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[page 42]
1917
at this tine were very daring, were reconnoitring the work almost daily and on May 11 an enemy 'plane shot down one of our 'planes half a mile in front of "C" Squadron lines. Two troops of "C" rushed out and brought fire to bear on the Taube, forcing it to rise and saving our machine from further damage. While we were camped at Shellal,a mosaic floor, attributed to a Christian Church built about 250 A.D., was discovered while some trenches were being dug; under the superintendence of Lieut - Col. Maitland, C. of E. padre, this floor was carefully raised and deposited at the Cairo Museum until such time as it could be shipped to Australia. Accounts of this ancient work of art appeared in most of the Australian papers.
Septic sores were now bad among the men and a rest camp was kept going at Khan Yunus near the beach to afford a change of conditions. The dust was a great nuisance in such a dry soil, clouds of it arising and obliterating everything from sight when the cavalry moved or went up to water. On May 17 the 74th Division took over the line held by the Regiment, improving the defences by digging fresh trenches and erecting more wire. The Regiment moved back to camp on the west bank of Wady Ghuzze near Abu Hisia crossing, whence daily reconnaissances were made by Squadrons, including "A" to Abu Siwash and Wady Inleih, "B" to Goz el Basal and Goz el Geleib, "C" to Goz Mahruk and Bir el Elawi. On May 22 a reconnaissance in force was made by the Brigade toAsluj with the object of blowing up the railway line from Beersheba to Auja built by the Germans and Turks as a military railway line to the south. The Regiment, the advanced guard to the Brigade, started at 1745, and marched via Essani, where horses were watered, and Khalasa on a compass bearing to Aaluj. From Khalasa 1 L.H. formed the left flank guard; "A" Squadron provided the flank party and was fired on by a party of mounted men who retired when the fire was returned. Asluj was reached at 0620, but except bands of well armed Bedouins on camels no enemy were seen; the railway station and buildings had been evacuated by the Turks. No time was lost in blowing up an eighteen arch bridge and 2½ miles of railway line, the demolition party being under the supervision of the R.E. The covering party was supplied by 1 L.H., who cut the telegraph lines and held an outpost line about four miles past Asluj. On the return journey orders were given to burn all