MacNamara diary, 19 August 1916-29 May 1919 / John Patrick MacNamara - Page 157
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[Page 157]
While here we are going to see as much of the surrounding country on our ponies as possible.
Tis 2 yrs today since I landed in Egypt.
23rd
Left Hableh this morning & went back to Kafa Saba to be nearer the water supplies. Stayed here 3 days during which time we traversed the country side for miles around on our ponies.
Saw a lot of Turkish guns & at Kalkili [Kalkilieh] there are 20 5.9" Hows alone. Saw 4 guns - old pattern German Cannon mad[e] in 1872, 3, 4, 5 yrs respectfully, calibre 12 cm. Twas one of these that knocked our gun out last May. They are practically obsolete & resemble the old guns on the forts at Alexandria.
26th
Moved up to Tul Keram this morning - 10 miles beyond Kalkili [Kalkilieh]. This is a fair sized railway junction & boast a native & a Jewish village. On the road up we passed about 3,000 Turks & Germans going down the line.
Had some heavy rain today & we got a proper soaking.
The total number of prisoners now is 60,000 & the L. Horse are reported to be a few miles from Damascus.
We expect to be moving on again to Haifa in a day or so.