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[page 44]
1917
43
took command of the Regiment. The training regiment at Moascar was at this time in the charge of Major Lawry and the cadre was changed every three months.
On June 29 the Regiment marched out to Fukhari, all spare gear and blankets being left in a dump at Khan Yunus. Every man now had a canvas bivvy sheet in addition to his waterproof ground sheet, so with a mate quite good bivvies were built for two. At Fukhari grazing was quite good enough to send the horses out daily, and after the sandy beach they improved in condition; at the beach it had always been hard to keep the muzzles on the horses to prevent them from eating sand. On July 3 we took over the strongposts at Gamli on the right flank of the British line and from here a reconnaissance in force was made. Leaving Gamli at 0045 the Regiment marched with the Brigade to Imlieh where the engineer survey party took forward observations. On withdrawing we passed through a heavy shell fire barrage and the enemy cavalry were seen to be advancing; "A" Squadron was detailed as escort to the guns, and two troops of "C" Squadron as a right flank guard to the rearguard, which held the enemy in check. We reached Gamli at 2130 and camp two hours later after watering the horses; watering horses was always a long business here and after a big day it meant another two or three hours before the horses were unsaddled.
The Turkish cavalry, though seen on every reconnaissance, never showed fight, although many efforts were made to get at close quarters with them. They were armed with carbines, lances and swords, and rode small Arab ponies.
When the Regiment was not on patrol it was carrying out entrenching work at Garbi under the command of 3 L.H.; a detached troop under Lieut. Gray was on duty at Divisional H.Q.
On July 8 the Regiment formed up at 0445 and moved to Khasif to try to cut off enemy patrols there, but although our patrols swept wide to the flanks, the enemy kept their distance. Leave to Cairo was now granted at the rate of 1 officer and 10 other ranks per week; it took would take a long time to cover the unit at this rate so from time to time men were sent to the rest camp at Khan Yunus.
As spies were known to be moving in and out of the British lines, a cordon was drawn on July 15 all along Wady Ghuzze, 1 L.H. holding a line