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[Page 28]
April 19.
The 3rd A.L.H. Brigade left Selmeh on 19th April and marched to Taalat Ed Dum, [also spelt Talat ed Dumm] bivouacing at Deiran, Latron, and Enab, and arrived at Taalat Ed Dum on the afternoon of 22nd April. This march brought the Brigade through more mountainous country and steeper roads than had previously been experienced, but the transport overcame all difficulties. The harder road conditions were at once made evident by the increased work for all farriers, and at the end of the march, all horses were extremely shin sore.
The Brigade moved into the Jordan Valley on 24th April, and bivouaced on the open ground a mile north-west of Jericho. The extreme heat was at once felt by the troops and horses. There was now a large concentration of mounted troops in this area, and units were bivouaced in scattered formation to minimise casualties in the event of enemy air raids which were now frequent. Parties of officers from the Brigade reconnoitred the country south-east and east of Ghoraniyeh bridge over the River Jordan, (held by 1st and 2nd Brigades), and the defences along the north of the Wadi Auja, (held by N.Z. Brigade and Imperial Camel Corps Brigade). On 26th April 8th Light Horse Regiment moved to high ground to maintain communication with L.C.C. Brigade on the right and left flank of the 53rd Infantry Division at Nejmeh. Preparations were now being made for the operations by the Desert Mounted Corps east of the Jordan.
At the end of April the situation on our army right flank was as follows:- In the previous month, March, a combined Cavalry and Infantry force had crossed the Jordan at Ghoraniyeh, proceeded via the road passing Shunet Nimrin and occupied Es Salt. From there Anzac Mounted Division had pushed on to the neighbourhood of Amman, and a squadron of the 5th Regiment had destroyed a bridge on the Hedjaz [also Hejaz] Railway, north of that place. The New Zealanders cut the railway to the south of the town. The weather, however, was so bad and the country so boggy that the Mounted force near Amman could not do much so they returned to Es Salt, and the whole force retired west of the Jordan, exclusive of a bridge head at Ghoraniyeh. Prior to this last expedition the enemy line had been Amman Es Salt-Jisr Ed Damieh. He now occupied a strong position at Shunet Nimrin, with about 5,000 men and about 40 guns. They also held a light line across the Jordan Valley from Shunet Nimrin to the left of their forces entrenched opposite Musallabeh. There is only one road from Shunet Nimrin to the enemy bases at Es Salt and Amman, that could carry wheels, any other exists, whether north, east or south were only tracks over which animals could walk with difficulty. The plan of operations of 29th April to 5th May was to attack Shunet Nimrin position in front with infantry and at the same time operate on their rear with the mounted forces. If the Shunet Nimrin road was cut and held, the enemy if they wanted to, could not take a wheel or gun from their advanced position at Shunet Nimrin, nor could their personnel escape, with the exception of stragglers; these would think twice before breaking away over the mountain tracks, owing to the fear of being murdered by the local Arabs. In accordance with this plan, on the night of 29th April, an infantry force of about 4,000 to 5,000 moved overthe Jordan by the Ghoraniyeh bridge and attacked the Shunet Nimrin position.
The role of the Desert Mounted Corps was to envelope the right of the enemy's main forces about Shunet Nimrin, capture Es Salt and advance line to Kusr, (142 T. 9, point 2900 (142.0.35).
The role of the Australian Mounted Division was to advance rapidly northwards east of the Jordan, place one Brigade facing north-west at the junction of the Um Esh Shert-Jisr Ed Damieh and the Es Salt-Jesr Ed Damieh tracks, and block any enemy reinforcements from moving from west to east of Jordan by the Jisr Ed Damieh ford, and the remainder of the Division move on Es Salt from the west and north west. When Es Salt was captured dispositions to be made to protect it from the north. One Brigade to move on point 2900, on the Es Salt-Amman road, (142.0.35), and a detachment to move towards Shunet Nimrin. To the 4th A.L.H. Brigade was given the duty of getting astride the Jesr Ed Damieh tracks. To the 3rd A.L.H. Brigade was given the duty of moving in close support of the 4lth A.L.H.