Through Palestine with the 20th Machine Gun Squadron | Page 5

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 débâcle 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