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[page 31]
1916
swinging off at a bearing of 22 degrees as far as the recently swollen marsh, thence on a bearing of 80 degrees to Hod Hamada and from there on a bearing of 129 degrees in order to reach a point north-east of Bir el Abd. On reaching the edge of the sand dunes north-east of Bir el Abd, we came under heavy fire and were forced to deploy; our line ran eastward into the dunes from the edge of a marsh, el Huag, lying north-east of Hod el Hisha. At 1100 an attempt was made to straighten out the line - the Wellington M.R., attached to 2 A.L.H. Brigade, moved forward and occupied a hill south-west of Hod el Asal. Our regiment moved forward supporting this attack, one troop reaching the hill. As the enemy appeared to be making some advance across the flat to the east, two troops of 1 L.H. were moved up to Hod el Hisha and were heavily fired on, at which time the Wellingtons were being heavily shelled on the hill occupied by them south-west of Hod el Asal. The enemy made a general advance and orders were received at 1530 to withdraw to the north-west towards Hod Hamada, thence via Hod el Khibba to Ogratina, where the Regiment bivouacked for the night.
Lieut. R.A.L. McDonald and 2 men were killed, and Major D.W.A. Smith and 13 men wounded.
(At Romani, August 4, 1916, the British had routed the Turks and destroyed half their force. It was a decisive battle in the campaign. After the actions at Katia, August 5 and Abd, August 9-12, the main enemy force was withdrawn across the 50 miles of practically waterless country to el Arish, but with a strong outpost left at Mazer, 24 miles east of Abd. The Romani operations had stressed the need for the railway line and pipe line which were gradually being constructed in the wake of the army, and the G.O.C. now settled down to urge these on. By December 21, the British were in el Arish.)
For the next few days 1 L.H. took its turn at outpost around Hod el Hegilat, returning to Romani at midnight, August 13/14. On the 15th all ranks were innoculated against cholera, and gift stores of clothing, chocolate, etc., were distributed. The weather was very hot during the ensuing week and men and horses were sent in squadrons by turn to Mahamdiya on the coast where the horses could be washed and the men could bathe. On August 21 innoculation for glanders was commenced and the men were again innoculated against cholera.