[Page 50]
Oct. 2.
Shortly after 0600 a local inhabitant reported to B.H.Q. that there was a party of two hundred Turks asleep five kilos to the east of our camp. Instructions were at once sent to the 8th Regiment (with four machine guns) to go and collect them. Before the 8th Regiment had left its lines, however, (it was bivouaced about a mile towards Damascus) the night outpost of the 9th Regiment (the forward Regiment) observed at 0615 a column of infantry moving north, one mile east of Regimental bivouac. The Regiment at once saddled up. Brigade was asked if it were known who they were, Brigade replied that believed to be enemy and to move out at once and investigate, and that the 8th Regiment and four machine guns would support. It will be remembered that the 8th Regiment and four machine guns had been warned some time previously to move out. The 9th Regiment moved at 0645. It was apparent that the enemy column were making for the pass, where the Aleppo road enters the hills at Kubbet I Asafur. The 9th Regiment had tried to intercept the enemy there the previous afternoon, so knew exactly what to do and the country over which they would be required to pass. The remainder of the Brigade was ordered to saddle up and follow. The Brigadier and Staff went by motor-car along the Aleppo Road. The 9th Regiment moved out at a gallop. It was imperative that they should get to the pass before the enemy could occupy it with machine guns and hold us off. The Regiment then pushed along the road for half a mile, then left it and swung to the left under the foothills. At this time the rear of the enemy column was about one mile ahead on the main road. The Regiment soon gained on the column which had now mounted several machine guns and pushed out small left flank guards. Although the Regiment came under rifle and machine gun fire, its pace was not checked and it soon reached a favorable position about 1 mile from left flank and opposite the centre of the enemy column. "A" squadron then raced for Khan Ayash and "C" squadron for Khubbet I Asafur. The remaining squadron, "B", dismounted and opened fire on the centre of the column with a view to throwing it into disorder. By 0735 the two leading squadrons had got level with the cavalry advanced guard of the column and was swinging on to the main road. The head of the enemy column now appeared to be in a state of uncertainty and their leaders appeared to be conferring. Simultaneous with the final movement of the two advanced squadrons, the remainder of the Regiment drew swords and charged the main column. The combined movement was entirely successful. The main column surrendered before our troops reached them, and the Hotchkiss rifles which were covering this advance were ordered to cease fire. "A" and "C" squadrons, with drawn swords, quickly charged the enemy advanced troops, composed mostly of cavalry. "A" squadron at Khan Ayash rushed a machine gun just as it was mounted and ready to fire. "C" squadron seized the pass and captured two 7.5 c.c. guns near Khubbet I Asafur. The whole enemy force amounting to 91 Officers, 318 cavalry, 1064 infantry, 8 Germans, 26 machine guns, 1 mountain gun, 2-7.5 c.m -CKN guns, 12 automatic rifles, 283 animals were captured within one hour of Regiment moving from bivouac at Khan Kussier, approximately 7 miles.
Amongst the Officers captured was the Divisional Commander who defended Shunet Nimrin against our attacks in May, 1918. The Regimental Standard of the 46th Regiment was captured. Personnel captured belonged mostsly to the 46th Regiment.
When main column surrendered signaller J.M. Smythe and signaller M.C. Halliday were moving back to Regimental Headquarters Signal Station when they encountered a party of the enemy composed of 3 Germans and 85 Turks, taking up a position within a few hundred yards of the signal station. A German Officer was mounting an automatic rifle, when Smythe and Halliday with great gallantry rushed the German Officer, taking his pistol, fired into the enemy, and seized the automatic rifle. The enemy were so surprised that they surrendered in a body. Both these signallers were awarded the D.C.M.
Our force only suffered one casualty in this engagement.
The casualties in killed and wounded for the final offensive, (19th September to 31st October), were extraordinarily light, viz:- 3 other ranks killed and 5 Officers