157th Brigade east of Esdud – the night between the 10th and 11th of November 1917

[Eran Tearosh]

 

Hi everyone,

 

I think we already mentioned somewhere that the events of November 8^th-12^th 1917 are somehow a bit forgotten. As far as I remember, the events between October 31^st till November 7^th (Or is it 8^th?) fall under what The Battles Nomenclature Committee gave the general title The Third Battle of Gaza. The following battle is The Capture of Junction Station, November 13^th-15^th (Probably the 16^th should be a part of that as well – The capture of Jaffa by the NZMR).

 

Quite strange that the events of November 8^th-12^th were not acknowledged by The Battles Nomenclature Committee. This part of the Southern Palestine Offensive was nicknamed “The Philistia Pursuit”, “The Great Drive” and so on. The most notable events of these dates are: The heroic Charge at Huj by the Worcestershire and Warwickshire Yeomanry on the 8th;  The 52^nd division’s actions around Wadi Hesi on the 8^th & 9^th; The remarkable pursuit of the 2 ALH brigade during the 9^th; The capture of Jisr Esdud and the crossing of Nahr Sukereir by the 1 ALH brigade on the 10^th-11^th ;  The 52^nd division’s actions against Burkah & Brown Hill on the 12^th; The gallant stand of the Australian Mounted Division against Falkenhayn's counterattack at Balin & Berkusia on the 12^th.

 

One additional event during those days is hardly noticed – The actions of the 157 Brigade (52^nd Div.) on the 10-11^th. This event is described in the British OH (Falls) on pages 144-6 (Page 145 is titled “157^th Brigade at Sdud”). Naturally, the best description of this event is given in the excellent 52^nd Divisional History (Thompson). A whole chapter (XXII( is dedicated to this event, under the title “Esdud or Beit Duras”. The usage of the name Beit Duras is a bit strange, and I’ll return to this later.

 

The full chapter is too long to type (9 pages), so I’ll summarize and use just a few quotes:

 

The 157^th Brigade (Together with B Battery of 261^st brigade, R.F.A., and the 413^th Field Company, R.E.) moved towards Esdud at 7 a.m. on Nov. 10^th (there’s a bit confusion whether it was on the 10^th or the 9^th), and suffered from a terrible Khamsin (One report states that 82 men from one of the battalions fell out in the course of the 13-mile march, due to the heat and exhaustion).

 

The Scots found that the Australians were already at Esdud, but were pressed hard by the Turks from a line in the hills east of Esdud, preventing the cavalry from watering their horses from “the wells of Kummam” (Again, a strange name). The British HO states that the officer commanding the 157^th brigade: “Br.-General Hamilton Moore rode forward and met Br.-General Cox, commanding the 1^st L.H. brigade, who informed him that Sdud has been captured, but the Turks were established on a ridge 3 miles to the east, preventing the Australians watering their horses at some cisterns east of the Wadi el Majma”.

 

To assist the Australians, and in spite of the long march, the Scots set to attack the Ottoman positions, just before sunset. Quote: “away to the eastward, beyond the plain across they were moving in artillery formation, was the landmark on their objective, a white domed tomb on a hillside that looked very peaceful in the setting sun”. We’ll return to that domed tomb later.

 

As the Scots moved across the plain, it became dark. The Scots managed to seize a ridge and to start to consolidate, when heavy fire opened on them and they discovered that there was a higher ridge in front of them “This ridge was entirely held by the enemy, and the wells, for which the 157^th Brigade was fighting, were south of and commanded by it. Most of the above was not learned until the following morning, and the map in use (a section of the 1878 survey) simply gave a general indication of two elevations at Kummam, east of Esdud, and north of Beit Duras”.

 

During the night, a very confused battle took place. Both sides sent parties beyond a rocky gully that separated between the Ottomans and the Scots and bombed each other from close range. After midnight, the Turks attempted to storm the Scottish shallow trenches, and were driven off. Later, around 3 a.m., the Turks withdrew a bit north – “The main ridge was then occupied, and to the south lay the great prize, the wells”.

 

The 52^nd Divisional History includes lots of details about this night's heavy fighting. The losses of the 157^th Brigade during this night’s operation were nearly 100: 3 officers and 22 O.R killed, 7 officers and 66 O.R. wounded.

 

Although this great effort was to assist the A.L.H. by taking the wells, the Australian OH mentions this event with only these few words (p. 457): “At 5.30 the sure British infantry advanced on Beit Duras from the south, bear down the opposition, passed quickly through the village, and seized the commanding ridge to the north of it”. Confusing, as it seems to be describing a different event.

 

I’ll send a few minutes another post or two, trying to focus on a few lose ends about this event.

 

Eran

Edited 1 September , 2020 by Eran Tearosh

[Eran Tearosh]

 

To begin with – there’s an issue of when. Looking at all the various sources (I mentioned only three, but there more), it’s quite obvious that the 157^th Brigade moved towards Esdud on Nov. 10^th and the long night battle was between Nov. 10^th and the 11^th. However, reading the 52^nd Divisional History one might get the impression that it was a day before (It’s not written clearly).

 

Big question: Why the name of this chapter is “Esdud or Beit Duras”, when Beit Duras is south of the battlefield and it’s mentioned only once in the text – “and north of Beit Duras”. The name used repeatedly is Kummam, and the Scottish book is the only source using this name. Look at the maps – the first one is from the military map.

 

Note that the name Hummam (Not Kummam!) appears twice, south of Butani el Gharbiyeh - Once as a ruin (R) and once as a well (W). The name appears in tiny letters, on both sides of a more substantial ruin, called Kh Berdeghah. Note also the two ground elevations mentioned in the text. All this is seen better is this non-military version of the same map: 

 

 

These Hummam sites do not appear in any other map! Here is the 1918 military map:

 

 

I guess that a look at the Brigade and/or Battalions War Diaries might help a bit. And maybe not....

Does anyone have access to these War Diaries?

 

I'll send another post on this shortly.

 

Eran

Edited 9 April , 2017 by Eran Tearosh

[Eran Tearosh]

 

I quoted from the 52^nd Divisional History this: “away to the eastward, beyond the plain across they were moving in artillery formation, was the landmark on their objective, a white domed tomb on a hillside that looked very peaceful in the setting sun”. There are no tombs marked in this area, not on those days’ maps or later maps! However, there is one domed structure that actually might be that Hummam well:

 

 

Exactly at the right place, although it cannot be seen from Tel Esdud today - too many land changes & developments.

 

Unfortunately, this event is not described in any map or sketch I know (Maybe the 157th Brigade's War Diary?). This sketch, from the Australian OH gives some idea about the general situation. Although it's not indicating the date, it seems to refer to the 10th. As to the strange quote from the Australian OH regarding the taking of Beit Duras - either a mistake or maybe the work of the front forces of the 75th Division. Another lose end....

 

 

Eran

Edited 9 April , 2017 by Eran Tearosh

[Guest]

Mate,

 

I thought I would see what Ottoman Troops were facing this attack around the 10 Nov 1917 north of Esdud.

 

From what I can see the 3rd and 7th Infantry Div's (22nd Corps) were retiring around that date.

 

They were the remains of the 22nd Ottoman Corps which had the 3rd, 7th and 53rd Div's in Oct, but during the withdrawal the 53rd Div retired out of the area, and is not shown on any maps I have?

 

Both Ottoman Div's where vetern formations

 

Known Orbat Oct 1917

 

Gaza Group 22nd Corps 8th Army

3rd Div
shown Sept 1917 Allied reports 3rd Div (4159 men 53 Mgs 26 guns) -
shown Oct 1917 Allied reports 3rd Div (4277 men 60 Mgs) (31st Regt (18 Mgs) 138th Regt (18 Mgs) 32nd Regt (24 Mgs)
shown Sept 1917 Allied reports (24x 75mm guns 2x75mm Mountian guns + 8x 9.5mm TMB)

7th Div
shown Sept 1917 Allied reports 7th Div (3643 men 53 MGs 25 guns) -
shown Oct 1917 Allied reports 7th Div (3600 men 54 MG's) 20th Regt (18 MGs) 21st Regt (12 MGs) 134th Regt (24 MGs)
shown Sept 1917 Allied reports (17x 75mm guns & 8x 75mm Mantelli mountain guns + 8x 9.5mm TMB)

53rd Div
shown Sept 1917 Allied reports 53rd Div 79th Regt (1000 men 18 Mgs) 161st Regt (1300 men 18 Mgs) + 163rd Regt (1169 men 18 Mgs) -
shown Oct 1917 Allied reports 53rd Div (4018 men 54 Mgs) (79th Regt (18 Mgs) 161st Regt (18 Mgs) 163rd Regt (18 Mgs)
 

Known Orbat Dec 1917

 

3rd Div
shown Dec 1917 Allied reports 3rd Div - 31st Regt (1000 men) 138th Regt (1000 men) 161st Regt (1000 men) reports 32nd Regt to 53rd Div Nov 1917 -
shown Jan 1918 Allied reports (2700 men 44 Mgs 100 cav) 31st Regt (800 men 14 Mgs) 138th Regt (900 men 14 Mgs) 161st Regt (900 men 12 Mgs) 150 cav
shown Dec 1917 - 2Bn/5th FAR and 1Bn/6th FAR or 1Bn/5th FAR and 1Bn/16th FAR
shown Turkish Dec 1917 report - 4Bty/13th FAR 5Bty/5th FAR 4Bty/25th FAR

7th Div
shown Dec 1917 Allied reports 7th Div - 20th Regt 600 men) 134th Regt (500 men) 134th Regt replaced 19th Regt 1917/18 - 3/21st Regt to Hejez
shown Jan 1918 Allied reports (2000 men 42 MGs 100 cav) 20th Regt (750 men 14 MGs) 21st Regt (14 MGs) 134th Regt (500 men 14 MGs) T/att 62nd Regt (900 men) 150 cav
shown Turkish Dec 1917 report 1Bn/14th FAR (75mm guns) 1Bn/13th FAR shown att Light field Obüs Bty/41st FAR 1Bn/54th FAR 1Bn/9th FAR 1Bn/6th FAR

 

The 22nd Corps HQ only shows this;

 

shown Sept 1917 Allied reports (2x 100mm KUK How 10x 105mm How 8x 150mm How + 2x 77mm AA guns) What Btys unknown?

I can find no details for Oct, Nov to Dec for support units for this Corps.
 

From these two orbats you can get the general losses at 3rd Gaza and the withdrawal during the Great Ride when compared.

 

The ottoman map of the date appears to be a bad map where I can't make out much details (the map was poorly copied).

 

S.B

 

Edited 10 April , 2017 by stevebecker

[Eran Tearosh]

Steve,

 

Thanks!

 

From the 52^nd Divisional History:

"The Turks forming the bulk of the enemy army were tall and sturdy Anatolians, filled with the fiercest religious hatred of the infidels opposed to them, and their commanders could generally depend on their delivering counter-attacks with the most reckless courage. A wounded Turkish officer, afterwards captured, stated that the enemy troops engaged consisted of the remains of the infantry of the 3rd Turkish Division. Of this force, about 600 infantry with six machine-guns were firing from the main ridge, whilst another 400 or 600 with six more machine-guns were in support on the slope behind.....  One company of the battalion to which the captured officer belonged had lost about sixty killed or wounded"

 

Eran

[Guest]

Eran,

 

As to the Ottoman commanders;

 

22nd Corps under Col Refet Bey (Bele)

 

3rd Infantry Div - Col Nurettin Bey (Özsu) 3-17 to 3-18

 

CofS - Capt Iskender Efendi

 

31st Regt - last known commander LtCol Hüseyin Nurettin (Özsu) 9-16 to 3-17 but possibly Maj Sevket Bey commanded during this time (Oct to Dec 1917)

32nd Regt - possibly Maj Kazim Bey or Ahmet Hakki (Özgener)
138th Regt - possibly Maj Zia Bey KIA 16-11-17 or Maj Housni Bey (or he could have replaced Zia Bey after he was killed)

 

3rd Div Artillery - Maj Mehmet Sabri (Ercetin)

 

Hope this helps

 

S.B

Edited 12 April , 2017 by stevebecker

[Guest]

Mate,

 

I thought this may be of interest;

 

22nd Corps Staff officers

 

Oct-Dec 1917 at Syria-Palestine front

8th Army, 22nd AC Commander Staff Col. Refet Bey (MajGen Bele)
CoS of 22nd AC Staff Major Rıfat Bey ( Staff Lt. Col. Sözüer)
Staff Officer Staff Capt. M. Mazlum ( Colonelgeneral İşkora)
aide (adjutant) of Refet Bey Capt. İzzet ( Colonel General Aksalur)
Görgülü p.146

During Jan- Oct 25th1918

22nd AC Refet Bey
Cos Staff Maj. Galip Bey
Staff Officer Staff Capt. M. Mazlum (İşkora)
Görgülü p.150

 

Refet Bey (Bele) chief information (intell) staff officer 4th Army 1914 & 3rd Div 1914 to 4-15 & 7-15 to 9-16 & 53 Div 3-17 & 22nd Corps 10-17 to 9-18 & 20th Corps dates? & 3rd Corps dates?  Maj to LtCol to Col  born Thessaloniki 1881 died Istanbul 1963 P.1314-39 graduated on 1898 fought Italian War 1911 & to Maj 1913 Balkan War 1912/13 to LtCol 1915 to Col 1916 & War of Independance Minister of Interior and later as commander at the Western Front against the Greek armies Maj Gen 1922 tried in court but acquitted of the assassination of Atatürk in 1926 Retired:8.11.1926
 

Rifat Bey (Sözüer)  CofS 22nd Corps 10-17 to 12-17 Maj to ltCol (no details)

 

Muharrem Mazlum Efendi (Iskora)  Staff Capt - 22nd Corps 10-17 to 12-17 Capt  P. 1324(1908)-53 to Brigadier 1935 to Maj Gen 1936 to Lt Gen 1941 to Col Gen 1947 Retired:3.89.1951
 

M. Izzet Efendi (Aksalur)  ADC to Col Refet Bey - 22nd Corps Capt  P.(Inf.)1330(1914)-c-1 to WWI & War of Independance staff HQ of South Front Command att Cav Regt "Ankara" 1920 Director of Information Department of Turkish General Staff during the Great attack 1922 to Brigadier 1939 to Maj Gen 1941 to Lt Gen 1944 to Col Gen 1948 Retired 1.9.1959
 

Galip Bey  CofS 22nd Corps 1-18 to 10-18  Maj possibly PoW 10-18 (no other details)

 

Mehmet Sabri (Ercetin)  deputy 3rd Artillery Regt & Arty commander 22nd Corps & 41st Artillery Regt date? LtCol  1876 in Bursa – May 3 1956) 1313-Top.17 graduated 1897 Balkan War to Maj 1914 to LtCol 1917 & War of Independence 41st Artillery Regt & 8th Div & 4th Div & 14th Div to Col 1921 to Maj Gen 1922

 

Cheers

 

S.B

Edited 15 April , 2017 by stevebecker

[Guest]

Eran,

 

A Turkish mate sent me details from this date

 

" Hüseyin Hüsnü Emir Erkilet "Yıldırım" p.198
Nov 11th
Nothing has happened as important till evening on the front of 8th Army. It was seen a few enemy infantry companies against the 22nd AC front. It is seen also a few enemy cavalry at Essud. At 18:15 20th AC informed that 2 enemy CRs (cavalry Regts) and 2 I battalions (Infantry) were marching to Nebi Yunus.

p.206
At 11:00 22nd AC informed that an enemy CR and a artillery battalion was marching from Essud towards northwest. And another marching colonne was arrived to Barka departing from Essud, which both were in hurry to attack. 1-2 I battalions were preparing to attack at El Batanü'l Garbiye "

 

(brackets are mine)

 

Cheers

 

S.B

[Eran Tearosh]

Steve,

 

Thanks! 

 

I'm trying, here and there, to pick up more and more info regarding the Ottoman armies, and this a wonderful help!

 

As to "Yildirim" - What your friend quoted seems to proof, again, that this source is not very reliable as to the actual details, though it does give an invaluable look from within on the Ottoman view (By the way - what are the initials AC stand for?).

 

As to the specific details: Yildirim seems to ignore the Australian capture of Esdud on Nov. 10th & the Scottish action east of Esdud, during the 10/11th night, near El Batanü'l Garbiye (Or maybe it was mentioned a few pages before?). It relates briefly to the Nov. 11th Australian movement to Nebi Yunus but ignores the capture of the north bank of Nahr Sukerier and the bridgehead that was formed there. As to the action described on p. 206 - It seems to relate to the Nov. 12th battles around Barka & Brown Hill. The info regarding an Ottoman intent to counter-attack El Batanü'l Garbiye is new to me. I believe I have Yildirim somewhere - I'll try to "dive" into the details there.

 

Thanks again!

 

Eran

[Guest]

Eran,

 

Mate, Sorry AC (Army Corps)

 

Yes trying to fill out the other side of the hill (ottoman side) has been a bud bear of mine for some time.

 

Its always good to see what they say about our movements and forces.

 

Clearly the Ottoman reporting system was not that good, or they let a lot of Allied movements go unreported.

 

We see that often, and with such a poorly literate population (mostly only officers could read and write) its hard to say what the young officer was seeing and reporting to higher HQ, and or what they were doing sorting out that detail and placing it in the Army record book for us to read 100 years later.

 

Thanks to my Turkish mates I have built up a insight into the Ottoman Army during this time, so if you need any more details let me know.

 

He just sent me this on the Ottoman forces here;

 

"Yıldırım p.198
8th Army on Nov 11st at 11.30
22nd AC:
- 7th Div. on the hills north of Barka to Yazur.
- 3rd Div. At reserve at northwest of Başit
- 54th Div. 0n the hills of El Mesmiye

No contact was obtained from 53rd and 54th Divs of 20th AC. which were positioned at south of El Tire.

 

Mate, It appears the 53rd Div moved futher East while the 54th Div moved to replace it.

 

Known Orbat;

54th Div

shown Oct 1917 (3541 men 54 Mgs) 19th Regt (18 Mgs) 164th Regt (18 Mgs) 165th Regt (18 Mgs) - shown BOWH Oct 1917 (2738 men) 

 

shown Dec 1917 Allied reports 19th Regt (1200 men) 164th Regt (500 men) 165th Regt (600 men) 2xBns/59th Regt (800 men) -

 

shown Jan 1918 Allied reports (2700 men 36 Mgs 100 cav) 19th Regt (1200 men 12 Mgs) 164th Regt (500 men 12 Mgs) Bn/165th Regt (300 men 12 Mgs) att 59th Regt (800 men) 150 cav

 

shown June 1917 Allied reports - 3Bn's 14th FAR (24 guns) + AA sect (4x guns)

shown Turkish records Dec 1917 - 2Bn/50th FAR (8 guns) (reported lost all guns) 2Bn/13th FAR (8 guns) (lost 1 gun) shown att 5th Light field Obüs Bty/23rd FAR 4Bty/1st FAR 2Bn/2nd FAR 4Bty/14th FAR

 

The guns lost relate to those lost during fighting in Oct - Nov 1917

 

It also shows the heavy losses to this Division during the retreat, not only at this time, but later during other counter attacks up Palestine.

 

Cheers

S.B

Edited 18 April , 2017 by stevebecker

[Macnab]

Hello, Eran.

 

My grandfather, Henry Robertson Macnab, served in the 157^th Brigade as a Company Sergeant Major in the 5^th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

 

In the course of my researches about his service I have come to agree with you that the events of 8 to 12 November 1917 are disappointedly overlooked.  However, the events must have had particular importance to Harry because of the very few documents we have left, one is a sketch plan (attached) which recorded his movements during from 7 to 11 November (though he has written “Oct” !). 

 

I also agree that although Thompson’s Divisional History is extremely helpful in general, the section about these events is confusing, especially the regarding the dates, but Harry clearly indicates that you are correct that the battle took place on the night of 10-11 November. 

 

In your post of 9 April you mention the “white domed tomb” which was the landmark on their objective, and that you could find no trace of any tombs marked in that area.  However, you will see that on Harry’s map he has clearly marked “Graves” to the east of Esdud.  He must have thought that the graves were important, to have marked them on the map, so I associated them with the “white domed tomb”.    I wonder if you might agree?

 

Incidentally, are you able to tell me whether it is possible to access the maps in your post online, please, as I’d like very much to see them more closely, especially regarding the locations of the following weeks of the campaign.

 

Many thanks,

 

Steven

 

[Guest]

Mate,

 

The 1st ALH Bde reports in there war diary pages 6 & 7 

 

10 Nov 1917

 

the 157 Bde entered Esdud at 1510 hrs and at 1735 hrs developed an attack to our right and captured New beit Duras and the ridge which point 60 forms part by 1920 hrs.

 

11 Nov 1917

 

The Bde (1 ALH Bde) pushed out to Nahr Sukerier

 

(after that the 156 Bde gets a mention)

 

S.B

[Macnab]

Thanks, Steve, for the helpful detail.  I'll add it to my notes of the incident.

 

This shows what useful bits of information can be revealed by war diaries.  I would love to read the war diary for the 5th Argylls for the campaign in Egypt and Palestine but unfortunately it hasn't been published online yet by the UK National Archives.

Steven

[Eran Tearosh]

Steven,

Send me by PM your email address and I'll try to send you the maps (Each one is very heavy, so it will have to be sent via Jumbomail). Your grandfather’s sketch helps me a lot to establish the direction from which the 157th battalions moved east for the attack. Seems they were attacking from the direction near (North of) Beit Duras towards the area south of Butani el Gharbiye. As to the graves - remains a bit of a mystery. They don't appear in maps, but as we see, they are mentioned in texts and in the sketch. Probably, for some reason not found 'worthy' to mention by the PEF survey mapmakers in the 1870's (Maybe being a local 'new' cemetery - maybe of Beit Duras).

 

Steve,

I'm a bit confused about the use of the name "New Beit Duras" (What's 'new'?). As to "the ridge which point 60 forms part" - There's a tiny 60 on the PEF map, midway between Beit Duras and Butani el Gharbiye. Is that what you (They...) mean(t) by reference to point 60? If not - what/where is that point? What does this number relate to anyway?    

 

Eran

 

 

[michaeldr]

6 hours ago, Eran Tearosh said:

As to the graves - remains a bit of a mystery. They don't appear in maps, but as we see, they are mentioned in texts and in the sketch. Probably, for some reason not found 'worthy' to mention by the PEF survey mapmakers in the 1870's (Maybe being a local 'new' cemetery - maybe of Beit Duras).

 

The map has the graves marked in red, the same as the route taken by the unit

[whereas the topography and settlements etc are marked in black]

I would guess that to be important enough to mark in such a fashion

then the graves would probably be the temporary resting place of the fallen of this action

But that's just my guess

[Eran Tearosh]

Michael - makes sense to me!

 

Strange, but I can't find the whereabouts final resting place of the fallen (25) from this battle (Struggling with the new search format of CWGC records on their website): 3 officers and 16 O.R of the 5th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 5 O.R. of the 7th Highland Light Infantry, 1 O.R. of the 157th Machine Gun Company.

 

Eran

Edited 19 September , 2017 by Eran Tearosh

[Macnab]

Thanks Eran.  I'm glad that Harry's map was a help, and thank you for the offer to send me the maps.

 

My e-mail address is Stevenorange1984@aol.com.

 

Steven

[michaeldr]

18 hours ago, Eran Tearosh said:

Strange, but I can't find the whereabouts final resting place of the fallen (25) from this battle (Struggling with the new search format of CWGC records on their website): 3 officers and 16 O.R of the 5th Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 5 O.R. of the 7th Highland Light Infantry, 1 O.R. of the 157th Machine Gun Company.Eran

 

Eran

 

I agree that the new CWGC search facility is a wash-out
and I have tried to find these men using Geoff's [Geoff Sullivan] Search Engine - see  http://www.hut-six.co.uk/cgi-bin/search1421.php
however the list below does not agree with the figures which you gave for the 157th Brigade on 10-11NOV1917. 

Part of the problem could be deaths from wounds which occurred after 10-11NOV1917
and a further complication would be any deaths on those two dates (but which were the result of wounds received before the 10th November) will be included here in error
As the fighting at this time was virtually continuous, day after day and night after night, then there is also a risk that some deaths are recorded wrongly; eg 12th November instead of 10th or 11th.

 

This is what I have been able to find with name, DoD, and where buried or remembered

 

157th Company MGC (Infantry) 
D. McBride 10 Nov 1917 Jerusalem Memorial
A. Thompson 11 Nov 1917 Gaza

 

5th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
H. Dey 10 Nov 1917 Gaza
D. Hardie 10 Nov 1917 Gaza
R. Horn 10 Nov 1917 Gaza
J Hutchinson 10 Nov 1917 Gaza
C. M. Martin 10 Nov 1917 Gaza
P. McShane 10 Nov 1917 Gaza
D. M. Hamilton 11 Nov 1917 Deir el Belah
M. B. Millar 11 Nov 1917 Gaza
G. T. Watson 11 Nov 1917 Gaza

 

7th Battalion Highland Light Infantry
D. Bowman 10 Nov 1917 Jerusalem Memorial
W. Chapman 10 Nov 1917 Gaza
J. Cuthbertson 10 Nov 1917 Gaza
J. Kean 10 Nov 1917 Gaza
J. Kerrigan  10 Nov 1917 Gaza
A. McInnes 10 Nov 1917 Gaza
W Scurrah 10 Nov 1917 Jerusalem Memorial

 

[errors & omissions excepted] 

 

 

 

with best wishes for a Happy New Year

Michael

Edited 20 September , 2017 by michaeldr

[michaeldr]

The three officers named as casualties in the Divisional history all have the DoD as 10th Nov 1917, and all are buried at Gaza:-

Lieutenant BAXTER, JOHN, Died 10/11/1917, Aged 28, 1st/5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Son of John and Mary Baxter, of 68, Newton St., Greenock. Gaza 
Lieutenant CLARKE, JOHN SEYMOUR DENISON, Died 10/11/1917, Aged 22, 13th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlander. Son of Denison and Hester Clarke, of West Hill, Grahamstown, South Africa. Gaza 

Lieutenant HARRISON, RONALD, Died 10/11/1917, Aged 23, 11th Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), attd. 1st/5th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Son of John and Elizabeth Harrison, of "The Willows," St. Ives, Huntingdonshire. Gaza

[michaeldr]

There's not much information on this action to be gleaned from James Young's 'With the 52^nd Division in three continents' however he does say that at this time “...we had motor ambulance cars from Gaza and for the time our difficulties of transport were lightened. Our patients were carried back to Deir Sineid, to a section of the (Field) ambulance which we planted there as a link between us and Gaza, where a hospital was soon opened up.”

[McLean Museum]

Captain Ronal Brown of the 5th Argylls stated that Baxter 'was hit at Esdud in action there by machine gun and died shortly afterwards"

[Eran Tearosh]

As this thread 'came back'....

 

Last year, on the exact centennial date - we had quite a moving event on this battlefield:

 

 

 

The ceremony included the reveal of a sign post dedicated to the Great War. This one is the first of three that are to placed there -

A general one about the war & the Balfour Declaration

The second one about the battle of the 157th brigade on November 10-11th

The third one about the battle of the 156 brigade on November 12th

 

 

The second sign-post was finally put up last week (The graffiti will be cleaned.....)

 

 

 

Eran

 

Edited 20 July , 2018 by Eran Tearosh

[michaeldr]

Thanks for posting those photographs Eran, especially as I missed this event

(I was in the UK at that time, at a family reunion on Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland)

 

best regards

Michael

[Eran Tearosh]

20 hours ago, michaeldr said:

Thanks for posting those photographs Eran, especially as I missed this event

(I was in the UK at that time, at a family reunion on Hadrian's Wall, Northumberland)

 

best regards

Michael

 

Michael

 

OK, you're forgiven for not being there..... 

 

I'll send you a few dozens of photos - heavy, so by Jumbomail

 

Eran 

[michaeldr]

5 hours ago, Eran Tearosh said:

I'll send you a few dozens of photos - heavy, so by Jumbomail 

 

Received 

Many thanks Eran