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convoy which arrived at the south side of Beersheba during the afternoon. At midday we were relieved by infantry and moved to a new bivouac site, 1000 yards east of Beersheba. The weather was wet. The transport with "A" Echelon reached camp at 1800 with horses obtained from other units, as so many of ours had been killed. During the afternoon 20 men under Capt Lieut. Otton were employed digging graves and 20 more under Lieut. Parbury were detailed to guard the prisoners. Next day Lieut. Parbury and a troop acted as escort to a camel convoy from the Anzac Divisional Dump to a point a few miles along the road to Hebron. On the afternoon of November 2 Lieut. C.S. Frost marched in from Khasala with "B" Echelon transport, to the horses of which had now to be used for "A" Echelon.
Now followed six days' fighting for Tel el Khuweilfe. The Regiment formed up in column of route on the Beersheba-Hebron Road at midnight, November 2/3, and moved with the Brigade until at 0300 we were halted near Kh el Lekimeh. At 0700 orders were received to attack Tel el Khuweilfe where the Turks were strongly entrenched. "A" Squadron under Major White was sent forward on the right and "B" Squadron under Capt. Kater on the left, with orders to keep in touch. The line was held up as the enemy's position was a strong one, and Major Irwin went forward to report on the situation. The enemy held all the high ground and had complete fire supremacy at this time; casualties were heavy and our supports a long way behind. Major Irwin returned to R.H.Q. and reported how things stood; he was then instructed to go and take charge of the firing line. At 1015 Capt. Mack ("C" Squadron) was sent forward to cover the right flank of the Regiment's position, but was unable to get into position owing to severe machine gun and rifle fire, so his men reinforced the front line. At 1045 two squadrons of 2 L.H. reported as reserves and Capt. Handley (killed in Jordan Valley) went forward as support on the right flank to give covering fire to 1 L.H. while two troops of 2 L.H. under Lieut. Weller did the same for the left flank. The firing line was unable to advance owing to superiority of enemy fire and lack of cover and every man who moved at once became a target for the vigilant enemy snipers. After darkness came on, we withdrew our dead and wounded, sand carts being sent up for these. The withdrawal was covered by 2 L.H. and we were supported by the INverness Battery.