MacNamara diary, 19 August 1916-29 May 1919 / John Patrick MacNamara - Page 186
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[Page 186]
15th
Some few days ago the L Horse over at Rischon [Richon] had a set to with the inhabitants of a village. It appears that a couple of natives were caught thieving in the New Zealanders camp & shot a Sergt-Major who died a few hours later.
The N Z's sent next morning an ultimatum to the Shiekh of the village to hand over the murderer before sundown, to be dealt with. This was not complied with & at sundown about 1,200 men of 2 Anzac Divn surrounded the village & after sending away the women & children set to on the men, killing over 90 of them with rifles, pick handles, etc. The Horse Artillery (Scotties) attached to the Divn were in it also.
There is an inquiry on at present but I don't expect much will come of it. We did hear that the Divn was ordered back to the Jordan as a punishment & that they point blank refused to go but I can't vouch for the truth of this.