 On 1 August 1915 , Mackinolty transferred to the Australian Imperial Force , to lead a team of thirteen other mechanics as reinforcements for an Australian Flying Corps contingent serving in the Mesopotamian campaign . He departed Melbourne nine days later aboard RMS Persia , and arrived at Basra on 1 September . Mackinolty 's team immediately joined No. 30 Squadron Royal Flying Corps ( originally the Mesopotamian Half Flight AFC ) , which moved into the city of Kut after its capture by British Empire troops in the Battle of Es Sinn . The unit took part in the Battle of Ctesiphon in November , and organised supply drops to the British and Indian garrison in Kut during the siege that lasted from December 1915 until the following April . 
