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[page 89]
1918
left flank. "B" Squadron under Major Smith, acting as advanced guard to the Regiment, pushed down a wady, without opposition. Enemy were observed on the railway line and retiring along the main road (to Deraa and Damascus) parallel to it; "B" Squadron as at 1400 yards opened fire on them. A sub-section of machine guns was sent up to support "E" Squadron, especially as rifle fire was coming from the direction of Ain Ghaxal; three troops of "A" Squadron under Major Weir were pushed up on the right of "B" Squadron, and the latter advanced towards the railway line with covering fire from "A" Squadron, Hotchkiss guns and machine guns.
The enemy defending the railway surrendered and "B" Squadron crossed the line and made good the high ground on the east side. As enemy fire, including that of rifles, machine guns and two 4.2 howitzers, continued from the direction of Ain Ghaxal, "B" Squadron moved forward southward along the east side of the railway line. Meanwhile a troop of "A" Squadron was escorting prisoners to the rear, and another troop under Lieut. Macfarlane had been ordered to secure a five arch culvert and strong posts in the hills to the left; 2/Lieut. Lumb was away escorting batteries; "C" Squadron under Major Harris had orders to watch the country to the north east. Touch with the N.Z. Brigade was obtained on the railway line and all enemy in the vicinity were killed, wounded or captured (by about 1600).
Amman was now in General Chaytor's hands and he could turn his attention to the destruction of the Turkish force, 5000 or 6000 strong, which had garrisoned Mean, farther south on the Kedjaz railway line.
Lieut. Mortice and 2 men had been wounded during the action, the former unfortunately dying from his wounds two days later. The total captures during the day by 1 L.H. were: 110 prisoners, 3 guns of 5.9 calibre, 2 howitzers of 10 cm. calibre, 1 anti-aircraft gun, 4 gun-carriages, 1 machine gun, 10 waggons, 6 field bakeries, 1 field cooker, 1 water cart, 11 damaged motor lorries, 1 railway engine and tender, 2 railway trucks, 1 large ammunition dump, 2 burnt aeroplanes, and some live stock.
At night, on the outpost line, the picquets of "A" Squadron found difficulty in halting the Bedouins, who all claimed to belong to the