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[Page 10]
this convoy could not have reached Brigade at the time it did. It travelled over that country held by the enemy up to the previous day.
The situation was now that Beersheba, the left flank of the Turkish line had been occupied by our troops. The survivors of that Garrison had fallen back towards the centre of their line at Sheria. The 2nd Brigade had pushed on up the Beersheba - Hebron road towards Dhahariye. If more troops were sent on towards Khuweilfe the now left flank of the Turkish Line would be seriously threatened. To protect this flank the enemy would have to deplete his general reserve now in the neighbourhood of Sheria. This would weaken his centre. That is what our High Command desired. The bulk of his general reserve was moved east to Khuweilfe, and a few days later our infantry broke through his unsupported line at Sheria.
In furtherance of the above scheme orders were received for a Regiment to be attached to the 7th Mounted Brigade, (Yeomanry), for operations towards Ain Kohle and Khuweilfe, about 11 miles N.N.E. of Beersheba. These places were of tactical importance inasmuch as there was a good water supply there.
The 8th Light Horse Regiment, (Lieut.-Col. McLaurin), was detailed for this duty. The orders were that it was to go without the slightest possible delay and Division expected that it would return that night. The regimental water cart and most of the water bottles were empty. There was no time to fill them or to water the horses. The Regiment moved at 0.800.
No water cart was allowed to accompany the Regiment, and only 1 day's ration was carried. After proceeding about 9 miles the enemy were met with in position of a hill barring our progress. One Yeomanry Regiment was on our right and one on their left with a considerable distance between them.
The 8th L.H.Regt. was ordered to send one squadron to attack the enemy and drive him off the hill. The enemy was engaged and driven back about one mile, where strong opposition was met. The remaining 2 squadrons of the Regiment were then sent in and a line established linking up with the Yeomanry on the left.
Touch could not be gained with the Yeomanry on our right a wide valley intervening.
Our line was maintained throughout that day and night under heavy fire. On the morning of the 3rd the Yeomenry Brigade was relieved by the 1st L.H. Bde of the Anzac division and the 8th L.H. Regiment came under orders of the G.O.C. of that Brigade.
The enemy had strongly reinforced the forces opposed to us, during the night, and became very bold, but as our position was very strong, they did not attack in force.
Several attacks were by the Anzacs but were unsuccessful.
The 8th L.H.Regt. had suffered several casualties and the men were suffering severely from hunger and thirst, no water being obtainable near our position. At 1600 the 8th Regiment was relieved by Welsh Infantry and returned to Beersheba arriving in bivouac at 2300, after having been 39 hours without rest with less than 1 water bottle of water per man and rations for 2 meals. The horses were without water for the same period.
40 Cases of acute diarrhoea occured in the Regiment next day, caused, in the opinion of the Medical Officer through the drinking of large quantities of inferior water by men who were suffering severely from thirst. The Regiment was complimented for the fine resistance it had put up under such trying circumstances.
Nov. 2
The Brigade at 1000 had moved to half a mile south of Beersheba and employed on water developement, the chief wells had been partially destroyed by the Turks and the supply threatened to run out. Fortunately the destruction was not completed and some water could be obtained therefrom. A prisoner stated that the German Engineer who was responsible for the destruction of the wells was at the time on leave in Jerusalem.