Item 14: George Washington Thomas Lambert papers, October 1917-March 1919 - Page 34

[Page 34]

covering that track on the north-west, that means of return to the valley would be closed.  It would have been remained for the mounted forces in the hills to re-open one of these tracks by force, or to march south-east of Shunet Nimrin position and gain the Jordan valley, just north of the Dead Sea.
     As soon as it was dark the 8th Regt. rejoined B.H.Q., half mile north-west of Es Salt.  The 9th Regt. was ordered to retire to a position immediately north of Es Salt and remain there until midnight 3/4th May, covering the tracks northwards from Es Salt, the Regiment then to retire by track No. 13.  This Regiment left out small parties on its original outpost line until 2330, where they kept up a desultory fire.  They then fell back on to their Regiment and the Regiment retired by No. 13 track without interference, passing through the 2nd Light Horse Brigade, at 0130, on the No. 13 track.  The 10th Regiment was ordered to retire from the left flank in a southerly direction until they struck the No. 13 track.  This they did in conjunction with the 3rd Regiment, which was holding a position on their left flank.  The10th Regiment left out small parties on their original outpost line until 0030.  About an hour before they finally left, the enemy made several mild attacks along their front, apparently feeling to see whether the positions were still occupied.  They were met, however, with Mills bombs, rifle grenades, and rifle fire, and did not press the matter.  At 0430 the Regiment moved on to the Umm Shert, (No. 13) track, and moved in rear of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade and in due course reported to Brigade in the valley.
     The Brigade, (less 9th nd 10th Regiments), moved from Es Salt at 1945, and got on to No. 13 track and moved on to the position without further special incident.  It there came under the orders of the Anzac Mounted Division.  The Brigade remained during the day, as Anzac Divisional reserve about a mile east of the Auja crossing.  From there it moved back to its bivouac near Es Sultan [Es Salt ?] at 1900, arriving at the latter place at 2200 on the 4th May.  On the Brigade's arrival in the valley on the morning of the 4th, the 8th Regiment and one section 3rd A.M.G. Squadron had been sent north along the foothills to reinforce the 4th A.L.H. Brigade and remained there holding a portion of the line until that Brigade retired at 1900.  The 8th Regiment arrived at its bivouac at 0300, on the 5th.
     The weather during these operations was excellent.  It was cool and pleasant, with the exception of one morning with a light drizzling rain, it was dry.
     The Brigade moved off from Jericho with 3 days food for men and 14 lbs. forage for horses, no further supplies were issued to us in the hills.  This meant that the men were without rations on the 3rd instant.  This difficulty was got over by requisitioning half pound meat per man.  There was plenty of stock in the vicinity of Es Salt. No forage was issued for the horses on the 2nd and 3rd instant.  This difficulty was got over by local grazing which was very good, and by seizure of enemy grain at Es Salt - oats, barley, wheat and maize.  Aeroplanes dropped several packages of bandages and stores for hospital patients.  The wounded had a bad time when being brought back to the valley.  The only conveyances were camel cacholets.  They are uncomfortable at any time, but coming down No. 13 track on the night 3/4th, they were particularly so, as the track was steep, (a drop of over 4,000 feet in 10 miles), and covered with loose stones so that the animals frequently stumbled and sometimes fell.
     Attached herewith is a list of prisoners and military stores captured by the Brigade during these operations:-

PRISONERS