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The relief of the sub-sector caused increased movement in the area and enemy artillery was active day and night. Mussalabeh received special attention from enemy guns, but the trenches and dugouts of this position were so prepared that artillery effect was very slight.
The troops had been called upon for continuous night digging as well as for the garrisoning of the defences. The dust and heat was still great (temperatures averaging from 108 to 117). From casualties and sickness the strength of all units of the Brigade was now considerably reduced.
Aug. 22.
G.O.C., 1st A.L.H. Brigade assumed command of No. 3 and 4 sub-sectors on night of 22nd August and on completion of relief 3rd A.L.H. Brigade marched to Talaat Ed Dumm en route Ludd, where the Australian Mounted Division concentrated.
The Brigade arrived at Ludd on 26th August and camped among the olive groves there. Reinforcements, (but not sufficient to bring the Units up to establishment), came forward. Equipment was got up to date and swords, the long straight cavalry pointing pattern, were issued to all ranks. The cavalry or double rank drill was adopted; Major Cavanagh the G.S.O. 2 of the Division put a class of Officers through sword drill, these Officers then became the instructors of the troops. Two imperial cavalry sergeant instructors were borrowed from the Training Centre Moascar, and these assisted in the instruction. The instruction which the Brigade had received at Belah during the previous February and March in the use of the bayonet as a sword now bore fruit. After a few lessons the men were passed by the Imperial Instructors as quite competent to operate against Turkish cavalry. Troops were exercised in shock tactics with rapid detachment of machine guns and Hotchkiss Rifle to the flank. Up to now we had always carried 230 rounds of ammunition on the men; in view of the issue of swords this was now reduced to 180, 90 in the bandolier on the man and 90 in a second bandolier on his horse. Intensive training was carried out throughout the Brigade until 18th September.
On the evening of 18th September, 1918, the Turkish 7th and 8th Armies held an entrenched line from Tabsor on the coast to a point on the Jordan about 10 miles north of Jericho. The 4th Turkish army held the hills commanding the Jordan Valley east of the River. It was the intention of the Commander-in-chief to concentrate a superior force of Infantry on the coastal sector, break the line there, and push three of the four cavalry Divisions through the gap to the rear of the Turkish forces. This cavalry force was to then capture or destroy the Turkish armies south of the line Damascus-Beirut. The fourth available cavalry division, (Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division), with four infantry battalions, one Indian infantry Brigade and certain artillery - all known as Chaytor's Force, were to operate in the Jordan Valley against the 4th Turkish army based on Es Salt and the Hejaz Railway. The Australian Mounted Division was to pass through the gap in the rear of the 4th and 5th Cavalry Divisions, and follow the 4th Cavalry Division in close support as far as El Lejjun and then operate as the exigencies of the situation required.
Sept. 18.
After a three weeks period of intensive training the Brigade marched on the evening of 18th September to a bivouac site near Selmeh in preparation for the offensive which was to commence at dawn on 19th September.
Sept. 19.
At 0902 on 19th September the Brigade left the bivouac and marched 6 miles per hour to Jelil crossing the Auja River at Yellow House Bridge. Horses were watered at Jelil and the Brigade moved 2 miles east to a position of readiness to await orders to cross the enemy trench system northwards. At 1100 a Despatch Rider on his way from Corps to Division was intercepted. He was carrying orders for an immediate move forward for the Division, so in anticipation of instructions the Brigade moved off following the route taken by the 4th Cavalry Division passing the battlefield where Richard the 1st of England signally defeated Saladin in 1191.