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[page 77]
1918
Posts Nos. 3 and 4, and Vyse Post; "B" Squadron in reserve.
Musallabeh formed the apex of a sharp local salient based on the Auja. South-east from Musallobeh, about 2000 yards, was the post on the rocky hill of el Maskerah; behind that, to the west, about 1500 yards away, was the high rocky eminence, The Bluff. Down the western side of the apex, across a rough valley and about 1000 yards from Musallabeh, was Vyse Post; then, divided by sharp ravines and proceeding south-west and south, the posts known as Vale, View, Vaux, Zoo, Zeiss; thence a further chain into the hills to the south-west. Behind the Vyse-Zeiss line of posts rose the stony ridge of Abu Tellul which, owing to its commanding situation, was the key to the situation.
The country was so rugged that it was impossible to eliminate all the dead ground by the siting of the posts. There were quite wide gaps between the posts but the tactics were to use, in the event of penetration, a strong mobile reserve, which would pivot on the defended localities in carrying out their counter offensive.
When we took them over, the trenches were well dug and the front line wired, but not completely. Shelling by the enemy was intermittent during the day and night and as the position was under direct observation, rations and water were brought up by camels at night. The unit stood to arms each morning and waited for an "all clear" message from Brigade before standing down. Early morning patrols covered the overgrown saline swamp, between 5th Mounted Brigade end el Maskerah.
On the morning of June 10 the G.O.C. inspected our front line. Two days later 45 reinforcements marched in from Jerusalem; the evacuations to hospital were now averaging two or three per day, chiefly through malaria. In the swamp the mosquitoes were so bad that the patrols were given a repellant paste to smear on arms and face. The mosquito nets were sufficient to keep out the mosquitoes, but were no protection against the sand flies which were particularly bad at the el Maskerah posts. There was plenty of game in the swamp: gazelles, hares, partridges, and also wild pigs which frequently caused the sentries to be on the alert. Great care had to be taken that no lights by night or smoke by day could be seen by the enemy, as the smallest movement caused a heavy bombardment. In case of attack, each post was self contained as to water and iron rations.