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[page 76]
1918
partially hewn in the rock and partially enclosed in masonry. The centre pool is 140 yards long, 53 yards wide at the top, 83 yards wide below, and 38 feet deep. The lowest pool is the largest of the three, being 48 feet deep. In the chambers of the lowest pool rises the spring, Ain Farujeh, which flows through a channel into the Jerusalem viaduct.
The King's Birthday, June 3, was celebrated by a procession in Bethlehem which finished up at the Church of the Nativity, and at which the Regiment was represented by Lieut.-Col. Granville, D.S.O., Capt. S.M. Moore, Lieut. C.S. Frost and 60 other ranks.
Next day we were inspected by Major-General Chaytor, G.O.C. Anzac Mounted Division. Orders were now received to prepare to move back to the Jordan valley on the night of June 6/7, via Talat ed Dumm. It may be explained that the task of holding the Jordan valley and of containing the Turkish Fourth Army east of the Jordan, from May until September, was given to Descorps. Throughout the summer, while two cavalry divisions suffered the heat and dust of the valley, the other was resting in the Judaean mountains or the coastal plain. The Australian Mounted Division and the Anzac Mounted Division alternately held the northern sector, from el Mandesi, up Wady el Mellahah and through Musallabeh to the foot of the mountains. The maintenance of this force in the Jordan helped to create in the Turkish mind the belief that Allenby would ultimately strike east, i.e., at Amman; he did this but, of course, his main blow was in the west, along the coast.
The 1 L.H. moved at 1800 on June 6/7 but, owing to the water failing at No. 1 well, it had to water at Solomonts Pools. At midnight we reached Bethany, where the Brigade halted to let the 2nd. Brigade pass. It was very cold and windy - there were few colder spots than Jerusalem in winter. The Jordan was reached by 0900 on the 8th and the horses were watered in Wady el Auja. The commanding officer proceeded with the brigade commander to inspect the line to be taken over from 4 A.L.H. Brigade, our sector being known as No. 3; we were to have 3 L.H. on our left and 5th Mounted Brigade on our right. The relief was completed at midnight and the horses were returned to a bivouac area some distance behind. The line was held thus:- "A" Squadron, post at The Bluff, on el Maskerah, and Musallabeh Posts Nos. 1 and 2; "C" Squadron, Musallabeh