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[page 67]
1918
L.W. Rogers reported from the 1st Training Regiment, and 14 other ranks from the Brigade Details, Bethlehem, this latter camp having been made into a divisional detail camp. Barbed wire entanglements were pushed on with, and the Somerset Battery registered on to ground in front of "C" Squadron's trenches. At 1530 a large enemy column was reported passing our front, three miles away, and was shelled effectively by the 60-pounders a few minutes later. The regimental transport delivered 700 hand grenades for the trenches and also brought A.I.F. Canteen stores from Jericho. During the day three Bedouins and two deserters entered the Regiment's lines and through the interpreter told the staff that the Turks would attack soon.
Lieut. McFarlane, on the morning of April 9, while on patrol sighted an enemy mounted patrol; giving chase he captured a Turkish artillery officer and 3 other ranks who were mounted on good Turkish ponies but who were easily caught by the light horsemen.
Next day the enemy heavily shelled the Regiment's left sector with a light battery and one large gun, using shrapnel and H.E., but little damage was done as the trenches were now very good, with overhead cover in parts, while all the horses were on the other side of the Jordan. More barbed wire arrived and work was continued during the night in improving the entanglements. At 0100 sharp rifle and machine gun fire opened in the enemy's lines, lasting for fifteen minutes; this was caused, as we learned later, by two parties of advancing Turks mistaking each other for the enemy.
The Regiment stood to arms at 0400 on April 11 and at 0425 the Turks commenced an attack on the sector held by 2 L.H., which developped into heavy rifle and machine gun fire by 0440; heavy shelling, mostly in the rear of 2 L.H., did little damage. At 0700 the enemy shelled the 1 L.H. sector, and 2 L.H. reported at 0730 that the enemy were attacking in force. By this time the artillery on the right bank of the Jordon had got the enemy's range and were shelling them very effectively. The big guns did great execution among the enemy during an intense bombardment from 1230 to 1245. At 1245 "A" Squadron was ordered forward to try to envelop the enemy in front of 2 L.H., combining with 3 L.H. who were moving south; the enemy proved to be holding a line too strong for any sweeping movement to be carried out, so "A" Squadron opened fire on the