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[page 45]
1917
from Tel el Jemmi for one mile until touch was gained with 7 L.H. The orders were that no one, officer or man, was to be allowed to cross Ghuzze that day; we held up a survey party and the officer was very indignant, not having received the order cancelling all movements.
Lieut-Colonel Granville, D.S.0., returned on July 17 and took command of the Regiment again. Two nights later "C" Squadron was ordered to report to the commanding officer of 2 L.H., and a few hours after this the Regiment was ordered to report to the N.Z.M.R. Brigade on the Tel el Fara - Beersheba Road, two troops of "A" Squadron escorting the guns. While waiting on the plain across the Wady two enemy aeroplanes were seen. Incidentally, we always moved in very extended order, while our camp was formed as a hollow square, making it difficult to do much damage with bombs. "C" Squadron rejoined us and we got back to camp at 2230 but had to saddle up again at 0230 and move out in support of the N.Z.M.R. Brigade which was operating near Im Siri. Reaching this place at 0700 we were told the operation was over and to return to camp; on the way in we watered at Tel el Kara and arrived back at 1445. Next day at dawn four patrols of a troop each were sent out at dawn, while at 0530 "A" Squadron was sent as escort to the survey party, the branch railway from Rafe having been now carried across Wady Ghuzze.
Before the end of July, Allenby had decided on a reconstitution of his force. Inter alia, the Desert Column was abolished and the Desert Mounted Corps ('Descorps' for short) was formed under Chauvel. Descorps consisted of three mounted divisions:-
Anzac Mounted Division (Anzac Div.) -
1 A.L.H. Bde (1, 2, 3, L.H.),
2 " " (5, 6, 7, L.H.),
N.Z.M.R. Bde.
Australian Mounted Division (Ausdiv.)
3 A.L.H. Bde (8, 9, 10,L.H.),
4 " " (4, 11, 12, L.H.),
5 Yeo. Bde.
Yeomanry Division (Yeodiv.) -
6, 8, 22 Yro. Bde.