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diff --git a/17109.txt b/17109.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..11a016d --- /dev/null +++ b/17109.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5448 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Through Palestine with the 20th Machine Gun +Squadron, by Unknown + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Through Palestine with the 20th Machine Gun Squadron + +Author: Unknown + +Release Date: November 19, 2005 [EBook #17109] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THROUGH PALESTINE WITH THE *** + + + + +Produced by Suzanne Lybarger, Sigal Alon and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + +[Transcriber's note: + +1. Some of the biblical references in the original seem to be mistaken. All +the references were left as in the original. The following is a list of +uncertain references, usually together with a possible alternate reference. + + +Footnote Original Suggestion + +[7] III Kings i II Kings i + Zech. iv, 5 Zech. ix, 5 + +[10] Judges l, 18 Judges i, 18 + Jeph. ii, 4 Zeph. ii, 4 + +[13] Matt. xii, 40 ? + Acts x, 9 Several times in Acts x, but not verse 9 + +[15] II Kings ii, 11 II Kings ii, 15 + +[20] Judges iv, 3 Judges vi, 33 + v, 21 Mentions the Kishon which borders Esdraelon + vi, 1 Judges vii, 1 + +[21] Psalms xxxix, 12 Psalms lxxxix, 12 + +[25] Deut. xiv, 5 ? + I Kings iv, 23 I Kings iv, 11 mentions Dor, a village in + the vicinity + xviii, 13 xviii, 19 + Isa. lv, 12 ? + +[29] II Kings vi II Kings v + vii ? + xiii ? + xv ? + +[30] John i, 47 ? + +[34] Josh. xiii, 2 Josh. xiii, 5 + Judges iii, 1 Judges iii, 3 + II Chron. ii, 2 II Chron. ii, 8 or 16 + Isa. xxxv, 17 Isa. xxxv, 2 + +[40] I Kings xviii, 34 II Kings xviii, 34 + xix, 13 II Kings xix, 13 + +2. As there is no one way to transcribe Arabic and Hebrew place names, I +left all the names as they appear in the original. Nevertheless, I tried to +keep consistency and used a single spelling when a place was mentioned +using two possible spellings. + +3. The inconsistency of capitalization (e.g., Sub-section/sub-section, +Sergeant/sergeant) and punctuation (mostly inside/outside quotation marks) +are thus in the original book.] + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + + +Through Palestine + +with the + +Twentieth + +Machine-Gun + +Squadron. + +Printed and Published +for private circulation + +by + +J.M. BAXTER & CO., +20 Appold Street, +London--E.C.2. + + + + +Foreword. + + +This Booklet has been compiled with the object of enabling the members of +the 20th Machine-Gun Squadron to recall the principal incidents in its +history, as well as to allow their friends and relations to obtain some +idea of their experiences whilst they were serving with the Egyptian +Expeditionary Force. + +Although no pains have been spared to obtain accuracy, the statements made +must, necessarily, not be regarded as _absolutely_ authoritative. + +Beyond doubt, many brave deeds, fully deserving of mention in these pages, +must have been unavoidably overlooked, in which case the leniency of +readers is requested. + +In view of the probability that the incidents described herein may be read +by many persons who have not been to the East, explanations have frequently +been included, which might appear to some as unnecessary. + +The writer is indebted to several members of the Squadron for their +valuable assistance, without which, obviously, it would have been very +difficult to have given an adequate account of any particular incident at +which he was not present in person. + +THE AUTHOR. + +_1st July 1920._ + + + + +Glossary. + + +The following are a few descriptive terms which occur in the following +pages, with place-names, and the abbreviations used:-- + +ABU Father. +AIN Spring. +BEIT House. +BIRKETT Pool. +BIR Well. +DEIR Monastery. +ED, EL, ER, ES, EZ The definite article THE +JEBEL Mountain. +JISR Bridge. +KEFR Village. +KAHN Inn. +KHURBET (abbrev. KH.) Ruin. +MAKHADET Ford. +NAHR River. +NEBY A Prophet. +RAS Head, cape, top. +SHEIKH (abbrev. SH.) Chief, elder, saint. +TEL Mound (especially one covering ruins). +WADI A watercourse (normally dry). + + +TIME. + +The following table shows the military method of stating the time which is +used throughout this book:-- + +1 a.m. 01.00 +2 " 02.00 +3.15 " 03.15 +6.45 " 06.45 +12 midday 12.00 +1 p.m. 13.00 +2.35 " 14.35 +3.50 " 15.50 +8 " 20.00 +10 " 22.00 +12 midnight 24.00 +12.15 a.m. 00.15 + + + + +THROUGH PALESTINE WITH THE 20TH MACHINE-GUN SQUADRON. + + + + +PART I. + + +FORMATION OF THE SQUADRON. + +It was on the 4th July 1917 that authority was given to the 7th Mounted +Brigade (then at Ferry-Post, Ismailia), for the formation of a MACHINE-GUN +SQUADRON to be known as the "20th." It was to consist of "Headquarters" and +only three sub-sections, there being but two regiments (instead of the +usual three) in the 7th Brigade. + +On July 4th, Lieut. E.P. Cazalet and Lieut. E.B. Hibbert, machine gun +officers of the Notts (Sherwood Rangers) Yeomanry and South Notts Hussars +respectively, brought their sub-sections to the new camp. Lieut. C.D. +Macmillan also arrived from the "S.N.H." From these two regiments there +came, in all, 3 officers, 121 men and 98 animals (horses and mules). The +"A" Sub-section was formed of "S.R.Y." men; the "B" Sub-section of "S.N.H." +men, "C" Sub-section being composed of both "S.R.Y." and "S.N.H." men. + +From the commencement, the Squadron "carried on" under very difficult +conditions, as, out of its total strength of 121, only 30 men were +qualified gunners, and 63 had never previously been attached to a Machine +Gun Section. Then there were fresh animals to draw from "Remounts" besides +new saddlery and equipment from "Ordnance". The health of the Squadron, +also, was at first none too good; a large number of men had contracted +malaria whilst with the Brigade in Salonica, and many others were liable to +septic sores, after two years' sojourn in Egypt, Suvla and Salonica. From +time to time, seven days' leave was granted to small parties to the Rest +Camp, Port Said, and lucky were those men whose turn it was to go! + +In due course, on July 30th 1917, Lieut. D. Marshall (Fife & Forfar +Yeomanry), arrived from the 4th "M.G." Company. He had been "posted" as +Commanding Officer, and "took over" from Lieut. Cazalet; shortly afterwards +he was promoted to the rank of Captain. + +The first reinforcements to reach the Squadron from the training centre at +Maresfield Park, England, were Ptes. Ramsay and Wick on August 4th 1917. +Pte. Ramsay at once took up the duties of orderly-room clerk, and was +subsequently promoted sergeant. The work of equipping, organising and +training were hurried on, the new guns tested on the range, and at length, +on August 6th, the Squadron was inspected with the Brigade by General +Bailloud. + +On August 8th, Capt. E. Davies (previously with the 7th Brigade in Egypt) +arrived from "leave" in the United Kingdom, and was posted to the Squadron +as "second in command". Orders were received on August 10th that the +Brigade would move to the Palestine front on the 12th--within a month of +the M.G. Squadron being formed! + + +OUR TREK TO AMR, THROUGH THE DESERT OF THE SINAI PENINSULA. + +The forthcoming continuous trek (which lasted 18 days) through the desert +at the hottest time of the year was no light task for a new unit to +contemplate, and the two days in which to make all the preparations were +none too many; yet, everything _was_ ready by the time ordered for parade, +and from that moment the "20TH M.G. SQUADRON" became a fighting force! +There was, however, a lot of training still to be done, before it could +hope to play its proper part in active operations. + +The organisation of the transport for the unit was one of the greatest +difficulties to be overcome. No one, unless he has actually seen it, would +believe the energy required to pull even a lightly loaded wheeled vehicle +through the desert sand, which, in places, is of the soft "silver" variety +found at many English seaside resorts. + +Each "G.S." (general service) limbered wagon is designed to carry about a +ton, and is drawn by 4 mules. On this occasion, however, 4 cwts. was the +maximum load, and for this 6 mules were required in every case. In spite of +such a team, the going was hard enough, in very truth, and sore shoulders +were not uncommon, owing to the mules being so "soft," and the new +breast-collars so hard! + +It was not long before the advantage a "M.G." Squadron possesses, in being +able to change "pack" mules to "draught" and _vice versa_, was seen, this +method relieving sore shoulders and sore backs by one simple operation. +Although an early start was made every day, many miles had to be traversed +with the sun right overhead; the afternoon was usually well advanced before +the horses had been watered, lines put down, and shelters erected, +blankets, rifles, bayonets and bits of string being used for this purpose. + +The following were the days' marches:-- + +1917. + +August 12th to El Ferdan. + " 13th " Kantara (Hill 70). Long day in great heat. + " 14th at Kantara drawing ordnance stores. + " 15th to Pelusium 13 miles. + " 16th " Romani 7 miles. Heavy going. + " 17th " Khirba 14 miles. + " 18th " Bir el Abd 7 miles. Heavy going. + " 19th " Tilul, watering at Salmana. + " 20th " Bir el Masar 8 miles. + " 21st " Maadan 15 miles. Very heavy going and particularly hot. + " 22nd " Bardawil 8 miles. Good going. + " 23rd " El Arish 8 miles. Heavy going. + " 24th Rested. + " 25th to El Burd 11 miles. + " 26th " Sheikh Zowaid, by the shore. Very heavy. + " 27th " Rafa. + " 28th at Rafa obtaining stores which were sent forward by rail. + " 29th to Amr into camp, 1 mile south of railway. + +It may here be mentioned that, at this time, the Kantara Military Railway +had been completed as far as Shellal, and whilst on the march, rations and +forage were drawn from "dumps" which had been placed at intervals along the +line. As regards drinking water, this was brought up every day on camels. +The supply of water was not too plentiful by any means, and it required a +certain amount of care and self-restraint to make it last the appointed +time, in fact, strict water-discipline was very necessary among all ranks. +It was a tired but wiser Squadron that arrived at Amr! Many were the +difficulties that had been overcome, and many the hardships that had been +silently endured! + + +THE SQUADRON AT AMR. + +Having arrived at Amr, further progress was made in the training of the +unit. Each day one man was "told off" to three animals, the remainder thus +being free for work on the gun. The "horse-men" did one hour on the gun, +remainder of day on animals. "Gun-numbers" worked one hour at stables and +the remainder of the day on the gun. The daily routine was as +follows:--Reveille 04.30; Parades, 06.30 to 10.00 and 15.00 to 17.30. +Horses were watered twice (from troughs at the railway), and fed four times +a day. + +As early as September 8th, there was a test "turn-out" of the Squadron in +full marching order, with guns on packs. The new regulations regarding +rations and forage included "Iron" and two days' emergency-rations (in +wallets) for the man, and one day's emergency-forage (9 lbs. of grain), in +a "sandbag" rolled in a ground-sheet and carried on the front arch of the +saddle, for the horse, in addition to the two days' forage carried in the +nosebags; furthermore one day's rations and forage were carried on the +wagons. The time taken for the turn-out was actually 2 hours 10 minutes. No +doubt many members who read this will smile at the recollection of the +incident--and well they might! Three days later the Squadron paraded in +exactly _half_ that time, and when, on September 13th, there was a test +Divisional "turn-out," all that was needed was 44 minutes--not a bad +achievement for marching-order with nothing ready! + +On September 13th the formation of a fourth Sub-section was approved. It +was just about this time that the "Khamseen" became very troublesome. This +is a strong wind that blows at this season of the year, particularly in the +afternoon. The soil at Amr being a mixture of fine sand and dust, the +result can be better imagined than described; it was so bad that on two +days training was entirely suspended! + +"Mounted" training was started on September 22nd, and in the absence, at +that time, of any "set" official-drill (one actually did exist, but was +known only to those who had passed through the Machine-Gun Cavalry training +centre in England of whom there were not half-a-dozen in the Squadron), the +O.C. (Capt. D. Marshall) thought out, and perfected, a drill that was easy +to pick up, and was one which, in all respects, fulfilled requirements. +Everything was proceeding most satisfactorily, the men were keen, and, +towards the end of September, firing practice was started on a 25-yard +range. Everybody fired the course. + +In a Machine-Gun Squadron every man is mounted on a horse (some Squadrons, +however, had mules for draught as did the "20th"), except the cooks, who +are allowed bicycles. As the speed of bicycles in the middle of a desert +proved to be quite out of proportion to the labour expended, 13 donkeys +were finally issued in lieu thereof. These splendid little animals were +found to be very useful, besides providing a source of amusement for a +long time to come. In camp they would play about just like dogs, standing +up on their hind legs and romping about with each other. The natives' usual +method of riding a donkey in the East is rather comical. They sit _well_ to +the rear, in fact right over the hind-quarters, and with their feet +forward, these they wave in and out between the animal's legs, and thereby +make him increase his pace. A turn to either flank is accomplished by their +hitting him on the neck with a stick, or putting their toe in his eye! + +[Illustration] + +On October 1st-3rd "A" Sub-section went on a reconnaissance with the +Brigade, which, however, was "in support" at Reshid Beck, and not called +upon for active work. Meanwhile the training continued--Squadron drill, +section schemes and N.C.O.'s rides. The completion of the Squadron to the +full establishment of six Sub-sections (12 guns) was sanctioned on October +9th, although the supply of horses was stated to be doubtful. On that date +the Squadron was inspected by the G.O.C. the Brigade, Brig.-Gen. J.T. +Wigan, C.M.G., D.S.O. + + +DRAFT FROM MARESFIELD PARK, ENGLAND. + +Lieut. Raynor arrived with 47 "O.R.'s" on Oct. 9th. These were part of a +draft of 15 officers and 250 men under Capt. R.O. Hutchinson, who had left +England on September 13th. Before starting on their journey the draft had +been complimented upon their appearance by the C.O. of the Training Centre, +and told that "they should consider themselves lucky to be going to a +country where real cavalry tactics could be employed". And so it proved to +be! This draft arrived at Alexandria on September 27th, and proceeded to +the M.G.C. Base Depot, Helmieh, Cairo, after a very pleasant but uneventful +journey, via Southampton, Havre, Marseilles and Malta. The journey through +France was by a route not previously used for troops, and the French people +were very friendly and enthusiastic, cheering frequently. Apparently the +population here were not accustomed to the sight of British troops. At +Marseilles they embarked on H.M.T. "Minetonka" (a splendid ship, but very +crowded), which, being built for the North-Atlantic traffic, was rather hot +for the Mediterranean. Two very efficient Japanese destroyers escorted her +throughout the whole journey. + +At first, it was thought that the "draft" was intended to form an entirely +new unit, but they had not long been in Egypt before officers and men were +posted to various existing Squadrons. The importance of this draft is +indicated, to some extent, by the fact that within a short time every +Machine Gun Squadron in the E.E.F. (except one), was commanded by an +officer who had come out with it. + + +PREPARATIONS FOR WAR. + +Early in October 1917, the C.O.'s of units were informed of the approaching +operations against the enemy, and given a general idea of the plan of +campaign. On the 17th of the month, Headquarters and three Sub-sections +marched, with the Brigade, across the desert to Bir el Esani. The country, +up to this point, was patrolled by the Imperial Camel Corps (I.C.C.), and +it might be termed the limit of the country so far in British occupation, +as, at Esani, patrols of British and Turks were frequently in the habit of +watering their horses in the wadi _when the other was not about_! The next +day (October 18th), a reconnaissance was made across the Wadi Mirtaba and +towards Goz-el-Naam. "B" and "C" Sub-sections were attached to the "S.R.Y." +and "S.N.H." but saw no "targets" to justify the opening of machine-gun +fire. "A" Sub-section was in reserve. The following day (the 19th), the +Brigade returned to Amr. The experience gained by the Machine Gun Squadron +during these operations proved to be most valuable; the animals were fit, +but certainly rather fagged; the transport was found to be too heavily +loaded, and the pack-animals were also tired. + +Orders were now received that when operations started the Squadron would +move out five Sub-sections strong. This would mean a severe test for "D" +and "E" Sub-sections. "D" Sub-section under Lieut. Raynor, was well in +hand, although only formed a few weeks previously, but the equipment for +"E" (and "F") had only just been drawn! + + +HIGH-SPEED WORK. + +On October 20th, Lieut. Price, M.C., Lieut. Millman and Sec.-Lieut. Kindell +(all from the recent draft from Maresfield) arrived at the Camp. Lieut. +Price at once took over the organization of "E"; Lieut. Millman was +nominally posted to "F" and Sec.-Lieut. Kindell supernumerary, for the time +being. It could hardly be said that the formation of "E" Sub-section had +been "rushed"! The term is hardly suitable--"Cyclonic" would be nearer the +mark! It literally had horses and equipment issued to it one day, and was +fighting the next. At length, on October 25th, definite orders were +received for the first phase of the projected operations against Beersheba +to be undertaken, and, the next day, Sec.-Lieut. Kindell and three O.R.'s +(Ptes. Carr, Ineson and Marshall), with representatives from other units of +the Brigade, proceeded with the Staff Captain and Brigade Intelligence +Officer, to Esani, in order to "take-over" the camping area and reconnoitre +the outpost-line there. + +Lieut. Macmillan and five O.R.'s (Ptes. J. Howlett, A. Jacques, S. Morris, +A. Tivey and E.A. Riley), who were chosen as stout-hearted men, reported to +Col. Newcombe, R.E., D.S.O., at Gamli, for special duty. Bad luck attended +them, however! The whole party was captured a few days later.[1] + +The following is the official account of this adventure:-- + + "To assist in completing the rout of the Turkish troops retiring + from Beersheba, a small mobile force on camels, consisting of Lewis + gunners, machine gunners, and a few Sudanese Arab scouts, under + Lieut.-Col. S.F. Newcombe, R.E., D.S.O., left Asluj on October 30. + It had a number of machine guns and Lewis guns, a large quantity of + small-arms ammunition, and carried three days' rations. Moving + rapidly, it established its headquarters at Yutta, and on October + 31 occupied some high ground west of, and commanding the road + between Dhaheriyeh and Hebron. It was hoped that the Turks, + retiring by night from Beersheba, would encounter this force, + which, taking them by surprise, would, by its large fire-power put + them to rout, and cause a general debacle on the Turkish left-wing. + However, as the Anzac Mounted Division had cut the road further + south, the Turkish forces from Beersheba retired north to Tel esh + Sheria. The force, nevertheless, succeeded in intercepting and + capturing the motor transport with supplies, which was endeavouring + to reach Beersheba from Jerusalem. + + "The Turks were surprised by the appearance of this force, and + having no idea of its numbers, despatched the 12th Depot Regiment + from Hebron, and the 143rd Regiment from Tel esh Sheria--six + battalions in all--to dislodge it. It held out resolutely, but, + after sustaining heavy casualties and having exhausted all its + ammunition, was obliged to surrender on November 2 or 3." + +The personnel (32 O.R.'s) and equipment of "F" Sub-sections, were sent to +"Brigade Details" at Gamli under Lieut. Millman, no horses being then +available. + +[Illustration] + + FOOTNOTES: + + [1] _Note: (Lieut. Macmillan returned to Alexandria on 21st November + 1918 from Smyrna, as a repatriated prisoner of war.)_ + + + + +PART II. + +The Beersheba Campaign. + + +MARCH TO ESANI. + +On the morning of October 28th 1917, the Squadron marched from Amr, across +the 16 miles of desert to Esani. It consisted of-- + + Seven officers, 182 men, 10 guns, 156 riding horses, 70 draught and + 31 pack animals, 13 donkeys; with transport of ("A" Echelon), water + cart, 12 limbered G.S. wagons; ("B.1" Echelon) three L.G.S. wagons, + carrying reserve day's forage and rations; ("B.2" Echelon) one G.S. + wagon. + +So far as can be ascertained now, the following were the W.O. and N.C.O.'s +of the Squadron at this time:-- + + _Headquarters_: S.S.M. Larwood, S.Q.M.S. Harrison, Far.-Sergt. + Robertson, Transport-Sergt. Conuel, Sig.-Corpl. Billam, S.S.-Corpl. + Holmes, Saddler-Corpl. Mellett. + + _"A" Sub-section_: Sergt. Fisher, Lance-Corpl. Rouse, Lance-Corpl. + Keetley. + + _"B" Sub-section_: Sergt. Potts, Corpl. Hazlehurst, Lance-Corpl. + Hughes, Lance-Corpl. Peadon. + + _"C" Sub-section_: Sergt. Wright, Corpl. Gill, Nos. 1. Pte. S. Kidd, + Pte. P. Lee. + + _"D" Sub-section_: Sergt. Fleet, Corpl. Barrett, Lance-Corpl. Green, + Lance-Corpl. Marriott. + + _"E" Sub-section_: Sergt. O'Neill, Corpl. Franklin, Lance-Corpl. + Grice, Lance-Corpl. Thompson. + +Upon arrival at their destination, everyone who had previously been there, +on reconnaissance, was struck by the great changes that had taken place +within such a short time; the locality had, in fact, become one huge camp. +There were armoured cars, R.E.s, motor-tractors, besides thousands of +camels--indeed, every branch of the service was represented. Incidentally, +it may be mentioned that these preparations were not hidden from the Turks, +whose aeroplanes came over every day and dropped bombs, without, however, +doing much damage. + +The camping site for the Squadron proved to be in a wide gully, leading up +from the Wadi Ghuzze, between two hills. After watering in the wadi (to +reach which a rather steep slope had to be negotiated), "lines" were put up +and the new bivouac sheets recently issued, erected, after which, having +had something to eat, the Squadron was able to enjoy a well-earned rest. In +the very early hours of the following morning "C" Sub-section, under +Sec.-Lieut. Kindell (who now took command in the absence of Lieut. +Macmillan), proceeded with the "S.R.Y." to take up the day outpost-line +some few miles north-east of Reshid Beck. It soon became evident that the +Turk had intended to occupy this line, as he contested it with rifle fire; +he was, however, _just a little too late_ and had to withdraw! The position +we now occupied afforded splendid observation of all the surrounding +country. In fact, the ground dropped abruptly to a plain several miles +wide, cut by wadis and studded with low mounds; on the right the Wadi +Ghuzze with a narrow stream of water on one side, wended its way across the +plain, almost to our lines. + +[Illustration] + +On the other side of the plain, on the banks of the wadi, the tents of a +Turkish camp could plainly be seen, and (by the aid of a pair of field +glasses), the Turks themselves, going about their work. During the day +various officers from an infantry division came up to the post in order to +view the ground, over which, they stated, they were going to attack, in two +days' time. At dusk our troops withdrew through the night-outpost line; "C" +Sub-section, with the one limber that accompanied it, returned to camp, +independently. On this day the Squadron watering-party was bombed by +hostile aircraft, but no casualties occurred. October 30th was spent in +"resting," and in the afternoon every man was directed to lie down in his +"bivvy" from 13.00 to 17.00 hrs. (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.)! Upon being asked by +the Orderly Officer why he was not complying with this order, one man +remarked to his pal: "Well, that's the first time I've been stopped doing +work in the Army"! It was, however, very necessary, as, that night at 20.30 +(8.30 p.m.), the Brigade, commanded by Brig.-Gen. J.T. Wigan, C.M.G., +D.S.O., started on its approach-march after watering. + + +THE APPROACH-MARCH TO BEERSHEBA. + +The "going" was, most of the way, through thick sand with a lot of green +scrub. Doubtless, everybody who took part in that march will ever remember +the incidents and details of the operations--and the indescribable dust. +Temperature very cold; "loads off"; "loads on"; at frequent intervals. +So--on, through the night; generally at the walk, occasionally trotting; +hearing, at one point, intermittent rifle-fire (on the left flank), and, +with now and then, "VERY LIGHTS" being put up. Later on, a white stone +building was passed (apparently unoccupied) called "Ibn Said". + +After several hours' marching, a road and a narrow gauge Turkish railway +were crossed, both of which were understood to lead to Beersheba. At +length, the position was reached on Itwail El Semin, 7 miles south of +Beersheba, just before daybreak, where the transport ("A" Echelon) soon +found us. "A" and "B" Sub-sections were immediately attached to the +"S.R.Y." and "S.N.H." respectively, and took up positions in front of +Ras-Hablein and Goz-el-Naam. + +It was not long before it became evident that there _was_ "something +doing". Yes, the great event for which the Squadron had been preparing +since its formation was about to take place! The 7th Mounted Brigade found +itself "up against" a series of strongly-held trenches on Ras-Hablein to +Ras-Ghannam. The 60th Infantry Division was on its left and the Australians +on its right. The plan of attack, as given in the official publication: "_A +Brief Record of the Advance of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force_" was as +follows:-- + + "... for the 60th and 74th Divisions to seize the enemy works + between the Khalasa Road and the Wadi Saba, while the defences + north of the Wadi were masked by the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade + and two battalions of the 53rd Division. The Anzac Mounted + Division, Australian Mounted Division and 7th Mounted Brigade were + to attack the defences of the town from the north-east, east and + south-east". + +The progress of the attack all along the line could be seen from the top of +Itwail. The Turk, everywhere, clung tenaciously to his main positions. +During the whole morning and afternoon, rifle and shell-fire were continued +on both sides. "B" Sub-section covered the advance of the "S.N.H." The +Essex Battery R.H.A., in action at this time, came in for a bad quarter of +an hour, but fortunately escaped with slight casualties, when, at 16.00 (4 +p.m.) orders were issued to attack Beersheba! + +The Brigade at once formed up in a cloud of dust, and, led by its General +as if on a ceremonial parade at home, started off at the trot to the +attack. Soon, the dust became so dense (especially in the centre of the +Brigade), that it was impossible to see two yards in front. After going a +mile or two, a halt was made under cover of a hill for a few minutes, then +on again. To the surprise of everyone, little opposition was now offered, +and it soon became apparent that the Turk had fled, although reinforced +during the day, the sight of an English Cavalry Brigade advancing, proving +too much for him! Another halt, another trot, then the position was taken! + + +WE TAKE TURKISH TRENCHES. + +Until quite recently, the Turk had been content merely to patrol the +country south and east of Beersheba, but our concentration at Esani had +made him uneasy about his left flank, and he had hastily dug a line of +trenches and manned them, hoping to put up a strong opposition to our +advance. These were the trenches we had now taken; and they constituted a +strong position too, the hills being particularly steep in front of them. + +Having captured the position and enjoyed a short rest, the Brigade pushed +on again after dark--this time in column of route, but "at the walk," as it +was "pitch-black" and the ground rough and rocky. Well on in the evening, a +welcome change in the going occurred, as we came out upon a road (the same +one crossed in the morning); a proper road, a _real_ road like one at home +in England! It seemed strange, indeed, after the miles of desert; the +horses appreciated it too! Later, the moon having risen, a long halt was +made, after which the road towards Beersheba was resumed. Every mile or so, +by the wayside were now passed remains of Turkish camps, dead animals, +overturned wagons, abandoned ammunition, etc., etc. The enemy had evidently +left in "some" haste. But there were still isolated parties of the enemy in +the hills, from which direction shots could be heard from time to time. + + +BEERSHEBA AT LAST! + +After a long and gruelling journey, during which everyone was dead tired +and the horses badly in need of water, the outskirts of the "town" of +Beersheba were at last reached. Here the Squadron halted, whilst the units +in front "watered". It then became known to us that Beersheba had already +been occupied by the Australians, who, no doubt, had come in from the +flank. As regards the "water," this was contained in a long stone trough, +and, although it was thick with mud, it was all that could be had. Yet, of +this filth the animals drank deeply, not having tasted a drop of liquid +_for 24 hours_! + +After "watering," a camping-area for the night was allotted to the Squadron +near by. The animals having been off-saddled and fed, everyone was glad to +be able to lie down in his clothes and snatch some sleep during the few +remaining hours, until it was time to "stand to" in the morning. Before +daybreak the Squadron saddled-up and moved off into the plain outside the +town. Here it halted in "Line of Sub-section Column" and dismounted. No +sooner had the sun risen, however, when machine-gun fire broke out from all +directions. At once the order was given to extend for rifle fire. Everyone +expected to see the dust thrown up all round by the thousands of bullets +which were being fired, and prepared for a great melee, but--nothing +happened! _A perfect tornado of fire_ and nothing whatever could be seen! +After a few minutes, to the surprise of all, everything was quiet again! +The explanation was obtained afterwards: all that had happened was that a +Boche plane had appeared over our outpost line. He must, certainly, have +had a hot reception! + +Then "lines" were put down, animals off-saddled again and a much needed +wash-up and shave indulged in--after watering and stables. To feel clean +once more and to be able to have a sleep in the heat of the day, which at +this time was intense (in spite of the cold nights), was a treat enjoyed by +all. + +Beersheba was very disappointing. Instead of being a town, as Europeans +understand that term, a place where one can buy such things as cigarettes +and something to eat, nothing at all was obtainable, and the only buildings +in it, that were not mud huts, were empty.[2] + +During our stay at Beersheba, enemy planes, often flying quite low, paid us +several visits, for whose benefit one Sub-section always had its guns +mounted for anti-aircraft work. On one of these raids two men and several +animals, in an Australian Field Ambulance a couple of hundred yards from +the Squadron Camp, were killed. One man had a "narrow shave". He was +standing beside his horse when the plane appeared, and, for safety, he +jumped into a trench that happened to be at hand still holding the reins. +The animal was killed, but he himself escaped without a scratch! + + FOOTNOTES: + + [2] _Beersheba--"Well of the oath": See Genesis, chaps. xxi and xxvi, + v. 23 and 32._ + + +THE COASTAL SECTOR. + +To the 21st Infantry Corps in front of Gaza, had been given the task of +attracting enemy reserves to that neighbourhood, thus to lighten the task +of the troops on the right of the line, in the capture of Beersheba. On +October 27th, a bombardment of the elaborate Gaza defences had been +commenced, assisted by the Navy, and on the night of November 1st-2nd, +"Umbrella Hill" was captured, followed in the early morning _by the whole +of the front-line system of trenches_. + + +OPERATIONS AT TEL KHUWEILFEH. + +After a day's rest, the 7th Mounted Brigade started off again (on November +2nd) at 08.30. "C" Sub-section reported to the "S.N.H."; "D" Sub-section +to the "S.R.Y." The Transport ("B.1" Echelon) just arrived as the Squadron +was timed to move off, and rations had to be issued out on parade. [It may +here be mentioned that the transport had had a "rough time," and without +having accurate knowledge of what was happening to the Brigade, owing to +the many difficulties of communication _en route_, did splendidly in +arriving even when it did.] + +The railway being crossed, the Brigade "carried on," along a sort of old +track north of Beersheba for about 10 miles, where a halt was called. A +short description of the country hereabouts would not, perhaps, be out of +place. Doubtless other people will read this record besides the members of +the Squadron who have seen the "beauties" of that remote part of the world; +a brief reference to the characteristics of the locality may, therefore, be +appreciated by those who would like to spend a short holiday there! + +Now, the ground itself, baked hard by the tropical sun and total absence of +water, is covered with stones, it has practically no vegetation whatever, +any scrub, at all resembling a tree, being something to remark upon. Parts +of the country, however, are cultivated by the natives during the winter +and spring, but at the time of our campaign everything was quite bare. +Then, there are no roads; the tracks made by the natives are inches deep in +dust, which, when used by troops, rises in dense clouds, choking one's nose +and eyes, besides "caking" on the face, so that in a very short time every +man more resembles a performer in a minstrel troupe rather than a soldier +in His Majesty's Army. Everywhere hills are to be seen, upon which there +are outcrops of rock. Upon these hills, also, a small bushy plant manages +to grow (a kind of thyme), which has a very pungent smell. + +In front of the halting place, mentioned above, was a plain about a mile +wide; on each side of this was a range of hills. The "S.R.Y." and "D" +Sub-section made towards Khuweilfeh on their left front, and the "S.N.H." +and "C" Sub-section set off half-right towards the hills. The "S.N.H." met +but slight opposition from the enemy, which they easily overcame. Pushing +forward and taking, on the way, two field-guns and two ambulances abandoned +by the Turks, they, at length, gained the highest point (Ras en Nukb); from +here could be seen the Turkish position on the other side of the plain, +being attacked by the "S.R.Y." + + +A DIFFICULT PROPOSITION. + +It was clear that no further advance could be made until the Turks on the +left were dislodged. This seemed to be a difficult proposition, as enemy +reinforcements could be seen coming up in great numbers. Towards evening an +attempt was made to attack them on the other side, but the ground being +found to be very rocky, and after being shelled considerably and night +setting in, orders were received to withdraw. Then the "S.N.H." came right +back to the point where they had left the Brigade, and "C" Sub-section +remained with them for that night. After several attempts had been made to +bring in the captured guns, it was decided it was impossible to retain +them, so they were turned over a precipice. + +The next morning (November 3rd) before daylight, the "S.N.H." and "C" +Sub-section set out again, and occupied the same position which they had +evacuated the previous night, being relieved about 10.00 by the +Australians. They had, however, to stand-by for a time, as the Turks showed +signs of attacking. On the way back to the Brigade they passed British +infantry on the way up to the attack, moving under artillery fire, which +on both sides was very lively just then. + +In the meantime "D" Sub-section had been having an adventure; the following +incident being related by one who was present:-- + + "D'S" ADVENTURE. + + "Shortly after leaving the Brigade," he writes, "we came into + action on a ridge and gave overhead fire, while the S.R.Y. attacked + the enemy position which was on another ridge about 1,800 yards + off. After a short time, in order to get closer to the enemy, we + advanced to an intervening ridge about 900 yards, bringing us this + distance from the enemy. During this advance, which was carried out + at the gallop, we were subjected to very heavy machine-gun fire, + through which we were lucky to come with the loss of only one pack + mule. The second position was a good one, and we were able to bring + very effective fire on to the enemy who were in a similar position + to ourselves, only rather higher up. Observation was very bad owing + to the hard ground. + + "After being in action for a considerable time and having fired a + large quantity of ammunition, we suddenly became aware that we were + entirely "on our own," not one S.R.Y. or a man of any other unit to + be seen. Mr. Raynor went back to try to re-establish communication, + and just as it was rapidly getting dark he sent up an orderly to + tell us to come out of action, and to lead us down into a gulley + below the position we held, where he was. When we arrived at what + the guide thought was the spot, however, it was quite dark, indeed + "pitch black". He was nowhere to be found, and after sending out + scouts in all directions, and still being unable to find him in the + darkness, we took the opportunity to feed the horses. After a + short rest and being under the impression that the Brigade had + advanced (from information previously obtained) we advanced too! + After passing our former position, and descending the steep slope + beyond, we at last sighted a light, and sent out a man (Pte. + Chantry) to reconnoitre. Our surprise can be imagined, when he got + to within a hundred yards of it he was fired at. It was a party of + Turks! They immediately 'stood to' and let us have it 'hot'. We at + once galloped to cover on the left flank, but unfortunately before + we reached it Francis was hit, and we never saw the poor chap + again! The pack animal he was leading, however, came along with the + rest of the horses. + + "Just after this incident a gun 'pack' (the Bint), got loose (she + was always difficult to lead), and galloped off. But she came in by + herself the next morning, followed shortly afterwards by the horse + poor Francis had been riding when he met his end. After we reached + cover, we found the 'S.R.Y.' Headquarters close by, so we reported + there, when we were told that orders had been issued for us to + re-join the Squadron. The 'O.C.' and Mr. Raynor were there also, who + told us to remain for the night, off-saddling half at a time. The + following morning we again came into action near our original + position of the previous day, but did not fire. During the morning + we were relieved by some machine guns from the Camel Corps, and + then rejoined the Brigade". + + +"B" SUB-SECTION'S WORK. + +"B" Sub-section was early attached to the Australians and advanced, on the +right of the "S.R.Y.," on the edge of the plain. They had tough fighting +and fired a considerable quantity of ammunition. It is regretted that +information is not available, to allow of a detailed description of the +adventures of this Sub-section at Khuweilfeh, being given. It is certain, +however, that the Sub-section rendered the Australians valuable assistance, +which was greatly appreciated. + +The Brigade, having been relieved by the 53rd Division[3], now commenced +the long march back to Beersheba, a distance of at least 10 miles, through +the country we have just described. This journey, and that which followed, +were the most tiring of these operations. It must be remembered that the +horses had not been watered nor the men's water-bottles filled, since the +previous morning. When the intense heat of the day is considered, not to +mention the dust, the hardships suffered can, perhaps, be imagined! The +G.O.C. (Brig.-Gen. J.T. Wigan, C.M.G., D.S.O.) went along the whole column +and handed his brandy-flask to those who seemed the most exhausted. Upon +arriving at Beersheba, the town was found to be swarming with more troops, +and it was with the greatest difficulty that any water was obtained at all. +Everyone had gone without just as long as we had done--at least, so they +said! + +The next day (November 4th), was spent in watering and cleaning up. Towards +evening, "Saddle-up" was ordered; the Brigade moved at 16.00 and marched to +Karm, a distance of 15 miles--a journey which seemed interminable. The air +was so thick with dust that it was necessary to keep right on to the tail +of the horse in front, or you would have been lost in a second. "'Ware hole +on the right!" "Mind the wire!" and such like orders were passed down the +column from time to time. You had just to do what you were told, as it was +quite impossible to see even a yard ahead! + +Arrived at Karm, at about 22.00, the Brigade watered their horses from the +troughs beside the railway line, which were supplied with water brought up +in trucks by train from the pipe line at Shellal or El Arish! After a short +sleep, the Brigade moved on a few miles to Goz el Geleib, and took over a +camping area from the 8th Mounted Brigade. + +Our Squadron took over the identical ground just occupied by the 21st +Squadron, and the small party we sent on in advance learnt of the action +they had been in, when strongly attacked, and the praise they had earned +from the Commander-in-Chief. During this action, one of their officers +(Lieut. Stuart) who was known to some of the members of the "20th," was +captured. He was at first reported killed. + +The Brigade stayed here for the day in reserve. Glad enough everyone was of +this little rest, which at any time is indeed "very little" for a cavalry +unit, even when halted. That afternoon an officer of the Squadron was +ordered to proceed to a point overlooking the Wadi Imleh and establish +signalling communication with the Australian Headquarters, and to keep +watch for any enemy movement across it. The line, in this part, was held by +small posts, in some places over a mile apart. It would seem to be an easy +matter for the Turk to creep up during the night and at daybreak pour +through the gaps. It was, indeed, at this point that the 21st Squadron had +been so hard pressed. + +Nothing unusual happened on this occasion, however, and the next morning +(November 6th), the Brigade moved at 08.30 to a point north-east of Karm, +near Abu Irgeig, just behind the line. Two sub-sections were at once sent +to a line of observation overlooking Wadi Imleh. Persistent rumours of an +enemy attack from this quarter which, as has been seen, was very lightly +held, kept everyone on the alert. + +"C" Sub-section watered at Karm during the day and before night the +positions were carried by the infantry and the Brigade camped near by. But +it was on the move again the next morning (November 7th) long before +daylight (at 04.30). No person in the Squadron knew what was the +destination, and when, at length, day broke, there were many speculations +even as to the locality they were then actually in. + +Eventually a railway was crossed, and the country appeared just like that +north of Beersheba. It transpired, in fact, that they were only a few miles +from that town, but on a different road from that leading to Khuweilfeh. +After having covered about 8 miles since the morning, the Brigade +approached Tel-el-Sheria, where it came in sight of the railway station, +and under enemy shell-fire, which was pretty hot at times. At the station +itself the shelling was hotter still, as 5.9's were falling thick just +there. At night, however, all shelling ceased and the troops were able to +water their horses at 23.00 in the wadi, close to the station. + +Meanwhile at Gaza, on the coast, the intense bombardment of the Turkish +lines that had been going on, was more than the enemy could stand, and he +began to withdraw his troops. To such an extent had the withdrawal been +carried out, that a British attack on the night of November 6th-7th met +with but slight opposition, and Outpost Hill, Middlesex Hill and Ali-Munter +were captured without much trouble. The Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade +passed right through the ruins of Gaza. + + FOOTNOTES: + + [3] _The enemy by this time probably thought that a wide out-flanking + movement was to be undertaken at Khuweilfeh, and accordingly hastily + brought up still more reserves. After fighting day and night against + superior numbers, the 53rd Division was, finally, able to capture the + position on November 6th. The drawing of the Turkish reserves to this + part of the line contributed to the success elsewhere._ + + +THE BRIGADE ADVANCES. + +The following day (November 8th), at 05.00, a further advance was made by +our Brigade along the railway about 9 miles, and the enemy was sighted in +the neighbourhood of Tel Hudeiwe, whom the "S.N.H." and "C" Sub-section +were sent to dislodge. This task they accomplished at once, but a sudden +counter-attack forced back our advanced points with a rush, who sustained +some casualties. The position then held was a good one, and there were +little doubts about our being able to hold it, even if outnumbered. The +ground was so steep in the rear, that led-horses could be brought up to +within 20 yards, or less, of the guns. In front, too, the ground sloped +away sharply, and on the other side of the valley was a ridge, similar to +our own, to which the Turks had withdrawn, and where they could be seen in +large numbers. They kept up a very heavy rifle and machine-gun fire, which, +however, we heartily returned. Their artillery, evidently, was being +employed elsewhere, as will be shown shortly. During the afternoon the +Turks were seen to be reinforced, and showed every sign of attempting an +attack. "B" Sub-section came up and was in action alongside "C"; "E" +Sub-section also was attached, but was held in reserve for eventualities. +It was soon seen, however, that the Turk had come to the conclusion that +"discretion was the better part of valour," for nothing further happened. + + +"D" SUB-SECTION'S CASUALTIES. + +Meanwhile "D" Sub-section had been having a rough time. They had taken up a +position close to Brigade Headquarters with the Essex Battery, to protect +it from a flank attack. The Essex and Turkish artillery had a lively duel, +during which shells fell thick, around this quarter. Lance-Corpl. Marriott +was, unfortunately, killed, while Lieut. Raynor, Ptes. Taylor and Crane, +and, later, Lance-Corpl. Green, were wounded, in this action. It may be +mentioned here, that Lieut. Raynor was hit in the arm, and after undergoing +several operations in Nasrieh Hospital, Cairo, he was sent home and finally +retired from the Army. The manner in which he had organised "D" +Sub-section, and in a few weeks made it a fighting unit of exceptional +quality, had earned him great praise. Sergt. Fleet, who assumed command +after Lieut. Raynor was hit, did splendid work and was afterwards awarded +the Military Medal. + +All was quiet during the night, and at daybreak the patrols sent out, +reported "all clear"; the Turks had "Imshied" (i.e., cleared out). After +watering, under a certain amount of shell fire, the Sub-sections that had +been in the line re-joined the Squadron; the remainder had watered late the +previous night, and were not allowed the time to water again. Then +commenced an exciting race across country towards the coast, in an +endeavour to cut off the Turkish garrison at Gaza, which was stated at this +time to be in full retreat. The Brigade advanced 16 miles that day--"Point +375," Simsin-Bureir, Huliekht, Julis--right through the ancient land of the +Philistines. + +[Illustration] + +[Illustration] + +A different kind of country was being met with now, much of it being, +evidently, cultivated during certain times of the year. Many villages were +also passed, some of which looked quite pretty from a distance, clustering +among their cactus hedges and a few trees. But anything green would have +looked pleasant at that moment to the men who, for so long, had seen +nothing but the arid desert. It was a case, however, of "distance lending +enchantment to the view", as a close inspection proved disappointing. The +filth in which these people live must be seen to be realised. Language +fails in this case! Their houses are simply mud huts consisting, generally, +of only one room, in which the whole family live! During the day strong +healthy men sit about outside, while the women do all the work, even to the +toilsome labour of tilling the ground! A search for water in such places is +not a very hopeful matter; at the most there might be two wells, from which +water could be got up, _a bucketful at a time_--a hopeless look out, when +there are thousands of thirsty men and horses! Nothing was seen of the +enemy that day, and when the sea came in view (what a splendid sight!), it +was evident the Gaza forces had escaped. + +What an enormous amount of ammunition and stores they had left behind! It +has been stated, unofficially, it would have been enough to last them 12 +months! Evidently, the enemy did not expect to leave in such a hurry. + +That night the Brigade bivouacked at Julis, and the next morning (November +10th), in attempting to water "B" Sub-section was shelled out of Es Suafir +el Gharbiye. The Squadron then returned to Julis, and was ordered to +off-saddle and look for water at one of the villages near the coast. +Eventually they found a moderate supply at Hamame, 3-1/2 miles away, +together with--quite unexpectedly--oranges. To say that these were +appreciated is hardly adequate, it can well be imagined that they _were_ a +luxury just then! + +Having returned to camp, Capt. Davies and Lieut. Price excited the envy of +the other officers. They had been to El-Mejdel, a few miles south of +Hamame, which turned out to be quite civilised compared with the +surrounding villages, and they had bought some tobacco and, actually, had +had a cup of coffee! + + +A REST AT HAMAME. + +An hour or two afterwards we had great news! The Brigade was to go to +Hamame for a rest and clean up, and perhaps a swim in the sea! After our +experiences it would certainly be difficult to think of anything that could +be more appreciated, unless it were a square meal; but then, there were +oranges to be had, to make up for shortcomings in that respect. + +Only 11 days since leaving Esani, yet how much had been crowded into that +short period! As much work had been done every day as was usually done in a +week. It was not the fatigue of the trekking and fighting that "told" so +much, but the lack of adequate rest; generally "turning-in" very late at +night, and often having to sleep in boots ready to move before daylight the +following morning, with nothing but "bully beef," biscuits, and (a very +little) jam to eat. Sometimes tea was available, but frequently without +sugar or milk. As regards "bully beef," this may be very sustaining, but it +is a fact difficult to believe when having nothing else to eat for weeks on +end. The look of it was enough to make one sick! Of course, in the +circumstances, no other rations were possible, and the Supply Department +certainly did wonders to keep units supplied with _any_ kind of food, when +they did not know, from one hour to another, where they would be located +next, without taking into consideration the distances that had to be +covered over roads hardly worthy to be called tracks. + +Two days were spent at Hamame, and how glorious they were! The Squadron +rode down "bare-back" to the beach each day (two miles away) and bathed, +the horses going into the sea as well. They were watered from wells just +dug by the Field Troop (R.E.). It is a curious fact that all along this +coast one has only to dig down in the sand a few feet, and there an +inexhaustible supply of fresh water is to be found. It only remains to put +up canvas troughs and hand pumps, and any number of horses can be watered, +as easily as if they were in the best watered country in the world. It is +unfortunate that this is not possible away from the coast. + + +AT JUNCTION STATION. + +At 04.30 on the morning of November 13th, the Brigade moved from its +comfortable quarters at Hamame, nearly due east to Beit Affe, and then +beyond Summeil, where a line was taken over which had been previously held +by another Brigade. On the way the Turks shelled us heavily. It is +surprising how difficult it is to hit a Brigade on the move, in "Line of +Troop Column"; shells often fell right in the centre of a Regiment, yet not +actually hitting a troop or doing any damage whatever! At night we withdrew +from the line, marched on to Tel-et-Turmus, north-west, and slept there in +a deep wadi. The next day at 05.30 we were "on the move" again and pushed +on to El Tine crossing the railway. It was evident, from the amount of kit, +dead animals, etc., on the road, that "Johnny Turk" had not been _dawdling_ +by the way! + +From El Tine we went to Kezaze and thence to Junction Station where our +eyes were gladdened by the sight of a BRICK BUILDING. On reaching the crest +of the ridge the railway leading to Jerusalem suddenly came into view, and, +parallel with it, was seen the main road to that town. Visible for several +miles until lost to sight in the distant hills, it was crowded with +retreating Turks who had been thoroughly surprised at our sudden +appearance. The station appeared to be in flames, but the Turk was still +"showing fight," and in a short time "C" Sub-section attached to the +"S.R.Y." was in action on the ridge south of the railway against the enemy, +who had a position on a hill the other side of it. In about a quarter of +an hour, however, the Turk was seen retiring, and the Sub-section came out +of action and advanced across the railway line to "let him have it" again, +in his new position in front of the village of Khulde. Evening was drawing +near, when orders were received to withdraw to the original position for +the night, and close by there, the Squadron settled down. Before that, +however, they had gone to the station to water, but the supply quickly gave +out and they had to return. Towards midnight, a fresh source having been +tapped, they turned out to water again, none having been had the day +before: _they had been 57 hours without water!_ + +The next day no serious advance was made, but the day following, after +being shelled before starting, the Brigade crossed the railway and went +through Khulde, which had been evacuated. They were heavily shelled and +unable to proceed, as they found the enemy firmly entrenched in the hills. +"D" Sub-section got some targets at Latron.[4] They returned to their old +camp; water by this time had been developed and was no difficulty. The +infantry too had arrived. + +Nothing was done the next day, and everyone was glad of the rest. +Sec.-Lieut. Kindell having contracted dysentery, was sent to hospital. It +was now November 17th, and the Squadron had become seriously reduced in +strength. More men had been lost than horses, and men leading three animals +each accompanied the transport. Two officers and 50 men had been killed, +wounded, or evacuated sick (more than a quarter of the whole Squadron), +whereas only 15 animals had been lost. This left 35 riding horses +_surplus_, men to lead which had to be found. It should be remembered that +losses in a machine gun unit are much more serious than in a regiment. The +teams for the guns have to be maintained, and when these are reduced in +strength an enormous amount of extra work falls on those who remain. + +At 05.30 on November 18th the Brigade went to Khurbet Deiran, 6 miles +north-west, arriving the same morning. + + FOOTNOTES: + + [4] _At Latron was a castle of the Knights of St. John. It was + destroyed by Saladin in A.D. 1191._ + + +THE JEWISH COLONIES OF PALESTINE. + +The first sight of really civilised country was obtained at this period. On +the way, the cultivated areas round Ramleh[5] were visible as far as the +eye could reach. This was indeed a very pleasant change from the barren +and uncultivated tracts--the interminable stretches of rocky and +boulder-strewn ground, intersected by apparently unbounded areas of flat, +dust-covered wastes:-- + + "Dust in heaps and dust in piles, dust in shifting ridges; + Dust and dust for miles and miles, and what 'aint dust is midges". + +So quoth the cynic; and the peculiar part about it is that, wherever are +large stretches of dusty ground, so also _there is the wind!_ and nothing +need be said of the result of a combat between these two forces. + +[Illustration] + +All thoughts of the country left behind, however, were immediately banished +from the mind at the sight of that which lay before us, and anticipation +ran high in the belief that these were the wonderful orange-groves which, +one had heard, were supposed to be situated in this part of Palestine. +Expectations were realised, and on nearing Deiran, orchard upon orchard +were passed with trees bending under the weight of hundreds of large and +delicious Jaffa oranges! Everyone purchased as many as it was possible to +carry, and those who had no available cash, managed to satisfy their wants +by means of barter--incidentally, be it whispered, many an odd tin of +"bully" found its way into the local inhabitants' larders. + +Practically the whole of this part of Palestine, reaching from Deiran to +several miles north of Jaffa, is split up into a number of Jewish Colonies, +settlers under the Zionist movement, and they form the nucleus of the +renascent Jewish nation. Deiran was found to be a well-laid-out village +composed of substantially-built houses of white stone, with red-tiled +roofs, "up-to-date" furniture, and with nice white lace curtains at the +windows. One could almost delude himself into the belief that he was home +again. And the delusion almost became a reality as one caught sight of +pretty young girls dressed in quite smart European frocks, standing in the +doorways with welcoming smiles, and motherly old ladies beaming with +pleasure, who handed large bunches of luscious grapes to the men as they +rode by. It must be remembered that it was only two days since that the +Turks had been somewhat hurriedly ejected from this place. The great +pleasure that these hard-working people experienced could be quite +understood when some of the barbarous acts of the Turks are brought to +mind, they being too well known to be dwelt upon here. Afterwards it was +learned from the inhabitants, that many and great were the impositions +placed upon them; the Turk simply took what he wanted, and should he happen +to take a dislike to anyone, the latter was in danger of having all his +property confiscated, without any explanation whatever being given. + +The day after the Brigade arrived at Deiran they moved via Naane[6] and +Annabe to between Harmash and Nalin, 14 miles north-east. Here they stayed +three days, watering twice daily, at Hadithe, about 3 miles east-north-east +of Ludd. About this time the weather broke and heavy rain set in. This +downpour, accompanied as it was by a considerable fall in the temperature, +was a severe trial for troops attired in summer clothing who, until a few +hours previously, had been suffering from excessive heat! + +At 09.00 on November 23rd they went through Ludd about 16 miles south-east +to Zernuka. The 24th was spent there, and on the 25th they moved in the +afternoon to Rishon-le-Zion (Ayun Kara), 6 miles due north, in reserve to +the Anzacs, as the enemy was becoming active in this quarter. They stayed +here the following day, and men were allowed to go into the town. +Rishon-le-Zion is a pretty little place, and another example of the Zionist +movement. Here are large wine distilleries, and very good wine they make +too! Before the War large quantities were regularly sent to England. + +The next morning (November 27th), the Brigade returned to Zernuka (close to +Akir[7]). They arrived about midday and watered. Late in the afternoon +Lieut. Oakley arrived, bringing 40 remounts and reinforcements for the +Brigade (none for this Squadron unfortunately); he had ridden the 70 miles +from Belah in 30 hours, and had, in fact, only left Cairo at 18.15 on the +24th. + + FOOTNOTES: + + [5] _Ramleh was a city of the Crusaders, and suffered in the wars + between the Franks and Saladin. During the French invasion Napoleon + made this town his headquarters._ + + [6] _Naane; Naamah, see Joshua xv, 41._ + + [7] _Akir = Ekron, see Joshua xv, 11, 45, xix, 43; I Sam. vi; III Kings + i; Jer. xxv, 20; Amos i, 8; Zeph. ii, 4; Zech. iv, 5._ + + +THE BEIT UR ET TAHTA OPERATIONS. + +The British line had been advanced and now extended from the River Auja +north of Jaffa on the coast, south-east to a few miles north-east of +Jerusalem and thence due south. The Turk at this time, although greatly +demoralised, was making some desperate counter-attacks. + +At 17.00 on November 27th, orders were received for a move that night at +21.00. The Brigade was required, in a great hurry, to fill a gap in the +line that the Turks had discovered, and of which they appeared to intend to +take advantage. + +Of the Machine-Gun Squadron, only Headquarters and three sub-sections ("A" +"D" and "E") were to go, but were made up to working strength by men from +"B" and "C" Sub-sections. The Officer Commanding, Capt. Marshall, was +there, and the "second in command," Capt. Davies. Lieut. Price, M.C., still +commanded "E," but Lieut. Cazalet being sick, Lieut. Hibbert took his place +in command of "A". "D" Sub-section was under Sergt. Fleet, who had just +been notified that he had been awarded the Military Medal for his splendid +work at Hudeiwe and elsewhere. + +The forced march to Tahta (a distance of 22 miles), all through the night, +after the previous operations, was "killing". The horses, however, stood +the fast going over rocky ground remarkably well, and a part of the +distance was even covered at the canter! A faint glimmer of dawn was just +visible over the tops of the surrounding hills when the Brigade, on the +morning of the 28th November, arrived, tired, dusty and dishevelled, in the +vicinity of Beit ur et Tahta, a desolate native village, about 12 miles +north-west of Jerusalem and situated at the end of a wadi along the centre +of which ran the road leading from Jimzu.[8] + + FOOTNOTES: + + [8] _Jimzu = Gimzo, see II Chron. xxviii, 18._ + + +A TURKISH SURPRISE ATTACK. + +Immediately upon arrival the horses were off-saddled and fed, the "dixies" +were unearthed from off the pack-saddles and everything pointed to an early +mug of tea and a much-needed rest. Unfortunately, the fates decreed +otherwise, for just as the water was "on the boil" a terrific fusillade of +rifle-fire broke out, seemingly from all sides. Previously to this, there +had been intermittent shelling just to the north of the village, and on the +commencement of the rifle-fire this increased in intensity until things +began to look extremely awkward. A quick glance up at the hills surrounding +the wadi gave no indication as to the source from which the firing +emanated, until, a few minutes later, when several men were seen "doubling +back" down the slope of the hill on the western side of the wadi. These +men were afterwards found to be those holding the outposts in that +particular point of the line. They came with the ominous news that the +outposts were driven in and the Turks were upon us! Almost at once this was +seen to be the case, as the enemy reached the top of the ridge and his fire +began to take its toll of men and animals. + +To gain a proper appreciation of the serious predicament in which the +Brigade was placed at this moment, it will be necessary to understand the +nature of the ground thereabouts. On both sides of the wadi were high +banks, or hills, 60 to 80 feet high, the surface of these being strewn with +large rocks and boulders. The wadi itself was about 20 yards wide with the +road winding its tortuous way down the centre between rocks and boulders +worn smooth by the passage of water which, ages ago, had run its course +from the hills. Packed in this wadi was the Brigade, absolutely at the +mercy of the withering fire of the enemy, almost from overhead. + +Immediately everything became an orderly bustle and excitement. Squadrons +of the two Yeomanry regiments were dispatched to take up defensive +positions. The Officer Commanding ordered "E" Sub-section to come into +action on the side of the hill, about 400 yards away to the left, against +a Mosque which was strongly held, and whence most of the fire appeared to +be coming. They "man-handled" their guns and took up good positions, the +rocks affording them a certain amount of cover. The gun-teams at that time +consisted of four men each, who were naturally rather exhausted after the +"trek" and rush-into-action, carrying the guns. + +These teams were composed as follows:-- + +Lance-Corpl. Grice Lance-Corpl. Thompson. +Pte. Willmore Pte. Duncan + " Crossman " Joiner + " Goldie " Roberts. + +They opened fire upon the Mosque at a range of 700 yards with good effect, +silencing two enemy machine-guns. + +After being in action about half-an-hour the "S.R.Y." sent to Lieut. Price +to deal with a party of Turks who were bringing fire to bear on their rear. +The Turks were found to be in a trench with a machine-gun. Fire was opened +on them, and all were killed except one man who escaped, mounted. Attention +was then directed to the Mosque, where the Turks were still causing some +trouble. "Covering-fire" was given to the "S.R.Y." who attacked, but +without entire success and had to withdraw. In the end the Turk was +ejected, however, and he was not able again to occupy it. + +During the day's fighting Pte. Crossman had been wounded. + + +DEATH OF LIEUT. PRICE, M.C. + +At night both guns were placed about 50 yards apart, facing up the hill. +Working hard during the night, the enemy built a breastwork on the top of +the hill, and the flash of their machine-gun fire could be seen directed +from that position across the front of the Mosque, apparently to prevent it +being occupied. About midnight Lieut. Price was walking along the line +having a look-out and had just passed his right-hand gun when he was +unfortunately hit by a bullet in the groin. Lance-Corpl. Grice at once had +him bandaged up and carried down to the dressing station by Ptes. Baker and +Roberts. To the sorrow of all his comrades, however, he died in the Field +Ambulance. He was taken to Ramleh, where he was buried. + +Just after Lieut. Price was hit, Sergt. Hawkins, who had only arrived a few +days previously, but rendered splendid service on this his first day's +fighting, was wounded (he was afterwards awarded the Military Medal) and +Corpl. Franklin then came up to take charge. He reported the casualties to +Squadron Headquarters when S.S.M. Larwood came up and "took over," sending +him to resume charge of the led horses. + +In the morning, before daylight, the guns were moved further up the hill in +line with the infantry (Scottish Rifles), who had arrived the previous +evening and advanced after dark. It was during this morning's operations +that Pte. Cowley was unfortunately wounded. The Turkish defenders of the +breastwork, after being submitted to heavy fire, came in under a German +N.C.O. and surrendered, upon which the infantry went up and occupied their +late position. The infantry soon had to fall back again, however, owing to +heavy shell fire, when the Turks re-occupied it. During the day there was a +certain amount of bombing and sniping on both sides, during which Pte. +Joiner was killed. He had been trying to account for the sniper himself, +and upon being ordered to go down the hill to see about the rations for his +sub-section he was hit as soon as he moved. + +After dark our infantry once more attacked the position, but were again +unsuccessful. At about 01.00 infantry machine-gunners came up to relieve, +being shown the way by Corpl. Franklin. The guns had to be carried down to +the led horses, as firing was still pretty hot; the ground, besides, was so +rough that it was impossible even to lead the pack animals over it. Just +before coming out of action S.S.M. Larwood and Pte. Goldie were both +unfortunately wounded, the latter so seriously that he passed away six days +later and was buried at Junction Station. + + +"A" SUB-SECTION IN ACTION. + +In the meantime the other Sub-sections had been "doing things" too. For +example, as soon as the enemy opened fire, "A" Sub-section was detailed to +join the "S.N.H." and moved over to the western side of the wadi, under +cover of the hill, where this regiment was situated; orders were received +to mount the guns on the top of this hill. After a difficult passage, under +a heavy fire, to the position indicated, the guns were brought into action +and opened fire immediately. + +It was not even necessary to adjust sights, as the enemy were within +"point-blank" range. Enfilading the enemy these guns were raking his flank +with fire, whilst he was preparing to make a final rush down into the wadi. +Had not this move been circumvented in the "nick of time," it is +impossible to estimate the disastrous consequences which would have ensued. +Almost at once, the deadly fire of the two machine-guns began to tell their +tale, and odd Turks here and there suddenly remembered "a very urgent +appointment". Within an hour the top of this hill was cleared, and the +enemy were seen to be concentrating on the further ridge. From this +vantage-point he kept up a brisk fire, both with machine-guns and rifles, +and it was an extremely risky undertaking to show one's head above the +particular rock behind which one was taking cover. Their fire, however, was +returned with interest, and it helped to make "Johnny" arrive at the +decision that it would be a very unwise thing to attack again that day, +although he _did_ once make a half-hearted attempt to regain his former +position, which was promptly frustrated. + +This state of things continued throughout the day, but the exposed position +of these two guns began to make itself very evident, as the enemy's field +guns, firing from the right flank, began to get the "hang of things" there. +It was, indeed, only by a miracle that both gun-teams were not entirely +wiped out! Night fell with the position of affairs pretty much the same, +but, later on, a welcome respite was afforded by the cessation of the +shell-fire, although machine-gun and rifle fire still continued, and if +anything, with greater intensity. + +At about midnight, a tremendous "strafe" commenced a little to the left, +bombs and flares were freely used, and although no attempt was made to +force the position, everything was in readiness, should the Turk have +decided to do so. Our left-hand gun had been moved forward to command the +approach to the ridge from which the Turks were driven earlier in the day. +At daybreak enemy shells again commenced to fall, and it soon became quite +apparent that no rest would be obtained that day. The enemy's artillery +left little to be desired from his point of view, as regards accuracy of +range, although considering the amount of shells expended our casualties +were comparatively slight. + +At about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, figures were observed to be moving on +the top of a hill about 500 yards away on our left; they seemed to be +making towards a mosque, situated at the end of the ridge. Our two machine +guns were immediately turned upon them, when the whole of the hill-side +suddenly became _alive_ with Turks, who, scared out of their cover, fled +to the further side of the ridge. A trench-mortar battery, which had come +up during the previous night, and had taken up a position about a quarter +of a mile in the rear, opened fire at once; it is feared that "Johnny" then +had a very rough and uncomfortable 10 minutes. Chase was given by some +troops in the vicinity, with the result that practically the whole of these +enemy forces were either killed or taken prisoner. This little +_contretemps_ stirred up the wrath of "our friend the enemy" somewhat, and +he strafed us continually until nightfall. At 10 o'clock, word was received +that the Brigade was to be relieved, the situation now being considered +well in hand; accordingly, about an hour later, a Lewis gun detachment of +the Scottish Rifles took over our position, and the Sub-section then +withdrew. + +Meanwhile, "D" Sub-section had been strenuously engaged, and held back the +enemy on their part of the line. Full advantage was taken of every target +that presented itself, and heavy losses were inflicted upon the Turk. + + +OUR LED-HORSES AT TAHTA. + +When we first arrived at Tahta, as soon as fire was opened on us, the +led-horses were saddled as quickly as possible and sent back under +Sub-section Corporals to cover. They had moved off only 20 yards, when +Lance-Corpl. Carr was killed. He was buried by Corpl. Rose and Pte. Wick +that day, close to where the Brigade-Major was buried, a cross being, +temporarily, put up to mark his grave. + +The disposal of the led-horses presented a serious difficulty from the +outset; their numbers were being fast reduced by casualties, and something +had to be done to save them. It was impossible, obviously, to withdraw them +the same way as they had been brought, the Turk having got astride of the +road about half a mile below. Ultimately it was decided "to make a dash for +it," and to take the horses right over the hill on the eastern side of the +wadi, although while this was being done, they would be exposed even more +than ever to the enemy's fire. This dangerous undertaking was, however, +eventually successfully accomplished. The wadi was now, more or less, clear +of men and animals, although the place was littered with killed and +wounded. Here and there were to be seen animals with limbs broken, +struggling to follow in the wake of their companions. + +In their new position the led-horses, although rather more comfortable, +were not, by any means, safe. All the "packs" and officers' horses were +kept here, but the remainder, including all the horses of the regiments, +were taken right back to Zernuka, or rather Akir, to which place the +remainder of the Squadron left behind had moved. + +At daybreak the next morning, when the enemy's artillery opened fire, the +"packs" received a very severe shaking, and during the morning several of +the mules were hit by shell splinters. Pte. Heathcote was killed by a shell +at 10.30 whilst attending one of the wounded mules here; Pte. Rush was hit +in the shoulder, an hour afterwards, and was taken to the Field Ambulance. + + +A SAD CEREMONY. + +Upon the second (and last) night at Tahta, a very pathetic, but stirring, +burial-ceremony was held at about 21.00, which those privileged to attend +will remember to the end of their days. The ground selected for the burials +was a little gully running off the main wadi. Dead animals, horses, mules +and camels lay all around; upturned wagons and limbers were to be seen +everywhere. During the deep roar and vivid flashes of our guns, just to the +rear, and the sharp crack of bullets striking the rocks just above, the +solemn and earnest words of our Chaplain could be heard. Above all, the +full moon, bathing the gully in a bright light, combined to make a fitting +background for the laying-to-rest of those who had been called upon to make +the "supreme sacrifice". + +On leaving Tahta the Squadron marched on foot to the vicinity of El Burj +(guns on packs), arriving before daylight (November 30th). Here they stayed +for the day, in reserve, cleaning guns, etc. At 18.00, that night, they +moved nearer El Burj in support of the Australians, arriving about 21.00. +Nothing happened; but the Squadron stayed all night and the next day. That +night they moved into El Burj; next morning (December 2nd) they returned, +and found their horses awaiting them. Headquarters, "A," "D" and "E" +Sub-sections now re-joined "B" and "C" Sub-sections and transport. It was +not likely that the Squadron would be required again in the Tahta district, +except in an emergency, as the country was quite unsuitable for cavalry +tactics; as it turned out, they were not destined to do any more fighting +for a long time to come. + +But the British advance had by no means been stopped, in spite of the check +in the hills. The absence of roads and shortage of water here, made +operations exceedingly difficult, and it was decided to attack the Turkish +positions covering Jerusalem, from the south-west and west, instead of from +the north-west. The troops were moved into position, and the main attack +was launched at dawn on December 8th. This attack was immediately +successful and resulted in the surrender of Jerusalem by the Turks to the +60TH DIVISION on the morning of Sunday, December 9th. Thus, after four +centuries of conquest, the Turk was ridding the land of his presence in the +bitterness of defeat. _On this same day_, 2082 years before, another race +of conquerors, equally detested, were looking their last on the city which +they could not hold, and, inasmuch as the liberation of Jerusalem in 1917 +will probably ameliorate the lot of the Jews more than that of any other +community in Palestine, it was fitting that the flight of the Turks should +have coincided with the national festival of the Hanukah, which +commemorates the re-capture of the Temple from the heathen Seleucids by +Judas Maccabaeus in 165 B.C. + + + + +PART III. + + +AFTER JERUSALEM--A REST! + +During the last-mentioned operations, the Squadron had lost three officers +and 67 men (out of the total of seven officers and 182 men, with which it +started from Amr), and had only received one officer and three men as +reinforcements. The losses in animals were: 50 riding horses, 15 draught +and pack animals and one donkey. Of these animals, 25 had been killed at +Tahta alone, and, considering that the Squadron had covered nearly 300 +miles in five weeks, the losses due to fatigue, etc., were remarkably +small. It was now necessary that the Squadron be re-equipped and +re-organised, but reinforcements and remounts had first to be obtained, +when training could be re-commenced. At length on December 5th Sergt. +Knowles and Sergt. Lewis, with 10 reinforcements, arrived from the base; +Sergt. Knowles being posted to "D" Sub-section and Sergt. Lewis to "E". +Both these Sergeants did excellent work. Unfortunately, Sergt. Lewis went +to hospital shortly after he arrived, and was not able to return for a long +time; owing to ill-health and bad luck, neither of them was able to go into +action with the sub-sections they did so much towards making efficient. A +fortnight was spent at Akir in complete rest, after which the Brigade +moved, via El Mughar and Beshshit, to the sand hills north-east of Esdud +and about 1-1/2 miles from the coast. + + +"RE-GROUPING" AT ESDUD.[9] + +Conditions were not too pleasant here, but they might, perhaps, have been a +great deal worse! The weather was very wet and cold and the sudden change +from summer to winter was trying, even for the strongest constitutions. +Being upon sand, the camp and district was certainly free from mud, but in +order to water the horses a great sea of mud had to be gone through twice a +day in order to reach the troughs that were erected at the Wadi Sukereir, +two miles away. Warm clothing was issued out to all, and when fresh meat +came up from the base, the members of the Squadron felt that they were +enjoying luxury indeed! + +December 21st brought a draft of 18 good fellows; the N.C.O.'s included +Lance-Corpls. Gage, Laycock, Peach, Prior and Salter. + +December 22nd saw the return of six old members of the Squadron who had +gone to hospital during the last days of the "stunt," including Corpl. +Franklin; he, however, had only been away a fortnight. Lieut. Millman and +the personnel of "F" Section who went to Gamli from Amr, and afterwards to +Belah, re-joined the Squadron at Esdud. + +The Officer Commanding now grouped the Sub-sections together to form three +sections. "No. 1" Section (consisting of "A" and "C" Sub-sections), under +Lieut. Cazalet and Lieut. Oakley; "No. 2" Section ("B" and "D" +Sub-sections) under Lieut. Hibbert and Sec.-Lieut. Kindell (now returned +from hospital); "No. 3" Section ("E" and "F" Sub-sections) under Lieut. +Millman ("F" Sub-section was still without horses). Sergt. Fleet, M.M., of +"D" Sub-section had been promoted S.S.M., after S.S.M. Larwood had been +wounded. Sergt. Knowles took his place in "D" on arrival. Reinforcements, +and the Belah party, brought the five Sub-sections up to a reasonable +strength: such was the position of affairs when Xmas drew near. + + FOOTNOTES: + + [9] _Esdud = Ashdod of the Bible, one of the Philistine cities: See + Joshua xiii, 3; I Samuel v; II Chron. xxvi, 6; Isaiah xx, 1; Neh. xiii, + 23; Jeremiah xxv, 20; Amos i, 8, iii, 9; Zeph. ii, 4; Zech. ix, 6. In + New Testament called Azotus, Acts viii, 40._ + + +A "MERRY" XMAS, 1917. + +Everyone had been hoping to have _a real good time_ this Christmas, to make +up for the hardships endured through the "stunt". Puddings, beer and other +good things, it was known, were on the way up, but, owing to difficulties +with the bridge over the Wadi Ghuzze which interrupted railway traffic, +when the day arrived, nothing had reached camp! The "goods" eventually +turned up in time for the New Year but, there being a not very large +percentage of Scotsmen in the Squadron, this did not make up for the +disappointment at Xmas. Further, the weather on the day itself was +certainly about the worst of the whole winter; blowing hard and raining +incessantly, it was scarcely with a feeling of contentment that the men +"turned in" that night--all doubtless thinking of brighter surroundings in +the old country! + + +A BAD START IN 1918--BETTER TIMES FOLLOW! + +The first thing to happen in 1918 was a _MOVE_ to Belah; nights being spent +at Medjel and Gaza on the way. The animals in the Brigade had not yet +recovered from their previous exertions, and many a horse, unable to go +further, had unfortunately to be led away and shot. Crossing the railway at +Belah and turning to the west towards the fresh-water lake, the Brigade +went round the north-end of the latter, right on to the low cliffs at the +sea-shore, where the camp was to be located. There seemed to be promise of +better times here than had been experienced at Esdud. The water for the +horses was fairly close at hand _and there was no mud_. + +The Brigade being now south of the bridge over the Wadi Ghuzze, rations +were also likely to be better and the mail more regular; there was, in +addition, a _CANTEEN_ at Belah! + +Many changes in personnel took place about this time. Before leaving Esdud +S.Q.M.S. Harrison, Corpl. Barrett, Lance-Corpl. Blenkin, Ptes. Dransfield, +F.W. Harrison, Ellams and Hadden left to become cadets in the R.A.F. Sergt. +Fisher was promoted S.Q.M.S. Capt. Spencer, M.C., had arrived, being posted +as second in command, but was reposted a few days later, to the same +position which he had previously held in the 18th Squadron. Capt. L.F. St. +John Davies, M.C., arrived from the 21st Squadron the day Capt. Spencer +left, and became second in command. Lieut. G.M. King was posted from the +17th Squadron (January 8th), and Sec.-Lieut. J.K.W. Arden arrived from the +base (January 19th); Sec.-Lieut. Kindell was admitted to hospital again, +but he returned within a few weeks. + +Reinforcements continued to arrive, consisting of both old and new faces: +January 6th, Lance.-Corpl. Keatley and six men; January 7th, Lance.-Corpl. +G. Neal and 11 men; January 17th, Lance.-Corpl. Smith and 15 men; January +23rd, Saddler Hayward and eight men. Sec.-Lieut. Arden formed "F" +Sub-section; remounts being now available. The Squadron thus became +complete, having six Sub-sections. The training commenced, mounted drill, +elementary gun drill, mechanism, "I.A.", special classes for range-finding, +signalling, also lectures. N.C.O.'s were instructed in indirect fire. +Lieut. Hibbert left for leave in the United Kingdom on February 10th, and +Lieut. King took his place in "B" Sub-section, and O.C. "No. 2" Section. + +[Illustration] + +On February 18th, Capt. D. Marshall, M.C., proceeded on leave to the United +Kingdom, and Capt. L.F. St. John Davies, M.C., became O.C., with Lieut. +Oakley second in command. On returning to the E.E.F. Capt. Marshall was +posted to the 17th Squadron. On February 22nd the Brigade moved north to +Gaza,[10] or rather to about 1-1/2 miles south of it. Here there was a +fair amount of grazing, and the animals were taken out every day for that +purpose. They had been very slow in picking up condition, and it was hoped +that this would do the necessary, as indeed it did. + +The camp was arranged in the form of a square, a favourite formation with +the Squadron, and a safe one during air raids. Water was a mile away in the +Wadi Ghuzze, and rations were drawn from Gaza. On February 25th, Lieut. +Oakley went to hospital; Lieut. King became second in command. On February +26th, Lieut. R.H. Fairbairns, M.C., arrived, and was posted to "No. 1" +Section, taking command of "C" Sub-section. Training continued as at Belah, +and on February 28th there was a Divisional Field Day--"crossing the Wadi +Ghuzze," in which the 20th and 21st Squadrons were combined under Capt. +R.O. Hutchinson, M.C., of the 21st. + +On March 4th another Divisional Scheme took place on the hills south-east +of the camp, the object being to intercept and defeat an imaginary enemy +(represented in skeleton), advancing from Tel el Jemmi. This manoeuvre was +satisfactorily performed. + +On the 7th a pleasant diversion was made by a race meeting held by our +neighbours, the 22nd Mounted Brigade. They had taken great trouble in +preparing the course for both steeplechases and flat races, and on the day, +a scene was presented very similar to a meeting at home, except for the +absence of the ladies. On March 13th, Sec.-Lieut. J.W. Cummer arrived, and +was posted to "C" Sub-section, Lieut. R.H. Fairbairns, M.C., being now +second in command of the Squadron--a post which he held without +interruption until he became Officer Commanding. On March 22nd, Sergt. +Wright, who had been with the Squadron since its formation, left for an +infantry cadet course at Zeitoun. + + FOOTNOTES: + + [10] _Gaza, see Judges xvi and l, 18; Genesis x, 19; Deut. ii, 23; Jer. + xxv, 20, xlvii, 1, 5; Josh. xi, 22, xv, 47; I Kings iv, 24 (Azzah); + Amos i, 7; Jeph. ii, 4; Zech. ix, 5; Acts viii, 26._ + + +INSPECTION BY H.R.H. THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT. + +News was at this time received that H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught would +shortly inspect our Brigade, which was now commanded by Brig.-Gen. G.V. +Clarke, D.S.O. Several preliminary parades were, therefore, held, the +inspection ultimately taking place on March 15th. After the march-past the +Brigade was formed into a Square and H.R.H. expressed his high satisfaction +with its appearance, and congratulated all ranks on their work of the +previous year. After this speech he decorated the officers, N.C.O.'s and +men, who had won distinction during the operations. + +[Illustration: At Belah. + +Officers, Warrant Officer and Sergeants.] + +The 7th Brigade races were held on the 21st, and provided a good day's +sport, but the engagement was rather spoiled by an almost continuous +downpour of rain. Towards the end of March the "O.C." stated that he would +shortly hold two test "turn-outs". At last, one morning, sub-sections were +suddenly ordered to parade at once, in _marching order_ by the troughs at +the Wadi Ghuzze a mile away. "D" Sub-section was the first to arrive there, +and the whole Squadron was at the rendezvous _within 55 minutes_--a most +creditable performance! + +The next "turn-out" was a practice "Air alarm". Ten guns were mounted +outside the camp itself, all men took cover and the line-guards tripled in +1 minute 50 seconds! + +A pleasant day's sport was provided by a friendly competition between the +Squadron and the Field Ambulance--races, mounted sports, jumping, driving, +etc.--and our Squadron proved successful in most of the events. + +On April 1st, orders were received that the Brigade would move, the next +day, back to the area previously occupied at Belah! They duly arrived, and +the Machine-Gun Squadron took over identically the same camp as before, +except that the "lines" were 100 yards further south. A few days after +arriving here, rumours got around that several units _were to be +dismounted_! Up till this time it was thought that this was the last thing +that was likely to happen after their success in the last operations, and +the knowledge of the country and open warfare that the troops had thereby +gained. Unfortunately, the rumour proved to be only too true, and _two +regiments in each Brigade_ were ordered to hand over their horses and +proceed to the base. Here they underwent a course of training for the +Machine-Gun Corps, after which they embarked for France, formed into +Machine-Gun Battalions. The 7th Brigade having only two regiments, lost +only one--the South Notts Hussars, that being the junior. At least two +"graves" may be seen at Belah, each bearing an inscription headed by +"R.I.P." and a broken spur! Also an "IN MEMORIAM" to the lost horses of the +South Notts Hussars and the Warwick Yeomanry! The mock-ceremonies, however, +were carried out _in all sincerity_, as, who was there who did not feel +that he had lost a true friend, in being parted from his horse? + +On April 7th, the 20th Squadron lent its horses to the Warwick Yeomanry to +take them to the station, and on the 8th, to the "S.N.H." for the same +purpose. Ill-luck, however, attended these regiments. After going through +their course of training they embarked at Alexandria, but they were no +sooner out at sea than their vessel was torpedoed and sunk! Many lives were +lost, including Lieut. Morris, who will be remembered by all for his +activities in the theatrical line, as, under his able direction, the +"S.N.H. AND THE 20TH COMBINED CONCERT PARTY" provided us with a very +excellent performance at Gaza. + +Shortly after the departure of the "S.N.H.", the "S.R.Y." were called upon +to assist in an attack on the other side of the Jordan. This operation was +pushed right into the enemy country, past Es Salt, which is the most +difficult ground imaginable for cavalry, but, circumstances developing in +an unexpected manner, a withdrawal had to be made. This movement was +accomplished in a truly splendid fashion. The affair, however, was not +carried out without casualties, unfortunately, and the "S.R.Y." had to +mourn the loss of Capt. Layton, one of its most prominent Squadron leaders. + + +ARRIVAL OF INDIAN TROOPS. + +The absence of the "S.R.Y." left the 7th Mounted Brigade with only the +B.H.Q. 20th M.G. Squadron, Essex Battery, Cav. F.A. and M.V.S. But it soon +became known that Indian Cavalry Regiments had arrived from France, and +were to take the place of the regiments that had been dismounted for the +M.G.C., and also to increase the number of cavalry in the country. An +advance-party at length arrived in the Brigade, consisting of an officer +from each regiment that was to join it, and these proved to be the "20th +Deccan Horse" and "34th Poona Horse". Soon afterwards the regiments +themselves arrived by train, with their horses. How these regiments would +settle down in this country after their experience in France was at first a +subject of interest to the Squadron. But the surroundings resembled, in +some respects, their native India, and they were soon "at home". They only +needed to forget the cramped warfare of the trenches in France and to +practise real cavalry tactics again, to become a true part of the "E.E.F.". +It was also evident, from the brightness of their steelwork, that they +would be second to none in any _ceremonial_ parade. + +Training continued, and the Squadron was getting very efficient, both in +the technical and tactical handling of guns. Barrage-drill (the latest +introduction from Grantham), was practised, and an exhibition barrage, +fired out to sea, proved very instructive. On April 18th, there was an +"Action" competition for sub-sections under their respective Sergeants. +They came into action at the gallop on targets at 400 yards range. "B" +Sub-section was judged "best" with "A" Sub-section second. + +Summer was rapidly approaching, and on May 15th "Reveille" had been altered +to 04.45 to allow of the heat of the day being spent, as far as possible, +in rest. An inter-unit sports competition, held with the Essex Battery, was +exciting, and included a race on donkeys between the respective officers +commanding! The total results gained were rather in favour of the Essex +Battery. + +During April a subscription list was opened for a Memorial to the fallen in +the campaign, to be built in Jerusalem to which the Squadron subscribed +LE14. + +Sergt. Larwood, D.C.M., returned on April 11th, having quite recovered from +the wound he received at Tahta. He was posted to "A" Sub-section. On the +21st Lieut. Cazalet was admitted to hospital. + +During April Belah was considerably brightened, two large stationary +hospitals being erected, to manage which _a staff of nurses arrived_! They +certainly must have found Belah a quaint place after the civilised +conditions to which they had been accustomed at Cairo and Alexandria, and +in the course of their journey, as well as subsequently, they must have +suffered many discomforts. Introductions, however, were hastily effected, +and very soon, on afternoons, ladies could be seen out, riding with members +of the British forces of the opposite sex. + +[Illustration] + +Several ladies graced a concert given in the Squadron camp, being conducted +there by certain gallants in two "G.S." wagons and "fours-in-hand"! Another +diversion to the monotony here, was a trip to Jerusalem, which was well +worth the tiring journey, although many were disappointed in the +"side-show-at-an-exhibition" effect, which many of the most sacred spots +presented. It was, however, gratifying to think, that this, the home of our +religion, for which the Crusaders had fought and died, was at last _rescued +from the hands of the infidel_. Ten days' leave was granted to Cairo, Port +Said and Alexandria, but "turns" were necessarily very slow in coming +round. + + +WE MOVE TO SARONA. + +The month of May heralded another "move," and at 09.00 on the 4th, the +Brigade concentrated at the north end of Belah lake and set off northwards. +Nights being spent, successively, three miles north-east of Gaza; two miles +north-east of El Mejdel; one mile east of Wadi Sukereir (heavy downpour of +rain on this day). On the 7th the trail led along the edge of the +sand-dunes and through Yebna[11] to Wadi Hanen. Here a halt of two hours +was made, to water and feed. The country was very picturesque, being +thickly planted with orange-groves, whilst here and there a red-tiled +building was to be seen. At 13.00 the march was continued through +Rishon-le-Zion to the main Jaffa-Ramleh road which is a thoroughly good +metal one. Along this a few miles, thence north to Sarona, two miles +north-east of Jaffa. + +Arriving at Sarona at 16.30, the Squadron encamped beside an orange-grove +and adjoining the Aerodrome. It may here be mentioned that Sarona before +the war was a German colony, and from its appearance, must have been a +prosperous one. The main street is lined on both sides with detached and +semi-detached houses, mostly with red tiles, prettily designed. Fir trees +are abundant and help to make a pleasing picture. Outside the village there +are many orange-groves and vineyards, each with its red-tiled house, which +has, either inside or in a separate building, a well with an engine for +pumping water into a stone cistern, from which it is allowed to run, as +required, along concrete gullies, and thus distributed over the land, +irrigating it. + +In consequence of the camp proving insanitary the morning after arrival, +the Squadron moved about half a mile nearer the coast into a vineyard! This +was an exceedingly pretty spot, from which an excellent view of Jaffa could +be obtained; a few trees provided us with the unaccustomed luxury of some +shade. The Brigade was attached to the 21st Infantry Corps and was "Corps +Reserve". A training-area was allotted, and every morning the Squadron went +out for mounted training through the village across the narrow gauge "Heath +Robinson" railway, and through the orange-groves out to the area beyond +Point 275 and north of the Village of Selmeh. + + FOOTNOTES: + + [11] _Yebna = Jabneh of the Bible, see Josh xv, 11; II Chron. xxvi, 6. + There are ruins of a Crusaders' Church here._ + + +INTERESTING TACTICAL INSTRUCTION. + +Capt. St. J. Davies, M.C., often gave each section a special task, or +ordered them to concentrate at some place he might select from the map. +Some of these little "stunts" were quite interesting, as often two sections +would set off in almost opposite directions and yet they would arrive at +the rendezvous at practically the same time! + +On one of these occasions the horses were taken to the little River +Auja[12] two miles north of the camp, and made to swim across, attached to +an endless rope, being afterwards followed by the men. + +On May 23rd the Brigade practised a "concentration" just north of the Auja +and south-west of Sheik Muannis. Our Squadron did well! It arrived at the +point three miles away, in full marching order within 40 minutes from the +time the order was received. On May 28th, the Brigade moved forward north +of the Auja, in reserve for the attack by the 7th Indian Division, but this +movement was merely intended to capture a few enemy posts in order to +narrow "no man's land," and thus bring ourselves into closer touch with the +enemy. The Brigade remained "standing-by" at half an hour's notice until +the evening of the 30th, when it returned to camp. + +A Brigade scheme took place on June 7th, "No. 1" Section operated with the +Poona Horse and one Squadron of "S.R.Y."; Nos. 2 and 3 Sections with the +Deccan Horse and "S.R.Y." (less one squadron). On the 13th, another scheme +was practised, "_Defence of the Dahr Selmeh Ridge_". A regimental scheme +with the Poona Horse was also practised, besides several Squadron +manoeuvres. + +Sometimes the Squadron would go out before breakfast for the whole day, the +usual routine of camp being carried on wherever they halted; returning +"home" in the afternoon. One of these excursions brought the Squadron to +the Jewish village of Mulebbis, where oranges could be bought by the +cart-load. Two limbers were, therefore, taken back to camp fully loaded up; +this was a discovery much appreciated by all, and two days later a fresh +supply was sent for. Another local product bought at Jaffa and distilled at +Rishon-le-Zion, was red wine. It was very good too! Bought by the Squadron +canteen in large barrels, it was sold at 2-1/2 pt. (6d.) a pint. + +The Squadron canteen was doing a good trade at this time. The N.A.C.B. at +Jaffa kept a good stock, and Lance-Corpl. Prior rode down every day and +bought large quantities of all kinds of provisions, as well as barrels of +beer. + +Jaffa, where the well-known Jaffa oranges are grown, is rather more like a +European town than others in the country, but still is not to be compared +in any respect with a British town of the same size.[13] A very good +Y.M.C.A. was established there, in which was a picture-house which provided +welcome amusement in the evening. Daily bathing parades were instituted; +the camp being barely a mile from the sea. The usual procedure was to ride +to the shore and "link" horses. The men would then bathe and ride back. +Quite half the horses were taken in the sea with the men, and they seemed +to enjoy the sea just as much, after the first experience. + +[Illustration] + +Reinforcements to the Squadron during May included Lieut. F.R. Wilgress +(Lovats Scouts), who was posted to "A" Sub-section (and became Officer +Commanding No. 1); Sergt. Lewis ("E" Sub-section), Lance-Corpls. Collett, +Fuller and S.S. Fox. + + FOOTNOTES: + + [12] _River Auja, the Mejarkon of Joshua xix, 46, one of the boundaries + of the tribe of Dan._ + + [13] _Jaffa, stated to be the scene of the Legend of Perseus and + Andromeda, is the Joppa and Japho of Scripture, see Josh. xix, 46; II + Chron. ii, 16; Ezra iii, 7; Jonah i, 3; Matt. xii, 40; Acts ix, 36, x, + 9. A house said to be that of Simon the Tanner can be seen in the town. + In A.D. 1799 when Napoleon invaded Palestine, he marched 10,000 men + across the desert from Egypt, took El Arish and Gaza easily, but met + with great resistance at Jaffa. Finally, the town was taken, and then + 4,000 prisoners were murdered in cold blood after life had been + promised them._ + + +INSECT LIFE IN PALESTINE. + +[Illustration] + +As has been said, the camp, when it was first taken over, was a +particularly pleasant one, but, as the summer advanced, flies became so +numerous as to affect the health of the Squadron; the trees and bushes +which at first had been looked on as an advantage, now provided excellent +breeding places for the pests. South of Beersheba there are places where +the ground is so thick with beetles that it is difficult to walk without +treading on them at every step; at other places lizards are just as +numerous, and they are as active as mice. In most parts of Palestine +centipedes abound; these, if knocked off the skin in any other but the +direction in which they are moving, are liable to cause a very bad +inflammation and perhaps blood poisoning. Scorpions and tarantula spiders +(which are just as poisonous); snakes which are deadly; sandflies, which +cause a bad fever for several days; mosquitoes, which can inject malignant +malarial germs capable of causing death in a few hours--these are a few of +the many tortures. But of all these pests _the common house fly_, if in +sufficient numbers, is a greater source of annoyance than any, besides +being a spreader of disease. There certainly must have been millions upon +millions of these flies, even within (say) 20 square yards! + +Every effort was made to keep the flies down and "straffers" (a piece of +wire gauze about three inches square provided with a handle) were issued. +With these instruments, the flies were killed as fast as the "straffers" +could be brought down upon them. Medical officers inspected the camp and +pronounced the sanitation excellent; yet the flies continued to flourish! +The result of this fly-pest is seen in the number of men that were admitted +to hospital from our Squadron: weeks ending May 10th, three; 17th, six; +24th, eight; 31st, three; June 7th, six; 14th, eight; 21st, nine; 28th, +sixteen (including two officers, Lieut. Millman and Lieut. King); total 59, +_i.e._ more than a quarter of the whole strength _within eight weeks_, and +all for sickness, believed to be caused by flies! + + +THE "R.A.F." AT SARONA. + +As mentioned before, the Squadron camp overlooked the Aerodrome, and many +fine exhibitions of flying were seen there. Boche planes paid us a visit +occasionally, but that was only when none of ours were "up," and as soon as +our men got moving he made off at top speed. Yet, the Boche brought off two +_coups_ that were, no doubt, pleasing to him! It should be mentioned that +the British had one, sometimes two, observation balloons in this sector, +from which the enemy's line, and the country behind it, could be seen very +distinctly indeed, thus enabling our artillery to make it very unpleasant +for any of the enemy's troops, not entrenched; the Turk, on the other hand, +had no such opportunities. Our balloons, therefore, became special objects +of the Turk's attention, and on two occasions, when he flew over to attack +them, he was successful in bringing down on the first occasion two, and the +second time one--in flames! Fortunately, the observers were all able _to +make their descent in parachutes_! The Turk escaped, but only just in +time--our machines were quickly on his "heels," and in spite of all his +attentions, the following day found another British balloon in position +just as if nothing had happened! + +[Illustration: At Sarona. + +A view from our camp. R.A.F. Hangars can be seen in the distance.] + + +SQUADRON COMPETITIONS. + +The Squadron, by this time, had made great progress in its training. It +was, however, prevented from reaching that high state of efficiency which +is always aimed at--owing to the constant change in its _personnel_, which +was due to such numbers "going sick" to hospital. + +A series of inter-sub-section competitions, however, was organised by the +Officer Commanding, which were spread over a few weeks and proved very +popular. The principal events were:-- + + "_Detachment Competition in Marching Order_"; points being given for + condition of animals and general turn-out--Won by No. 1 Detachment of + "E" Sub-section, under Lance-Corpl. Smith. + + "_Limber Competition_"--Won by "D" Sub-section (Drivers Harris and + Collier, who also won a previous competition at Belah). + + "_Action Competition_," under Sub-section Sergeants; points given for-- + + I. _Control_--(A) Drill; (B) Led Horses; (C) Fire Orders, etc. + + II. _Time_--taken from command "Action" to when led horses move + back. + + III. _Gun Handling, Concealment and Shooting_ (won by "D" + Sub-section, under Sergt. Pearse). + + "_Belt Filling by Limber Drivers_" (won by "C" Sub-section). + + "_Stripping, Adjustment, Minor Repairs and Immediate Action_" (1st, + Lance-Corpl. Salter; 2nd, Lance-Corpl. Galway). + + +INSPECTION BY THE "C.-IN-C.". + +In consequence of the increased number of cavalry which had arrived in the +country, the 7th Mounted Brigade now formed part of a Division, instead of +being an independent Brigade, as heretofore. This Division, which was +commanded by Major-Gen. H.J.M. MacAndrew, C.B., D.S.O., was at first styled +the "2nd Mounted Division," but, later on, it was altered to the "_5th +Cavalry Division_," comprising the 13th, 14th (the old 7th Mounted), and +15th (Imperial Service), Cavalry Brigades. + +On June 27th, the Squadron paraded with the Brigade, in full marching +order, for an inspection of the Division by the "C.-in-C.". They marched to +the plain, north of Rishon-le-Zion, and were there duly inspected and +"marched past," after which units returned to camp, independently. The +"C.-in-C." expressed his high appreciation of the new Division. The next +morning (June 28th 1918) a Divisional tactical scheme was carried out, and +it was somewhat surprising to all ranks upon returning to camp, that orders +were received _for the Brigade to move that night at 01.00_! + +[Illustration] + + + + +PART IV. + + +MARCH TO THE JORDAN VALLEY. + +Before proceeding with a description of the Squadron's "trek" to the Jordan +Valley, it might be desirable to enlighten the reader as to the actual +position of affairs at the "front". + +[Illustration] + +After the capture of Jerusalem on December 9th 1917, the Turk made one +forlorn effort to re-capture it. This attempt met with not the slightest +success, and afterwards (in February 1918), he was driven down into the +Jordan Valley, where he had to yield up the town of Jericho to us. Since +then (in March and April), two raids had been made into Turkish territory +on the eastern side of the Jordan in the hills (in which the Sherwood +Rangers Yeomanry, and Essex Battery R.H.A. participated), and on each +occasion, the towns of Es-Salt and Amman were reached. A large number of +prisoners were taken, together with machine-guns and ammunition, added to +which several bridges were destroyed, and the Hedjaz railway from Damascus +to Mecca cut, thus endangering the Turkish troops, which were operating +against the Arab Sherifian Army, further south. Elsewhere on the front, the +position of the "line" had not materially changed, and at the time of the +"20TH MACHINE-GUN SQUADRON'S" tour of duty in the Jordan Valley, it +extended from the coast north of Jaffa south-eastwards across country +(through a point 18 miles north of Jerusalem), to the Jordan Valley, +thence, due south along the eastern bank of the river to the Dead Sea. + +Now, it will be readily imagined that when a unit has remained for any +length of time in one place it has automatically collected large quantities +of stores, equipment, etc., which naturally cannot be carried, when on the +march. On this occasion the principal difficulty lay in the stock of +"canteen goods" that we had accumulated. Fortunately the "R.A.F." came to +the rescue and bought the whole lot, "lock, stock and barrel". + +As has been stated, there was much sickness in the Squadron at this time, +but many men were able to keep themselves out of hospital because of the +fact that the Squadron was "at rest," besides, they preferred to rough it, +rather than leave their duties. A "sick-parade" was now hurriedly called in +order to dispose of those who could not be expected to take part in the +next "trek". This parade, however, was _vetoed_ from the start, and was, in +fact, unpopular. Only two men turned up! These, with the two officers +previously mentioned (all of whom ought to have "gone down the line" +several days before), were accordingly sent to hospital. Many men were +suffering from septic sores on their legs and feet; permission was asked +(and granted), for these cases, to wear "slacks" or shoes, as might be +necessary. Strange as it might seem, these men preferred to suffer and +remain with the Squadron, when there seemed a chance that they might be +able to come to grips with the enemy and do something really useful. + +In these circumstances, it was not a _very_ smart Squadron that paraded +that night, but its spirit would require a lot of beating! The _route_ lay +past Yazur, on the Jaffa road, to Ramleh, which town they were approaching +as day broke, and Ludd[14] could also be seen. The latter town will be +remembered by all who had occasion to go to Egypt for leave or to take a +course of instruction, also by reinforcements who joined the Squadron about +this time, as it was the British railhead; the journey from here to Kantara +on the Suez Canal being accomplished overnight. From Ludd, also, there is a +branch line to Jerusalem, and a narrow gauge railway to Sarona. At Ramleh, +turning off the road to the right, and passing Lieut. Price's grave, we +halted, off-saddled, watered and fed. At 14.00 a further march, arriving at +the water troughs east of Latron at 17.00, camping for the night further up +the road. Fairly on the way to the famous Jordan Valley, ill-accounts of +which they had often heard, we were soon to find that these reports had not +been at all exaggerated! + +The next morning (June 30th), the road in front being very steep, rising +continually, with often a drop of several hundred feet on either side, +units started at half-hour intervals. + + FOOTNOTES: + + [14] _Ludd was the birthplace of St. George, the Patron Saint of + England. A church built here, after his martyrdom, was destroyed on the + approach of the First Crusaders. It was re-built, however, but was + destroyed again by order of Saladin in A.D. 1191. Of this church, two + apses, two bays and the crypt still remain, and to-day the eastern end + has been restored by the Greeks, while the western end is used as a + mosque! In the crypt (belonging to the Greeks) is shown the Tomb of St. + George. + + Ludd = Lod of the Scriptures, a city of Benjamin, see I Chron. viii, + 12; Neh. xi, 35; Ezra ii, 33; Acts ix, 32._ + + +AN EXCITING MARCH ALONG THE EDGE OF PRECIPICES. + +The necessity of this soon became evident. The road was crowded with motors +of all kinds, and it was by no means a joke to ride a restive horse while +leading an obstinate mule, along the brink of a precipice! At 13.00 Enab +was reached, where the Squadron was allotted its ground, rather stony, but +next to the water troughs, which, however, saved a lot of work. + +The following afternoon (July 1st), the road being steeper still, the +transport ("A" Echelon), went ahead of the Brigade. The Squadron started at +14.30 (units still moving at half-hour intervals), and proceeded along the +main Jerusalem road through the new town, past the Damascus Gate (at +17.30), to the eastern side of the town, where the transport was passed and +the Brigade concentrated, the highest point having now been reached (2,590 +feet above sea level). A halt of two hours was made, and at 20.00 the +descent to the Jordan was commenced. Henceforth it was "down," "down," all +the way, with roads just as precipitous as before, but the mountains being +so high and steep on both sides, not a breath of air reached us. At 02.30 +after a tiring march, and after passing the "Inn of the Good Samaritan," we +arrived at the water troughs at Talat-ed-Dumm (1,018 feet above sea level). +After watering, about half an hour later, the Squadron found its camping +ground, a space barely large enough for a section. In this cramped area the +whole of the Squadron was crammed "as tight as sardines in a tin," with, +literally, not an inch to spare! + +Early next morning, when the sun began to rise, some idea was gained of +what might be expected in the Jordan Valley. Although Talat-ed-Dumm, as +already stated, is 1,018 feet above the level of the sea, shut in, as it +is, among the mountains away from any breeze, the heat there is almost +unbearable; the rays of the sun seem to take on a hundred times more power +than ever could be believed possible, blazing down from right overhead, and +leaving no shade, thus turning the place into a veritable furnace. + +The Brigade did not continue the march again until 19.00, when it moved +along the old Roman road. Still "down," "down," round sharp bends, and +still along the edges of precipices hundreds of feet deep! At length a +final, particularly steep slope, brought us to Jericho,[15] on the plain +of the Jordan Valley, and _820 feet below the level of the sea_. A halt was +made here for a short time, and then the Brigade marched north-east +(through clouds of dust), to its camping area in the Wadi Nueiame, arriving +at midnight. Here, on dismounting in the dark, _one seemed to be standing +in mud_, but, upon closer examination, this was found to be merely several +inches of fine dust! Sec.-Lieut. Cummer, whose turn it was to be with the +advance party that day, was waiting to show the Squadron its camping +ground, which turned out to be as good as could be expected, and alongside +a stream. A few bell-tents were already standing, which were appreciated. + + FOOTNOTES: + + [15] _The site of the present Jericho has only been occupied since + mediaeval times. The ancient Jericho lay near the spring Ain-es-Sultan + and the City of Roman times was more to the south-west. The Biblical + references to Jericho are as follows: Deut. xxxiv; Josh. vi, 26; I + Kings xvi, 34; II Kings ii, 4, 5, 11. Only a mound exists now, to mark + the position of the ancient city, but excavations here have brought to + light some interesting relics._ + + +THE "BEAUTIFUL" VALLEY OF JORDAN. + +The following are a few extracts from the notes of a member of the +Squadron, which gives a vivid description of his experiences on the road to +the Jordan. He says:-- + + "The sun was just setting as we approached Jerusalem, and the + ancient walls of the Holy City were bathed in orange light against + an opalescent sky. The long dusty column of the Brigade toiled its + way up the steep hill into the city, and passing close by the Jaffa + Gate 'turned left' and followed the main thoroughfare towards the + Damascus Gate. Outside of Fast's Hotel (a former German concern, + but now famous throughout the E.E.F.) stands a group of officers + and soldiers, watching our brigade pass, and cheering us on as we + move into the dusk. + + "Over the Mount of Olives, past the Garden of Gethsemane (the black + points of its many cypress trees now silhouetted against the sky), + what thoughts are ours as we cross this hallowed ground amid + surroundings so deeply associated with our religion! Some of us may + never return, but yet we shall have followed to our fate along a + path that still holds memories of that greatest sacrifice the world + has ever known! + + "Dark has fallen, and the stars shine bright in a velvet sky. At + length we approach the little Village of Bethany,[16] 'the town of + Mary and Martha'; near which we dismount and breathe our horses for + a space; finding a little shop close at hand, we buy some fruit and + 'take a pull' at the water-bottle. + + "Leaving our last link with civilization we begin our long weary + descent to the Jordan Valley. Before we have covered a mile, it is + obvious that the road is falling steeply. 'Take a good breath now + of the fresh air,' say those who have already experienced the + Jordan Valley, 'for it's the last you'll get for many a day!' + + "The road now enters a valley, or more rightly passes between two + lines of rocky hills, and for a time, as it is pitch dark, we + stumble along to keep our places in the column. But soon, the + eastern crest is silhouetted by the rising moon, and as the silver + light pours down the slope we see the road before us, zig-zagging + its way 'into the depths,' and there, a mile in front, the head of + the Brigade worming its way, like a great black snake. + + "So steep is it now, and so sharp the 'hairpin' turns, that + although one hears the voices and sees the heads of troops on the + winding road forty yards below, yet these are possibly half a mile + ahead in the column! 'Down' and 'down' we go, _hotter and hotter it + grows_, dustier and dustier the atmosphere! + + "Great difficulty is now experienced in keeping touch with the + regiment in front, for in such cases it is always the Machine-Gun + Squadron that is in rear of the column and 'enjoys' the dust. In + action or danger--quite another thing; up, then, just behind the + leading regiment.... + + "Arrived at Talat-ed-Dumm, too tired now to eat or drink (having + fed our animals) we lie, or rather, fall down on a blanket. In two + minutes we are dreaming that we are back in the 'old country,' + sitting in that cool breeze under the great sycamore tree; drinking + that fine old 'home-brewed,' and talking to the sweetest of all + women. Far away in the distance is the rumbling of a coach; round + the corner it comes into sight, the horses' hoofs thudding on the + hard old Roman road! The guard raises his long coaching horn to his + lips and blows a stirring call. Someone shakes us from behind! Lo! + we open our eyes and--gone is the lovely green country, the shady + trees and the coach! 'Get up! Reveille has gone'. + + "All day we rest here, and shall move on the latter part of our + 25-mile journey as soon as dark has fallen. Horses to water--but + luckily not far to go, and though two men have fainted with the + heat already, the majority are still 'merry and bright'. + + "About 11 o'clock Talat-ed-Dumm becomes literally an oven; no + trees, no water, nothing but rock and dust--dust six inches deep; + the only protection, a single piece of canvas between one and the + pitiless sun! Gasping for breath, one reaches for the water-bottle, + but it is quite warm. Still, a warm drink brings perspiration, and + _that_ is cooling to a certain extent--in its after-effects! + + "Night falls, welcomely, and saddled up the Squadron waits for the + advance to begin and to drop into its place in the line of march as + the Brigade moves past. Voices in the darkness, then shadowy forms, + and, their horses' hoofs muffled by the dust, Brigade Headquarters + passes by. Then the three regiments, one British and two Indian, + each of the latter followed by crowds of donkeys looking ghostly + white in the gloom. At length it is _our_ turn, and behind the last + regiment we 'walk march' and once more get the clouds of dust for + our portion. Now, along the level for a time--and then down again, + down towards the valley, to many a valley of death! + + "The impression we get, on leaving Talat-ed-Dumm, is rather + different from that ascribed to tourists in the guide book to + Palestine. '_It is with regret_,' it says, '_that we drag ourselves + away from a spot of such historic interest, where so many of the + patriarchs have rested_'. God help 'em! _we_ never wish to see it + again. No wonder to us, now, that Naaman the Syrian objected to go + down to the Jordan and wash seven times in it![17] + + "The horses slip and slide as they pick their way down the old + Turkish road, and once more the moon looks over the hills and + floods her silvery radiance over all--the same moon that in two + hours will rise upon the old homestead in Blighty. But here are we, + among great mountains, rugged and cleft, fantastic shapes in high + relief, in the moonlight. We might be in the moon itself! Not a + sign of life, not a bird nor an animal! + + "By mid-night we have dropped 1,100 feet, and gradually the ground + grows less rocky, the hills on the right swing away, and on the + left, just ahead, is the square-topped El-Kuruntal, the so-called + 'Mountain of Temptation,' and the gateway of the Jordan Valley. + Reaching the plain the pace grows faster, and clouds of dust arise + worse than ever. Our connecting files find great difficulty in + keeping in touch, so that every now and then those in rear must + gallop to keep up. A small wadi to be crossed makes the pace still + more uneven. We cross the Wadi Nueiame and reach our camping + ground. Again the putting down of lines; again supperless and tired + out to lie down on a blanket in the dust, in that unnatural hollow + 1,250 feet below the SEA-LEVEL, THE PLACE OF SWELTERING SUN, + SAND-SPOUTS, SCORPIONS, SNAKES, SPIDERS AND SEPTIC SORES; OF + SCORCHING WIND AND SHADOWLESS WASTE; THAT HELLISH PLACE--THE JORDAN + VALLEY!" + + FOOTNOTES: + + [16] _See St. John, chap. xi._ + + [17] _See II Kings v, 10._ + + +INCIDENTS IN THE JORDAN VALLEY CAMPAIGN. + +A few days were necessarily spent in the Wadi Nueiame in exercising the +horses and becoming acclimatized to the temperature, which rarely falls +below 100 deg., even at night, and is usually 120 deg. in the shade (or over) +during the day. On July 7th, "No. 1" Section paraded at 19.00 and proceeded +to the east of the Jordan to relieve a section of the 21st Squadron in the +line. "A" Sub-section took over the emplacements in No. 3 Post, and "C" +Sub-section those in No. 5 Post. The relief was completed by 23.00. The +next evening, the remainder of the Squadron relieved the 21st Squadron +in their camp at the Ghoraniyeh Bridge. One section only going at a time to +avoid attracting attention and being shelled by the Turks, who were posted +in the hills. The new camp was within 100 yards of the Jordan,[18] nearly +surrounded by cliffs, the tops of which were level with the plain above. +The cliffs themselves only being formed by the depression in the plain +before it gives way to the lower ground in the immediate vicinity of the +River Jordan and the east of it. The river at this point is actually 1,250 +feet below the level of the sea! + +[Illustration: Squadron Camp in the Jordan Valley. "No. 2" Section.] + +On arriving in the camp, "No. 2" Section took over the machine-gun +positions for the inner defences of the bridgehead. These had to be manned +at night only, and were on the tops of the cliffs near the camp, commanding +all the crossings of the river. Every evening just before dusk (sometimes +in a severe dust storm), the four guns were taken up on the pack-mules by +the gun-teams and brought back after light the next morning. "No. 3" +Section was in Divisional reserve, and liable to be called on at short +notice to proceed to any part of the line. It provided also all the camp +fatigues. + +It was soon found that summer-life in the Jordan Valley was about the limit +of discomfort; only those who have been there at that season can have any +idea of what it is like. If only our turn had been in the winter, when +according to all accounts the weather _is_ bearable! Needless to say that +as much work as possible was done in the early morning and evening, but +even this was extremely trying for all. Fortunately, water was available +from a small stream just outside the camp. Rush-huts and bivouacs provided +the best protection against the sun. Material for these was obtained from +the banks of the Jordan, where, for a few yards on either side, there was +luxurious vegetation--in striking contrast with the rest of the country; +during the day men were allowed to bathe in the river. + +All wheels had to be covered over during the day in order to prevent the +wood shrinking; if this had not been done, very little transport could have +been brought out of the valley at the end of the Brigade's tour of duty! + +There is, a little over a mile east of the Jordan, a series of low isolated +hills; upon these was situated our line of defence. Each hill, fortified +with barbed-wire and trenches, constituted a "post". This line was held by +Indian Infantry, the regiments of the cavalry brigade providing the patrols +in "no man's land," which, _several miles wide_, was intersected by +thousands of wadis (providing excellent cover for a stealthy enemy), also a +certain amount of tall grass. + +The enemy's position was on the mountains at the eastern side of the Jordan +Valley, completely overlooking ours. Earlier in the year they had crossed +the intervening ground, under cover of darkness, and attempted to send us +to "Jericho". They had found the posts too strong for them, however, and +had retired to the positions now mentioned. + +"C" Sub-section was on the left, on the banks of the Wadi Nimrin[19]--a +broad wadi with a small stream running along its centre. This wadi ran +right from the Turkish positions to the Jordan near the Squadron camp. "A" +Sub-section was about half a mile away to the right in the centre of a +cluster of small hills. "A's" horses were between the two Sub-sections, and +"C's" were a few hundred yards behind its position under a cliff beside the +Nimrin. If anything, it was probably more pleasant to be with the sections +in the line than in the Squadron Camp. + +Nothing of importance happened during our first week. Shells came over +every day at unexpected moments in odd places, and Boche planes paid +regular visits, dropping bombs, always, however, receiving a bombardment +from our "Archies". But on the morning of July 14th, after a night of more +than the usual amount of artillery fire, shells began to fall all around, +not to mention the shrapnel exploding overhead; this state of affairs +continued throughout the whole morning. "No. 2" Section in camp was well +protected by a high cliff, but "No. 3" was not so fortunate and had to be +moved. All the horses had been taken to another spot, and Sergt. Lewis with +some men were seeing that everything required had been removed, when a +shell pitched right in the centre of the "lines" and wounded him and Ptes. +H. Reed and L. Peach. All the day the shelling continued; the immediate +neighbourhood of the bridges over the Jordan being the "warmest" spot. A +field ambulance, close to the Squadron, behind the right reserve gun +position, suffered badly. In the evening all shelling stopped--more +suddenly even than it had started! + + FOOTNOTES: + + [18] _The River Jordan is rich in historical associations, right from + its source on Mt. Hermon to the Dead Sea, into which it flows. The + Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground (Josh. iii, 14); our Lord + was baptized there (St. John i, 28 and St. Matt. iii, 13). See also II + Kings ii, 8, x, 14; Matt. iii, 5; St. John x, 40._ + + [19] _See Isa. xv, 6._ + + +A THWARTED TURKISH ATTACK. + +Afterwards was learnt the cause of the excitement. The Turk, it was +ascertained, _had intended an attack all along the line_. At one point, +only, had the movement matured, and this was opposite the Australian +Section, on our left. Here, German troops succeeded in getting right round +some of the posts and endangering our bridgehead defences; they had moved +guns up, which enabled them to reach places previously out of range of +anything but their "heavies". Although surrounded, the posts named still +held out, and the Boches were finally driven back to their starting point, +where, it is said, they were fired on by the Turks! + +On July 17th, "No. 2" Section relieved "No. 1" in the line. "No. 3" took +over the inner defences, and "No. 1" became Divisional reserve. Lieut. E.B. +Hibbert (who left in February 1918 for leave and a course in the United +Kingdom) returned on July 25th and took command of "No. 3" Section. On +August 3rd "No. 3" Section relieved "No. 2", the inner defences being taken +over by "No. 1". A few days later "No. 3" Section was withdrawn from the +posts and camped close to Brigade Headquarters to be employed as Mobile +Reserve for the outer defences, but owing to shortage of personnel in the +posts, the guns had to be mounted in their previous positions at night. + + +THE "VALLEY" A DEATH TRAP. + +The "Valley" soon began to affect the health of the Squadron. All kinds of +fever became rampant, particularly malaria. Men would suddenly become sick, +or collapse in a fainting fit, their temperature quickly rising to 104 deg. or +thereabouts! Doctors and medical orderlies were much overworked, and became +almost unable to cope with the "rush"; men had to be undressed and tended +on the spot by their own comrades, who sponged them down in order to reduce +their temperature. The Squadron's thanks are due to Pte. Ineson, who, as +its own medical orderly, was untiring in his attention to the sick. +Undoubtedly, but for his efforts, the list of men admitted to hospital +would have been considerably larger. + +During July, the O.C. (Capt. L.F. St. J. Davies, M.C., who soon returned, +however, although not quite recovered), and 38 men, were admitted to +hospital. On August 10th, Lieut. Wilgress and Lieut. Hibbert went to +hospital. + +When the Squadron left the Valley on August 15th (being relieved by the +21st Squadron), the total casualties were _three officers and 113 O.R.'s_. +Fortunately, a number of reinforcements had arrived, including many from +Yeomanry regiments recently dismounted. The first halt was Talat-ed-Dumm, +where the 17th Squadron was passed at 02.30 on its way down to the valley. +A better camping site was available than the last time, when we camped +here. + +The following evening the march was continued, and Jerusalem was passed +through at midnight. The next morning the Brigade arrived at Enab, having +watered at the troughs at Ain el Foka, on the way. + + +KHURBET DEIRAN + +The same evening the Brigade moved via Latron, Barriyeh and Naane to +Khurbet Deiran arriving at 07.30 the next morning, the rest of the day +being spent in laying out the new camp. That day Lieut. Cazalet returned +from hospital and temporarily took command of "No. 2" Section (while Lieut. +Kindell went on a course at Zeitoun), afterwards taking over his old +section ("No. 1"). + +No sooner had the Brigade settled down in its new quarters than very +strenuous training was re-commenced--in addition there were inspections +galore--besides tactical schemes, almost every other day. Reinforcements +came up, which included many men new to the Squadron, which was, in +consequence, soon nearly up to strength. Lieut. King returned from +hospital, but still being far from well had, soon afterwards, to go back +there. On September 13th Lieut. Millman returned from hospital and Lieut. +Kindell from his course of instruction. Lieut. Millman resumed command of +his late section ("No. 3"). On September 14th the Squadron turned out in +complete marching order with transport, for a Divisional "scheme," the +Division moving south on a six-mile frontage, sections coming into action +with an imaginary enemy at various points. + +[Illustration] + + + + +PART V. + + +THE GREAT ADVANCE OF 1918. + +So well had the secret of the great operations, that were in view by the +Commander-in-Chief, been kept, that no one in the Squadron had any idea of +a general attack being in contemplation. It was, in fact, not until the day +that the Squadron was ordered to strike camp, that any officer or man +(except perhaps the officer commanding), became aware that a serious +movement was about to take place! An attack at any time would not, of +course, have been entirely unexpected, as we were always prepared for +something of the kind, but on this occasion the rumours that usually +precede operations of importance were entirely absent--although the number +of tactical schemes recently practised should have indicated that some +particular purpose was in view. + +At 18.00 on September 17th, the Squadron paraded in full marching order, +and moved off, leaving all tents and buildings standing. _We never returned +to those quarters!_ + +The strength of the Squadron at this time was six officers, 212 O.R.'s, 181 +riding horses, 80 draft mules, 43 pack animals. So far as can be +ascertained now, the following were the officers and N.C.O.'s:-- + +_Headquarters:_ + +Major L.F. St. John Davies, M.C. +Capt. R.H. Fairbairns, M.C. +S.S.M. Fleet, M.M. +S.Q.M.S. Fisher. +Farr.-Staff-Sergt. Robertson. +Sergt. Conuel (Transport). +Sergt. Ramsay (Orderly Room). +S.S.-Corpl. Anderson. +Sig.-Corpl. Foster. +Saddler-Corpl. Mellett. + + + _"No. 1" Section:_ + + Sec-Lieut. J.W. Cummer. + +_"A" Sub-section:_ _"C" Sub-section:_ + +Sergt. Larwood, D.C.M. Sergt. Roberts. +Corpl. Rouse. Corpl. Gage. +Lance-Corpl. Holt. Lance-Corpl. Rose. + " Moverley. " Sneddon. + + + _"No. 2" Section:_ + + Lieut. A.O.W. Kindell. + +_"B" Sub-section:_ _"D" Sub-section:_ +Sergt. Hazlehurst. Sergt. Salter. +Lance-Corpl. Lawson. Lance-Corpl. Fox. + " Stokes. " Fuller. + Corpl. Pearse. + + + _"No. 3" Section:_ + + Lieut. A.G.P. Millman. + Sec.-Lieut. J.K.W. Arden. + +_"E" Sub-section:_ _"F" Sub-section:_ +Sergt. Potts. Sergt. Grice, M.M. +Corpl. Thompson. Corpl. Keetley. +Lance-Corpl. Pountain. Lance-Corpl. Buckingham. + " Woodhouse. " Patterson. + +The route taken was familiar to everyone. Passing Rishon-le-Zion (Ayun +Kara) the Squadron came upon its old friend the Jaffa Road, thence, past +Yazur to Sarona, by exactly the same way as was taken in the previous May. +Bearing to the left, past the village, we arrived at Summeil and the camp +south of the River Auja, where Sec.-Lieut. Arden, who had been sent on in +advance to take over the Squadron area, showed us our position in the camp. +Arriving at dusk the whole Brigade (horses, wagons and men), were hidden +in orange groves; it was certainly not an easy task to fit everything up in +the dark, the avenues between the trees being narrow and in most places +only allowing horses to be led in single file. + +The orders for the morrow (equally unenlightening) were to the effect that +no unnecessary movement was to take place, and that no one, on any account, +_was to go outside the groves_; the horses were to be watered at stated +hours from the stone gullies used by the natives for the irrigation of the +plantations; no fires were allowed; and all cooking was to be done with the +methylated spirit blocks which were issued out for the purpose. + +The daytime was passed without incident, but 18.30 found the Brigade +paraded outside the groves ready to march at dusk. Crossing the Auja by the +wooden bridge, and proceeding stealthily along the sea shore, below the +cliffs, about five miles to west of El Jelil, it halted in "column of +troops," off-saddled, watered from a trough, supplied by water from a well +dug beside it, "linked" horses and laid down on the sand to get some sleep. +It may be imagined that by this time everyone was wondering what the next +day would bring forth! + + +ADVANCE TO LIKTERA (EL HUDEIRA). + +Before daylight we were saddled up and "standing to"--a vigorous +bombardment of the Turkish trenches (which we had been told the previous +night to expect) was in full swing. Suddenly, it stopped! Who was there +among us who did not think of the part the infantry were then playing, and +upon whose successful attack so much was to depend? + +When would orders arrive for us, on the beach, to move? Patiently waiting +and expecting, nothing however came! Suddenly at 07.00, the troops in front +were seen mounting, and at length the surprising order came through to us +that the entire Division was _to make its way to Nazareth_--quite 50 miles +behind the enemy's line, as the crow flies! + +The 13th Brigade, being on the sands in front of the 14th, was to lead this +movement. The Poona Horse were to be the leading regiment of the 14th, with +ourselves (the 20TH MACHINE-GUN SQUADRON) immediately behind them. + + +"GET BACK OUR GUNS". + +Upon advancing a short way up the coast, we reached what had been the +British front line, and evidences of the morning's action were to be seen, +as here and there several dead men and mules were lying about. As we passed +by this spot, an officer of an Infantry Machine-Gun Company called out to +us: "Good luck, get us back our guns. They raided us this morning and +captured two!" + +A few yards further on, the old Turkish line was reached and a number of +killed and wounded Turks and animals were to be seen here also. + +Right along the coast we went, "without let or hindrance," the high cliffs +affording us protection from the few shells coming over, nearly all of +which fell into the sea. The pace was killing, and the sand and rocks made +it heavy going for the horses. They were very fit though, thanks to the +hard training they had had at Deiran! + +Still proceeding northward, about six miles along the coast, the cliffs +suddenly gave way to flatter ground; here we turned inland in a +north-easterly direction. Reports reached us that about 200 enemy infantry +(with transport) were in a wood on our right flank. "No. 1" Section and one +squadron of Poona Horse were detailed as "flank guard" to prevent the enemy +leaving the wood until the Brigade had passed by. The flank guard, however, +were instructed not to trouble to dispose of this small party, as bigger +"fish" were in view. + +At 11.30 the Brigade had reached the Nahr Iskanderun. After crossing slowly +by two small, very shaky, bridges, units hurriedly watered here, +independently, by means of buckets, the banks of the stream being very +steep. The country now became delightful, cultivated, everywhere, with +orange groves and gardens. At 12.30 the Brigade, winding its way through +the groves, came out into the pretty little Village of Liktera (a Jewish +settlement called by them Hudeira), 26 miles from the starting point. The +inhabitants were overjoyed to see us, and as a halt was made here, and +horses off-saddled and fed, they soon made us at home with gifts of bread, +eggs and milk, refusing to take any payment therefor. + +Until the inhabitants had seen the head of our Division, about a mile off, +they had not the slightest idea that there had even been a British attack! +They were particularly anxious to know how the people were faring in such +villages as Mulebbis, and other places, south of our old line, where they +had friends and relatives. As indicative that our advance was carried out +with speed and secrecy--while we were resting here, _a Boche motor lorry +arrived_! The driver, being unaware of anything unusual, drove quietly +into the town; he nearly fell off his seat when he was suddenly surrounded +by British troops! This lorry proved to be the advance guard of several +more, all of which were, of course, captured. + + +CAPTURE OF EL FULE. + +After a sleep in the afternoon (what a luxury for the first day of a +"stunt!") and tea, the Brigade saddled up and moved off at 18.00, just +before dark. What a cheery crowd it was! But they had "some" march in front +of them, the object being the capture of Nazareth and the cutting of the +Turk's principal line of communication, _which would isolate practically +the whole of his army west of the Jordan_! Just outside the village, two +large marquees--a German Field Ambulance--hurriedly evacuated, were passed. +Earlier in the day an officer of the 13th Brigade had found an untasted +breakfast here, for which he had much reason to be thankful! + +[Illustration] + +Further on, the track taken (the main route being avoided) proved very +bad, and in many places the whole division had to proceed in "single file". +In some places, also, horses were led. The natives, who had gathered upon +the road-side from the villages which we passed, stood silently watching +us. They must have been amazed, and the troops must have appeared to them +veritable "ghosts of the night". At 23.30 a halt of 30 minutes was made, at +a small village, and horses fed. In the early hours of the morning many +horses, belonging to the forward part of the column, were passed by the +wayside. They were completely "done". No doubt they were, in some cases, +able, later on, to join up, but in their present state their riders had +taken their saddles off and had lain down beside them, to sleep. For the +moment these men had nothing further to do, but they must have run a +serious risk from hostile natives when the Brigade had passed by. At 04.00 +the next morning we emerged upon the open Plain of Esdraelon.[20] + + FOOTNOTES: + + [20] _The Plain of Esdraelon stretches across Central Palestine, and + has an average width of about 10 miles. It forms a wide break between + the Mountains of Galilee on the north and those of Samaria on the + south. It has always been a great battlefield; in the Bible it is + called the Plain of Jezreel; see Judges iv, 3, v, 21, vi, 1; I Sam. + xxix, xxxi; I Kings xx, 25; Josh. xvii, 16._ + + +A GREAT MOVE! + +Now was to take place an interesting development in the operations. With +Nazareth within fairly close reach, our objective was at hand. We formed up +as quickly as possible in "Line of troop column," and then moved along the +plain to the east, heading slightly towards the north, gradually nearing +the north side as we proceeded forward. The objective for the 14th Brigade +was to cut the main road to Nazareth from the south, thus cutting off all +communication between the Turkish General Headquarters at Nazareth and +their line, which ran across the country from Arsuf to the north of the +Dead Sea. The 13th Brigade, which, it will be remembered, up to this point +had been the leading one, after forming up, made for the hills on the other +side of the plain, and, reaching them, turned to the east, towards their +objective which was _the Turkish General Headquarters at Nazareth_! + +The "going" on the plain was very bad, especially in the dark, the ground +being a network of cracks and covered with a species of tall needle-grass, +the latter making it very painful for the horses, whilst the former, +continually giving way under their weight made the risk of broken legs a +real one. Fortunately, however, no serious accidents took place. What +wonderful creatures horses are! Those who were on that trek could not fail +to realise it, if they had never done so before! As time went on and the +goal was still not reached, it seemed that they _must_ drop at any minute, +_but still they kept on_, never faltering! A few dropped out, it is true, +but they were a very small percentage of the whole. What courage and +endurance they showed, to carry a weight of (say) 18 stone, _50 miles in 24 +hours_ over the worst country imaginable! + +About half way across the plain, the railway to Haifa was "cut," and, +pushing on, there were still some miles to go when day began to break. Many +thought they would now be "in for" a hot time, and expected guns to open +upon them from all sides. + +But the Turk was still quite ignorant of our presence. In any case he was +not prepared for an attack at that distance behind his line! When it became +fully light the 13th Brigade could be seen on the top of the ridge on the +left moving parallel with us, and, in front of us, there was Mount +Tabor[21] which served as a "guide" for direction. At 05.30 enemy motor +lorries were seen crossing our front going towards Nazareth. We opened fire +upon them but they did not stop. + +Proceeding up the hill, they discovered that our 13th Brigade troops were +on the top, when they stopped about half way up and opened fire with +machine-guns. Upon this our "No. 2" Section came up and "peppered" them. +One lorry caught fire and after a short time the occupants of the convoy, +trying to escape up the hill, were captured by the 13th Brigade. Shortly +after this incident, Turkish troops were seen marching up the road towards +us, but a squadron from the Sherwood Rangers and Deccan Horse with our "No. +3" Section quickly caused them to be quite in a hurry to surrender. + + FOOTNOTES: + + [21] _Mount Tabor rather resembles a sugar-loaf in shape, flattened at + the top; its height from the plain is about 1,500 feet. It was here + that Deborah commanded Barak to muster his army: "So Barak went down + from Mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. And the Lord + discomfited Sisera and all his chariots and all his host, with the edge + of the sword before Barak". (Judges iv, 14, 15). See also Judges viii, + 18; Psalms xxxix, 12; Jer. xlvi, 18. The Crusaders built a church and a + monastery on Mount Tabor; they were destroyed in 1187 and the ruins + still remain. In 1255 the Knights of St. John held it but lost it in + 1263 to Bibars._ + + +THE ENEMY PANIC-STRICKEN. + +From a small rise could be seen, looking down the road, a large camp and El +Fule railway station with trucks, carriages and engines, also large dumps +of material. Everywhere, crowds of enemy troops were to be seen rushing +about; apparently in a state of great panic. In these circumstances a +squadron of the Deccan Horse went down to "look into things" and after +"dealing" with a few of the excitable "Johnnies" the remainder surrendered. +About 900 prisoners were taken that morning. Later on in the day the +Brigade moved down to the station and encamped, the horses being watered +from a trough which was discovered about a mile along the railway.[22] + +Here, there was found a large quantity of stores of all descriptions, +including Turkish cigarettes, which were not refused as a ration on such an +occasion. The capture of El Fule released an R.A.F. pilot, who, having to +land in consequence of engine trouble that morning, had been taken prisoner +by some Austrian gunners who, with their horses only, were retreating. They +were anxious to know which way the British were coming, in order to decide +which road they should take. Of course they did not learn anything, but +fortunately came along this road and thus fell into our hands. + +Here it might be mentioned that the work of the R.A.F. was truly wonderful. +Prior to the "stunt," in order to ensure that the enemy should not be aware +of the massing of our cavalry just before the attack and their subsequent +movements after the infantry had broken through, they flew continually over +the enemy aerodromes and prevented enemy airmen from rising. Perhaps it +should be said they rather tempted them to do so, but--they never did! +Consequently, on the day of our attack, the enemy had no information at all +of what was happening, as his planes were on the ground and remained there +until they were either burnt or captured. They certainly would not rise! At +El Fule a very large aerodrome had been established, and a large collection +of enemy machines was found there. It was not long before these were joined +by some of our own which arrived almost as soon as it had been taken. + +During the day the 13th Brigade had been dealing with Nazareth, and that +night our Brigade slept at El Fule. Next morning we were to go southwards +to Jenin (which might or might not have been captured), and clear the +intervening country. + + FOOTNOTES: + + [22] _About a mile south of the site of the present station at El Fule + was the scene of a great battle between the French and the Turks, on + April 16th 1799, called the Battle of Mount Tabor. Kleber with about + 1,500 men kept 25,000 Syrians at bay; he was almost defeated when + Napoleon with 600 men arrived. The Turks, thinking a large army was + upon them, fled. Here also are ruins of a church of the Crusaders, + destroyed by Saladin._ + + +JENIN[23] CROWDED WITH ABANDONED MATERIAL. + +With this end somewhat in view, Lieut. Kindell was ordered to fix up two +machine-guns in a captured Boche motor-car, and, acting as left "flank +guard" to the Brigade, was directed to go to Jenin by a road running +parallel to, and on the left of, the one to be taken by the Brigade. When +fitted up the car looked quite formidable. Lance-Corpls. Fox and Fuller and +Ptes. Boak (with signal flags) and Franklin accompanied him. The driver of +the Brigade car was lent for this special occasion. + +After re-filling with German petrol in the morning, they started off upon +their journey. They soon came up with all kinds of derelict enemy transport +and Turkish stragglers coming in. At one point ahead, could be seen a crowd +of people (which proved to be natives) around some deserted enemy motor +lorries. A troop of "S.R.Y." (detached from the Brigade for the purpose), +came galloping over, but, as already stated, they proved to be only +villagers looking about for some "plunder," and they were soon sent about +their business. Further on Lieut. Kindell's car was joined by two other +cars of the "Light Car Patrol" each with a machine-gun, so that the party +now consisted of three cars with four guns. + +On arriving at Jenin they found the streets simply choked with abandoned +Turkish transport. It was only by moving each wagon aside by hand that +they were able to proceed through the town and meet the Brigade before it +arrived there on the other side; the cars were then sent off again on a +patrol. Unfortunately, upon returning through the town, the driver of our +car, on turning a corner, ran into the pole of a wagon, and broke the +radiator. Such was the end of the Squadron "armoured" car, much to the +disappointment of the occupants, who were just beginning to enjoy their +novel experience. + +It should be stated that the town of Jenin, together with a very large +number of prisoners, had been captured the previous night by the +Australians. Here, too, was an aerodrome and several burnt enemy +planes--more evidence of the splendid work of the R.A.F. + +Our Brigade remained in the Jenin area until evening, when, having watered, +we went back along the El Fule road towards Nazareth and about half way, +bore off to the right, encamping upon the hills south-east of El Fule and +south of the El Fule-Beisan Road. The next morning (22nd September), we +moved down the hills northwards and camped just south of the Beisan Road, +near water. The day was spent in a well-earned rest. + +The transport arrived at the camp complete, and allowed of forage and +rations being replenished. How it had been able to come through the enemy +country by roads suitable for transport without being attacked, remained a +mystery to those who do not know the circumstances! During the day +thousands of Turkish and German prisoners were marched along the road from +Beisan, usually in the charge of only a few mounted men. + + FOOTNOTES: + + [23] _Josh xix, 21, xxi, 29._ + + +ON TO HAIFA AND ACRE! + +The next day (September 23rd), everything having been cleared up in this +district, the Division set out for Haifa and Acre on the coast. A glance at +the map will show that these towns are about 12 miles distant from each +other, both being about 23 miles from Nazareth--there being two separate +roads. The northern road to Acre was taken by the 13th Brigade and the +southern to Haifa by the 15th and 14th. As regards our Squadron the first +part of the journey to Haifa was just in the nature of a "route march," +although the pace ridden was fast at times. The 15th Brigade was the +leading one and the 13th Brigade as stated above made straight to Acre from +Nazareth. Passing through El Fule the 15th and 14th followed the railway +for some distance, then bearing off to the right they joined the main road +from Nazareth to Haifa along the hills bordering the plain. + +From Sheikh Abreik[24]--the highest point on the road--the sea could be +seen in the distance, a beautiful blue, whilst a refreshing breeze met the +face. A short distance further on, a halt was made. During this the sound +of guns was heard in the distance from the direction of the sea. No +opposition having been expected, all sorts of reports came down the column +concerning the cause of the firing, such as-- + +(1) British destroyers in the bay have mistaken the 15th Brigade for the +enemy! + +(2) The enemy have got a naval gun with which they are shelling the head of +the column! + +But all rumours proved to be false. What _was_ really happening was the +Turkish garrison at Haifa (about 1,000 strong) with field and machine-guns +were defending the town against our advance--a hopeless affair, considering +that they were entirely cut off, without any chance of obtaining supplies +or reinforcements. + + FOOTNOTES: + + [24] _In the days of the Romans Sheikh Abreik was the headquarters of a + Tribune._ + + +CAPTURE OF HAIFA BY THE 15TH BRIGADE. + +The Sherwood Rangers went to the assistance of the 15th Brigade which +really had a very difficult task, as the plain before Haifa was, in many +places, boggy and almost impassable; in addition there were many streams +flowing across it. The main road to Haifa runs right along the foot of +Mount Carmel[25] on the left of the plain, and bordering it. It was here +that the enemy had established themselves, covering every part of the +ground with their guns. With great dash, however, the 15th Brigade galloped +the enemy positions, and within a short time had captured the town! Much to +everybody's regret, the son of General Sir Pertab Singh was killed during +this attack. His loss was much regretted by his comrades, and all who knew +him. + +While this action was taking place, we (the 14th Brigade) descended the +hill from Sheikh Abreik, crossed a bridge, which was at a great height over +the river Kishon[26], and, turning to the right off the road, dismounted +and watered from it with buckets. It was here that, owing to over-keenness +on the part of two horses in the Squadron, they broke away, and, trying to +drink from the river, fell in! Fortunately both were rescued, but not +without great difficulty. Meanwhile, shelling was going on; luckily the +shells all fell short of us, although having descended the hill, as +mentioned, we had attracted the attention of the Turkish gunners. Later on +in the day we moved into Haifa[27] along the road which had been the scene +of the action. Passing the results of the work of the 15th Brigade and of +the "S.R.Y." which, to judge from the numbers of killed and wounded along +the road (which were being dealt with by the Cavalry Field Ambulance), must +have been of a very strenuous character, we at length encamped upon the +sea-shore, under date palms, within a mile north of the town! The distance +covered that day was 25 miles. + +The 13th Brigade, meantime, had captured Acre[28] on the north, after only +slight opposition, yet it had effected, within a few hours, the feat which +Napoleon had entirely failed to accomplish after a siege of 60 days! +Incidentally, it may be mentioned, that heaps of his cannon-balls were +found at Haifa. + +The next morning (24th), our men and horses bathed in the sea! A short +distance out, underwater, it was found that barbed wire had been fixed. +This the Turks had evidently placed in position with the object of +preventing a landing _from the sea_. These entanglements, however, in no +way impeded the bathing as they could easily be seen in the clear water. +Our troops were also allowed to visit the town, which was found to be very +interesting; there being many modern houses, it was, in several respects, +superior to any town we had previously visited in the interior. It is not +too much to say that many of the inhabitants were delighted to see the +British. They even said that they had expected us the previous year! + + FOOTNOTES: + + [25] _Mount Carmel extends from the sea coast at Haifa, inland 15 + miles, in a south-easterly direction, thus forming a separating ridge + between the Plains of Sharon and Esdraelon. Its height is about 500 + feet at the sea, and 1,800 feet at its inland extremity. The mountain + has always been associated with the name of the Prophet Elijah. It was + here that he was said to have sought shelter when Ahab was seeking his + life. A monastery stands over what is thought was the spot, and was + used as a hospital for the wounded when Napoleon was besieging Acre. + After his withdrawal it was destroyed by the Turks and afterwards + re-built through the energy of a monk who travelled and begged for 14 + years to obtain funds for the present building. The Biblical references + to the mountain are: Josh. xix, 26; Deut. xiv, 5; I Kings iv, 23, + xviii, 13; Isa. xxxv, 2, lv, 12, xxxiii, 9; Amos i, 2; Song of Solomon + vii, 5; Micah vii, 14._ + + [26] _See Judges iv, 13, and v, 21._ + + [27] _Haifa is notorious on account of its associations with Mount + Carmel. The Latin Carmelites reached Haifa in A.D. 1170 and St. Simon + Stock, from Kent, was their general in A.D. 1245. They were massacred + by the Egyptians in 1291 but regained power in the middle of the + Sixteenth Century._ + + [28] _There is only one reference to Acre in the Old Testament (Judges + i, 31), and one in the New Testament (Acts xxi, 7), under the name of + Ptolemais. It was taken by the Crusaders in A.D. 1102, and held till + 1187, as a port of the Kings of Jerusalem. After a siege it was + re-taken from Saladin in 1191, and held for a century. It was here that + the Knights of St. John, after they had been driven from every other + part of Palestine, prolonged for forty-three days their gallant + resistance to the Sultan of Egypt and his immense host; 60,000 + Christians were on that occasion slain or sold as slaves. Napoleon + besieged Acre in 1799, but was prevented from taking it by the British + under Sir William Sidney Smith. It was bombarded in 1840, by British + and Turkish Fleets, when an explosion of a magazine destroyed the + town._ + + +CAPTURE OF DAMASCUS.[29] + +After another day spent at Haifa, back again the Division went (leaving the +"S.R.Y." as a garrison), along the same road by which they had come, as +far as the top of the hill above the river. Here we branched off to the +left through Beit Lahm (a German colony), and Seffurie to Kefr Kenna, four +miles north-east of Nazareth on the Tiberias Road, said to be the "Cana of +Galilee" where the water was turned into wine[30]. The latter part of the +road was very narrow and rocky, being in parts merely a goat-track. Our +animals had no water that day--it being quite unobtainable in spite of +previous advices. + +At 02.00 the next morning (September 26th) the Division started for +Tiberias[31]. "No. 1" Section going with the advance guard, the remainder +of the Squadron following the Deccan Horse. The 14th Brigade reached the +shores of Lake Tiberias[32] (Sea of Galilee) just north of the town at +08.30 and halted until 12.00 to allow the Australian Mounted Division to +pass through on their way towards Damascus. Here, horses were "off-saddled" +and watered twice during the halt, the water being quite fresh and clear. +Being upon the shore, which was gently shelving, they were able to walk in +and drink to their hearts' content. A number of men also took the +opportunity to bathe; it was fairly hot, being 680 feet below the level of +the sea. + +The River Jordan runs right through the lake, and it is interesting to know +now that this point was 64 miles (as the crow flies), up the river from the +site of the late Squadron camp when it was previously in the Jordan Valley. +It was reported to us that the 4th Division had had tough work in the +streets of Tiberias in order to capture it. They had now gone round the +southern shores of the lake and joined forces with the Sherifian Troops, +who had been harassing the enemy's Fourth Army east of the Jordan and were +now pursuing them northwards. Practically the whole of the Turkish Seventh +and Eighth Armies, which previously held the line west of the Jordan, had +now been accounted for. + +At 12.00 we continued the advance along the shores of the lake through +pleasant, cultivated country, to the north-west corner; then northward, for +about six miles, and down an avenue of trees, past the pretty little Jewish +village of Jataine. + +The Australians, in front, were held up at Kusa Atra on the Jordan by +artillery and machine-guns at the bridge, which the enemy had destroyed. +That night the 14th Brigade encamped within two miles of this bridge, +having marched over 30 miles that day. Early the next morning (September +28th) the Australians crossed the river by the ford, and "scuppered" the +party which had been holding them up, but, unfortunately, with the loss of +a few of their number. The 14th Brigade accordingly moved down to the river +at 09.00 and watered, and at 15.00 crossed by the bridge which had, by +then, been repaired by the Royal Engineers ("No. 2" Section with advance +guard fording), and continued north-easterly along what would have been a +good road with the help of a steam roller (but at present was the reverse, +owing to the large stones put down not being rolled in), to Kuneitra (14 +miles by the map but actually hardly less than 20), arriving 23.00. + + FOOTNOTES: + + [29] _Damascus is a very ancient city, and existed even in the time of + Abraham. The story that it was here that Cain killed Abel is alluded to + by Shakespeare (I King Henry VI, I, 3). While other cities of the East, + which were at one time of equal importance, now mostly exist as mounds + in the desert, Damascus is still what it was--the capital of Syria. + + The following are some of the numerous Biblical references to Damascus: + Gen. xiv, 15; II Sam. viii, 5 ("David slew of the Syrians two and + twenty thousand men"); II Kings vi, vii, viii, xiii, xiv, xv, xvi; I + Chron. xviii, 5 (accounts of battles between the Kings of Judah and + Israel and the Kings of Damascus); Isa. xvii; Amos i, 3; Jer. xlix, 23 + (prophetical). + + St. Paul was converted on his way to Damascus (Acts ix) in which + connection see also II Cor. xi, 32 and Acts ix. + + In A.D. 1860 a frightful massacre of Christians took place here. By + nightfall on July 9th of that year the whole of the Christian Quarter + was in flames, the water supply cut off and the inhabitants hemmed in + by a circle of steel. As night advanced fresh marauders entered the + city and joined the furious mob of fanatics, who now, tired of plunder, + began to cry out for blood. All through that awful night and the whole + of the following day, the pitiless massacre went on. It is probable + that not a Christian would have remained alive but for the untiring + energy of Abd-el-Kader (himself a Mohammedan of great renown, but a + just man) with his faithful Algerines, who, in 1847, mustering only + 2,500 men had completely defeated the army of the Emperor of Morocco + 60,000 strong. + + Abd-el-Kader at once set to work rescuing the Christians. Hundreds were + escorted to his house, fed, comforted and forwarded to the castle, + where, finally, nearly 12,000 were collected. Many also reached the + British Consulate. The Mohammedans, furious at being baulked of their + prey, turned their attentions to Abd-el-Kader, who, however, charged + into their midst and said: "Wretches! is this the way you honour the + Prophet!... You think you may do as you please with the Christians, but + the day of retribution will come. Not a Christian will I give up, they + are my brothers. Stand back or I will give my men the order to fire". + Not a man among them dared to raise a voice against the renowned + champion of Islam, and the crowd dispersed. British and French + intervention prevented a general massacre throughout Syria, and as a + result of European pressure an enquiry was held on the Damascus + outrage, with the result that the Military Governor of that city, three + Turkish officers and 117 individuals were shot. In addition about 400 + of the lower class and 11 notables were condemned to imprisonment or + exile and L200,000 was proposed to be levied on the city. This was all + that could be obtained to the Christian community for a loss of 6,000 + of their lives, 20,000 rendered homeless, and damage to their property + of at least L2,000,000._ + + [30] _See John ii, 1; also iv, 46, i, 47 and xxi, 2._ + + [31] _Tiberias was built by the Romans in A.D. 20. It is only once + mentioned in the Bible (John vi, 23). The modern town is much smaller + than was the ancient one. In 1837, half the population perished by a + great earthquake._ + + [32] _Lake Tiberias in the Old Testament was called the "Sea of + Chinnereth," and the "Sea of Chinneroth" (Numb. xxxiv, 11; Deut. iii, + 17; Josh. xii, 3, xix, 35). + + In the New Testament, in addition to the names in the text above, it is + called the "Lake of Gennesaret" from the plains of that name on its + north-western shore. + + In the vicinity of the lake our Lord spent the larger portion of his + life, thus we find it continually mentioned throughout the four + Gospels. Some of the references are: Matt. iv, 13, viii, 24, 28, xiii, + 1, xiv, 25, xvii, 27; John vi, 1, xxi; Luke v, 1. At that time other + towns stood upon its shores, including Capernaum and Bethsaida. + + The lake is nearly seven miles across at its greatest width and its + extreme length is just over 12 miles._ + + +TWO SNIPERS SHOT. + +The next day we rested. Troops having been sniped at by natives, a party +from the Squadron was detailed to make an example of two offenders who had +been caught "red-handed". They were taken back to their village, and after +their crime had been publicly announced by an interpreter to the chief of +the tribe and the inhabitants, they were shot by the firing party. At 18.00 +the Brigade moved off through the village along the main Damascus Road. +About nine miles out they were brought to a halt, as the Australians in +front were "held up". Later, they cleared the way, however, and we moved on +again at 04.30. A halt of half an hour was made at 07.00 to water in the +Nahr Mughaniye, after which part of the distance was covered at the trot. +At 11.30 the head of the column reached Khan-esh-Shiha, 14 miles south-east +of Damascus. + +The enemy was seen on the Deraa Road, eight miles to the east, retreating +northward, evidently being chased by the 4th Division and Hedjaz troops +(Sherifians). It was reported by aeroplanes that the enemy force numbered +about 3,000, and the 14th Brigade (less the one regiment left at Haifa), +was allotted the task of cutting them off. + + +ALL SECTIONS DO GOOD EXECUTION. + +Turning to the right across country, we proceeded at a fast pace through +fields of maize, gardens, orchards and then open country, arriving at the +hills north of Kiswe overlooking the Deraa Road. These we occupied, and +came in touch with the enemy who had sent out troops to attack. "No. 1" +Section was in action along with two squadrons of Deccan Horse. They only +reached their positions a few minutes in front of the enemy's flank guard, +who, owing to the steepness and rocky nature of the ground, was able to +approach within a few yards of the guns before being repulsed. During this +encounter it is much regretted that Pte. Staniland was killed. + +"No. 2" Section was in action on the hill occupied by Brigade Headquarters +against the enemy, on a hill 600 yards to the front. After repulsing them, +they went round and occupied the hill, being joined shortly afterwards by +"No. 1" Section. Here an extensive view was obtained of the surrounding +country--in front, the Deraa Road from Kiswe village and station, on the +right (and beyond) and on the left the town of Damascus itself. It is +impossible to imagine a more beautiful sight than that which Damascus +presented from this spot, with its white minarets shining in the sunlight, +above the orange groves, vineyards and orchards which surround it. The +panorama was more particularly striking because of the contrast it +presented with the rest of the country we had previously seen. Some good +"shooting" was obtained from here, and the road was soon cleared. Parties +of the enemy could be seen making off eastward up the hills, but out of +range. The railway from Damascus runs parallel to the road, and beyond it. +A train which was then _en route_ was fired at, but it was also rather out +of range. + +Just then the Turk got some field guns in action and sent a few shells over +at us, the very first one falling right on top of Brigade Headquarters; +fortunately, it did not hit anyone! + +"No. 3" Section accompanied the Poona Horse on the left flank, and there +had some "practice" on the road, similar to the other sections. It was +joined there by "D" Sub-section, Nos. 1 and 2 having come out of action, +as there were no further "targets" for them. "No. 1" Section was now sent, +with one squadron of Deccan Horse, to occupy a hill south-east of Ashrafie +and due north of the position they had been holding. Machine-gun fire was +met with half a mile from the hill, but only one casualty was sustained +(Pte. Knott, wounded). The Deccan Horse charged the hill, and the section +came in action on the top of it, firing upon the retreating enemy and +silencing two of their machine-guns. The groves round Ashrafie, and the +road to the east, were "traversed" and a regiment of Turkish cavalry, which +was in the groves, at length sent a representative under a white flag +expressing a desire to surrender. Outposts were now put out, and the +remainder of the Brigade was moved up to Ashrafie and watered, staying in +that vicinity for the night. + +Some splendid grapes and other minor luxuries were obtained at the village +and were very acceptable. That night the country was lit up for miles +around, and the air resounded with explosion after explosion by the +destruction of large ammunition dumps and other stores by the Turks. "No. +3" Section remained with the outposts, owing to the fact that two orderlies +who had been sent out were unable to find them. + +In the early morning they obtained some splendid "targets" on the road, +against the tail of the Turkish force which was being driven along by the +4th Division and the Hedjaz troops. Close on their heels came Lieut.-Col. +Lawrence and Major Sinclair of the Sherifian Army in a car. They would have +been fired on, but for the fact that our own troops were in the danger +zone. Their identity was discovered in time, however, and Major Davies, who +had just arrived to see how "No. 3" Section was faring, went down and spoke +to them. + + +WE ENTER DAMASCUS. + +At 07.30 the Australians having got round to the north of the city, our +Brigade moved through Ashrafie and groves eastward to the road, so +frequently referred to above, and marching along it, passed Meidan, at +09.30 entering Damascus--just 12 days from the start of operations, it +being then October 1st 1918. The approximate distance covered by the +Division was 215 miles, the distance due north of our old Line 104 miles. + +Probably the town of Damascus proved to be disappointing to the majority of +the troops. It was interesting, certainly, but those who had been long in +the East did not find the expression "_Eastern splendour_" realised here, +any more than in other towns they had seen; such an idea would seem to +exist only in the minds of those who have never been "out East". The +natives, on the whole, seemed pleased to see us, the victors, and +frequently cheered, while Major L.F. St. J. Davies, M.C., at the head of +the Squadron (which followed the Poona Horse, the leading regiment, thus +being the first _white_ troops), was exceedingly popular. + +[Illustration] + +In accordance with the Arab custom, when rejoicing, rifles were fired in +the air--and this not with "blank" either! + +Right through the centre of the town, the Brigade went, and camped in olive +groves along the main road, leading out to the north-east. The following +day it retraced its steps to the south of the town where it joined the +"C.-in-C.". He had with him the remainder of the Division and the +Australians. A triumphal entry into the town with the troops named was then +made. + +The Machine-Gun Squadron, given the choice, went independently, straight to +their next camp at El Judeide, nine miles south-west of Damascus, +preferring to rest their horses. There they camped in orange groves, being +re-joined in the evening by the remainder of the Brigade, who had taken +part in the "show". + +[Illustration] + + +AN AMUSING ADVENTURE. + +Sec.-Lieut. Arden in the meantime was having an adventure "_on his own_". +When we were ordered back to El Judeide Mr. Arden was told to go into the +town and make all the purchases he could, so as to provide the Squadron +with a few comforts. He took with him Q.M.S. Fisher, the officers' mess +cook, and his groom. Having made his purchases, Mr. Arden, who had been +told that our destination was on the western road, looked it up on the map +and found a place marked there on the road to Beyrout about 10 miles +distant named "_El Jedeide_". Off they started for this _El Jedeide_. What +an experience they had! The road, which had just previously had the close +attention of the R.A.F. and other branches of the service, was littered +with dead and all kinds of enemy material. Along they continued, meeting +everywhere sights of wreck and confusion such as they had never previously +experienced.[33] Having reached Jedeide, but failing to find any trace of +British troops, they felt they had made a mistake. But it was too late to +return that night, and there was no help for it, they were forced to spend +the night there "and trust to luck". + +Alternately taking post "on guard," some sleep was obtained. During the +night some troops passed by, which the small party feared was Turkish; +fortunately they turned out to be _French Colonial Troops_, whose dress is +somewhat in the Turkish fashion. At daylight the party retraced its steps +toward Damascus, and on the way, met a party of Australians. "What the +devil are you doing here?" the latter demanded. Upon hearing their story +the Australians ejaculated: "Why, do you know you have been for one night +the outpost of the British Army? No British soldier has been here before"! +But "all's well that ends well"; in due course, after minor adventures, Mr. +Arden's party reached the Squadron at EL JUDEIDE where, although he had to +run the gamut of chaff and banter, he was heartily welcomed! + + FOOTNOTES: + + [33] _It is a strange coincidence that a stream close to Jedeide is + called "El Maut," which means "Death"._ + + +THE VALLEY OF LEBANON-RAYAK. + +Henceforward, the 5th Cavalry Division was to become an entirely separate +force in its operations--indeed, at one time, its nearest support was 100 +miles distant. Two days were spent at El Judeide, grazing horses and +cleaning guns and saddlery, before making another move forward. A force of +Turks some 7,000 strong was reported to be at Rayak Junction on the Beirut +Railway 30 miles north-east of Damascus, and on October 5th at 06.00 the +Division, with the 14th Brigade leading (the "S.R.Y." had re-joined from +Haifa), set off to deal with them. "No. 2" Section was with the advance +guard. + +Across country to Sabura, they reached the main Beirut Road at Khan Dimez, +15 miles from Damascus, and halted for the night at Khan Meizebun a few +miles further on, with outposts out. Following the road to the bridge over +the river, south of Bar Elias (where a halt for water was made), the +advance guard ("No. 1" Section with it), was much surprised at the +extraordinary behaviour of the natives, who, sighting them from a distance, +galloped to meet them, firing their rifles in the air and shouting. Such +was their method of giving us welcome; it would have been their own fault +if they had been mistaken for the enemy, as they very nearly were! + +At this point, turning north along a track up the Valley of Lebanon[34] +(many miles wide) the Brigade pushed on to Rayak. All along the road, right +from Khan Dimez, the previous day, there was evidence of the sorry plight +of the Turk. Hundreds of dead horses, dead bodies (stripped by the +villagers), broken wagons and even overturned "gharries" strewed the route. + + FOOTNOTES: + + [34] _"Lebanon" means "White," probably employed because of the snow + which can be seen most of the year on the Lebanon range of mountains, + on the western side of the valley (see Jer. xviii, 14). Lebanon is + stated in the Bible to be on the northern border of the Promised Land + (Deut. i, 7, iii, 25, xi, 24; Josh. i, 4, ix, 1). King Solomon's palace + and temple were built of cedars and firs from Lebanon (I Kings ix, 19), + also the second temple (Ezra iii, 7). Other references to Lebanon are + Josh. xi, 17, xiii, 2; Judges iii, 1; Deut. iii, 25; II Chron. ii, 2; + Psalms xxix, 5, xcii, 12; Isa. xiv, 8, xxxv, 17, xl, 16; Solomon's Song + iv, 8, 11, 15._ + + +AN UNWELCOME WELCOME. + +Upon our approaching Rayak, as if at a word of command, suddenly, a +tremendous burst of rifle fire broke out! This outburst, however, proved +to be merely a demonstration of the population's welcome! Rayak, and some +of the villages in this district, are Christian,[35] and it may well be +imagined that the population was simply delirious with joy at the arrival +of the British. + +As the Brigade marched through the streets on each side there were crowds +of people occupied in competing with each other to keep up the most rapid +fire! They were none too particular where their shots went either!! It was +rather difficult for us to feel pleased to see our new friends, when they +were letting off their rifles under our very noses! Fortunately there were +no casualties from the spent bullets, but there were several very narrow +escapes! The Turk, it seemed, had fled two days previously, and left at the +aerodrome the remains of no fewer than 30 aeroplanes which he had burnt, +together with large quantities of stores and rolling stock.[36] + +An outpost line was established at Hosh el Ghanin, and "No. 1" Section +returned to the Squadron, which had encamped to the east of the town south +of the village of Maazi. October 7th-12th were spent in grazing, cleaning +up and resting (not much of the last). On Oct. 10th, the 13th and 14th +Brigades had moved on four miles to Tel esh Sherif, the 15th Brigade being +at Zahle, a fair-sized town on the slopes of the hills on the western side +of the plain.[37] + +At this time enemy aeroplanes began to arrive, and drop bombs, killing, on +one occasion, some Gloucesters. A few days afterwards they were chased to +their lair by the R.A.F. and--_finished off_! + + FOOTNOTES: + + [35] _After the massacre of 1860, Lebanon was made an independent + province, governed by a Christian Pasha, nominated by the Sultan of + Turkey and approved by the European Powers._ + + [36] _Rayak is the junction of the railway from Beirut to Damascus and + Aleppo to Damascus._ + + [37] _Zahle is the largest town in Lebanon, and has a population of + about 16,000, nearly all of whom are Christians. During the massacre of + 1860, it suffered terribly, being captured and burnt to the ground._ + + +THE JOURNEY TO HOMS. + +The 14th Brigade, following the 13th Brigade one day's march behind, moved +up to Baalbek on October 13th. Here we ascertained that the leading brigade +had had a similar reception to ours from the natives at Rayak. Passing +through the town and the ruins of the celebrated Roman Temple of the +Sun[38] on the left, we camped east of the Turkish barracks. + +North of Baalbek our maps were found to be very inaccurate and unreliable, +the actual position of places often proving to be many miles away from +where shown; frequently roads followed quite a different route! In one +place a railway line was omitted altogether from the map, while in another, +a river marked thereon did not exist! + +Rations, now being brought up by motor lorries nearly every day, were +issued to units as soon as they had camped for the night; mutton was the +principal meat ration, sheep being requisitioned locally, all along the +route, as also was forage. + +The transport was now able to follow close behind the Brigade, and usually +arrived in "camp" shortly after the fighting troops. The "trek" now became +a matter of routine, marching usually starting each day at 07.00. +Permission was given for the Squadron to carry some of its guns on its +transport, in order to relieve the pack-animals. + +October 14th--To Lebwe; watering from a stream on the way, and camping in +groves. + +October 15th--To El Kaa. The Squadron camped against a fig-grove and figs +were purchased for everyone. + +October 16th--To Kusseir. Camp on plain east of station. + +October 17th--To Homs. When about half way, in front could be seen what +appeared to be a large camp of bell tents, but on getting nearer they +turned out to be merely a village of mud huts of that shape, and +whitewashed! + +Afterwards many similar villages were met with, some of which were +whitewashed, some not. From hereabouts could be seen, away on the left, the +large Homs Lake, through which runs the River Orontes (Nahr el Asi). Two +miles south of the town of Homs an hour's halt was made to allow of +watering and feeding, then passing a ruined castle on an artificial mound, +we went through the centre of the town (which is an interesting old place, +and apparently well supplied with water),[39] to the main road out to the +north. Then, along a track to the north-west, we passed the 13th Brigade +camp (the 13th Brigade had been a day ahead from Tel esh Sherif), and +bivouacked at 14.45 on a nice piece of ground on the banks of the Orontes, +against the village of Deir Mati. + + FOOTNOTES: + + [38] _There are ruins of three temples at Baalbek--The Great Temple of + the Sun, Temple of Bacchus, and the Circular Temple, built about A.D. + 220._ + + [39] _The Crusaders captured Homs in A.D. 1099. It is the ancient + Zobah, see II Sam. viii, 3, 5. The population is estimated at 65,000._ + + + + +PART VI. + + +THE MARCH TO ALEPPO. + +Would we stay here at Homs, or go still further? was the question uppermost +in the minds of all. The nearest troops were at Damascus 100 miles behind +us, and Aleppo, the next town of any importance, 100 miles ahead. We had +now covered 325 miles in 28 days, and a rest was much needed. The question +was soon decided for us! Three days were occupied in washing (men, clothes +and horses), grazing and cleaning saddlery. Then, at 07.00 on October 21st +we set out on our long journey, the 15th Brigade (it being their turn to +lead), having left the day previously. Marching was carried on in +accordance with the following table:-- + +Twenty minutes' trot, one hour's walk, 10 minutes' halt; and the following +were the day's marches:-- + +October 21st--To Er Rastan. + +October 22nd.--To Hama.[40] Through the town and over the River Orontes +past the huge water wheels for which it is famous. (These wheels make a +loud humming noise and can be heard for miles. They are used for lifting +the water from the river, which is between high cliffs at this point, to +irrigate the surrounding country). + +October 23rd.--To Khan Shaikhun. + +October 24th.--To Ma'arit en Na'aman, camping east of the town. In the +afternoon rain came on and continued overnight. It was the first rain of +the season. + +October 25th.--To Seraikin, camping against some groves south-east of town. + +October 26th.--At 05.00 to Khan Tuman. The ground being suitable, the 14th +Brigade marched with its Squadrons in line of troop column on the right of +the road, and the 13th Brigade in the same formation on the left, while the +transport was in the centre, on the road itself. + +Early in the afternoon, arriving at the banks of the Kuwaik-Su, the stream +that flows through Aleppo from the north, the 20TH MACHINE-GUN SQUADRON +off-saddled and settled down, the latest information being that they would +not be required till morning. However, orders were shortly received to +continue the advance to Aleppo! The guns were also to be withdrawn from the +transport. The Squadron therefore moved off with the Brigade about 17.00. + +What had been happening in front, in the meantime? No definite news was to +hand, but an armoured-car tender came back for a fresh supply of "S.A." +ammunition for the 15th Brigade Machine-Gun Squadron, so evidently some +fighting had taken place. We had already heard that armoured cars, which +had for some time past been doing "yeoman service," had arrived before +Aleppo and scattered enemy patrols, and that an officer had been to the +town and demanded its surrender. He was received with every courtesy, but +the gallant commander _regretted_ that he was unable to surrender the city +as he had received orders from Constantinople to hold out at all costs, in +order to cover the retirement of the Mesopotamian forces! That was some +days previously. Later, we learnt that on the day in question, the 15th +Brigade, having arrived before the "city gates," the Turks withdrew after +destroying bridges, etc., and they (the Brigade) pushing on, met them on +the Alexandretta Road, put spurs to their horses, and charged them. + +Now, it may be remarked, the Turk outnumbered the 15th Brigade _by at least +five to one_, and after the Brigade had passed through them, the enemy +realised their strength, and picking up the very rifles they had thrown +down, _fired at their backs_, Lieut.-Col. Holden and many other valuable +lives being lost in this manner! + +But the Turk had really no fight left in him; his was a beaten army! He +continued his retreat, and the 15th Brigade took up an outpost-line north +and north-west of the city. + + FOOTNOTES: + + [40] _Hama (population about 80,000) is the Ancient Hamath, see I Kings + xviii, 34, xix, 13._ + + +OUR BRIGADE REACHES ALEPPO. + +The 14th Brigade heard of the capture of Aleppo when they arrived within a +few miles of it after dark. + +Reaching the southern outskirts of the town, they entered it by the road +leading past the prison up to the Clock Tower. Leaving this on the right, +they turned sharply to the left (past the present Officers' Club) almost up +to Divisional Headquarters (_then already established_), where they bore to +the right, down to the bridge under the railway, at the French railway +station. The bridge had been blown up and a truck which was hanging down, +completely blocked the roadway, causing considerable delay, as the whole +Brigade had to lead their horses in "single file" up the steep embankment, +across the railway lines, and down the other side, in order to regain the +road. Two and a half miles along the Alexandretta Road the Brigade turned +to the left off the road, east of Bileramum, and halted for the night, it +being then 23.45. + +The next morning, at 05.30, the 14th Brigade took over the outpost-line +from the 15th Brigade. The Deccan Horse and "No. 3" Section held the ground +west of the road. The Poona Horse and "No. 1" Section held the road itself +and east of it. An enemy rearguard patrol was seen retiring, and was +followed up by Sherifian troops, but nothing more was seen of the Turk. +During the morning the 13th Brigade took over the ground to the west of the +road, thus relieving the Deccan Horse and "No. 3" Section. "No. 2" Section +relieved "No. 1" Section. + +At night, "No. 1" Section with "S.R.Y." and "No. 3" with Deccan Horse took +over the line. Members of the Squadron who took part in the operations from +Khan Tuman onwards, will remember that "No. 2" and "No. 3" Sections, owing +to shortage of personnel due to sickness (principally malaria or +dysentery), had only been able to man three guns each, instead of their +full complement of four, so that when "No. 2" Section was on duty "No. 3" +Section supplied a detachment to make them complete, "No. 2" doing the same +when "No. 3" was on duty, whilst in order to have all the guns in the +Squadron available in case of emergency, the Squadron headquarter troops +manned the remaining two guns. The next two days (October 28th and 29th) +the outpost-line was still held, and nothing in the way of active +operations occurred; men not on duty were granted passes to visit Aleppo. + + +ARMISTICE WITH TURKEY. + +On the morning of October 30th, our Brigade was relieved by the "13th," and +moved eastwards across the railway, then northward to MUSLIMIE JUNCTION. No +enemy being encountered, an outpost line was established about two miles +north, "No. 1" Section with "S.R.Y." and "No. 2" (with one detachment of +"No. 3") with the Poona Horse. The latter section was entirely alone during +the day, as it was not considered necessary to have so many troops on duty +as at night time, and the Squadron being too far away to allow of the +Section doing the double journey with any degree of comfort, it remained +where it was. + +At 12.00 on October 31st _an armistice with Turkey was proclaimed_, the +good news being communicated to the Sections on outpost duty by orderlies +from Headquarters. The Sections, however, had orders to remain at their +posts. November 4th brought the further news of an armistice with Austria, +and early the following day Indian prisoners, released by the Turks, began +to return to us through our outpost line. + +It was at this time that Major Davies, our O.C. (who had not been well +since leaving the Jordan Valley, and for some time past had only been able +to keep out of hospital by dint of great strength of mind and powers of +endurance, in spite of the advice of his own, and medical, officers), was +at last sent to the hospital in Aleppo, which had been established by the +14th C.F.A. He had only been there a few days, however, when, to the grief +of all, he passed away in the clutches of that dread disease, malignant +malaria. + +He was buried in the Aleppo Protestant Cemetery on November 11th 1918, in +the presence of the Divisional Commander, the Brigade Commander, the C.O.'s +of all the units in the Brigades, and many members of his Squadron, all of +whom felt how regrettable it was that he had not been spared to hear THE +GREAT NEWS which we all then felt was so close at hand, and towards the +obtaining of which he had, ever since the outbreak of the War, contributed +so much energy and ability. The "H.A.C." kindly provided us with a +gun-carriage upon which to convey him to his resting place, and Capt. +Powell, C.F., the Brigade Chaplain, officiated. + + +NEARING THE END. + +As those who had been present at the ceremony were waiting for the motor +lorries to take them back to Muslimie the momentous news was received that +_an armistice had been signed with Germany!_ + +It was universally felt to be a sad coincidence that he who had come +through the war from start to finish should thus have been laid low at the +very end of his labours. That Major St. John Davies, M.C., was undoubtedly +a great leader and very considerate of his men's welfare, was universally +known. There can be no doubt that he would have had a successful career, +had he been spared, in any profession he might have chosen. + +Malaria was taking its toll, and a few days later Signaller Boak, who had +been the Squadron's Brigade Orderly throughout the last operations, fell +another victim to its clutches. He was buried in the Military Cemetery, +Aleppo, a number of his comrades being present at the graveside. + + +AFTER THE ARMISTICE. + +Capt. R.H. Fairbairns, M.C., now took command, with Lieut. A.O.W. Kindell +as Second-in-Command. The strength of the Squadron was now four officers, +145 O.R.'s, 116 riding horses, 77 draught mules, 36 pack animals, and, as +no reinforcements had reached the Squadron since the start of operations on +September 19th, these figures represented a loss of two officers, 67 +O.R.'s, 65 riding horses, three draught mules and seven pack animals. +Considering that the Squadron had covered 450 miles in 43 days, in addition +to the fighting, the loss in animals (especially draught) was extremely +small, and results show that the Squadron has every reason to be proud of +its horsemastership. + +The Sections were now withdrawn from "outpost" and the Squadron moved into +Muslimie station, where a certain number of buildings appeared to be +available, and capable of affording protection from the wet weather, which +showed signs of coming on. + +Unfortunately, after clearing out several buildings, these had to be +relinquished to a regiment of the 15th Brigade, which came up to take over +the station. The Squadron, however, was allowed to use, as billets, some +old railway trucks which could not be moved, owing to the points being +blown up. It was expected, at one time, that the Division would proceed to +Alexandretta, on the coast, for the winter, but this did not eventuate. + +[Illustration: Muslimie Junction Station.] + +About this time we had to say farewell to our old friend, Capt. Powell, +C.F., the Brigade Padre, who was compelled to go into hospital after +repeated attacks of malaria, and was eventually invalided home to England. +Capt. Powell had been with the Brigade since its original formation as the +"7th Mounted," and was a great favourite amongst all ranks. + +The following brief record of the events and doings of the Squadron during +its long spell of duty at Aleppo (and Muslimie) may be interesting to some +members:-- + +1918. + +Nov. 13--"No. 3" Section absorbed in "Nos. 1 and 2". + " 15--Inspection of horses by Corps Commander. + " 17--Memorial service in main station building. + " 18--Headquarters attached to "Nos. 1 and 2" Sections. + " 22--Inspection of Transport by Divisional Commander. + " 28--Inspection of horses by G.O.C. Brigade. + " 30--Ration strength: 4 officers, 122 O.R.s, 208 animals. +Dec. 4--Divisional Commander inspects horses. + " 5--Preparation for visit of "C.-in-C.". + " 9--Capt. J.B. Oakley and Lieut. E.P. Cazalet, with 60 reinforcements, + arrive from base. Capt. Oakley becomes Second-in-Command of + Squadron. + " 10--Four officers and 80 O.R.'s proceed to Aleppo mounted for-- + " 11--"C.-in-C.'s" procession, and return to camp. + " 17--Thanksgiving Day. + " 24--"B" Echelon (and donkeys) arrive. + " 25--Anthrax in Brigade. + " 27--One case of anthrax in Squadron. + +1919. + +Jan. 3--Inspection of Transport by Divisional Commander. + " 4--"No. 1" Sub-section proceeds to Aleppo with two troops "S.R.Y." to + escort "C.-in-C." by train to Jerablus. + " 6--Return of party. + " 20--Short range practice. + " 25--Classes opened in Brigade for shorthand, engineering, lectures, + etc. + " 27--Coalminers leave for "demob.". + " 28--G.O.C. Brigade inspects horses. +Feb. 1--Classification of horses: A.30, B.33, C.II.42, D.8. + " 3--Divisional Commander inspects animals and first line transport. + " 11--Orders to move to Aleppo. Dismounted party with surplus equipment + proceeds by train. + " 12--Squadron moves to Aleppo. + " 14--Corps Commander visits lines during stables. + " 19--Sec.-Lieut. Arden appointed Brigade Educational Officer and + promoted Captain whilst so employed. + " 20--Move to old 19th Squadron camp. + " 23--Twenty-two farmers proceed "homeward" ("demob." camp at Kantara). + " 26--Divisional Commander visits lines during stables. + " 27--Eleven O.R.'s to "Homeward". + " 28--An Armenian massacre; Squadron proceeds to centre of town, four + guns in position, one sub-section ("D") to Brigade Headquarters + for night. +Mar. 1-3--Fifteen O.R.'s "demob.". + " 6--Move to camp in the centre of Aleppo. + " 11--Twenty-seven horses evacuated to M.V.S. + " 17--Farewell parade to the G.O.C., Desert Mounted Corps, Lieut.-Gen. + Sir H.G. Chauvel, K.C.B., K.C.M.G. + " 19--Fifteen reinforcements arrive from base. + " 20--Twenty horses and 26 mules to Corrals (paddocks formed by the + Division to take the surplus animals resulting from + demobilization). + " 27--One sub-section short-range practice. + " 29--Eleven horses and 32 mules to Corrals. + " 31--Squadron strength: four officers, 124 O.R.'s, 185 animals. +Apr. 1--G.O.C. Brigade inspects horses. + " 3--One sub-section short-range practice. + " 15--"Stand-to" 05.30-08.00, one sub-section mounted, six guns on + limbers. + " 16--Ditto (as precaution against further massacre of the Armenians). + " 22--Practice scheme with Brigade. + " 23--Issue of summer clothing. + " 30--Divisional Horse Show. +May 1-2--Ditto. Squadron won Special Prize with pack mule "Pansy," and had + one limber and G.S. wagon in final; Pte. Carruthers also + qualified for jumping finals. + " 31--Squadron strength: four officers, 75 O.R.'s, 189 horses and + mules. +June 18--Inspection of horses and transport by Divisional Commander. + " 30--Peace celebrations. The Squadron, reduced to the strength of one + sub-section, took part in "march past". Strength: three officers, + 48 O.R.'s, 30 horses, 23 mules. + +[Illustration] + +The following, by a member of the Squadron, is typical of the life in the +ARMIES OF OCCUPATION. He says:-- + + "Although these (the Armies of Occupation) officially have only + existed since February 1st 1919, they have in reality, on certain + fronts, been in operation since November 1918. The 5th Cavalry + Division, pressing hard on the heels of the flying Turk, entered + Aleppo on the evening of 26th October last. Trek-tired and weary, + the Fighting Division under Major-Gen. H.J.M. MacAndrew, C.B., + D.S.O., wound its lengthy column over the Kuwaik-Su Bridge and + entered the ancient Turkish stronghold. Some of the units were at + once stationed close to the town, taking over the barracks and vast + stores and depots vacated by the enemy, whilst some of us, not so + lucky, were pushed forward to Muslimie, the important junction of + the Mesopotamian and Palestine Railways; and there formed a line of + outpost defence, just 300 miles due north of the line held six + weeks previously. + + + "LOW VITALITY OF TROOPS. + + "On the 4th November the Armistice with Turkey was signed, and + shortly after several cavalry units were sent still further north + to Killis, Jerablus (on the Euphrates), and Aintab, and the outpost + line near Aleppo was thus no longer required. Now followed a period + even more difficult to put up with than actual war itself. A trek + of over 400 miles in a space of two months, following that + nightmare of a sojourn in the Jordan Valley, had reduced the + vitality of both man and horse to a very low ebb, and consequently + the sick roll in both cases was large. Malignant malaria contracted + in the valley took toll of many brave lives, and an outbreak of + anthrax, coupled with debility, caused havoc among the horses. + + + "LIFE AT MUSLIMIE. + + "Railway communication not being completed, and roads rendered + unfit by heavy rains, delayed the passage of canteen stores, and + the rations had perforce to consist chiefly of mutton caught, + killed and eaten the same day. Shall we ever forget the taste of + it? Of course, we _did_ get goat sometimes as a variation. Xmas Day + was on the horizon and no hope of any puddings, but most units were + able to produce some kind of Xmas dinner, and a pudding concocted + from local ingredients. Followed special trains to the 'Palmtrees' + Concert Party in Aleppo, and a fox hunt on New Year's Day. Whist + drives and 'sing-songs' helped to break the deadly monotony of the + long winter evenings, and during the day there was plenty to occupy + one; roads to make in the mud, stones to be carted, buildings and + shelters erected, and more than all, the attempt to get a little of + the dirt off one's animal, and a little more flesh on his bones. + After the 130 degrees or so of heat (in the shade) in the Jordan + Valley, the cold in Syria, during the winter, seemed intense, and + ice had frequently to be broken before the morning wash. The snow + on the Taurus Mountains was not reassuring either, and firewood and + coal became almost unobtainable. + + [Illustration] + + + "SEEING THE NEW YEAR IN. + + "The only beverages obtainable at this time were native wines and + army rum, and as the former consisted chiefly of sweet Alicante, + methylated cognac and Arak, one became quite a connoisseur of the + latter and the different methods of making rum punch. + + "One Quartermaster-Sergeant in particular made quite a reputation + for himself as a punch mixer, and I know that among his favourite + ingredients were oranges, lemons, figs, condensed milk, cloves, + nutmeg, pepper, ginger, boiling water. + + "New Year's Eve saw (and heard) an officers' dinner, and all those + from far and near flocked to a small building near the station, and + under the able Presidency of popular Lieut.-Col. Wigan, of the + Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, and the direction of a Yorkshire vet. + and a Captain of the Deccan Horse, the Old Year (and in some cases + two Old Years) was seen out amid a score of toasts, the fumes of + aromatic punch, and the strain of a buckshee piano. Personally, I + crossed eight sets of Bagdad railway track in three strides. + + + "THE BRIGADE RACE MEETING. + + "In February the 14th Cavalry Brigade held a Race Meeting on a + short grass track of two and a half furlongs, discovered hiding + among the rocks. A 'totalisator' run by an Australian in the + interest of the Brigade, was run on sound lines, and if your horse + won you got your money back and a little over, which isn't the case + with some totalisators that we know of! Several 'scurries' and mule + races took place, and everyone enjoyed the fun thoroughly, + especially the mules. The machine-gun element sprung a surprise on + all by winning the Grand Prix, open to the 5th Cavalry Division, + with 'Nobbler,' a horse which was to have run at Gaza in 1918, but + was 'scratched' owing to lameness. 'Lion,' a mobilisation horse of + the Sherwood Rangers, and a prime favourite, came in second, and + both horses were ridden at 11-7. + +[Illustration: Aleppo. + +Squadron camp in the town.] + + + "THE FIRST ALEPPO MEETING. + + "In March the 14th Cavalry Brigade took over its Aleppo quarters + from the 13th, and the latter were moved many miles to the north, + where they also held a local meeting. Capt. Fraser of the R.H.A. + was now given the task of turning a waste piece of ground on the + western side of the town into a racecourse, and, by dint of much + hard work and begging of materials, he completed a quite good + course of four furlongs. The Royal Engineers erected a grand stand + of sandbags, and a totalisator. The first Aleppo Race Meeting was + held on March 8th, and a goodly representative gathering of the + army and civilian inhabitants of Aleppo assembled. After this, race + meetings were held regularly every alternate Saturday throughout + the summer. The course was laid on fairly level ground, and at the + start of the season had a thin covering of grass, which, + unfortunately, soon was burnt up by the fierce sun and worn bare by + frequent use, being replaced afterwards by litter. Though at first + only a four furlong 'scurry,' the course has now been extended to + eight furlongs, and laid much in the same fashion as Kempton Park + with a 'straight' of four furlongs and the remainder an oval. One + drawback to this course is that it crosses a high road in two + places. On race days mounted military police are stationed outside + the rails to keep order, and British troops are on duty in the + enclosures keeping the gates, serving refreshments, and assisting + in the totalisator. The latest attraction has been the admirable + rendering of popular music by the Band of the Queen's Bays. + + + "INCIDENTS AT THE RACES. + + "Of amateur jockeys and gentlemen riders there have been plenty; + among the most successful being Lieut.-Col. Vincent, R.A.S.C., + Major Walker, R.A., Capt. Sir Robin Paul, Lieut. Dowling. We much + missed Lieut. Stanley Wooten, of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, who + has hitherto been such a popular rider in the E.E.F. Major-Gen. Sir + Harry MacAndrew, C.B., D.S.O., Lieut.-Gen. Sir H.G. Chauvel, + K.C.B., K.C.M.G., have all, in turn, shown much interest in the + races, and Gen. Geaffar Pasha, the Military Governor of Aleppo, and + successor to Gen. Shukri Pasha (generally known to us as 'Sugary + Parsnips'), often enters one of his beautiful Arab chargers in the + Arab class races, and is often successful. His jockey rides in the + colours of the Hedjaz Army, red, white, black and green. + + [Illustration] + + "But the horses are now paraded in the paddock, and we must go and + inspect them. This is an Arab race, and all sorts of conditions of + men and horses are in the ring, and a terrific hubbub is going on. + Some of the ponies are well groomed, and fit, others thin and badly + cared for. Some have long unkempt manes and tails, others are + bedecked with beads and shells and long scarlet tassels. Saddle + cloths of brilliant hue are numerous, while the riders are a + curious and a motley assembly. Some bare-foot, some booted and + spurred (and a spur is a spur with an Arab, something after the + implement mother marks the pastry with). Others are in long flowing + robes with the burnous and kafeia of the Bedouin flying in the + wind, some with knives, some with swords, some with pistols, and + some with sticks, and lastly two are dressed like real jockeys, and + they know it, and show it too! Just now there is a little of chaos + as half the competitors are evidently of the opinion that they + should go round the paddock in one direction, while the other half + wishes to go the reverse. Wherefore there is loud shouting and much + gesticulating, with many 'Waheds' and 'Achmeds' and 'Macknoons'. + + + "ALL THE WORLD AND HIS WIFE THERE. + + "But there, the bell goes, and the starters begin to file out of + the gate as they struggle out of the seething mass. Away down the + course to the starting point; and here the starter will no doubt + have his work cut out. A variegated crowd is lining the rails on + the opposite side of the track. Turbaned Abduls and Yussefs, boys + and little girls, men and donkeys, fruit-sellers, arabiyehs, + camels, all in brightest colours and a pandemonium of noise. Stray + pi-dogs are continually being warned off the course, and venerable + Arab Sheiks who don't understand, and start for a nice walk along + the wide grass track. Yes, there is plenty for the smart military + policemen to do, and their burnished swords and bright shoulder + epaulets flash in the sun as they 'chivvy' the crowd out of danger. + In the officers' enclosure there are many strange types. Abdul + Achmed Yussef is there with a scimitar in one hand like the Sultan + of Turkey, and a huge white umbrella in the other hand, and on his + head he wears a red tarbush. _Iskanderianabedian_ is there with his + fat wife, and two fat daughters, all the latter in black silk gowns + and white silk stockings, and if the girls' ankles aren't as thick + as my calves, call me a liar, but this is the Turkish style of + beauty you know. The better bred the fatter is their standard, and + very nice too. Arab troops and Arab gendarmerie in their quaint + spiked head-gear; while hundreds of British staff officers (where + they come from, or what they do I don't know), with tabs of all + colours (and as one officer remarked to me only the other day, + 'When the blue and green tabs appear it's time to capture another + town'!) And a sprinkling of combatant officers, English sisters, + French attaches, and American Red Cross workers, represent the + western world. + + + "THE RACING. + + "Now we go and place our solitary 10 pt. on a promising pony ridden + by one of the two 'real' jockeys. It is all we can spare, as the + Field Cashier happens to be away (as usual). Suddenly a bugle + blows, and we hear the usual cry 'They're off!' But they aren't; at + least two are and there's no stopping those two. No, they mean to + carry on now; neck and neck they go, and soon they are round the + distant corner, and thundering past the four furlong point. On they + come shouting for Allah and Mohammed, and standing high in their + stirrups they wave their sticks madly in the air, yelling at each + other with all the frenzy of the faithful followers of El Islam! A + dead heat they reach the post and gallop wildly on, to end up + somewhere on the banks of the Kuwaik Su! + + "Now, the bugle goes again, and the start has really begun this + time, the field getting away something like a compact lump. But + soon they string out, and we notice our two orthodox men well in + rear. This time the race is even more exciting, and as the post is + neared the yells of defiance, the flowing robes, the waving arms + and the bump, bump, bump of the riders brings pictures to the mind + of the fiery followers of Saladin, or an attack by the Arabs in the + 'Tragedy of the Korosko'. + + + "HOME AGAIN! + + "Well, it's over at last, and our 'choice' and the other smartly + dressed jockey are miles behind. But that doesn't matter as I hear + the winner is only paying out 5 pt. Oh! that 'Tote'! Six races are + the usual number run; and then the sun sinks behind the Taurus + Mountains, the shadows fall long and blue, and the high-up Citadel, + flanked by mosques and minarets, becomes bathed in the orange light + of the setting rays. As the last horse is led in, the crowd flows + back towards the town, and then the arabiyehs crack their whips, + the camels grunt, the staff start up their motor cars, and the + combatant officers with light hearts and lighter pockets mount + their chargers, and wend their way back to camp. + + "Such is an Aleppo Race Meeting, and so do we attempt to pass the + monotony of an enforced exile in a barren and a dreamy land. + + "Very soon the rain will come, and then the mud, and then we shall + look for the Christmas parcels, British books, local papers, and + more than all--that long-promised holiday for the + Army-of-Occupation-Volunteer!!". + +[Illustration] + + + + +PART VII. + +Epilogue. + + +The following extract from a letter from an officer at Aleppo to a former +"O.C." of the Squadron (now demobilized) will perhaps serve as a fitting +close to the record of the service of the 20TH MACHINE-GUN SQUADRON. + +"Aleppo. +"4-10-19. + + "Dear..... + + "Just a line to let you know how we are getting on. The 14th B'de + has been abolished and several Units disbanded. The Cadre of the + Sherwoods also, who are now in the 13th Brigade, is going home, but + there are only a few of them to go to U.K. The 20th M.G.S. is to be + disbanded, and the personnel to go to the 19th Squadron. We got + orders yesterday to wind up the '20th' and send the personnel to + the '19th' and I have to report to the 10th Cav. Bde. at Homs. What + for I don't know yet. One consolation, all the men but five are now + eligible for U.K.!! Well, well, it can't be helped, and perhaps it + is as well we were broken up now as the men will perhaps be home by + Xmas if the Strike is over. + + "Hope you are enjoying 'Civvy' life. + +"Yours, &c., +".....". + +The following are extracts from THE TIMES of the 24th July 1919 and the +DAILY MAIL of 28th July 1919. They will not be read without sincere regret +by all those members of the 20th "M.G.S." who had previously served in the +5th Cavalry Division. + + + + GENERAL SIR HENRY MACANDREW. + + Major-General Sir Henry John Milnes Macandrew, K.C.B., D.S.O., died + from heart failure, resulting from burns, on the 16th inst. in + Syria, where he was serving in command of the 5th (Indian) Cavalry + Division. + + A son of the late Sir Henry Macandrew, of Aisthorpe, Inverness, he + was born on August 7th 1866, and joined the 2nd Batt. Cameron + Highlanders in 1884, being transferred to the Lincoln Regiment two + years later. Entering the Indian Army in 1888, he joined the 5th + Cavalry, to which regiment he belonged until his promotion to + major-general in 1917, and of which he was honorary colonel when he + died. + + He had extensive staff experience, being a graduate of the staff + college and having spent about one-third of his service in the + Indian Army on the staff. He went through the Tirah Campaign as + brigade transport officer in 1897-98 (dispatches and frontier medal + with two clasps), and he served through the South African War in + various capacities, gaining the South African medal and four + clasps, the King's medal and two clasps, and the D.S.O., and being + twice mentioned in dispatches. He was brigade-major to the + Inspector-General of Cavalry in India in 1903-5. + + He served in France on the staff of the Indian Cavalry divisions + from 1914 till 1917, when he was promoted major-general and + received command of the 5th Cavalry Division. His services in + France secured four mentions in dispatches and the K.C.B. He + proceeded to Palestine with the Indian Cavalry Corps, and served + under General Allenby in his successful advance from the Egyptian + border to Aleppo. The division under his command was prominent in + these operations, and the general was mentioned by Sir Edmund + Allenby in dispatches for his excellent services. + + General Macandrew was well known as a rider across country and on + flat. He earned the reputation of being one of the best and most + dashing of our cavalry leaders in the war, and his untimely death + is a severe loss to the Indian Army. He married, in 1892, the + youngest daughter of Mr. H.R. Cooper, J.P., of Ballindalloch, + Stirlingshire, and leaves a young daughter. + + From "The Times," July 24th 1919. + + * * * * * + + GENERAL MACANDREW. + + KILLED BY PETROL ON TUNIC. + + CAIRO, Friday. + + Major-Gen. H.J. Macandrew, commander of the Fifth Division, + stationed at Aleppo, died a tragic death last week. His tunic had + been cleaned with petrol and was hanging in a room to dry when the + general, wearing pyjamas, entered smoking a cigarette. The petrol + vapours exploded, burning General Macandrew so severely that he + died in hospital a week later.--Reuter. + + It is possible that too much petrol was used or that the heat of + the sun vaporised the petrol and thus rendered it so easily + inflammable. An exactly similar accident is not recorded in our own + climate. + + From "Daily Mail," July 28th 1919. + + + FRENCH IN SYRIA. + + BRITISH WITHDRAWN. + + Cairo, Dec. 10th 1919. + + In accordance with arrangements with the Government concerned a + change has been made in the military administration of Syria (north + of Arabian Desert, including Palestine and Cilicia), the Valley of + Adana, and Tarsus (which since the Allied occupation have been + under the Commander-in-Chief of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force). + The administration of Cilicia and the area known as "occupied enemy + territory (west)," including Lebanon, Beirut, Tripoli, and + Alexandretta, has been handed over to General Gouraud, the French + High Commissioner. + + The British military posts in the Marash, Aintab, Urfa, and + Jerablus areas, where the administration remains under the Turkish + authorities, have also been relieved by the French. + + The territory known as "occupied enemy territory (east)" including + Damascus, Homs, Hamah, and Aleppo, has been handed over to the Arab + administration under the Emir Feisul (whom the Syrians welcome). + + All the British troops have been withdrawn from Syria, and the + military administration of Syria by the British Commander-in-Chief + has ceased.--Reuter. + +[Illustration] + + + + +Names and Addresses of the Members of the 20th Machine-Gun Squadron. + + +NOTE:--_A copy of this list has been sent by post to the address of every +member for verification before going to Press._--AUTHOR, _1st June 1920_ + + +Officers. + +Major L.F. ST. JOHN DAVIES, M.C., Antringham Rectory, North Walsham, +Norfolk (Died 10-11-18). + +Major R.H. FAIRBAIRNS, M.C., 63 Alleyn Park, Dulwich, S.E. + +Capt. E. DAVIES, c/o Messrs. Cox & Co., 16 Charing Cross, S.W. + +Capt. D. MARSHALL, M.C., Margaret Place, Dollar, Fife. + +Capt. J.B. OAKLEY, Grimston Hill, York. + +Capt. F.A. SPENCER, M.C., c/o Messrs. Sir C.R. McGrigor, Bart., & Co. +Panton St., S.W. + +Lieut. E.P. CAZALET, Brunswick Rd., Sutton, Surrey. + +Lieut. E.B. HIBBERT, "Babworth," Watson Ave., Mansfield, Notts. + +Lieut. A.O.W. KINDELL, Rolle Cottage, Bourne End, Bucks. + +Lieut. G.M. KING, York House, Headroomgate Rd., St. Annes-on-Sea, Lancs. + +Lieut. C.D. MACMILLAN, Brackenhurst Hall, Southwell, Notts. + +Lieut. A.G.P. MILLMAN, Liskeard, Cornwall. + +Lieut. H.A. PRICE, M.C., "Homewood," Branksome Ave., Bournemouth (killed). + +Lieut. R. RAYNOR, Jingewick Rectory, Bucks. + +Lieut. F.R. WILGRESS, c/o The Bank of Montreal, Waterloo Place, London. + +Second-Lieut. J.K.W. ARDEN, "Mayhills," nr. Petersfield, Hants. + +Second-Lieut. J.W. CUMMER, 1221 13 Avenue, West Calgary Alta, Canada. + + +Squadron Sergeant Majors. + +FISHER, H., 65 Crosby Rd., West Bridgford, Notts. + +FLEET, T., M.M., 32 Trinity St., Dorchester, Dorset. + +JACKSON, J.B., M.M., "Denstone," Rocester, Staffs. + +LARWOOD, E., D.C.M., Thorpe Farm, Shadwell, Thetford. + +PHILLIPS, H., 21 Sutherland Rd., Bow, London, E. + +SALTER, E.G., 16 Grays Rd., Henley-on-Thames, Oxon. + + +Squadron Quartermaster Sergeants. + +CRISP, J., 14 Spencer Rd., Mitcham, Surrey. + +FISHER, H., _See_ under S.S.M.'s. + +HARRISON, N.M., Pocklington, Yorks. + + +Staff Farrier Sergeant. + +ROBERTSON, T., 85 Bo'ness Rd., Grangemouth, Scotland. + + +Sergeants. + +ANDERSON, W. (Farrier), Steetley Farm, Whitwell, nr. Mansfield, Notts. + +BUCKINGHAM, T., Lower Hayford, nr. Weedon, Northants. + +COLLETT, J.H., High Rd., Vange, Essex. + +CONUEL, T. (Transport), "Elmton," Chesterfield, Derby. + +DUGUID, L.W.J., 42 Blenheim Gardens, Reading. + +FELL, R.O. (Transport), 14 King's Avenue, Rhyl, N. Wales. + +GAGE, L., Camden Stores, Lower Bristol Rd., Bath. + +GRICE, T., M.M., 70 Olbury Rd., Smethwick, Staffs. + +HAWKINS, E.W., M.M., 26 Springfield Rd., Gorleston-on-Sea, Suffolk. + +HAZLEHURST, C.E., Low St., Carlton, nr. Worksop, Notts. + +HOLT, F.F., 18 Sandhill St., Worksop, Notts. + +KIRKE, C. (Orderly Room), 6 Curzon St., Derby. + +KEETLEY, H., S. Megby, nr. Mansfield, Notts. + +KNOWLES, G., "Tredethy," Bodmin, Cornwall. + +LEWIS, R., "Craiglea," Penparke, Aberystwith, N. Wales. + +MORDEN, W.H., 89 Ashburton Avenue, Addiscombe, nr. Croydon, Surrey (died at +Havre, 4th March 1919, _en route_ for home). + +O'NEILL, W., Barford Cottages, Churt, nr. Farnham, Surrey. + +PARKER, W.R. (Farrier), Hermitage St., Crewkerne, Somerset. + +PEADON, S., 103 Nottingham Rd., Long Eaton, Derby. + +PEARSE, T., Kingham, Chipping Norton, Oxon. + +POTTS, C., 9 Castle Hill Square, Worksop, Notts. + +POUNTAIN, J., 79 Derby St., Derby. + +RAMSAY, G. (Orderly Room), 94 Highfields, Coalville, nr. Leicester. + +ROBERTS, C, 319 Ropery Rd., Gainsborough, Lincs. + +ROUSE, F., Park Rd., Mansfield, Woodhouse, Notts. + +SNEDDON, H., West Calder, Midlothian. + +THOMPSON, S.C. (Transport), 11 Canterbury Rd., West Croydon, Surrey. + +WRIGHT, W.J.P., 3 Beacon Hill Rd., Newark, Notts. + + +Corporals and Lance-Corporals. + +ADCOCK, H., 34 York Terrace, Gainsborough, Lincs. + +BAGGS, F., Brook House, West Malling, Kent. + +BARRATT, J.G., Ashby Rd., Loughboro', Linc. + +BARTHORPE, F., 2 Ebenezer Place, Gainsboro', Lincs. + +BITCHILY, H., 37 Park Terrace East, Hors ham, Sussex. + +BILHAM J. (Signaller Corporal). + +BINNINGTON, C. (Signaller Corporal), "Beaconsfield," Anlaby Rd., Hull. + +BRADLEY, W., 46 Healey St., Nottingham. + +CARR, F., Doncaster (killed at El Tahta). + +CHINNERY, T.A. (Signaller Corporal), 7 Ashmead Rd., St. John's, Lewisham, +S.E. + +CLARK, G.H., Syston, Leicester. + +FAIRLEY, J., 2 Brandfield St., Edinburgh. + +FOSTER, G. (Signaller Corporal), Sgt. 3rd M.G. Sqdn., Risalpur, N.W.F.P., +India. + +FOX, P.W., Rollerton Mill Farm, R.S.O., Notts. + +FRANKLIN, R.H., 13 Hyde Park Corner, Leeds. + +FULLER, E.J., 2 Surrey St., Luton, Beds. + +GALWAY, L., 54 Firgrove Rd., Freemantle, Southampton. + +GAVAGAN, T., The Bazaar, Shrewton, Wilts. + +GILL, H., 98 St. Anne's Well Rd., Nottingham. + +GREEN, A., 16 Maria St., West Bromwich, Staffs. + +GORING, A.C. (Signaller Corporal), 92 Coleridge St., Hove, Sussex. + +HALEY, J., 3 Queen Victoria St., Wakefield, Yorks. + +HOLMES, C. (S/Smith Corporal), 56 Mar Hill Rd., Carlton, Notts. + +HUGHES, J., Queens Walk, Nottingham. + +HUTCHINGS, F.G., "Maesgwyn," Ton Pentre, Glamorgan. + +INESON, C., 20 Primrose Lane, off Burton Rd., Leeds. + +IRELAND, C, "Bay Villa," Rosehill Rd., Ipswich. + +JAMES, J., 76 Llangyfelach St., Swansea, S. Wales. + +KIDD, S., 18 Aviary Mount, Armley, Leeds. + +KINGS, E., 1 King Barton St., Gloucester. + +KNIGHT, T.N., 29 Millicent Rd., West Bridgford, Notts. + +LAWSON, A.P., 36 Castle Terrace, Nottingham. + +LAYCOCK, F.J., 34 Highcroft Terrace, Brighton. + +MARRIOTT, A., 65 Nottingham Rd., Stapleford, Notts, (killed). + +MELLETT, C.W. (Saddler Corporal), 1 Park Terrace, Hillingdon Rd., Uxbridge, +Middlesex. + +MOVERLEY, S., 26 Wharncliffe St., Hull. + +NEAL, G., 16 Nova Scotia St., Failsworth, Lancs. + +PALMER, C.P., 26 Drake St., Gainsborough, Lincs. + +PATTERSON, W., 72 High St., Dumfries, Scotland. + +ROE, A.E., 184 St. Paul's Rd., Canonbury, London, N. + +ROGERS, L.B., 122 Hillaries Rd., Gravelly Hill, Birmingham. + +ROSE, J.B., 44 Ball St., Wells Rd., Nottingham. + +SEDDON, H., 54 The Avenue, Leigh, Lancs. + +SHARPE, H.E., 138 Sherrard Rd., Forest Gate, Essex. + +SMALL, F., Earls Common, nr. Droitwich, Worcester. + +SMITH, C.C., West St., Oundle, Northants. + +STOKES, H., Sir John Barleycorn Hotel, Cadnam, Southampton. + +UFF, G., 28 St. James St., Walthamstow, London. + +WADDLOW, J. (S/Smith Corporal), Marylands, Dogsthorpe, Peterborough. + +WAKE, T., 14 Roxburgh Place, Heaton, Newcastle-on-Tyne. + +WALSHAW, L.J., 56 Canon St., Belgrave, Leicester. + +WILLMORE, A.C., 2B Lakefield Villas, Westbury Avenue, Wood Green, N. + +WOODHOUSE, H., 11 Queen St., Whittingtonoor, Chesterfield, Derby. + + +Privates. + +ACE, E., 7 Carlos St., Port Talbot, S. Wales. + +ADAMS, C.W., Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton, Staffs. + +ADDISON, A., High St., Navenby, Lines. + +ALLEN, L., 20 Liddington St., Basford, Notts. + +AMOR, L.G., Road Common, Southwick, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. + +APPLEY, T., Station Rd., Laughton Common, Yorks. + +ARNELL, F., 35 Fernie Avenue, Melton Mowbray, Leicester. + +ARNOLD, H.T., 29 High St., Old Basford, Notts. + +ASHALL, R., 5 Bolton St., Park Rd., St. Helens, Lancs. + +ASHE, A.E., 5 Barley Close, Chippenham, Wilts. + +ATTWATER, L. (Signaller), 22 Dryburgh Rd., Putney, S.W. + +AVERILL, R., Fox and Hounds Hotel, Brynmenyn, Bridgend, Glam. + +BAKER, A., The Row, Eltham, Kent. + +BAKER, C.E. + +BALL, F., 1 Gladstone Terrace, Bunbury St., Nottingham. + +BARTRAM, R., Froy Moor Farm, Briston, Melton Constable, Norfolk. + +BEESTON, T., The Green, Middleton, Winkworth, Derby + +BOAK, G., 3 St. Thomas' Place, Stockport, Cheshire (died at Aleppo). + +BOHN, A. + +BOYLING, F., 1 Claughton Villas, Priory Rd., Dudley. + +BRADY, W., 7 Mill St., Kingston-on-Thames. + +BRAMALL, T., "Broom Cottage," Carlton, Worksop, Notts. + +BRANTON, F., 306 High St., Walton, Felixstowe. + +BRETT, J., Highland Cottages, Clavering Newport, Essex. + +BROWNE, R.A., "Rosemoyne," Warwick Rd., Sutton, Surrey. + +BUTCHER, P.F., 34 Nursery Rd., Chelmsford, Essex. + +CANE, E.W., "The Hollies," Swallowfield, nr. Reading. + +CAPEL, B., "Woodbine Cottage," Dysart, Fife (died 17th Oct. 1918). + +CARDER, W., Raynes Park, nr. Braintree, Essex. + +CARRUTHERS, W., Keppoch, Kardros, Dumbarton Scotland. + +CASH, J., 17 Ard Lane, Kiverton Park, nr. Sheffield. + +CHANTRY, P., 5 St. James' St., Grantham (died of wounds). + +CHARTERS, H.J., "Loch Lomond," Cheltenham Rd., Southend-on-Sea. + +CHATTERTON (Transport), Flixton, nr. Manchester. + +CHILDS, J.L. (S/Smith), "Holly Bank," Bourne End, Bucks. + +CHIPPENDALE, E., 30 Moore St., Nelson, Lancs. + +CLARKE, F.J., Post Office, Harpole, Northants. + +CLARKE, H., 450 Leeming St., Mansfield, Notts. + +CLARKE, S.H., 112 Aberdeen Rd., Winson Green, Birmingham. + +CLARKE, W.E., Middle St., Wickham Market, Suffolk. + +CLARKE, W.J., 88 Whitley Wood Lane, Reading, Berks. + +CLAY, T., 24 High St., Kimberley, Notts. + +CLAYTON, H., 3 Rutland Terrace, Meadows, Nottingham. + +CLUTTEN, E.G., Church House, Wangford, Suffolk. + +COLES, A.R. (S/Smith), The Forge, Epwell, Banbury. + +COLLIER, A., 12 Rice St., New Basford, Notts. + +COMRIE, G.E.L., 15 Dixon Avenue, Crosshill, Glasgow. + +COOK, J., 32 Glen St., Paisley, Scotland. + +COOKE, H.S., 19 Rosina St., High St., Homerton, N.E. + +COOPER, J.E., Easton Royal Farm, Pewsey, Wilts. + +CORY, P.F.P., Morecombe Farm, Milton Damerell, Brandis Corner, Devon. + +COWELL, E., 47 Earl St., Lower Broughton, Manchester. + +COX, A., 17 Belvedere St., Mansfield, Notts. + +COZENS, C.F., 27 Acres St., Wandsworth, S.W. + +CRANE, W.R., 6 Seventh Row, Ashington, Northb. + +CRANFIELD, F., 72 Farnley Rd., South Norwood, S.E. + +CROSSMAN, H., Bridgwater, Somerset. + +CUNDALL, C.F., 12 Milton St., Middlesbrough, Yorks. + +CURTIS, J., 96 Merchant St., Bullwell, Nott. + +CURTIS, W., Royston House, Misterton, Doncaster, Yorks. + +DALE, A.M., Crawford Gardens, North Down, Cliftonville, Margate. + +DAVIES, C.L., 32 Carlton Rd., Sneinton Market, Notts. + +DAVIES, H.C.P. (S/smith), 13 Artesian Rd., Bayswater, W. + +DEWEY, C., 192 Ealing Rd., South Ealing, W. + +DIPLOCK, P.H., 8 Everest Rd., Eltham, Kent. + +DOWNS, A.F., Alnwick Villas, Gedling Rd., Carlton, Notts. + +DRANSFIELD, D.V., Newlands Farm, Mansfield, Notts. + +DRANSFIELD, S.A., Newlands Farm, Mansfield, Notts. + +DREW, T.C., 25 Hamilton Rd., Long Eaton, Notts. + +DROUET, A.G.E., "Ajow House," Speedwell Rd., Egbaston, Birmingham. + +DUNCAN, J.C., 1 Wellgate, Kirriemuir, Forfar. + +EALDON, E., 11 Railway Terrace, Sittingbourne, Kent. + +EDGAR, W.J., 73 Sugarfield St., Belfast. + +EDWARDS, A., 44 Greaves Rd., Lancaster. + +EDWARDS, A.E., 18 Prospect Terrace, King's Cross, N. + +ELLAMS, G., Capenhurst, nr. Chester. + +ELLIOTT, G.W., 51 Shipstone St., New Basford, Notts. + +ELLIS, C.L. (S/smith), 4 King Edward Rd., Brentwood, Essex. + +ELPHICK, J., 15 George St., Fishergate, Sussex. + +EWELS, P., Preston-on-Severn, nr. Shrewsbury. + +FARDELL, A., 3 Hertford St., Colchester, Essex. + +FARMER, J., 103 Newcombe Rd., Handsworth, Birmingham. + +FEAR, J., 1 Greenhill Cottages, Cwmtillery, Wales. + +FEWELL, H.P., 162 Upper Bridge Rd., Chelmsford, Essex. + +FLETCHER, W., 54 Cranmer St., Nottingham. + +FLORY, C., 7 Castle Rd., Colchester, Essex. + +FOSTER, S., Wharncliffe Nurseries, Christchurch Rd., Boscombe. + +FOX, W.H., 7 Nelson Terrace, Hutchinson St., Nottingham. + +FRANCIS, H., Broxhall Farm, Lower Hardis, Canterbury. + +FRANCIS, R.C., The Dairy, Woolaton, Notts. + +FROST, E., c/o Mrs. Coleman, Forest View, Skegley, Notts. + +FRYER, C.S., "A" Squadron, M.G.C. (Cav.) Depot Shorncliffe. + +GALLAGHER, C. (Signaller), 47 Alderson Rd., Liverpool. + +GARDNER, S.J.M., Billingford, Scole, Norfolk. + +GENT, A., Baggholme Rd., Lincoln. + +GILL, J., 117 Gloucester Rd., Bootle, Liverpool. + +GODFREY, W., 1 Gladstone St., Carlton, Notts. + +GOLDIE, H.C., 12 Morpeth St., Spring Bank, Hull (died of wounds, +3-12-1917). + +GOODWIN, C.S., 24 Hawksley Rd., Nottingham. + +GOODWIN, G., Robine Cossall, nr. Nottingham. + +GRANT, R., 5 Gilburn Place, Bo'ness, Scotland. + +GREENBAUM, ----, 94 Bridge St., Burdett Rd., London, E. + +GREENBURY, W.H., 73 Sleaford, Newark, Notts. + +GREGORY, R.H., "Pomona House," Furlong Avenue, Arnold, Notts. + +GREIG, L.C., Braunstone, Leicester. + +GRESSWELL, W.F., 110 Percival Rd., Sherwood, Notts. + +GRIFFITHS, W., 43 East Side, Prendergast, Haverfordwest. + +GYTE, J., Taylor Barn, Wessington, nr. Alfreton, Derby. + +HADDEN, W.E., 228 Sharland Rd., Maida Hill, London. + +HALL, J.E., 10 Clark St., Leicester. + +HALLAM, F., 45 Labden St., Long Eaton, Derby. + +HARDY, R.M., Cropwell Bishop, nr. Ratcliffe-on-Trent, Notts. + +HARMSWORTH, A., "Dowend," Chatsworth Rd., Worthing, Sussex. + +HARNESS, H., 66 Barnby Gate, Newark, Notts. + +HARRIS, S.A., Lower Herne, Herne, Kent. + +HARRIS, T., 5 Baranden St., Notting Hill, London. + +HARRISON, A.E., 123 Philip St., Patricroft, Manchester. + +HARRISON, F.W., 18 Seeley Rd., Lenton Sands, Notts. + +HARRY, R.R., 110 Nolton St., Bridgend, Glam. + +HART, E., 32 Church St., Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts. + +HART, J., 5 Arundel Drive, Mansfield, Notts. + +HARTILL, E., Smyth Cottage, Maidstone, Kent. + +HAYES, H., Belle Eau Park Farm, Kirklington, Notts. + +HAYES, J.C., Belle Eau Park Farm, Kirklington, Notts. + +HAYMAN, J.T., Foresters Arms, High St., Reynsham, Bristol. + +HAYWARD, J. (Saddler), 33 Princess Rd., Lower Broughton, Manchester. + +HEARN, G., 3 Westfield Rd., Edinburgh. + +HEATHCOTE, E., 16 Cromwell Rd., Nottingham (killed at Tahta). + +HEMMINGWAY, F., 21 High St., Batley Carr, Batley, Yorks. + +HENDERSON, A., The Smithy, Carnoustie, Scotland. + +HENSON, T., 47 Chaplain St., Lincoln. + +HERRINGTON, R., South Carlton, nr. Worksop, Notts. + +HESKETH, E., Newton Green, Alfreton, Derbyshire. + +HESLOP, W., 53 Heath St., Stepney, E. + +HICKING, J.S., Chatham House, Munday St., Henor, Derby. + +HOLBOROW, J., Didmarton, Badminton, Glos. + +HOLDER, J., 40 Braydon Rd., Clapton, N. + +HOLLINGWORTH, T., 74 Westfield Rd., Caversham, nr. Reading. + +HOODLESS, J., Bridgend, Dalston. + +HORSTEAD, H., 23 Winterton Rd., Sunthorpe, Lincs. + +HOWLETT, J., 119 Brookdale Rd., Catford, S.E. + +HUDSON, G.H., 5 Blackfriar St., Stamford. + +HUDSON, L., 84 Low St., Keighley, Yorks. + +HUDSON, ----, Westgate Rd. Fire Station, Newcastle-on-Tyne. + +HUGGETT, G., 19 Cornwall Rd., Brixton, S.W. + +HUNT, B., 140 Armagh Rd., Bow, E. + +HUNT, E., 5 Bartholomew Cottages, Gillingham, Kent. + +HUNT, J., 68 St. Paul's Terrace, Holgate Rd., York. + +HUNT, S.F.R., Box 53 P.O., Prince George, British Columbia. + +HUTCHINS, G. (Saddle Cpl.), Orchard Lane, Alton, Hants. + +HYDE, E.W., 141 Glyn Rd., London, N.E. + +INGRAM, F.A., 85 Broad St., Tottenham, London, N. + +INKLEY, E.A., 96 St. Anne's Well Rd., Nottingham. + +IRVINE, R.J., 140 Roebank St., Dennistoun, Glasgow. + +JACQUES, A., 3 Halls Cottages, Stapleford, Notts. + +JACQUES, J., " " " + +JAMES, C.F., 34 Newcastle Hill, Bridgend, Glam. + +JARVIS, E., 75 Lyndhurst Rd., Sneinton Dale, Nottingham. + +JARVIS, W.B., 70 Eldon St., Greenock, Scotland. + +JENKINS, E., West Farm, Llantwith Major, Cardiff. + +JOHNSTON, J., 52 Hyde Park St., Anderston, Glasgow (died 15-10-18, +Damascus). + +JOHNSTON, R., Charleston-by-Glamis, Forfar. + +JOYNCE, C. + +KAVANAH, R., 14 Park Grove Rd., Leytonstone, Essex. + +KEARN, G., Dean Farm, Willey Broseley, Salop. + +KEMP, A., 13 Baumont St., Sneinton, Notts. + +KEMSLEY, J., Breadgar, nr. Sittingbourne, Kent. + +KENNY, R., Newton-on-Ouse, nr. York. + +KENT. S.C., 28 Scaresdale St., Carr Vale, Bolsover, Derbyshire. + +KITE, W.J., Witney Rd., Finstock, Charlbury, Oxon. + +KNIGHT, L.J., Hanescombe, nr. Brookthorpe, Gloucester. + +KNOTT, E., Lord St., Mansfield, Notts. + +LAKE, J., 8 King St., Tibshelf, nr. Alfreton, Derby. + +LAMBDEN, E.J., Ivy Bridge, Bourne End, Bucks. + +LAMBIE, J., 21 Shamrock St., New City Rd., Glasgow. + +LAND, F., Lynton Rd., Porlock, Somerset. + +LARCOMBE, W., Chardstock, Chard, Somerset. + +LAURIE, W., 27 Margaret St., Hixbourne, Birmingham. + +LEAFE, F.F., 5 Birkland Avenue, Peel St., Nottingham (killed Tel el +Quelfi). + +LEE, P., 7 Strawberry Terrace, Newtown, Retford, Notts. + +LEEDALE, J.B., Victoria House, Bourne, Lincs. + +LESLIE, C., 145 Princess St., Dundee. + +LEVERTON, C., Abbott St., Asworth, Notts. + +LINES, A.J., 66 Church St., Oldbury, Staffs. + +LOWE, W.H., Cuckney, Mansfield, Notts. + +LOY, P.A., "St. Malo," Mildmay Rd., Romford, Essex. + +LUMB, P.J., 2 Upper Oxford St., Doncaster. + +MACINTOSH, A., 157 Ewart Rd., Forest Fields, Nottingham. + +MACKENZIE, W., The Cottage, Balfour Place, Kirkcaldy. + +MANN, J., Seafield St., Cullen, Banffshire. + +MAPLETOFT, L., The Cottage, Great Gonerby, Grantham. + +MARRIOTT, J., 63 Nottingham Rd., Stapleford, Notts. + +MARSHALL, F., 19 Lawrence St., York. + +MARSHALL, J.L., 257 Sherwood St., Nottingham. + +MATHEWS, W.H., 39 Eperns Rd., Fulham, S.W. + +MATTOCKS, W.J., 122 Lower Addiscombe Rd., East Croydon, Surrey. + +MCDONALD, M., Sabbell Village, Carradale, Argyleshire. + +MCLELLAN, E.R., 110 Leddard Rd., Langside, Glasgow. + +MCLENNAN, J., 80 Culdrethal Rd., Inverness. + +MELLOWS, S., 12 Whyburn St., Hucknall, Nott. (died). + +MILES, A.H., 25 Rutland St., Pimlico, S.W. + +MILES, A.H. (Wheeler), 49 Greet Rd., Brentford, Middlesex. + +MILLAN, T., West Bank Place, Falkirk, Scotland. + +MILNTHORPE, H., 28 South Parade, Doncaster. + +MITCHELL, J.P., 99 Whitfield St., Fitzroy Square, London. + +MORRIS, S., 64 Darrel Rd., Retford, Notts. + +MOYES, A.E., 6 West Lane, Sittingbourne, Kent. + +MURRAY, J.J., Porters Well, Uddingston, Lanark. + +MUSSON, J., 176 Foxhill Rd., Carlton, Notts. (killed in action, Damascus, +30-9-18). + +NIX, T.V., Cherry House, Red Hill Rd., Arnold, Notts. + +OLDHAM, J.J., Carleton-on-Trent, Newark. + +OLIVANT, G., Nettleham Lodge, Nr. Lincoln. + +ORDISH, E.A., 17 Sketchley St., Bluebell Hill, Nottingham. + +OSBORNE, A.W., 32 New St., Chelmsford, Essex. + +PAMPLING, W., 193 Newmarket Rd., Cambridge (died). + +PARKIN, F.W., The Lodge, Scrooby, Bawtry, Yorks. + +PARKIN, S., 31 Kilbourne St., Nottingham. + +PATTERSON, W., Monaltrie Rd., Ballater. + +PEACH, L., Eccleston, Amersham, Bucks. + +PEARSON, H., 32 Hope St., Brampton, Chesterfield. + +PEARSON, T., 20 Bloomsgrove St., Radford, Notts. + +PEEL, A., Newport, Lincoln. + +PERRY, A., Sturtingale Cottage, Rush Hill, Bath. + +PHILLIPS, C., 29 Thorn St., Derby. + +PITTS, J., 10 South Parade, Bath. + +PRICE, E., The Turfs, Norton Canes, Camrock, Staffs. + +PRICE, M., Quinton, Pennfields, Wolverhampton. + +PRICE, W.A.C.H., 8 Camden Rd., Stamford. + +PRITCHARD, S., Rosemount, Ponkey, Wrexham. + +QUESTED, R., Park Gate Farm, Elham, nr. Canterbury, Kent. + +RATCLIFFE, J., 17 Old Paradise St., Lambeth, S.E. + +REED, H., 33 Church Terrace, Tower Rd., Erith. + +REEKMANS, W. (Saddler), 20 Ducie St., Brixton, S.W. + +RICHMOND, E.J., Moorgate Hill, Retford, Notts. + +RIDGWAY, A., "Goat's Head," Lillingstone, Daysell, Bucks. + +RILEY, E.A., 31 Weston St., Nechells, Birmingham (taken prisoner 1-11-17, +supposed wounded, not since heard of, presumed dead by W.O.). + +RIPPIN, F., 10 King's Head Place, Market Harboro', Leics. + +ROBERTS, W., 82 Brunswick St., The Mount, York. + +ROBERTSON, A., 192 New City Rd., Glasgow. + +ROBINSON, H. (Signaller), 120 Nottingham Rd., Mansfield, Notts. + +RUARK, A.C., 8 Wanlip Rd., Plaistow, E. + +RUSH, E., Co-Operative Yard, Worksop, Notts. + +SAVORY, S.W., St. Peter's Rd., Cleethorpes, Lincs. + +SCOTT, W., 20 Thames St., Retford, Notts. + +SEAMAN, C.W., 60 Lee St., Holderness Rd., Hull. + +SEARS (S/Smith), 9 Back Cottages, Commercial Rd., Bullwell, Notts. + +SHARPE, C.A., 51 Gedling Rd., Carlton, Notts. + +SHARPE, W.F., 119 Ryland Rd., Edgbaston, Birmingham. + +SHEPHERD, J., 37 Plantation St., Wallsend-on-Tyne. + +SHERRATT, C., 4 Crown Terrace, Basford, Notts. + +SHORT, P.C., North Aston, nr. Deddington, Oxon. + +SIDDALL, J.C., 11 Sedd St., Ratcliffe, nr. Manchester. + +SINCLAIR, J., 42 Stewart Terrace, Edinburgh. + +SISSON, A., 41 Hempshill Lane, Bulwell, Notts. + +SISSONS, E., 3 Honey Place, Main St., Bulwell, Notts. + +SLEIGHTHOLME, A., Atworth, Melksham, Wilts. + +SMITH, C., Kneeton Rd., East Bridgford, Notts. + +SMITH, C.W., 37 Bishopbridge Rd., Norwich. + +SMITH, E.C., 1 Fern Cottages, St. Osyth Rd., Clacton-on-Sea. + +SMITH, H., 4 Dulwich Rd., Radford, Notts. + +SMITH, W., 94 Blackstone St., Nottingham. + +SMITH, W.J., The Barracks, Westcott, nr. Dorking, Surrey. + +SOPER, W., 36 Brandon Buildings, Clifton, Bristol. + +SOUTHEY, G.E., 46 Brownlow Rd., Putney, S.W. + +SPENCER, F., 80 Laughton Rd., Dennington, nr. Rotherham. + +SPENCER, G., 37 Ortzen St., Radford, Notts. + +SPENCER, G., 37 Padiham Rd., Burnley, Lancs. (died). + +SPINKS, W.K., West End, Ely, Cambs. + +SPRATT, B., 13 Methley St., Meadow Rd., Leeds. + +SPRINGETT, A.J., Avon's Dale, Colchester. + +STANILAND, A., 6 Howard Rd., Mansfield, Notts. (killed Damascus). + +STANLEY, A.B. (Signaller), 16 New Rd., Ridgwood, Uckfield, Sussex. + +STAPLETON, H., Bulcot Lodge Farm, Burton Joyce, Notts. + +STRANKS, T.H., 43 Quarry St., Milverton, Leamington. + +STRAW, A., 2 Tennyson Terrace, Hawksley Rd., Nottingham. + +STROSS, G., 40 Brighton Rd., Birkdale, Southport. + +TALBOTT, F.C., 134 Church Square, Newport, Salop. + +TANNER, H.G., Police Station, Amesbury, Wilts. + +TAYLOR, E.E., "Brim Cottage," Griffiths Crossing, Carnarvon. + +TEGGIN, H., "The Pentre," St. Martins, Oswestry, Salop. + +THOMAS, J.E., Pillford, Milford Haven. + +THOMPSON, A., Whitwell, Mansfield, Notts. + +THOMPSON, A.M., Greenhead Gate, Lanark. + +THOMPSON, D.J., 61 Henderson St., Glasgow. + +THORNHILL, H., 48 Park Rd., Lenton, Nottingham. + +THORPE, C., 18 Gordon Hill, Enfield, Middx. + +TIVEY, A., 5 Gedling Rd., Carlton, Notts. + +TOINTON, J., Elmsford House, Spalding, Lincs. + +TOLHURST, W.G., 9 Marden Lane, London. + +TOOKE, R., "Horseshoes," Scottow, Norwich. + +TOOLEY, H.A. + +TRIPP, S.H., 116 Nag's Head Hill, St. George, Bristol. + +TUBBS, H.C., 7 Warwick Villas, Homerton, N.E. + +TURNBULL, J., 16 Lothian St., Hawick. + +TURNER, G. + +TURNER, W.E., "The Admiral Napier," Weedington Rd., Kentish Town, N.W. + +TYLER, B.H. School House, Ironville, Derby. + +VAUGHAN, T.G., Rock House, nr. Bewley, Worcester. + +VEITCH, J. (S/Smith), 86 Scott St., Galashiels, Scotland. + +WALKER, A., 150 Moorbottom Rd., Crosland Moor, Huddersfield. + +WALLACE, G., 828 Argyle St., Glasgow. + +WALPOLE, A.N., Anthills Farm, Redhall, Harleston, Norfolk. + +WALSHAW, L.J., 56 Cannon St., Belgrave, Leicester. + +WANSTALL, P.N. + +WARD, B.V., "Sankta Koro," Vallance Rd., Muswell Hill, N. + +WATERSON, A., 16 North Junction St., Leith, Scotland. + +WATSON, B.E., Rose Cottage, Girton, Cambridge. + +WATSON, J., 2 Lightfoot Buildings, Cinque Ports St., Rye, Sussex. + +WATTS, C.P., 7 Brown's Rd., Plaistow, E. + +WEATHERLEY, E.J., 120 Lovatt St., Grimsby. + +WEBB, C.J., 21 Lower Addiscombe Rd., Croydon, Surrey. + +WEIGHILL, A., 70 Oxford St., Barnsley. + +WHITBY, J., 26 Lower Brook St., Long Eaton, Notts. + +WHITE, C.F., 21 Pelham St., Brighton, Sussex. + +WHITE, S., Frilsham, Yattendon, Newbury, Berks. + +WHITLOCK, G.H., 44 Bushy Park, Tottendown, Bristol. + +WICK, S., 13 Golden Dog's Lane, Norwich. + +WILBRAHAM, ----, Barton, Malpas, Cheshire. + +WILLIAMS, G., Collets Green, Porwick, Worcester. + +WILSON, A., 21 Chisholm Rd., Croydon, Surrey. + +WINFIELD, R.J., Checkendon, nr. Reading, Oxon. + +WOOD, F., 6 Barfields, Bletchingley, Surrey. + +WORTHINGTON, J.W., 41 The Hill, Kirby-in-Ashfield. + +WRIGHT, T., "Ivy House," Aixley, Corringham Gainsboro', Lincs. + +WROOT, B., High St., Misterton, Notts. + + +Roll of Honour. + +As a result of the circular letter dated 3-6-20, referred to on page 172, +the following names have been received of those Members of the 20th +Machine-Gun Squadron who have made the SUPREME SACRIFICE in their Country's +service:-- + +Major L.F. ST. JOHN DAVIES, M.C. +Lieut. H.A. PRICE, M.C. +Sergt. W.H. MORDEN. +Lce. Corpls. F. CARR. + A. MARRIOTT. +Privates G. BOAK. + B. CAPEL. + P. CHANTRY. + H.C. GOLDIE. + E. HEATHCOTE. + J. JOHNSTON. + F.F. LEAFE. + S. MELLOWS. + J. MUSSON. + W. PAMPLING. + E.A. RILEY. + G. SPENCER. + A. STANILAND. + +(_N.B.--The above, it is feared, does not include all the names in spite of +every effort that has been made to obtain a complete list._) + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Through Palestine with the 20th +Machine Gun Squadron, by Unknown + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THROUGH PALESTINE WITH THE *** + +***** This file should be named 17109.txt or 17109.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/7/1/0/17109/ + +Produced by Suzanne Lybarger, Sigal Alon and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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