Imperial Camel Corps 1917-18

[gnr.ktrha]

Hello,

Can anyone tell me where they were operating in 1917 and 1918. I would also been keen to know if they took part in any major Actions during this period and what size of Regiment it was.

I am having trouble finding out anything about them. so any help would be great.

Regards,

Stewart

[Greenwoodman]

Bde finally formed in Egypt Dec 16. 4 Battalions, 2 x Aus, 1 x Brit & 1 x Anzac. HK & Singapore Mountain Bty, 10 Field Troop RE & 26 (1/3 Scottish Horse) MG Sqn. Served in W Desert, Sinai & Palestine, broken up Jun 18. Aus & Anzac elements joined 5 Aus LH Bde. Brit Bn + 2 Coys remained for service in Sinai.

"Cameliers in Palestine" is an N&M reprint, & Leonaur Press has at least one Camel Corps memoir.

[gnr.ktrha]

Hello and thank you very much for all of the information. I never realised there were 4 Battalions of them, that is very interesting. Have you ever read any of the books you mentioned?

Regards,

Stewart

[stevenbecker]

Stew,

Mate the Camel Corps or the Imperial Camel Brigade was formed around Dec 1916 and took part in all maior operations and battles untill the Brigade was disbanded in Jun 1918.

But before that date (during 1916) the Camel Companies had operated as single units or in small groups and operated in the Western desert against the Sennssi and in the Sinai. Fought at Sollum and Romani and the advane to ElArish and Magdhaba.

So to start in 1917 we have Rafa, 1st Gaza and 2nd Gaza, operations against the Turksih rail line and 3rd Gaza (Beersheba) or Khuweilfe to Bald Hill. )Egypt and Palestine)

1918 we have Amman and Musallabeh to 2nd Es Salt raid. (Palestine)

After the disbandment two British companies were sent to help Lawrence and fought in southern Arabia while the newly formed LH from the Camel Corps fought to Damascus and Alepo.

Meanwhile during 1917-18 two Camel companies also operated in the Western Desert of Egypt from Sollum paroling against the Sennssi.

The Camel Bde operated with only three of its four Bn's at any one time, and it rotated its sompanies and Bn's during the war.

If you need more let me know?

Is there some reason for the inquiry?

Cheers

S.B

[gnr.ktrha]

Hello S.B,

Thank you very much for such a full and detailed answer. I am researching a soldier who served in France with a British Line regiment [King's liverpool Regiment], he was wounded in action. The documents I have seen so far state he later served with the Imperial Camel Corps, in fact he was given 7 Days F.P No.2 in August 1918 for Laughing during Guard mounting with the ICC! I do not have his dates of Joining the ICC, but hope that there may be more in his records. His MIC just shows Corps of Hussars.

Thanks once again,

Stewart

[NeilEvans]

Hi Stewart.

The Roll of Honour Web has a good section on the Imperial Camel Corps memorial in London

http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Databases/Im...orps/index.html

Incidentally J. Oliver can't be found according to the ROH.

Here he is.

[gnr.ktrha]

I know that memorial well. I was stationed in London for about 4 years and would often eat some lunch next to the memorial, it is one of the nicest memorials I have seen.

Thanks for the link,

Stewart

[stevenbecker]

Mates,

Can you give his name as I may have him on my DB.

As to J. Oliver (I can't read the details on the head stone but I have these two British soldiers in the ICC;

Oliver John E 203639 Pte 10Co Ex 24Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers KIA 31-10-17

Oliver Joseph 50555 Pte 6Co Ex Shropshire Yeo (1237) and Hussars (died after the war)

There was also ;

Oliver Norman Rudland 50371 Pte 7Co Ex City of London Yeo (1404) and Hussars (265371) buried Damascus War Cemetery Syria KIA 27-3-18

S.B

[NeilEvans]

Hi Steve

The Photograph is of Pte 50555 Joseph Oliver's Headstone.

He is buried in Weston Rhyn, Shropshire.

Neil

[stevenbecker]

Mate,

I show these soldiers that served in the Liverpool Regt and the ICC, is he one of these?

Abraham Thomas 51337 Pte ICC Ex Liverpool Regt (72917) and Royal Welsh Fusiliers (66764) to Royal Engineers (WR/291843)

Akroyd Edgar 4158 Pte 3Bn HQ ord to Chaplain Ex 1/8Bn Lancashire Fusiliers and Liverpool Regt (60141) to RAMC (337832)

Baguley Charles 51382 Pte ICC? Ex Liverpool Regt (67120) and Hussars

Burrows William 51216 Pte ICC? Ex Liverpool Regt (28367) to Hussars

Clarke Edward 51329 Pte 8Co Ex Liverpool Regt (8015) and Hussars WIA 1-5-18

Davies Albert 51338 Pte ICC? Ex Liverpool Regt (28459) and Hussars

Davies Sydney 51343 Pte ICC Ex Cheshire Regt (46434) and Liverpool Regt (72949)

Denlahunty Miles L. 51320 Pte ICC Ex Manchester Regt (1589) and Hussars to Liverpool Regt (60573)

Ellidge William 51334 Pte ICC 8Co Ex Liverpool Regt (72910) and Hussars

Emanuel John 51348 Pte ICC? Ex Liverpool Regt (72945) and Hussars

Field George F. 51349 Pte ICC? Ex Liverpool Regt (72912) and Hussars

Findlater Norman 51324 Pte 8Co Ex Liverpool Regt (49119) and Hussars DoW 6-5-18

Henson Leonard C 51317 Pte ICC Ex Manchester Regt (3195) and Cheshire Regt (81687) to Liverpool Regt (242915)

Higginson Richard 51331 Pte ICC 8Co? Ex Liverpool Regt (28420) and Hussars

Kilfoyle John A. 51326 Pte ICC 8Co? Ex Liverpool Regt (72856) and Hussars (51326)

Lethbridge Richard 51333 Pte ICC 8Co? Ex King's Liverpool Regiment (72942) and Royal Welsh Fusiliers (68020) and Royal Engineers (429857)

Mearns William R. 51350 Pte ICC 8Co? Ex Liverpool Regt (72931) and Hussars

Owen Thomas E. 51335 Pte ICC 8Co? Ex Liverpool Regt (32071) and Hussars

Palmer William 51379 Pte ICC? Ex Liverpool Regt (28501) and Hussars and Shropshire (4/51379)

Parkinson William 51346 Pte ICC? Ex Liverpool Regt (3165) and Hussars

Pinkard Frederick J. 51327 Pte 8Co Ex Liverpool Regt (28420) and Hussars WIA 1-5-18

Pritchard John 51383 Pte ICC Ex Liverpool Regt (40024) and Hussars

(Where I placed ? is I have no confirmation they were in the ICC or in that Company)

Cheers

S.B

[gnr.ktrha]

Hello SB,

I had a bit of trouble getting on the forum yesterday, so could not post a reply. The man is listed on your list. He was-

Clarke Edward 51329 Pte 8Co Ex Liverpool Regt (8015) and Hussars WIA 1-5-18

Can you tell me what the 8th Company were doing on the 1-5-18? I knew he had been wounded in Action with the 4th Liverpool Regiment in 1915 at Festubert. He had GSW Right Knee. His papers are on Ancestry under his ICC number in the pensions section. There is not a lot to them. He enlisted in 1908 and came from Liverpool.

many thanks,

Stewart

[stevenbecker]

Mate,

On the 1st May 1918 the 2nd Es Salt operation was under way and the Camel Bde still held the Musallabeh position when the Turks counterattacked the 4th LH Bde.

The whole operation was put into trouble and retired to (I think) Red Hill and made a stand to allow the 3 LH Bde and others to retire from Es Salt. This was on the East bank of the Jordan.

To help this the Camel Bde was tasked to attack along the west bank of the Jordan to relieve presure on the LH.

The 18th Australian and 8th British Company began to advance along the river but came under heavy fire which cut up both companies before they could get into action and there the attack died down having in part relieve the presure by their attack.

Your relation appears to have been one of the many wounded during this attack.

A full account of this should be in the book/s by Geoffrey Inchbald "The Imperial Camel Corps" and the other book's name I forget? as he commanded the 8th Company during that time and they hold a number of company photos.

I record the following killed or wounded on that day;

Guppy William R 50000 CSM 8Co Ex Dorset Yeo (1199) and Hussars (230497) rtn (538984) WIA 1-5-18 DCM MID

Blay Arthur 50030 Pte 8Co ICC Ex and Hussars WIA 1-5-18

Calvert Wallace 50034 Pte 8Co Ex Bucks Yeo (1987) to Hussars reported MIA nkg DoW 1-5-18

Knight Fred 50044 Pte 8Co Ex Bucks Yeo (12245) to Hussars WIA 1-5-18

Priddle Charles T 50083 Pte 8Co Ex Dorset Yeo (1584) and Hussars WIA 1-5-18

Towills Alfred 50088 L/Cpl 8Co Ex Dorset Yeo (1428) and Hussars WIA 1-5-18

George Stanley 50092 Pte 8Co reported MIA Ex Dorset Yeo (862) and Hussars (230326) NKG listed on the Jerusalem War Memorial brother B. George KIA 1-5-18

Harding Charles James 50094 Pte 8Co Ex Dorset Yeo (1466) and Hussars (230724) NKG listed on the Jerusalem War Memorial KIA 1-5-18

Hodges Horace J. 50109 Pte 8Co Ex Berks Yeo (1730) and Dragoons KIA 1-5-18

Finch Ernest Alfred 50141 L/Cpl 8Co reported MIA Ex 1/2 City of London Yeo (2341) and Dragoons (115486) NKG listed on the Jerusalem War Memorial Palestine WIA 28-3-18 KIA 1-5-18 MMil (F)

Reynolds Eustace R 50148 Pte 8Co Ex County of London Yeo (1610) and Hussars to Dragoons (115088) WIA 1-5-18 DoI 10-10-18

Stopp Clarence E 50155 Pte 8Co reported MIA Ex County of London Yeo (2686) and Hussars to Dragoon (115758) KIA 1-5-18

Smith Henry W 51284 Pte 8Co reported MIA Ex Northumberland Yeo (6812) and Hussars WIA 1-5-18

Findlater Norman 51324 Pte 8Co Ex Liverpool Regt (49119) and Hussars WIA 1-5-18 DoW 6-5-18

Pinkard Frederick J. 51327 Pte 8Co Ex Liverpool Regt (28420) and Hussars WIA 1-5-18

Clarke Edward 51329 Pte 8Co Ex 4Bn Liverpool Regt (8015) and Hussars WIA 1-5-18

Pledger A.George 51370 L/Cpl 8Co Ex Buckingham Yeo (1936) and Hussars (205603) KIA 1-5-18

Stone William 51374 Pte 8Co Ex Somerset Light Infantry (290077) and Hussars WIA 1-5-18

Inchbald Geoffrey Herbert Elloit Lt OC 8Co 4-18 to 6-18 Ex Berkshire Yeo WIA 1-5-18

Is it possible to ask you for a photo of him for a book I am working on of the Camel Bde, I have so few photos of any British soldiers who served in the Camel Corps.

Also can I use any personal details/info on Edward for inclusion in my book.

Cheers

S.B

[n cherry]

Has anyone done any research into the men who served in the ICC?

Looking for info on one of the Australian men who was killed in 1917....

[stevenbecker]

Mate,

Yes I have what do you need?

S.B

[Patrick ODwyer]

Steve

I research the 20th Hussars (and 14th) and have read from time to time on-line that men of the 20th Hussars served in the ICC but I cannot find anything to confirm this. The CC medal roll doesn't identify them (if I saw all of it - which I think I did). Any way of knowing?

Patrick

[n cherry]

Mate,

Yes I have what do you need?

S.B

Steve,

This is a strange question for me to ask...but here goes.....I used to live in London and one day when in Embankment Gardens my mother said to me that one of our 'long lost relatives' names is on that memorial 'over there'.....this is of course the ICC Memorial.....I need to add I was about 8 at the time and the 'relative' would have been on my father's side obviously.....he died when I was less than a year old and I've never had the inclination to do any 'family tree' stuff on his side because to me it was all a bit painful.....

But when I saw this general thread and the link to the memorial page, I went on it and typed in 'Cherry' and a casualty came up who enlisted in Australia, went to Gallipoli, but was born in Gloucestershire and his parents lived in Canada......

So not sure if there is a family connection but be nice to konw if you have any info on my 'friend'......

Thanks.....

NC

[MartH]

Hi just been reading the Official History of the Operations in Somaliland 1901-1904 and there is much about the Camel Corps. Does the unit in the GW have its genesis in the earlier one?

[gnr.ktrha]

Hello S.B,

Thank you very much for all of the information you have posted. I am not related to Edward Clarke, I do however have his Victory Medal, so that is why I have been trying to research his service. I will be trying to see if there is any additional information or photographs in any of the Liverpool newspapers,and if there are, I will pass them on to you.

He enlisted at Liverpool on the 17th August 1908. He was 17 & 9/12 years old. 5 foot 3 & 3/4th Tall. He has slight Varicous veins. He enlisted into the 4th Special Reserve Battalion The King's Liverpool Regiment. His Civil occupation was listed as being Labourer.

He Re-engaged for military service on the 5th September 1914. His Civil Occupation is now given as a Butcher Slaughterer, working for Ramsden Bros Abbotoir, Liverpool.

He embarked for France on the 2nd may 1915 and was wounded in Action at Festubert on the 18th May 1915. His wound is listed as 'GSW Right Knee' He was first sent to the 6th field Ambulance, then to the 4 CCS. |Before being sent to a UK Hospital he was sent to the 11th Stationary hospital at Rouen. He was sent to the UK on the 29th May 1915.

His records then state he was poisted to Egypt from September 1915. I do not know if he went straight to the ICC or if he first was posted to another unit. The next bit of information in his records state that on the 12 August 1918 'When on active service conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline in that he, while on parade, during Guard Mounting was laughing while Orderly Officer was inspecting Guard'. His Punishment as 7 Days F.P No.2.

He was examined at Rafa on the 9 Feb. 1919 before being discharged.

All the best,

Stewart

[stevenbecker]

Mr Cherry.

I can't confirm your relationship to Sid Cherry and if you have his service record that gives you all about him.

I can add that I record his death when a member of the 2nd Company 1st Anzac Camel Bn during the 2nd Gaza Battle.

These parts are taken from a chapter of my book on the Camel Bde;

"The 1st Anzac Camel Battalion’s attack on the Tank Redoubt 19-4-17.

The main attack by the Camel Brigade would be made by the 1st Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel George Langley who deployed the 2nd Company under Captain Archie Campbell on the left with the 4th Company under Captain Herbert Denson on the right, the 3rd Company under Captain Fred Naylor was in support while Captain Walter Cashman’s 1st Company (less two sections guarding the field ambulance and Hong Kong and Singapore Battery) were held in reserve, in all the Battalion numbered not more then 360 men in the firing line.

The battle plan called for the 1st Battalion to “Move on to the ridge on the right of the 163rd Brigade, the left battalion in the Camel Brigade will advance and conform to the movement of that Brigade.” which meant the 1st battalion would advance with the 163rd Brigade which had placed its jump off tapes about 200 yards in front of the 2nd Company, their right flank Battalion was the 1/5th Norfolk which would act as the guide for our advance as Divisional orders called for the Camel companies to bypass the main redoubt as it would be secured by the British infantry, as our companies would push on to secure the defences to the rear of the redoubt.

On Thursday the 19th April the cold morning air was broken by the sound of heavy guns with Zero hour at 5.30 am this preparation bombardment was to last for two hours as they pounded the redoubts along the main Turkish line assisted by the navy and concentrating there fire on Gaza and the strong defences of Ali Muntar. At 7.20 am the Divisional 18 pdr Batteries took over laying down fire on the main points to be attacked, the display was quite impressive but was later found that most of the shells had missed there indented targets.

At Zero hour plus two (7.30 am) the word was given to advance and the tank allocated to the attack moved from behind Dumbell Hill into a position in between the 1/5th Norfolk’s and the 1st Battalion. This tank was a MK1 female called HMLS Nutty under command of 2/Lieutenant Frank Carr and his crew of seven men, it moved off to the rear of and between the 1st Battalion and 1/5th Norfolk’s but due to a small wadi it was forced to the right, crossing behind the 1st Battalion in front of Sheikh Abbas ridge as it then moved towards the objective to the north-west back across the front of the 1st Battalion as it advanced to catch up with the 1/5th Norfolk’s.

The 2nd Company had moved off promptly at 7.30 to cover the 2000 yards they would need to traverse before reaching the enemy trenches but first they had to align themselves with the 1/5th Norfolk but carrying the weight of 300 rounds of ammunition (Camel brigade SOP) and stores of a pick and shovel per three men and over the soft sand quickly exhausted the men (this was exceeding the load authorized in Divisional orders by General Hare of 150 rounds per man or the 250 rounds in the Imperial Mounted Division orders). The infantry with a shorter distance to travel kept up a strong pace forcing the cameleers to continue moving and not to advance by section rushes. The leading companies were deployed on a section front with three extended lines in each section, Lewis guns were placed to the right of the second line as the companies moved from artillery formation into extended order after moving a few hundred yards.

The enemy had quickly spotted the advance of our troops and the Tank and laid a sporadic fire along the line of advancing men, a number were hit but the men pushed on under the steady fire of shell and machine gun. About 8 am the 1st Battalion was rejoined by HMLS Nutty which had moved across their front from the right and soon attracted the attention of a number of enemy Batteries which began to pound the area around the tank and the companies of the 1st Battalion and 5th Norfolk’s, this fire was both heavy and extremely accurate and it appeared to the men to be singling out individuals, the enemy had plenty of time to range the ground and its shooting showed its expertise and it was said by the soldiers of the Camel Brigade “to be the finest bit of shooting they had ever seen” with the enemy never wasting a shell moreover it was under this now continuous fire that the 2nd company were forced to shift to their left as they followed in the wake of the tank. The men had closed in behind the tank for protection from the fusillade but it only served as a focal point to the enemy gunners, as they struggled under the weight of there loads and the enemies salvos, the infantry was still in front of the cameleers and fell in behind the tank as it passed them while the 2nd company had to kept on the move till a small sand ridge was gained about 8.15 am.

This small ridge was between 350 to 500 yards from the enemy redoubt and there the shattered and exhausted remnants of the two Battalions took shelter as the tank was hit and lost direction in a small wadi between the ridge and the redoubt. Meanwhile Captain Campbell sent orders back to the 3rd Company to conform to him as the 4th company had disappeared to his right in the smoke and dust and his own company was severely hit. Meanwhile Captain Birbeck OC A Company 5th Norfolk’s gathered his survivers around him as the remainder of his battalion took cover.

The 163rd Brigade at this time committed the two companies (A and of the 1/8th Hants Battalion which had been in support to assist with the 5th Norfolk’s while the other two companies (C and D) were supporting the 4th Norfolk’s, only A and B companies were decimated in moving forward trying to reach the 5th Norfolk’s and barely a few gallant men of the right flanking companies struggled through the fire to reinforce the beleaguer force, these joined the remainder of the Norfolk’s and Camel companies around 08.30 am.

Meanwhile the advance by the 4th company and Battalion Headquarters had been drawn to the east to adhere to orders to bypass the redoubt and conform with the 11th company but the heavy cross fire had forced them to seek cover in a small wadi which ran to west off of the main Wadi Sihan just as the 2nd company had been drawn west towards the 163rd Brigade, a gap was now created between his forward companies and Lieutenant Colonel Langley was forced to committed his small reserve of two sections of the 1st Company under Captain Cashman to fill this gap. In the meanwhile the 3rd company had struggled forward to support Captain Campbell and under heavy shell fire had followed the line of bodies belonging to the 2nd company. They reached the small sand ridge shortly after 8.30 am which was occupied by the sheltering 2nd Company and the remains of the 5th Norfolk’s and 8th Hants and soon became embroiled in the fight with the Turkish defences in which both companies were heavily hit by the enemies fire and suffered many casualties with Captain Naylor wounded yet continued to lead.

Around 8.40 am the tank HMLS Nutty appeared again under a cloud of dust and exploding shells driving straight for the redoubt, seeing this Captain Campbell decided that he could no longer follow his orders and bypass the redoubt but now must make a dash and secure the fortification.

He lined a number of Lewis gunners along the top of the small ridge and using there fire ordered the men to advance, both the 2nd and 3rd companies fixed bayonets and rose to the attack. These companies had started the day with a little over one hundred men in both, now barely half that number had survived and as the Turkish fire hit these heroes that number was again sadly reduced but they surged on and made the Turkish line under a volley of rifle fire and with the help of soldiers from the 5th Norfolk and 8th Hants set about clearing the trenches “with the bayonet”. The wounded Captain Naylor had insisted in leading his men forward only to be shot in the head on reaching the enemies trenches in a life or death struggle to capture it, the death of Captain Naylor, who had never been well esteemed by his men after an incident at Sollum in 1916, but after this day that view changed.

The Turks which occupied this part of the redoubt put up a stout defence but the shock of the tank and the aggressive attitude of our troops proved to much for them as they broke and ran back to their rear defences some throwing away their weapons but between 20 and 50 Turks were captured, 20 prisoners by Sergeant JW Parson B Company 8th Hants, these prisoners were promptly gathered and sent to the rear under guard of several wounded men from the British and Camel companies but few survived the bullet swept ground of no man’s land.

Meanwhile the redoubt at this time was a scene of chaos as the tank was under close fire by two four gun batteries, this intensity continued as the tank belching fire and smoke had entered the redoubt dealing with enemy machine guns but bellied in the first trench were it was then seen to be hit by three HE shells which broke its track and bust into flames forcing its abandonment by the brave crew and so it was left as a target for the enemy gunners, but thanks to the tank the damage had been done and our small forces had secured a vital tenure in the redoubt by 9 am.

Captain Campbell now took control of the survivors and with only about thirty men remaining of the two Camel companies he placed the remnants of the 2nd company in the centre and the stronger 3rd company on the right flank, still most of the men were mixed together and fought with who ever took command. On one flank Sergeant Charlie Greenway who had taken command of his section after the officer was wounded continued to fire on the panicked Turks as they raced to the rear.

Meanwhile on the left flank the remainder of the British Battalions in all about twenty men under Captain Blyth B Company 5th Norfolk’s occupied and extended their hold in the trench and formed a defence following the death of Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Grissell DSO. These measures were necessary as there were not enough men to control the whole redoubt so it had to be held by a number of strong points. In the centre Campbell placed six Lewis guns along the exposed top of the trench to keep any Turkish counterattack to the flanks. The enemy had now retired to their secondary defences which were still on a higher elevation to our men and there poured a strong fire into our positions.

During the morning the endurance of Captain Campbell and his men was tested under the increasing pressure of the enemy, six runners were dispatched back to Lieutenant Colonel Langley all requesting reinforcement and ammunition but none arrived in time all disappeared in the exposed ground between the redoubt and our lines. One man Private Edward Richardson carried a message out and after going 50 yards was shot three times and despite these serious wounds crawled back with his message arriving to late and Corporal Bill Hope the Battalion Signal Corporal was killed carry such a massage. While Private Bert Galli had tried to get through with three camels loaded with small arms ammunition but the animals were killed by heavy fire, Galli tried again during the day but was forced to stop but never the less did succeed in bringing some much needed ammunition to the 4th Company.

The breach of this redoubt caused considerable concern in the enemies’ camp and Battalions of the 161st Regiment were rushed to this threatened sector, meanwhile the reserve company of the 165th Regiment was committed to the Tank redoubt from the area of Khirbet Sihan and began to infiltrate towards our troops in the redoubt.

Around 10 am groups of the enemy were observed gathering to the flanks and they began to move slowly forward in one case they appeared being driven by a German officer who recklessly exposed himself to our fire yet bore a charmed life without being hit. These new troops now found the redoubt was not held in any strength and small parties of the enemy soon established pockets amongst our posts which soon became untenable with the strong cross fire and with the shortage of ammunition we were forced to retire further along the trench onto the rear posts thus our men retired fighting step by step to the rearmost trenches where they had broken in hours before. Among the heroes of this contest was Sergeant Wally Finley of the 2nd company who was killed resisting the enemy allowing our men to escape and form a new bomb block and Sergeant Albert Cook, Privates Soles Nassau and Richard Biggs of the 3rd company who fought until overrun and were never seen again?

The Cameleers were now using a lot of Turkish ammunition and bombs as our own ammunition was exhausted never the less with this increasing pressure they could not hold out for much longer.

Shortly after 11 pm as Captain Campbell sorted out the last of the Camel company survivors in the remaining section of trench, the Lewis gunners were still in action and broke up a number of enemy concentrations as the Turks prepared to drive the last of our men out of the redoubt, Lieutenant Bill Ellis was sent to the left as some soldiers were seen retiring but he was wounded and as the ammunition now gave out and with no hope of reinforcements or ammunition to continue the battle Captain Campbell had no option but to order the survivors to withdraw, the word was quickly passed to Captain Blyth who at first wanted to fight it out to the finish but faced with the inedible they agreed to retire. Before he left Captain Campbell went to check on his Lewis gun teams, to ask for volunteers to cover the withdrawal but found only one wounded survivor Private William Barry who was ordered to retire and despite a broken arm carried his Lewis gun out.

There was much confusion in the trenches at this time as not all the men received the word to go while others found themselves cut off by the Turks who appeared all over, while others seeing the retreat ordered the men to stay and fight and cover the retirement. A similar scene occurred with the British as those who couldn’t make the trip back were left to be captured.

Captain Campbell had set off with Lieutenant Ernest Aylwin and CQMS Harry Malcolm (who should have remained in the rear but had joined the attack for the fun of it) they became separated in the smoke and rifle fire and only Campbell made it back without a scratch the sole officer of nine from the two Australian Camel companies who took part in the assault to do so. The survivors had retreated out of the redoubt to the right rear in the direction of the 4th company as the ground to the rear was strongly covered by the enemy’s fire. Meanwhile the 1st company had moved into a conspicuous position between the redoubt and the 4th company to provide the link but they were soon forced to cover the retirement of the 2nd and 3rd companies from the protection of a small wadi but with only two small sections Captain Cashman was limited in what he could do and he held his ground as a counterattack was expected from the enemy, while in this position the company lost Private John Mitchell killed and two officers (Bill Ellis and Les Stock), and a number of men wounded. He did establish contact after 1 pm with the remainder of the British Battalion’s who had dug in around the small sand ridge.

During the long afternoon the wounded lay exposed to the sun lying in agony waiting for someone to get them but with nearly all of their mates now dead or wounded most waited in vain. Despite this a large number of our wounded were brought in by men such as Sergeant Bob Love of the 4th company who went out into no man’s land to help recover the many victims, yet they where to numerous for all to be recovered and some had to be left to the clemency of the enemy. Lieutenant Colonel Langley had set up a casualty dressing station to the rear of his HQ in a small wadi and all the wounded who could be reached were brought there for dressing before moving them to the rear. One of those brought in wounded was Lance Sergeant James Anderson an original from the 8th Battalion AIF who was suffering from a gun shot wound to the buttocks while others were not so lucky Private Sid Cherry a Canadian who had enlisted in the 3rd Battalion AIF in 1915 before transferring to the Camel Corps and Private Wilhelm Konsten one of a number of Finnish born seaman were both killed.

As the action continued in the redoubt the 4th company had become pinned down behind a small sand ridge about 400 yards to the east of the redoubt and Captain Denson was ordered to dig in by Lieutenant Colonel Langley and await developments and to minimize casualties. This had happened because true to their orders the company had continued to advance for the rear defences of the enemy redoubt and despite the Turkish fire they soon found that the company was isolated in between the tank redoubt and the Wadi Sihan with no support available but for the 11th company on its right. The men were forced to hide behind a small Wadi and engage the enemy, also to cover the withdrawal of the 2nd and 3rd companies but the enemy had them in a deadly cross fire from the redoubt and the Wadi Sihan and sustained many casualties in this exposed position these included Sergeant Herbert Perkins, Privates Arthur Emery, Neil Munro, John White and Richard Winslett killed and three officers and 27 men wounded.

When Captain Campbell and his men had retired from the tank redoubt there still remained a small garrison who were left to fight it out alone but with little ammunition remaining it was only a matter of time before they were overrun. This isolated party numbering over thirty men of all nationalities, these continued to challenge the enemy till around 2 pm when the Turks broke into the last section of trench. There the wounded Lieutenant Bill Fender of the 2nd company found himself in a trench with a number of men and after being hit in the neck was abandoned as dead and captured along with a collection of men most of whom were wounded, about 11 Australians and eight British soldiers were captured when Lieutenant W. Strachan-Roberts of the 8th Hants tried to fight it out in the last trench but were compelled to surrender. Two men Privates Roy Kelly and Bert Story from the 3rd company escaped the Turks during capture and set off with bullets chasing them as they ran back to our lines Kelly was wounded and Story had five bullets through his hat but both survived to tell the tail.

During this time Major John Marsh OC 8th Hants gathered approximately one hundred and forthy survivors around him to form a line in the sand outside the redoubt. Among this group was Lieutenant Wharton 1/4th Norfolk’s along with Lieutenant Buxton from the 163rd Bde HQ. They remained in this exposed position bringing in the many wounded including Corporal Burtenshaw and Private Toogood, but also waited for any expected Turkish counterattack until the 5th Suffolk’s arrived.

At 1 pm General Hare had ordered the 161st Brigade forward to reinforce the line held by the 163rd Brigade which had suffered over 1500 casualties including two Battalion and twelve Company commanders, when they arrived the 1/5th Suffolk (163rd Bde) and the 1/6th Essex Battalions (161st Bde) were ordered to make a fresh attack on the redoubt. At 2.20 pm the Battalions commenced their advance but had not gone far when the attack was stopped by General Hare, this was due to the withdrawal from the redoubt by the last of our forces and declining situation on his right flank by the retirement of the 4th Light Horse Brigade and the problems with the Imperial Mounted Division.

At 5.55 pm orders were received that “the battalion was to withdraw back to the ridge” and Lieutenant Colonel Langley arranged for the clearing station to be removed before moving the 1st and 4th companies. At 7.45 after having gathering all the wounded that could be recovered the remnants of the battalion quietly moved back to Sheikh Abbas ridge in the safety of darkness undisturbed by the enemy and found the 7th Essex Battalion in position to cover their retirement, the 1st Battalion then moved to the rear of the ridge to take up a reserve position.

During the night the number of Australian prisoners would increased as the enemy cleared the ground between the lines and in all twenty two Australian cameleers from the 2nd and 3rd companies were captured by the Turks and an unknown number of British soldiers which included the crew of the intrepid tank HMLS Nutty, 2/Lieutenant Frank Carr age 35 from Birmingham UK the daring tank commander had been badly burned during his escape from the blazing tank and died from his wounds in a Turkish hospital, Lieutenant Bill Fender the only Australian Camel Corps officer to be captured during the war, had transferred to the Cameleers from the 6th Light Horse Regiment in 1916 and was 29 years old from Ashfield in Sydney NSW but he died in the hands of the enemy that night before medical help could reach him, this unfortunate fact was not know by the family until two years later when the prisoners were released as he had been reported as a prisoner after the battle by the Turks and the family endeavoured to discover his whereabouts but heard no word of him until 1919.

Among the many Australian prisoners were Private Harold Vidler one of the last Lewis gunners who with Private Phil Fletcher had fought to the last round when the order to retire was given they had set off after Captain Campbell but after going a few yards Vidler was shot threw the knee and Fletcher disappeared in the smoke also wounded, Vidler lay wounded in front of the redoubt till morning when a number of Turkish looters discovered him, they killed another man near him with a bayonet but spared him and was found later by a enemy patrol. Private Charles Flatt was wounded outside the redoubt in the charge he had been shot in three places in the leg and thigh and was found by a Turkish patrol during the night. Private Walter Humphris had also been seriously wounded in the charge and was later recovered that night by the Turks he lasted a few days before dying from his wounds in a Turkish hospital. Among the 11 Cameleers captured with Lieutenant Roberts of the Hampshire Regiment were Private Reuben Blechynden (wounded), Corporal Alex Currie, Privates Joe Dodd, Phil Fooks, Tom Halliday, Daniel Jones (wounded), Ernest Ingram (wounded), Phil O’Hare, Charles Otway (wounded), Lance Corporal Arthur Tierney and Private John Angus. Other wounded taken prisoner included Sergeant George Paltridge, Privates Fred Jeffrey, William Simmons and Noel Sherrie, while others were trapped in the redoubt and surrendered for lack of ammunition Privates Pat Duffy, Albert Kimber and Sergeant Fred Saville."

"The Camel Brigade War Diary Annex for the Battle list the casualties for the period from the 19th to the 22nd April as three officers and 41 men killed, 19 officers and 271 men wounded with one officer and 39 men missing total 374. In the War Diaries, the 1st Battalion reported the loss two officers and 30 men killed and 10 officers and 154 men wounded with one officer and 16 men missing total 213, while the 3rd Battalion does not list their casualties and the AIF Casualty Return for period list over 300 Australian casualties for the Camel Brigade but these include all causes including Prisoners of War.

A search of the records showed that the Australians of the 1st Battalion lost at least 234 casualties with one officer (Captain Naylor) and 36 men were killed, 12 officers and 163 men wounded of which one officer (Lieutenant Hill) and eight men died from wounds. From the 1st Battalion a further one officer and 21 men were taken prisoner of which one officer (Lieutenant Fender) and 13 men were captured while wounded of which one officer and three men died from their wounds and a further three men died in captivity from cruel treatment or neglect.

The worst affected units in the 1st Battalion were the 2nd company which lost 15 men killed and two officers and 73 men wounded of which two men died of wounds and one officer and nine men taken prisoner of which one officer and five men were captured while wounded, of these one officer and one man died of their wounds while in captivity and another one man died from cruel treatment, this totals 100 casualties for the company from about 105 present.

The 3rd company lost one officer and 14 men killed and four officers and 49 men wounded of which four men died from wounds, there were a further 12 men taken prisoner of which 8 men were captured while wounded of which two men died from wounds and another two men died in captivity from cruel treatment, this totals 80 casualties for the company and 180 casualties from approximately 210 men in the two Camel companies involved directly in the assault on Tank redoubt."

Cheers

S.B

[stevenbecker]

Pat,

I show no soldiers from the 20th or 14th Hussars mentioned in any records, not eben an attached officer?

The British Camel companies were raised from the troops in Egypt and six of these vompanies from the British Yeomanry, the other two were raised from the Infantry from the 53rd and 54th Div's but the infantry were found to be unsuitible and one of these companies was disbanded and reformed from the yeomanry.

I do show some 1115 soldiers that show an Hussar background via there MIC's but I am unsure how that relates in the British system from what Regt in the Hussars other then there shown unit like a Yeomanry or Infantry Regt?

As examples;

Burlace Henry Edward Issac 845 Pte 9Co Ex 1/3 County of London Yeo (845) and Hussars (265118) buried Gaza War Cemetery Palestine KIA 21-4-17

Clarke Leonard 51067 L/Cpl BHQ to Sgt Ex 1/7 Cheshire Rgt (2160) and Hussars wia shoulder wia buttock WIA 19-4-17 WIA 21-4-17 MID

Sorry mate,

S.B

[stevenbecker]

Mate,

"Hi just been reading the Official History of the Operations in Somaliland 1901-1904 and there is much about the Camel Corps. Does the unit in the GW have its genesis in the earlier one? "

The only assoc I can think of is Clarence Smith who was awarded the VC in Somaliland (1902) before commanding the ICC Bde during WWI.

The ICC was based on the Egyptian Camel Corps and used the ECC base at Abbisia outside Cairo. No dought some of the tactic's and organizion was based on their expirence during that war.

S/B

[Patrick ODwyer]

Thanks Steve

I did get out the CC medal roll once and if I remember correctly some Hussars units were identified but not the 20th so you confirm what I believe. I suspect there was confusion with events of the 1880s.

Patrick

[MartH]

Thanks for the info Steve I will do a little more reading. There are some superb photos and drawing in the book that relate to the Camel Corp.

[n cherry]

Steve,

Thanks for your info.....it was a tentative link anyway but I guess I need to start looking at Sid's service records to see if we were related......do you think his servcie recrods will be onl ine via the AWM web site???

As a fellow author can I ask when is the book due out?

[stevenbecker]

Cherry.

Yes mate his Service record should be on line on the National Australian Archive's webb site.

just enter these details on the WWI records section;

CHERRY Sidney Henry 1720

And you should get his full records.

The book has been in the draft stage for some time with still a number of actions to work out, I don't expect to be out for a year or two.

Cheers

S.B