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[page 75]
1918
Working parties continued daily to develop the water supply; it was found that the wells or cisterns ran back into the hills and connected up with very old workings credited to King David. A Divisional School of Instruction was opened at Beit Jala, a Christian village near Bethlehem, and a Descorps School of Instruction at Jaffa, Lieut. W.F.M. Ross of 1 L.H. being detailed as adjutant at the latter.
The Y.M.C.A. under Mr. T.E. Jones, which had been attached to the 1st Brigade since el Arish, erected its big marquee on the flat, and a working party was told to clear off the stones in the vicinity to make a cricket ground, materials being supplied by the Y.M.C.A. Lime juice and cocoa were made available to the men free of charge, and stationery could always be had; the men were grateful for the shade and comforts provided.
Leave to Egypt was now granted for batches of 1 officer and 4 other ranks. The unit stayed in this camp until June 7, the horses improved in condition, saddlery was cleaned and equipment overhauled. In an attempt to decrease the casualties caused by malaria mosquitoes, an issue of mosquito nets was made, one to every two men, the nets being made to be put inside a bivvy made from two men's canvas sheets. On June 1 there was an exchange of Chaplains, Capt. P.J. Donovan, R.C. reporting from 3 L.H. and Capt. R.J. Clark, C. of E. marching out to 2 L.H.
The water from No. 1 and No. 2 wells was now being lifted by centrifugal pumps, but the supply was not sufficient to water the whole of the Brigade, so the regiments took it in turns to water at Solomon's Pools, which consisted of three large reservoirs of cemented rock. The so-called pools of Solomon are situated in a valley at the rear of the ancient castle, and serve as a reservoir for the old aqueduct of Jerusalem, which had recently been restored. They owe their name to the supposition that the Gardens of Solomon were in the Wady Ortas. There are three pools, at intervals of 50 yards, the second being nineteen feet above the first, and the third the same height above the second. At the lower end of each pool a wall is built across the valley. The highest pool is 127 yards long, 76 yards wide at the top, and 79 yards wide at the bottom; at the lower end it is 25 feet deep. It is