Item 04: M.C. Evans war diary, 4 November 1916-16 June 1917 - Page 56
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[Page 56]
El Arish, Dec. 24th
At 4.30 yesterday the Turks suddenly caved in & all was over. However a fair number managed to get away and also to take their mountain guns with them. Wrong, we got the guns. In all the Division captured 1250 Turks out of a supposed 2000 which was not bad. We stayed out picking up the men until about midnight & then came back here reaching here about 7.30 a.m. The desert was a picturesque sight last night as each wounded man or group had lit a fire to guide us. 'Magdabeh' – the name of the place – has three very good stone buildings like schoolrooms – the Turkish Hospital - also a big reservoir with stone troughs. Altogether rather an imposing place for the desert.
The Anzac Division came off very cheaply about 65 casualties I believe