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[Page 13]
of the 9th Regiment in charge of Lance Corporal K.C. Bennett, passed through Neby Huj at which place, after shooting one of the gun teams and capturing the remainder, two 5.9. inch modern Krupp guns were captured by that patrol.
By 1200 the whole of Huj was in our hands with much war material, together with large dumps of field and big gun ammunition. Before retiring the enemy blew up one ammunition dump, mostly S.A.A., but the vigorous action of "A" squadron of the 9th Regiment under Major Parsons, with 4 machine guns attached, prevented them from destroying others.
The whole of the enemy forces were now in full retreat. Our infantry were on our left, pursuing the Gaza garrison. The Anzac Mounted Division was on our right. The enemy on our front were making towards Simsim, and Burier, in somewhat disorganised bodies. All available squadrons of the Brigade were ordered forward, with instructions to harass the enemy, and to make what captures they could. The Notts Battery was not however, able to move past Huj, as their horses were completely exhausted, their last drink had been at Karm early the previous morning.
The three Regiments and the M.G.S. accordingly pushed forward and attacked the rear guards, inflicting heavy casualties at short range, and seizing many prisoners and guns.
From my subsequent experience of the use of the sword I consider it would have been invaluable here. If we had had swords I am sure we could have ridden on and captured thousands, as it was, we stood off and shot hundreds only. At dusk the pursuit stopped. The horses were very exhausted, they had been without water since we left Karm 33 hours previously. It was necessary to look after them, otherwise, they would knock up, and the Brigade become immobile.
During the day 15 guns were captured by the Brigade, the following are some of the incidents of their capture:-
In square S26A. Lieut. A. Mueller, 9th L.H. Regt. with patrol, shot down the team of a 4 inch gun, and forced the escort to retire, leaving a second 4 inch gun to the right. A team of 8 bullocks was also abandoned. As these were yoked they were hitched on to the first gun but all efforts to shift it failed. The Turkish bullocks refused to assist. The gun was left and collected later on.
About the same time as the last episode, Lieut. Lilly, of the machine gun squadron, pushed his sub-section, which was attached to the 9th Light Horse Regiment well forward to the Wadi in square 072-S-17, and shot down the team and escort of a long 10 C.M. gun, which was accordingly abandoned by the enemy.
Turks with guns were seen retreating N.W. from Jammameh. Lieut. R. H. Borbidge of the 8th L. H. Regiment galloped his troop into action, dismounting at close quarters and opening fire at the enemy with rifles and his Hotchkiss gun. The horses harnessed to one gun were shot and in the confusion the second gun fell into the Wadi. Both guns, (77 mm), together with the limbers full of ammunition and 16 prisoners were captured.
Our position was being shelled by large guns which could be seen on the Burier track, and in the Wadi where the track crosses. Fire was brought to bear on and around where the guns were firing from, at about 1500 to 1700 yards range. About 1500 in the afternoon the enemy brought up bullock teams from the Wadi with the intention of moving his gun. Lieut. McGregor, 10th L.H. Regiment went back to try and get touch with the machine gun squadron and finding Lieut. Lilly with his section of the 9th L.G. Regiment asked him to bring a Vickers gun forward to play on the enemy's teams, which he did with great effect, thus preventing guns from being moved. Lieut. McGregor then went out with his troop to try and capture the guns, but encountered such heavy machine gun and shrapnel fire on the flat that he thought it advisable to put his troop under cover whilst he went forward with a section to reconnoitre the gun position. This he did and found the gun crews and escort had been broken and were retreating up the Wadi towards Simsin. He then sent back for his troop and with the remaining three men galloped up the Wadi and captured a German Officer and crew of the 6 inch Howitzer two hundred yards from the gun. Under very heavy fire he marked the gun "10th L.H. Regiment" and killed the animals, which had not already been killed by fire from our positions.