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[page 87]
1918
assessment by the Claims Officer.
The enemy bombarded Jericho daily with large sized shells, many of which proved to be duds, and little damage of military importance was done. Instruction was carried out on an enemy 77 mm. gun which had been captured some time previously, the idea being that when the projected push took place, captured guns could be used on the fleeing Turks; instruction on enemy machine guns had been going on for some time with the same idea.
The 1 L.H. was considerably below strength owing to sickness, and on September 16 a draft was received from the 1 L.H.T. Regiment, Moascar, consisting of Lieutenants C.S. Frost and S.F. Lumb and 54 men with 3 signallers from the Signal Squadron.
Practically all movements of troops in the valley at this period were made to deceive the enemy into thinking that the main attack would be across the Jordan; the two earlier raids to Amman and Es Salt had already created such an impression. Enemy planes flew over but by now the Royal Air Force had complete mastery in the air, so the true disposition of the British forces was kept hidden.
A regimental dump was formed near Jericho on September 18 and all surplus gear was carted there as orders had been received that we were to be ready to move at short notice. Saddles were packed with horsefeed for two days, greatcoats, mosquito nets, bivvy sheets and iron rations. On the 20th Lieut.-Col. Granville returned from hospital; Lieut. Campbell and 12 men were evacuated.
The Regiment remained standing by all day and all night, 12 more men going to hospital. Meanwhile, on September 19, the great attack by our troops on the left of the line, with grand co-operation by the airmen, had commenced and early in the morning the cavalry - Yeomanry, Indians, French Colonial Regulars and Australians - were sweeping up Sharon. Towards midnight on September 21 we received orders to report to the officer commanding the Auja bridgehead defences. On arrival at 0200 Major Harris with three troops moved across the Jordan and reconnoitred the country on the left bank of the Jordan towards Red Hill. Lieut. Drummond pushed across the Jordan with a troop to carry out patrolling to the east. At 0900 Brigade ordered 1 L.H. to move to Kh Fusail.