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04/12/1916
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Arrived at GERARET where C Squadron preceded the Brigade by several
days. Camels on our left.
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05/12/1916
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All day at observation post, 1 ½ miles north east of camp. With
telescope can see what looks to be top of a minaret. Said to be El ARISH.
The range of hills on our right appears to slope away and come right in
front of us. Palm grove and palms visible. The Turks are entrenched
about 12 miles from out present camp. A Taube sailed over our camp
dropping four bombs, one of which failed to explode, the others fell
short and did no damage.
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06/12/1916
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Replied to C.H. RICHARDS secretary of S.A.F.T.S.R. Club.
Officers patrol consisting of Brigadier General Staff and others viewed
EL ARISH yesterday from the high rocky ground south of it. At 185
degrees from EL ARISH at a distance of 5 or 6 miles. No sign of any
movement. Came upon a Bedouin sleeping on a hill. Two Bedouins below
with 5 camels. Martini Henri cartridges but no rifles. These must have
been planted. Two were wearing NEW ZEALAND overcoats.
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Figure 8: "BEDOUINS IN THE DESERT"
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13/12/1916
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Bill HOPE and Jack CHILDS32 returned from School an 11.12.16. Former
was appointed to Corporal C Squadron.
Our patrols have been getting in touch with Turks entrenched about 8
miles out along coast and road. Taubes have been visiting us regularly
during the last few days at about dinnertime. On 11th 12th and 13th a
plane sailed over and dropped 3 bombs, which dropped in the desert east
of camp. On 11th, 12th and 13th I was on patrol to EL AABASH and we
brought in one Bedouin.
Saw some foxes.
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20/12/1916
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On about 4 hours notice we left camp at GERARET at about 7.00 p.m.
Without having time to finish off our Xmas billies so that a lot of good
stuff had to be left behind. Everyone thought we were to attack the
Turks at daybreak the next morning. But as we began to move off the
truth came out. The Turks had evacuated EL ARISH. Journeyed about 24
miles, or more, that night under the guidance of a Bedouin riding a
little black camel. Just as the morning glow began to light the sky we
struck the wadi El Arish about ½ mile wide. Then we turned north along
it. This brought us through the sites of deserted Turk camps and the
rising sun
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20/12/1916 cont…
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showed us the oasis and the town of EL ARISH, on our half left. At
8.00 a.m. we had our
horses picketed and outposts posted on the range of sand hills east of
the wadi. This wadi contains the first hard going we have struck since
leaving GIRGA.
For the first time a British biplane came flying very low down dropped a
message and gave us a cheer, which we answered. He then went over the
town flying very low so that he could see what it was like.
We watered the horses in the palms near the town before dinner. We were
startled by a loud explosion. It appears that a Sergeant Major and
another were bathing on the beach and accidentally exploded a floating
mine. Both were blown to bits. These are the only two casualties
sustained in entering EL ARISH. That night I was on duty on the
telephone at Regimental Head Quarters, and got very little sleep.
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-BATTLE of MAGHDABA-
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22/12/16
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Destroyers, Cruisers and Minesweepers are patrolling the foreshore
today, evidently after mines.
At about 2.30 p.m. it began to be rumoured that we were going out before
dark to attack a Turkish position 28 miles south along the wadi named
MAGHDABA.
So we formed up at dusk and the Brigade moved about 2 miles along the
wadi where we got grain, drinking water and rations for the men. We did
not move from here until nearly 1.00 a.m. and took the opportunity to
boil the billy with deal from the ration boxes.
Freezingly cold.
Detailed to A Squadron with Harry VIRGOxvii
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23/12/16
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| Rode 40 minutes - walked 10 to get warm and spelled 10. |
| At about 5.30 am the Division formed up. Each brigade in column of
route, and the Brigade abreast. The 3rd Brigade on our left, New
Zealanders on our right and Imperial Camel Corps to the right of them. |
Several of our planes came out and we could hear them dropping bombs
on the Turks position. We heard heavy firing yesterday afternoon back in
camp and I now hear that our airmen dropped 90 bombs the day before.
Then we moved off, the planes coming down close and giving us a cheer.
We moved along the wadi about 2 or 3 miles, halted.
We are now about 2 ½ miles from Turks. New Zealand and 3rd Brigade
moved out, also the Camel Corps and 4 batteries of Royal Horse
Artillery. There was a wait of ½ hour or so before we got an order to
advance. DHQ nearby has got its wireless up and the planes are beginning
to land nearby. Planes constantly bombing Turks.
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Presently we got the order to advance, and we went at a good canter
for nearly a mile across a big plain towards the Turks. But we found
that the wadi developed big fissures and ravines
on our left flank and it looked to me as if we were going into a trap,
and would be wiped out any minute by their machine guns and artillery. |
We could see our advance guard well in front and shrapnel and high
explosive are bursting among them. Then the shrapnel began to rain among
us but it seemed very ineffective stuff.
After a fine old mad charge of nearly a mile under fire we turned right
and took cover in the ravine of the wadi. Dismounted, handed the over
our horses to fellow named KING who was detailed as a horse holder, and
A Squadron took up a line extending at right angles to the wadi. I had
the helio on my back, VERGOxvii had the stand and we had one small blue
flag. |
Advance was now rapid, we dodged from cover to cover with bullets
whizzing everywhere. 'A' Squadron is the extreme right of line, which
extends for about 3 miles away across the plain.
Advancing in two lines. Our artillery commencing to give Turks hell.
Hong Kong Mountain battery, Indians with Camels somewhere behind us. |
| Very exhausting work advancing. Some time after midday white flags
began to wave from trenches on opposite side of wadi on cliffs. |
| Then the fun commenced, Turks who were laying out ahead of their
trenches began to make for them and we were blazing away for all we were
worth. Some snipers who had been worrying out flank hopped up and made
off, and we got quite excited trying to bowl them over. Fellows were
running forward, stopping and then shooting from the shoulder. By now we
could see 3 large buildings with Red Crescent hospital flag flying over
them about a mile away. |
| At about 3.30 p.m. B Squadron and some Camel Corps fixed bayonets and
charged the trenches ahead. As soon as they commence to rush forward,
the Turks hoisted white flags and up-ended rifles. The last redoubt of
the evening to be taken was A Squadron's masterpiece. The Turks fought
stubbornly until we were right on the parapet when they surrendered
enmasse. |
| Surprised by the number of dead Turks over wounded in the trenches.
This was the end of the Turkish garrison. |
On the other flanks the NZ and 3rd Brigade had been capturing guns and
men, by the time prisoners and arms had been collected and our horses
brought back to us night had set in. So that we had been fighting all
day.
Complete success for the ANZAC Infantry Division. We watered that night
at the Turkish Wells and by daybreak on the 24/12/16 were back at El
Arish. Casualties were not very serious, I believe we only had one man
killed in the Regiment, Lieutenants TRELOARxviii and KIDMAN wounded.
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24/12/16
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| As I have been 5 days and 4 nights almost without sleep, this Xmas Eve
was spent in the soundest sleep I've ever had. |
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25/12/16
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Colonel FULTONi addresses officers and N.C.Os. We captured 2000 odd
prisoners, the O/C of the position KAMEL PASCHA (see diary page April
23, 1915) 1 battery of mountain guns, several machine guns, quantities
of rifles etc. The Regimental ammunition was 80,000 rounds, and we
expended 9,000 only, too many stragglers, procedure re prisoners etc.
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25/12/16
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Photograph: Fred having Christmas Dinner 1916
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26/12/16
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Brigade addressed by G.O.C. Desert Column. First time in his knowledge
that mounted troops had taken an entrenched position, also first time to
his knowledge mounted troops had been asked to do 3 night marches in
four days.
Lessons to learn, a battle is a one man show and can not be successful
unless the commander is kept informed of what is going on. Keep a
continual stream of messages from front to rear and along the flanks. No
need to tell us to look after our horses as most of us had to do with
them all our lives. March discipline, noticed too much concertina
movement in our columns. Our performance gave him great confidence and
he expected us to do still bigger things.
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