04/12/1916

Arrived at GERARET where C Squadron preceded the Brigade by several days. Camels on our left.

05/12/1916

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.

06/12/1916

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.

Figure 8: "BEDOUINS IN THE DESERT"

13/12/1916

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.

20/12/1916

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

20/12/1916 cont…

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.

-BATTLE of MAGHDABA-

22/12/16

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

23/12/16

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.

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.

24/12/16

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.

25/12/16

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.

25/12/16

Photograph: Fred having Christmas Dinner 1916

26/12/16

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.