were accompanied by the medical
lieutenant of the regiment's 2nd Battalion, Luis Hermida Pérez.
·
Section of the 3rd
Company, 1st Battalion, Melilla Regiment 59: under
the command of Lieutenant Ramón González Robles, with a total of 32 troops.
·
Machine Gun
Company, 2nd Battalion, Melilla Regiment 59: under
the command of Captain Sebastián Moreno Zumel and Lieutenant Felipe Acuña Díaz,
with a total of 30 troops.
·
Detachment of the
7th Battery of the Artillery Command: under
the command of Lieutenant Joaquín Fontán Lobé, with four 7.5 Saint-Chamond pieces.
·
Detachment of the
Melilla Sea Company.
·
Detachment of the
15th Indigenous Police: under the
command of Lieutenant Antonio Gómez Maristani.
·
A quartermaster detachment under the command of Lieutenant Rojo.
On July 22 the survivors of the Talilit position
(about 85 men), under the command of Captain Benigno Ferrer, managed to reach
and take refuge in Sidi Dris adding to the garrison.
But now the Riffi began a series of sustained
attacks against the position, access to water was cut off and the only supply
route – a rough, difficult track up from the beach was permanently under fire!
By July 25, the
garrison was on the brink, ammunition was scarce, and morale was broken by the
news of the general debacle.
In a
last attempt to save the defenders, an evacuation by sea was ordered, supported
by the gunboats: Laya (commanded by Capt. Don Francisco Javier de Saias) & Lauria
(commanded by Frigate Captain Don Tomás
Calvor Sancho) and the cruiser Princess of Asturias (commanded Capt. Don Eliseo Sánches Quesada).
Gunboat Lauria
Cruiser Princess Asturias
The
operation however turned into a chaotic mess, with the Riffi holding the
dominating heights and able to fire down onto soldiers trying to reach the beach
and the open sea boats from the naval vessels! A lack of coordination between
the Navy and the ground troops, aggravated by panic and lack of support fire,
this resulted in a large number of casualties and only a handful of survivors being rescued! So bad was the disaster that Commander de Arana
decided to hold Sidi Dris until the end – he died in its defence and was
awarded Laureate Cross of San Fernando for his
bravery!
Commander Juan Velázquez Gil de Arana
Game
A
tactical withdrawal under fire. The defenders must hold the line whilst their
comrades head for the beach and hopefully safety.
Game specific rules
It
takes 4 turns to reach the beach from Sidi Dris down the winding trail. There
are initially two groups of Spanish (wounded and medics plus a few soldiers),
organised to leave. The first group leaves on turn 1, the second on turn 4.
Once
the second unit has reached the beach, the remaining garrison will abandon
their posts and withdraw randomly every 3rd turn (selected by dice),
this of course will create gaps in the defences making life more difficult for
those that remain!
The
gunboat Laya sits off shore and can
assist covering the withdrawal with her guns, she has two ships boats which
take 2 turns to cross the stretch of water between the ship and shore, loading
and unloading each take an additional turn.
The Riffi
attackers can pop up all around the table chosen randomly by D8 every 3rd
turn. Two 10-figure harkas (warbands) are generated and attack the nearest
Spanish unit, be that Sidi Dris or those men trying to escape to the beach (or
on the beach itself). The harkas fight until destroyed/driven off. The Riffi
also have 6 marksmen firing at the defenders every turn.
Forces
Spanish defenders
HQ - CO, 2IC, standard, bugler, signal party
1 mixed
company of Spanish infantry (4 man HQ, 3 x 10 figure platoons)MMG
section (gun + crew)
75mm
mountain gun section (gun + crew)
Platoon
of sailors (10 figs)
Platoon
of Indigenous Police
(10 figs)Column 1 – 10 figures (mix of medics, wounded and
soldados)
Column 2 – 10 figures (as above)
Gunboat Laya
6pdr gun, 2 machine guns
Riffi harkas
10 figures (as required) rifle, sword and dagger
armed
My table
The
game ran over 9 turns
Turn 1
saw the first column leave the safety of Sidi Dris, two groups of Riffi arrived
on the table top, one southwest of the base, the other to the northwest. The Berber
marksmen pop away with little effect.
Turns 2-3
the southwest group are shot to pieces by machine gun and 75mm mountain gun fire,
but the northwest group attack a more sheltered part of the base and inflict
casualties and cause some concern. The column continues to move down towards
the beach as yet unmolested.
Turn 4
more Riffi arrive, unfortunately for the Spanish they each arrive north of Sidi
Dris and converge on the beach! At the base the Spanish company commander
gathers his 2nd platoon to reinforce no1 platoon which is in danger
of being over-run. The Berber marksmen take a few defenders this turn.
Turn 5
the 1st column is on the beach and begins loading the wounded onto the ships
boats, unfortunately they are coming under intense rife fire for the two flanking
groups of Berber and begin to suffer casualties! Luckily the Laya plants a
shell among one of the Berber groups
Turn 6
Loading complete one boat pulls away with its precious cargo, the other has
been shot to pieces and cannot sail. The Laya scores another hit with her main
gun and drives off one group of Berber. More Riffi arrive on tabletop and move
to attack Sidi Dris
Turn 7 The
second column moves down towards the beach and finds itself attacked by a band
of Riffi. Sidi Dris is under attack from four directions, none of the enemy can
penetrate the defences, but casualties are growing.
Turn 8
the Riffi fall on the column and slaughter everyone!
The
ships boat brings its survivors to the Laya
Turn 9
more Riffi arrive, with no way to reach the beach and withdraw, we assume
history has repeated itself.
