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[page 84]
1918
did not mind the temporary inconvenience of a sore arm or breast.
It was now getting near time for 1 L.H. to relieve others in the
Jordan valley, the three brigades in the Division taking it turn about
in the front line, in support and spelling. On August 16 Major D.W.A.
Smith, D.S.O., marched in from the 1st Training Regiment. Owing to
damage done by shell fire to the Regiment's saddlery in the valley on
July 16, one hundred and eight new sets were now drawn.
At 0800 on August 17 the Brigade marched out once more to the
valley via Jerusalem, and the opportunity was taken while passing that
town to interview the Graves Registrar regarding crosses for the graves
in the Jordan valley and elsewhere.
As usual, most of the marches were done by night, Talat ed Dumm,
where 3 A.L.H. Brigade passed us, being reached at midnight, August 20/21.
Early next morning the march was continued to a bivouac site near Jericho.
Here Lieut. Ross had to be evacuated to hospital.
The British West Indies Battalions were now holding the left of the
Brigade's old position, and 1 L.H. allotted 10 men to each post held by
the B.W.I., commencing with a post known as Wax and following round to the sectors of Musallabeh and el Maskerah, where we relieved 9 L.H. Daily and nightly mounted patrols were sent to Tel el Truny, with Hotchkiss guns and signallers, the night patrol picking up 9 other ranks from the B.W.I. All the men detailed to the sub-sectors held by the B.W.I. came under the orders or the B.W.I. Battalions. Sines the attack in July the line had not been altered, the enemy contending themselves with shelling from both sides or the Jordan. The Australians got on very well with the Indians and British West Indians with whom they came in contact; the former were known as "the salaam johnnies', and the latter as 'the golliwogs' and 'the black Anzacs".
At his time the whole of the front line in the Jordan valley was held by coloured troops and Australians, except for the Artillery (English). The 1 L.H. stayed in its present camp at Ain Duk, until September 21 when commenced the big push that finished all Turkish resistance in Palestine.
The patrol to Tel al Truny was carried out each day and invariably drew fire from the enemy, the Turks holding the hill one day and we the next. The post was of no tactical value to either side but it formed a