The diary of a Yeomanry M.O

31 October – 7 November 1917

Third Battle of Gaza

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Reseim, where also the Divisional Dressing Station was established. - Our Brigade Headquarters were established at 457, facing south-east, with the Worcester Yeomanry on the left and the Warwick Yeomanry astride the Beer- sheba road on the right. Our " C " Squadron recon- noitred towards Hareira, where they came into action. *' D " Squadron were held in reserve, and " A " proceeded towards Khirbit Zuheilika ; at the latter place a camp was surprised and surrounded, the occupants of which surrendered as the squadron galloped up. Our post corporal, who had taken a particular liking to a German officer's sword, galloped the owner down until he eventually possessed himself of the weapon. Half an hour later the squadron returned over the hill to Regimental Head- quarters with about 100 prisoners, most of whom pre- sented a rather ridiculous appearance, as they had been surprised while being disinfected and were very scantily clothed. Some German officers who escaped had left all their kit behind, and for weeks afterwards " A " Squadron were to be seen wearing the latest thing in silk shirts straight from Berlin. While this little comedy was in progress, the great tragedy of the first Battle of Gaza had already commenced. We heard heavy firing to the west before Gaza, and a little later became ourselves involved with the enemy reinforcements, who were approaching from the east. A big gun from Hareira began to bother us, one shell taking heavy toll of the Warwicks near Brigade Headquarters. During the morning " aviatiks " flew back- wards and forwards continuously over our heads between Gaza and Beersheba, generously peppering us with their machine guns en route. Some patrols of Turkish lancers were encountered, but did not show much initiative. The early morning fog was followed at midday by a " Khampsine," and the heat became very great. The action now became general, the Fifty-third and Fifty- fourth Divisions making great progress south of Gaza, while the two Cavalry Divisions, being in action with the enemy reinforcement, completed the investment east and north. We heard afterwards that the Anzac Mounted

PALESTINE 131

During the morning we could see our outpost line being shelled by the Turks, but the shells did not fall beyond the ridge. Rumour had it that in addition to the Fifty- second, Fifty-third, Fifty-fourth, Seventy-fourth, the two Mounted Divisions and the Camel Corps, other Divisions from India and East Africa were going to reinforce us in the next attack on Gaza ; we also heard that a composite Franco-Italian Division was on its way up. The Turks had now been reinforced by two more Divisions from the Caucasus. During the afternoon an enemy aeroplane flew over and dropped the identification discs of the killed and a list of the captured at the Battle of Gaza. Fritz was somewhat troublesome in the evening, and we suffered somewhat from our own shrapnel, my own helmet, which was lying by my side, being pierced by a piece of one of our own shell-cases.

PALESTINE 131

During the day the Warwick Yeomanry reconnoitred before El Mendur, accompanied by some of our officers, one of whom had his horse shot. The land batteries near Gaza shelled our ships in the roadstead, but without doing any damage. We were informed that our disposi- tions on the morrow, preparatory to the second Battle of Gaza, would be as follows : " Our Brigade was to take up the line at Asseiferia to Khirbit Erk, with its centre at the junction of the Wadis Sheria and Imlieh, and with the rest of our Division was to hold the Turkish Sheria force. The Anzac Mounted Division was to go to Shellal and hold the Hareira force. The Fifty-fourth Division was to attack the Sheikh Abbas position at dawn with the Fifty-second Division on its left and the Fifty-third Division on the sea sector. Every mounted man was to carry five days' rations for himself and his horse. On the second day there was to be a general advance, our Division attacking the Atewinieh trench system with the Fifty-fourth Division on its left, who were to be supported by the Seventy-fourth Division, after a general bom- bardment at dawn. Before dawn on the first day the Worcester Yeomanry were to send out two officers' patrols, who were to gallop through the Turkish outposts and cut the telegraph wire on the Gaza-Beersheba road in front of El Munkheileh." At 6 p.m. the whole Division rode out to Tel El Jemmi, where we bivouacked for the night.

PALESTINE 135

The Second Battle of Gaza.