Item 01: G. T. Birkbeck diary, 30 September 1915 - 23 April 1919 - Page 104

[Page 104]

their bayonet charge. This action was the severest we have yet had, the brunt of it falling to our Bde. who held the main position in line, & only 173 strong with 8 machine guns. Our casualties were very light. Huns & Turks would not mix with one another in our lines, the Turks continually jeering at the Huns. When the prisoners left for Jerusalem, the Huns only were allowed to strip & bathe in the wadi Aujir, yet for doing this, our men have received severe punishment & a few N.Z. as our drinking water is pumped from this same stream. A staff officer was responsible for this action, which was the means of causing strong remarks from our men. Stayed on post all night only three men on a gun. Enemy shelled our line, causing few casualties.

15: Small bodies about, taking in the wounded, leaving the dead for our men to bury. Col. Bell & Mjr. Hudson got a good haul of notes from the wounded & captured this morning. 9.2 naval gun has been brought up to Red Hill & is causing a lot of damage round the camps & dumps in our rear. Remained on post but no sign of movement except enemy bearers collecting their wounded.