Minahan diary, 1 January 1917-3 January 1918 / M. Minahan - Page 73
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[Page 73]
8 Mon January 1917
getting ready for Rafa stunt. moving out 2 pm for 1st Brigade Hqrs. Left Headqrs pm. Travelling until 1 am. camped until 2 pm very cold shivered up a sweat reached Rafa about 7 am Battle commenced very heavy rifle & machine gun fire and plenty of bombs & shrapnel. saw one bint have the life scared out of her a bomb dropped about 20 yards from her luckily it did her no damage. I think she is going yet heavy fighting all day. Turkish reinforcements coming up NZ told off to hold them up G.C. [General Chauvel?] ordered retreat order reached [Auck ?] NZ Brigade too late they was at Jacko with the bayonet result they flew the white flag. 1600 m. wounded & 300 [in decipherable] 4 guns 7 M.G. & other material of war retired back 12 mile that same night. Camped there and left for El Arish next morning reached El Arish about 3 pm very hungry and sleepy went to bed that night to dream of a little girl whose name starts with G.