The fall of Beersheba - Various Accounts

[Guest Bill Woerlee]

Mates

The anniversary of the Beersheba battle is coming up. To assist in understanding the magnitude of the event, I have gathered together various accounts and placed them on the blog. Each section has a heading with every item listed and linked to a specific item on the blog - the link is below the sub heading.

Accounts of the Beersheba battle

The accounts in this section include only those from eye witnesses or authors who were able to report on the events because of their unique ability to access the characters involved in the event. Later secondary sources, of which there are many volumes written, are excluded from this list.

1. 1st ALHR AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

2. 1st Australian Armoured Car Section - Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...ntry_id=1818372

3. 1st Australian Signal Troop, AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

4. 2nd ALHR AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

5. 2nd FSE, AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

6. 2nd Australian Signal Troop, AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

7. 3rd ALHR AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

8. 3rd LH Bde, AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

9. 3rd LHFA, AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

10. 3rd LHMGS, AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

11. 4th LH Bde, AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

12. 4th LHR, AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

13. 5th LHR, AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

14. 6th LHR, AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

15. 7th LHR, AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

16. 8th LHR, AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

17. 8th Sanitary Section, AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

18. 9th ALHR AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

19. 9th Mobile Veterinary Section, AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

20. 10th LHR, AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

21. 11th LHR, AIF account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

22. 12th LHR, AIF MSS 38 account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

23. 20th Machine Gun Squadron account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

24. AMR, NZMRB account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

25. British Infantry account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

26. British Official War History account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

27. CMR, NZMRB account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

28. Fife and Forfar Yeomanry account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

29. Foster account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

30. Gullett account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

31. ICC account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

32. Idriess and his Beersheba Charge description

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...ge-description/

33. Kearsey account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

34. Keogh account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

35. Kress's account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

36. Lock account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

37. Massey account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

38. Massey Times account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

39. New Zealand Official History account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

40. Sydney Mail account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

War Diary accounts of the Beersheba battle

Each account has links to a unit history, a pic of the relevant War Diary entry with a link to the AWM for the PDF file, a transcription, where relevant, a Roll of Honour with links to the AWM Roll of Honour entries, a map detailing the movements of the specific movements of the regiment, and finally, cross references to other material where necessary. The map template used for the War Diary descriptions is a composite map extracted from the 3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary although this map is not online with that particular diary due to size. The reason for using their map complete with pencil markings and the like is to ensure that the descriptions in the War Diaries match the exact maps issued to the Regiments on that day. While they are not slickly produced, they do outline the essentials. Those who want slick can produce the maps themselves.

1st ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

2nd ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

3rd ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

5th ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

5th Mounted Brigade, War Diary, account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

6th ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

7th ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

8th ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

9th ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

10th ALHR, AIF, War Diary, account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

Orders issued regarding the impending Beersheba battle

4th LH Bde, AIF, Operation Order No. 37

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...on-order-no-37/

Personal Diary accounts of the Beersheba battle

Auchterlonie [8th LHR] account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

Fowler [12th LHR] account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

The Charge

This included issues specific to the famous charge by the 4th LHB.

"Put Grant straight at it."

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...straight-at-it/

Pictures (taken 2006) of the route taken by the 4th LHB charge at Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...e-at-beersheba/

Hand drawn map of the 4th LHB prior to charging into Beersheba, 31 October 1917

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...1-october-1917/

Official map of the Beersheba Charge

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...ersheba-charge/

Colonel Cameron, 12th LHR, letter to Dr Bean

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...ter-to-dr-bean/

FAMOUS CHARGE BY 4TH AUSTRALIAN LIGHT HORSE BRIGADE by Vivian Sharpe

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...-vivian-sharpe/

Ottoman Dispositions

A look at things from the other side of the trench.

Turkish map detailing troop dispositions and the battle at Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...e-at-beersheba/

Turkish intelligence assessment of projected Allied attacks, August 1917

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...ks-august-1917/

Colonel Hüsnü, Yildirim

http://alh-research.tripod.com/index.htm#taayildirim

The alleged Elliott photograph examined

9th LHR On Manoeuvres

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...-on-manoeuvres/

9th LHR On Manoeuvres, Part 2

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...oeuvres-part-2/

Fleas on fleas -The results from careless work - a case study

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...fleas-on-fleas/

The above list is not exhaustive and many more items are scheduled to be added as time goes on. The lack of a central location for all the primary resources available which are scattered all over the place is the motivation for producing this section of the blog. Another frustration that required overcoming was the lack of good maps, so where ever possible, maps have been used.

Should anyone have other sources they feel should be added, please do not hesitate to mention it. However, bear in mind, sources that just repeat other sources [see "Fleas on fleas" ] are of little interest to me for the blog - there are many thousands of these available from the most bizarre to earnest. Good sources are invaluable and assist understanding. Primary Turkish and British sources are a bit thin and even more lighter are Palestinian sources from those who observed the events unfold at the time.

I hope this section of the blog is of assistance to most people.

Cheers

Bill

[bluedog]

Bill

Excellent links mate , thanks

enjoyed the link written by Vivian Sharpe

It is a wonder we did so well , but as one C-inC at Pozieres said "We were ONLY fighting

Bashi-Bazouks"

Thanks mate

Peter

[Ozzie]

There is an in depth discussion about Beersheba going on here, for those interested.

http://www.lighthorse.org.au/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3795

Cheers

[Guest Bill Woerlee]

Peter

G'day mate and thanks for your comments.

After many conversations with Ottoman Empire scholars I find it difficult to understand why the Turks did so well considering all their problems while the well supplied Allied forces did so poorly. Hamilton summed up part of the answer when he suggested that the British under-estimated their ability. The Allied forces always had overwhelming numerical superiority in both men and equipment coupled with, on the whole, well trained and excellent leaders during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. The thing the Allies didn't have was a coherent Egyptian policy. There was much tension in 1916 between the War Office and War Cabinet over the political and military conduct of the war. As it stood, no one was singing from the same song sheet. This transferred itself into ad hoc policy on the ground at the theatre in question. One day it was all sunshine and lollipops and the next day divisions were withdrawn for the Western Front. Both Murray and Allenby suffered similar problems. That is why it took nearly half a year to build a rail line from Romani to El Arish. But none of this explains why the Turks did so well considering all their defects. Erickson's book, "Ottoman Army effectiveness in World War I: a comparative study" ponders this question and offers many cogent answers. I am not sure if they are the only answers but they are some.

All of this is good in attempting to understand both sides of the trench and thus understanding an event, its ebbs and flows which is nicely articulated in Beersheba.

Cheers

Bill

[Guest Bill Woerlee]

Mates

Just added:

Wellington Mounted Rifles account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

Cheers

Bill

[Guest Bill Woerlee]

Mates

Just to give some of the varying ideas as to the assessment of the Beersheba battle, this extract comes from:

Matthew Hughes, Allenby and British Strategy in the Middle East 1917-1919, p. 59:

The cavalry used in the Palestine campaign gave operations a dynamism unknown on the Western Front. However, closer analysis of the role of cavalry at the third battle of Gaza shows shortcomings with this arm of war. The cavalry divisions had only 12 13-pounders per division, and the need to leave men behind in battle to look after tethered horses compounded the lack of inherent firepower. The cavalry also needed large amounts of water and had difficulty fighting in hilly terrain such as around Jerusalem. Allenby's mounted troops were, however, a means in the First World War of making warfare more fluid and dramatic. This they did not do at the third battle of Gaza (excepting the bold, but pointless, capture of Beersheba). The cavalry would have been more threatening had they been deployed behind Gaza with XXI corps. It was as though there were two separate third battles of Gaza: one at Gaza town and one out in the desert by Beersheba. The Turkish defences at Beersheba were so weak that the Australians were able to charge in and take the town. The Turkish defences at Gaza were of sufficient strength to prevent this and artillery was required to punch a hole in the Turkish lines. It is the neglected artillery that emerges as the unsung hero of the third battle of Gaza. The guns of Bulfin's corps created the breakthrough but the cavalry was not there to follow through and exploit this success.

This is quite an iconoclastic view seen from the vista of Australians who hold Chauvel as a national hero of Olympian proportions. It challenges the raison d'être for the Charge at Beersheba by the 4th LHB as an iconic event in shaping the Australian Story. I can envisage the Pollyannas screaming at this heretic who dared to impugn a legend and salivating at the thought of burning him at the stake - so strong is the cult of self delusion.

Hughes argues that the whole Chetwode plan was a waste of time as the mounted units were not able to cut the Turks off who retreated from Gaza in good order. His alternative argument advocated for the Gaza School plan.

In contrast, Ed Erickson in Ottoman Army effectiveness in World War I: a comparative study makes this comment at p. 125:

In a sense, the British victory at Beersheba was a victory of manoeuvre rather than of combat operations. The movement of two complete army corps on the town of Beersheba completely surprised Kress von Kressenstein and the Turks, who had garrisoned the town to repel two enemy divisions. This movement was a triumph of logistics and administration rather than of tactical proficiency. However, despite a huge superiority, it took the British the better part of an entire day to take the town and its wells, and the Ottoman Ill Corps extracted itself and lived to fight another day.

Likewise at Gaza, the British were unable to take advantage of their strength to break through the Turkish lines. Gaza probably could have been held against Bulfin's attacks. It was the loss of Beersheba that forced Kress von Kressenstein to conduct a deliberate evacuation of the town of Gaza. Clearly Allenby's Egyptian Expeditionary Force, in the fall of 1917, had not yet evolved the tactical and operational techniques necessary to defeat decisively the Turks in Palestine.

This summary highlights the issue that the Allenby Army in 1917 was not capable of undertaking a sophisticated scheme of operation as was witnessed in September 1918. Despite the overwhelming numerical superiority of the attacking Allied forces at Beersheba, Erickson is scathing in his assessment of the performance. His comments echo that of Kress who mentioned in his book that the brave 300 men at Tel el Saba held up two cavalry divisions for 6 hours.

Kressenstein, Friedrich Freiherr Kress von, Mit den Tèurken zum Suezkanal, p. 279:

The under strength Turkish battalion entrusted with its defence doggedly held out with great courage and in so doing fulfilled its obligation. They held up two English cavalry divisions for six hours and had prevented them from expanding their outflanking manoeuvres around the Beersheba-Hebron road.

The Hughes and Erickson opinions are two very interesting but diametrically opposed views. The substance, however, casts doubt upon any claim that the offensive known as Gaza 3 was a success borne from brilliant leadership. Quite the contrary, both commentators indicate that the generalship displayed was less than adequate while the victory was slow, disjointed and gave the Turks more than enough time to escape and fight another day. The end result was the Allied offensive petered out at the end of December due to supply problems which confirms the Erickson thesis that the advances were a triumph of logistics.

Cheers

Bill

[Auimfo]

This is quite an iconoclastic view seen from the vista of Australians who hold Chauvel as a national hero of Olympian proportions. It challenges the raison d'être for the Charge at Beersheba by the 4th LHB as an iconic event in shaping the Australian Story. I can envisage the Pollyannas screaming at this heretic who dared to impugn a legend and salivating at the thought of burning him at the stake - so strong is the cult of self delusion.

I take it from this remark that you agree with both Hughes and Erickson and that anyone who has an alternate viewpoint is simply a self-deluded pollyanna? I'm no expert regarding Beersheba and perhaps your thoughts are correct but I'd bet my bottom dollar someone would be able to post comments from other respected published historians who think somewhat differently. Seems like you are taking one side of the argument for sensationalistic purposes and dismissing other views with generalised (and mainly inaccurate) mud-slinging rather than evidenced reason.

Cheers,

Tim L.

[Guest Bill Woerlee]

Mates

Just a few extra accounts to add to the list. Today seems the appropriate time to link them.

Bourchier, CO 4th ALHR, account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

Cameron, CO 12th ALHR, account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

Grant, GOC 4th ALHB, account about the fall of Beersheba

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...l-of-beersheba/

Cheers

Bill