Through Palestine with the 20th Machine Gun Squadron | Page 6

accompanied it, returned to camp, independently. On this day the
Squadron watering-party was bombed by hostile aircraft, but no
casualties occurred. October 30th was spent in "resting," and in the

afternoon every man was directed to lie down in his "bivvy" from 13.00
to 17.00 hrs. (1 p.m. to 5 p.m.)! Upon being asked by the Orderly
Officer why he was not complying with this order, one man remarked
to his pal: "Well, that's the first time I've been stopped doing work in
the Army"! It was, however, very necessary, as, that night at 20.30
(8.30 p.m.), the Brigade, commanded by Brig.-Gen. J.T. Wigan,
C.M.G., D.S.O., started on its approach-march after watering.
THE APPROACH-MARCH TO BEERSHEBA.
The "going" was, most of the way, through thick sand with a lot of
green scrub. Doubtless, everybody who took part in that march will
ever remember the incidents and details of the operations--and the
indescribable dust. Temperature very cold; "loads off"; "loads on"; at
frequent intervals. So--on, through the night; generally at the walk,
occasionally trotting; hearing, at one point, intermittent rifle-fire (on
the left flank), and, with now and then, "VERY LIGHTS" being put up.
Later on, a white stone building was passed (apparently unoccupied)
called "Ibn Said".
After several hours' marching, a road and a narrow gauge Turkish
railway were crossed, both of which were understood to lead to
Beersheba. At length, the position was reached on Itwail El Semin, 7
miles south of Beersheba, just before daybreak, where the transport
("A" Echelon) soon found us. "A" and "B" Sub-sections were
immediately attached to the "S.R.Y." and "S.N.H." respectively, and
took up positions in front of Ras-Hablein and Goz-el-Naam.
It was not long before it became evident that there was "something
doing". Yes, the great event for which the Squadron had been preparing
since its formation was about to take place! The 7th Mounted Brigade
found itself "up against" a series of strongly-held trenches on
Ras-Hablein to Ras-Ghannam. The 60th Infantry Division was on its
left and the Australians on its right. The plan of attack, as given in the
official publication: "_A Brief Record of the Advance of the Egyptian
Expeditionary Force_" was as follows:--
"... for the 60th and 74th Divisions to seize the enemy works between

the Khalasa Road and the Wadi Saba, while the defences north of the
Wadi were masked by the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade and two
battalions of the 53rd Division. The Anzac Mounted Division,
Australian Mounted Division and 7th Mounted Brigade were to attack
the defences of the town from the north-east, east and south-east".
The progress of the attack all along the line could be seen from the top
of Itwail. The Turk, everywhere, clung tenaciously to his main
positions. During the whole morning and afternoon, rifle and shell-fire
were continued on both sides. "B" Sub-section covered the advance of
the "S.N.H." The Essex Battery R.H.A., in action at this time, came in
for a bad quarter of an hour, but fortunately escaped with slight
casualties, when, at 16.00 (4 p.m.) orders were issued to attack
Beersheba!
The Brigade at once formed up in a cloud of dust, and, led by its
General as if on a ceremonial parade at home, started off at the trot to
the attack. Soon, the dust became so dense (especially in the centre of
the Brigade), that it was impossible to see two yards in front. After
going a mile or two, a halt was made under cover of a hill for a few
minutes, then on again. To the surprise of everyone, little opposition
was now offered, and it soon became apparent that the Turk had fled,
although reinforced during the day, the sight of an English Cavalry
Brigade advancing, proving too much for him! Another halt, another
trot, then the position was taken!
WE TAKE TURKISH TRENCHES.
Until quite recently, the Turk had been content merely to patrol the
country south and east of Beersheba, but our concentration at Esani had
made him uneasy about his left flank, and he had hastily dug a line of
trenches and manned them, hoping to put up a strong opposition to our
advance. These were the trenches we had now taken; and they
constituted a strong position too, the hills being particularly steep in
front of them.
Having captured the position and enjoyed a short rest, the Brigade
pushed on again after dark--this time in column of route, but "at the

walk," as it was "pitch-black" and the ground rough and rocky. Well on
in the evening, a welcome change in the going occurred, as we came
out upon a road (the same one crossed in the morning); a proper road, a
real road like one at home in England! It seemed strange, indeed, after
the miles of desert; the