from Diyala to mirror this move, allowing the 13th Division to cross the Diyala river on 10 March. Following his defeat, Khalil Pasha abandoned Baghdad the next day, destroying the German wireless station. The Anzac signallers were amongst the first Allied troops to enter the city and were able to establish communications with Basra. In the afternoon of the 11th they were able to relay the King's congratulations on Maude's success. Dunsterforce Kurdistan Disbandment The last members of the unit returned to Australia on 20 December 1919. In total, 558 Australian signallers were sent to Mesopotamia, however only a small fraction of that number were ever in country at one time. Although the squadron did not suffer any deaths from enemy fire, disease was responsible for the deaths of 20 soldiers from the wireless squadrons. See also Mesopotamian Half Flight – a small unit of the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) which also served in Mesopotamia Royal Australian Corps of Signals Notes Footnotes Citations References Further reading Military units and formations of Australia in World War I Military units and formations established in 1915 Military units and formations disestablished in 1919 Military units and formations of New Zealand in World War I ANZAC units and formations