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[page 73]
At 0630 "A" Squadron, with two machine guns, was ordered forward to take up a position on the left of "C" Squadron and this line was held throughout the day. At night orders were received to withdraw to the Jordan valley in the morning as the Turks had crossed from the west bank of the Jordan and in a strong attack forced back our force, capturing eight guns, and seriously threatening the Um es Shert - Es Salt track which was the only means of supplying, reinforcing or withdrawing the four brigades at Es Salt. The N.Z.M.R. and a Yeomanry Brigade had been rushed to support 4 A.L.H. Brigade, while our "B" Squadron had, on May 1, been forced back from Red Hill.
Next Morning, May 4, the Regiment commenced to withdraw. As a number of other units were using the same road, leap-frogging back by turns, traffic was very congested and a number of 'planes' came over and dropped bombs; the enemy, who had been reinforced, kept up a pressure on the rearguard. Many fat cattle and sheep were left behind, being the property of Bedouins, the only damage done being to a few acres of green barley which was used to feed the horses. As it was impossible to bring away captured stores (units having to move a great part of the way in single file), many machine guns and rifles were broken up and left at Es Salt.
On reaching the Jordan valley, the Regiment spread out owing to shell fire, and after watering in the Jordan we received orders to return to the foothills and help to cover the withdrawal of the Anzac Divisional Group. By midnight the last of the Anzac Division had passed the outpost line and the Regiment marched independently to the bivouac area on the right bank of the Jordan, Major Ryrie rejoining with his squadron from Um es Short.
We were reinforced by 29 men and 29 horses from the 1st Training Regiment, Moascar. The Croix de Guerre was awarded to 1740 L/Cpl.McLeod C. for his gallantry and work in the action at Um es Shert, and 1392 Tpr. Goodwin W. was awarded the Military Medal for his conduct in the patrol under Lieut. Cundy that went to Maain to make contact with the Hedjaz allies.
On the morning of May 7 hostile aircraft flew over the camp, bombing and using their machine guns; the bombs fell wide and only a few horses were injured. The unit was busy digging trenches for protection against