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[Page 40]
This route led through Tabsor-Kh Ez Zerkie-El Mughair-to Esh Sh. Muhammed on the Iskanderun River where the Brigade arrived at 1930 and watered. Advice was received from D.H.Q. that the Brigade would proably move on for El Lejjun at 0100. The 19th Brigade R.H.A. had so far been attached.
Sept. 20.
About 0130 on 20th September the Brigade moved on for Lejjun the remainder of the Division following. A well defined track was followed as far as Zelefeh after which the direction was changed to the north-east across country. 10th L.H. Regiment formed the advance guard. Beidus was reached at 0700, prisoners and material captured by the 4th Cavalry Division being passed on the way. The Brigade pressed on through the hills and through the Musmus pass along the good road to Lejjun, following the same track as that taken by Thotmes III of Egypt, when he in 1470 B.C. moved to attack the King of Kedesh at Megiddo, (Tel El Mutesellim). El Lejjun was reached by the vanguard at 0945. Brigade watered and fed and sent out observation posts to the north and one troop along the Jenin road to remain in observation on the high ground about Salin. Brigade had thus marched 51 miles in less than 25 hours. A halt of several hours now took place pending receipt by Desert Mounted Corps of information as to the situation with regard to the 4th and 5th Cavalry Divisions, particularly as to the situation towards Haifa. The necessary information having come to hand being eminently satisfactory, orders were issued to this Brigade, (less one regiment), to move on Jenin and capture the hostile fugitives reported to be retreating east and north-east from that place. By 1630 the Brigade, (less the 8th L.H. Regiment left for local protection at Lejjun), with Notts battery, R.H.A., attached, was on the move. 10th L.H. Regiment (Lt. Col. K.C.N. Olden) with 6 machine guns were advanced guard, a troop of the 9th Regiment as right flank guard. A pace of 10 miles per hour was maintained. Near Tannuk, half way to Jenin, a small enemy outpost was captured by the flank guard. As the advance guard approached Jenin, a large enemy force was observed camped amongst the olive groves, immediately north-east of Kefr Adan. The right flank troop of the vanguard under Lieut. Doig immediately charged them with drawn swords. The enemy promptly surrendered. A few minutes afterwards the right flank guard to the main column, (Lieut. Cruddas of the 9th Regiment), arrived on the scene in support of Lieut. Doig, followed shortly afterwards by two more troops of the 9th Regiment, (Lieut. J.M. McDonald), sent out from the main body. These additional troops helped to round up the enemy scattered through the olive groves. The enemy was apparently astounded at the sudden appearance of our men. The captures here amounted to 1800, including many Germans. There were also 400 horses and mules captured. This episode, however, did not delay the general advance of the column. The Brigade pressed on. The advance guard pushed rapidly on leaving the railway station about half a mile on their right so as to get astride the main road leading north and the route leading east to Beisan. The remainder of the Brigade followed at a fast trot in close support. By 1740 the vanguard had reached Jenin, the remainder of the column with guns was close in rear, thus having marched 11 miles in 70 minutes. By 1800 all northern and eastern exits had been closed. Once astride the roads and railways the 10th Regiment turned south and drove back in towards the village and station. By this energetic action the enemy were driven into confusion and our men riding in amongst them with drawn swords made prisoners of about 3,000. It now became dark and pressing on to clear the town our troops were held up by rifle and machine gun fire from a party of Germans concealed in houses and gardens. Later this party tried to break away and there was some confused fighting in the darkness. The Germans were caught by a section of our machine guns, (under Captain Bryant), as they tried to break for the road and a number were killed, they then surrendered without further opposition. Prisoners were collected, troops assembled and dispositions made for the night. The left flank troop of the advance guard, (Lieut. A.W.M. Thompson, M.C.), captured 27 motor lorries near Besneh. A strong patrol of the 9th Regiment was sent north to the vicinity of Mukeibileh, near where they located an abandoned motor convoy of 29 vehicles. The 10th L.H. Regiment moved through the town took up a position across the main road from Nablus, where it comes