Item 04: M.C. Evans war diary, 4 November 1916-16 June 1917 - Page 78
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[Page 78]
The Rafa Raid
El Arish
Midnight, Jan. 11th 1917
We have just returned to camp. A most curious affair from our point of view. But I am too tired to write tonight, & sleep too precious so I will report it in the morning.
Jan. 12th
Soon after the guns started to fire, we found that the turks' artillery consisted in a battery of mountain guns with which they did very little & pretty bad shooting. The Turks were esconsed in trenches & redoubts along a fairly high ridge. A very strong position as the ground sloped gently for about two miles in front of the ridge containing not a single inch of cover. At about 10 a.m. the whole brigade opened out & advanced at the trot extended along this open ground; reached to within about a mile of the redoubts & then dismounted & the horses were taken well back.