Through Palestine with the Twentieth Machine Gun Squadron Part 8

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, const.i.tuted 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 gra.s.s.

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 cl.u.s.ter 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. Sh.e.l.ls 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, sh.e.l.ls 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 sh.e.l.l pitched right in the centre of the "lines" and wounded him and Ptes.

H. Reed and L. Peach. All the day the sh.e.l.ling 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 sh.e.l.ling stopped--more suddenly even than it had started!

FOOTNOTES:

[18] _The River Jordan is rich in historical a.s.sociations, 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 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 pa.s.sed 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 pa.s.sed 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

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. c.u.mmer.

_"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. Pea.r.s.e.