Imperial Camel Corps

[leibregiment]

I recently picked up a single WW1 Victory medal to 9/2143A, L/Cpl A.V. Andersen N.Z.E.F, . Arthur Valentine Andersen AKA Anderson, he served with the 15th (NZ Company) Imperial Camel Corps...I have his papers but looking for a good book on the subject...has anyone research the 15th Company? or who can add to his story, many thanks, Paul  

[MaureenE]

There is an online transcribed book 

 

With the Cameliers in Palestine by John Robertson, formerly of the Fourth Battalion of the Imperial Camel Brigade, T. Major New Zealand Mounted Rifles. 1938. New Zealand Electronic Text Collection, Victoria University of Wellington Library.

 

There may be other online books of interest linked from  the FIBIS Fibiwiki page Egypt, Palestine, Syria (First World War)

https://wiki.fibis.org/w/Egypt,_Palestine,_Syria_(First_World_War)#Historical_books_online

 

Cheers

Maureen

edit:Typo

Edited 22 December , 2017 by Maureene

[Guest]

Mate,

 

Yes Robertson is the best on NZ ICC while the are a number of books by both British and Australian writers. (if you want more let me know).

 

I record him and his brother as;

 

Anderson    Arthur Valentine    9/2143    Tpr    Tos 15Co 7-16 RTA 12-11-17 MU (AMR) related George    Taniwha Waikato
 

Anderson    George    13/2292    Tpr    Tos 15Co 7-16 to 2 NZ MGS 7-18 (AMR) related Arthur    Taniwha Waikato
 

 

This is what the ICC was doing in July & Aug  1916

 

July 1916 shown four new ICC Co's from the ALHR and one from NZMR to be raised

(5 officers 1 Wo 7 Sgts 117 men total 130 men per Co) drawing 20 officers and 500 men from ALHR and 4 officers and 125 men from NZMR

 

4-7-16   new 7Co under Capt Gregorey (1st (Highland Yeomanry) Mtd Bde - 1/1 Scottish Horse, 1/1 Ayrshire, 1/1 Lanark, 1/1 Fife & Forfar, 1/1 & 1/2 Lovat Scouts and Lothians Yeo) arrived ICC depot

6-7-16   11Co under Lt Creswell (5 officers 123 men) arrived ICC depot

11-7-16   Lt Nicholson replaced Lt Adams 2Co & 2/Lt MacKenzie to 4Co

15-7-16   10Co under Lt Bardwell (5 officers 122 men) moved to Oasis Junction near Luxor (Lt's Wilkinson -Ashlin - others not confirmed)

15-7-16   12Co under Capt Smith (4 officers 120 men) or (5 officers 125 men) arrived ICC depot (Lt's Davidson -Conrick -Camm -Moore -Norris *** check me)

23-7-16   6Co under Maj de Knoop (5 officers 119 men 146 camels) moved to Ismailia (Lt's De Rutzen (2ic) -Tredinnick -Houghton -Pettit)

25-7-16   13Co under Capt Nobbs (5 officers 125 men 129 camels) arrived ICC depot  (Lt's Hawley -Tree -***

30-7-16   5Co 1/2 under Capt Wilson moved to Moghara to Alamein  (Lt's Brodie (2ic), -Bunbury -Streeter -Adams -possibly Brook)

31-7-16   5Co 1/2 under Lt Brodie to Wadi Natrun joined with No 5 LCP (Lt Williams Ex Pembroke Yeo)

31-7-16   LtCol Smith VC to gather 4Co 6Co 9Co & 10Co on the Canal

 

Aug 1916

 

2-8-16   half 4Co under Capt Langley (less Lt Cashman's half Co at Bir Hooker) loaded at Alamein moved to El Ferdan while Lt Cashman's half Co followed from Benna

3-8-16   4Co at El Ferdan moved to join 6Co 9Co and 10Co of Moblie Column under LtCol Smith

4-8-16   Camel Bn under Maj de Knoop formed (4Co 6Co 9Co & 10Co) with 4Co (4 officers 108 men 144 camels) & 10Co (4 officers 107 men 136 camels) moved to Bir el Mahadat for Romani operations

4-8-16   14Co under Capt Tolmer (5 officers 125 men) arrived ICC depot  (Lt's Hall -Bickford -Perry-Okden * other not recorded)

5-8-16   Camel Bn moved from Mahadat via Bada to Hill 385 with 6Co engagement at Hamisah

6-8-16   Camel Bn arrived Mageibra and moved to Bir el Aweidiya and engaged the Turks (4Co 6Co 9Co 10Co)

7-8-16   Camel Bn moved from Aweidiya to Bir el Bayud 11LHR captured prisoners, moved to Hod el Muhammam where Camel Bn with 4Co & 6Co attacked and Maj de Knoop & Lt the Barron De Rutzen OC 6Co were killed & Maj Bardwell 10Co took command and withdrawal to Mageibra (reported total columns (LH & Yeomanry and ICC) casualties 2 officers 12 men killed and 1 officer and 37 men wounded)

8-8-16   Camel Bn arrived Mageibra around 0200 bombed by plane & Lt Ashlin replaced Maj Bardwell 10Co & Lt Pettit replaced Lt the Barron De Rutzen 6Co killed at Hod el Muhammam

8-8-16   15Co NZ under Capt McCallum (5 officers 125 men) arrived ICC depot

9-8-16   4Co & 10Co under Maj Bardwell moved to Hill 280 near Hod el Bayud

10-8-16   4Co 9Co & 10Co moved to Bir el Abd to support LH who engaged at Mushalfat (Homossia) and retired to Bayud

11-8-16   4Co 9Co & 10Co under Maj Bardwell attacked by Turks at Bir el Bayud  Smith's Column retired to Mageibra

12-8-16   9Co att Troop 11 LHR to Bayud

12-8-16   1Co under Capt Wright (3 officers 110 men 4 natives 153 camels) still on operations at Kharga Oasis

12-8-16   reported Lt Brodie 5Co accidently killed at Wadi Natrun

13-8-16   4Co (4 officers 99 men 1 native 130 camels) reported Camel Bn lost 4 officers and 38 men casualties over period of fighting around Romani of whom the 4Co lost at lest 13 men

13-8-16   Smith's Column moved to Bayud

14-8-16   9Co patrol Bayud area

17-8-16   11Co 1/2 under Lt Campbell to Wadi Natrun

18-8-16   11Co 1/2 (2 & 3 sects) under Capt Creswell (3 officers 63 men 2 natives 80 camels) to Moghara to El Amein (Lt's Dawson -Bell -Lamb)

21-8-16   5Co under Capt Wilson (4 officers 115 men 140 camels) moved from Wadi Natrun and Moghara to El Ferdan 

26-8-16   10Co under Lt Ashlin or Wilkinson moved to Kharga Oasis

29-8-16   9Co to Shalluga & CSM Linford 4Co prom 2/Lt and O'Brien prom 2/Lt 1Co

29-8-16   war diary 5Co shows replaced 10Co at Bir el Bayud 10Co moved to Kharga Oasis

30-8-16   all ICC companies to increase to (179 men) 184 all ranks

 

Cheers

 

S.B

[leibregiment]

Maureen, Steve, that is fantastic just what I was after, many many thanks, Paul

[Martyzone]

Hi Paul have you been able to find much detail about the 15th Company Imperial Camel Corps? I'm researching my grandfather's - George Richard Parsons 11/542 - war years. He served on Gallipoli with the Wellington Mounted Rifles and later joined the 15th Co ICC. Both Maureene and Steve have been very helpful to me but the book With the Cameliers in Palestine by John Robertson is based on the movements of the 16th Company. It would be awesome to have detail like this on the 15th Company.

It would be interesting to hear if you've found more about the 15th Co.

Cheers 

Marty 

[Guest]

Mate,

Sorry other then Robertson there's not much else by NZ writers on the ICC.

 

The 15Co was the main NZ camel unit until it lost Bald Hill to the Turks in Nov 1917, after that it never saw action again untill it was broken up in July 1918.

 

As to your man I record him as;

 

Parsons    George Richard    11/524    Tpr    15Co Tos as cook 7-16 to L/Cpl 7-16 to T/Cpl 1-17 to Sgt 6-17 shown to hosp 21-12-17 or reported WIA 27-11-17 L/hand splinter shrapnel at Bald Hill (6R/WMR & 2Sqn/WMR)    from Masterton
 

There still some confusion on if he was sent to hosp Sick or was wounded at Bald Hill?

 

Of cause it could be both, as his wound at Bald hill may have been a minor one, and he stayed with his unit until he was sent hosp sick?

 

Cheers

 

S.B

Edited 2 October , 2018 by stevebecker

[Martyzone]

Hi Steve

Thanks for this. It's unfortunate that there is practically no written material on the 15th Company.  

My understanding about George Richard Parsons 11/542 is that he received a slight wound on 27 Nov 1917 then went off sick 21 Dec 1917.

Cheers

Marty

[Guest]

Mate,

 

I wrote some thing on this action which you may like to read;

 

BATTLE OF BALD HILL

By Steve Becker 

 

By the closing days of November 1917 the Camel Brigade had been in constant movement and action since the 29 October, having advanced from Beersheba to Jaffa in about four weeks, fighting a major battle and a number of skirmishes along the way, both animals and men were worn out. The camels unused to the hard rocky ground in Palestine then to the soft sands of the Sinai were tormented from sore feet which had crippled them by the hundreds and camel itch (a type of septic sore) had broken out and where the good old mange dressing was all that was keeping most alive, still numerous animals had to be destroyed. All companies in the Brigade were also suffering with this camel itch, which was passed on from the animals, the scratching kept the men awake and few received enough sleep, and their companies were now so reduced, in both men and camels, by disease and casualties, that they were a shadow of their former selves.

 

The Brigade at this time consisted of the following Troops;

 

Camel Bde HQ	Gen Smith VC
2nd British Battalion	LtCol Buxton	7th Co	Capt Gregory
		8th Co	Capt Paterson
		9th Co	Capt Newsam
		10th Co	Capt Wilkinson
3rd Anzac battalion	LtCol DeLancey-Forth	11th Co	Lt Dixon
		12th Co	Capt Norris
		13th Co	Capt Nobes
		14th Co	Capt Ranclaud
4th Anzac Battalion	LtCol Lee	15th NZ Co	Lt Black
		16th NZ Co	Capt Yerex
		17th Co	Capt Hampton
		18th Co	Capt Howard
26th MG Sqn	Maj Millar
Camel FA	LtCol Arnold

 

In the week following the battle at Khuweilfe, the Camel Brigade was moved along the Palestine coast, where the sandy soils of the coast were more agreeable to the animals then the hard ground of the mountains, there in support of the Yeomanry Division and the 52^nd Division, the Brigade fought and chased up the retreating 8^th Turkish Army.

 

On 13 November the 2^nd British Battalion supported by the 4^th Anzac Battalion assaulted the village of Yebna held by the 3^rd Turkish Division 22^nd Corps, the action was over quickly as the Turks retired before the Camel companies came into contact, however an unluckily HE shell fell into the 16^th Company killing Private John Bugde and wounding five soldiers.

 

During the 14 November the 2^nd Battalion supported the New Zealand Mounted Brigade at Ayun Kara, where the kiwi’s fought off a large force of the Turks. The 9^th Company at Kubeibe was committed late in the day.

 

Between the 16 and 17 November the Brigade was on the line, Abu Shusheh to Barriye, when they came under fire from the Turks, nevertheless no losses were recorded, and by the 19 November the Brigade was at Surafend.

 

On the 22 November the Camel Brigade was attached to the Anzac Mounted Division under General Chaytor and ordered to move to Bald Hill to cover the right flank of the Desert Mounted Corps under General Chauvel on the Nahr El Auja line. This feature was 8 miles northeast of Jafa and the 2^nd Battalion relieved the 7^th Light Horse Regiment at 10 am and occupied a line from Yehudiyeh in the south tying in with the 1/4^th Northamptonshire Battalion of the 54^th Division at Wilhelma and the 5^th Light Horse Regiment of the 2^nd Light Horse Brigade in the north around Mulebbis, who supplied and maintained mounted patrols covering the area around Bald Hill to the north and east. 

 

The 2^nd Battalion started to dig positions along the Bald Hill feature which lay between Mulebbis and Yehudiyeh. The ground needed to be covered was extensive with only the Brigade Machine Gun Squadron had arrived as support, for the remainder of the Camel Brigade were still on the move up from the Plains of Sharon. The battalion occupied the following positions, the 8^th Company under Captain Robert Paterson on the right over looking Yehudiyeh, the 7^th company under Captain Fleming Gregory in the centre, and one section of the 10^th company was on Bald Hill, the 9^th company under Captain Arthur Newsam with three sections of the 10^th company under Captain AG Wilkinson were held in reserve. The 5^th Australian Light Horse regiment continued the line from the north of Bald Hill towards Mulebbis.

 

 

On the 25 November the 4^th Anzac Battalion arrived, taking over the Bald Hill defences at 8 am and relieved the 2^nd Battalion which moved to Selmeh into reserve and was placed under orders to support the Anzac Mounted Division, while the balance of the Brigade bivouacked between Ibn Ibrak and Salmeh. The Camel Brigade was still without the support of any artillery as the Hong Kong and Singapore Battery had been attached to the Yeomanry Division on the 17 November, and was now making their way to Jerusalem.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Charles Lee Commanding the 4^th Anzac Battalion deployed one section of the 17^th Company on a commanding position to the extreme right in post 1 on Point 249 overlooking Yehudiyeh, the 15^th NZ Company under Lieutenant Alexander Black was placed on the left flank around Bald Hill, with two section each in posts 5 & 6 with post 5 on Bald Hill, also called Point 265, the 16^th NZ Company under Captain George Yerex provided three posts 2, 3 & 4 between these flanks taking in Yafa Hill and Point 266 and Point 286. The 18^th Company under Captain Stan Howard with three sections of 17^th company under Captain John Hampton and Battalion HQ were held in close reserve and dug in to the rear and south of Point 288, also called Lone Tree Hill or One Tree Hill, about 400 yards southwest of Bald Hill. No patrols were placed by the 4^th Anzac Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Lee instead relying on the 2^nd Light Horse brigade to inform him of any Turkish movement to his front by their standing patrols.

 

Bald Hill was a large open whale-backed feature which dominated the surrounding area, it was exposed to all sides and little cover was available only a strip of cactus on the northern side, there were also a number of large Almond tree orchards around the area in front of Bald Hill, which units of the Light horse were garrisoning. The main feature was broken by a re-entrant between Lone Tree Hill and Yafa Hill, while a number of small wadis cut the surface between Bald Hill and Lone Tree Hill which was to its rear.  Bald Hill was an important position in the defence of Jaffa as its loss and a Turkish breakthrough there would expose the Allied defences along the Nahr El Auja and force General Chauvel to retire south of Jaffa, and so it was vital that Bald Hill had to be held.

 

By the end of November the Allied offensive around Jaffa was now wearing down, as the threat moved towards Jerusalem. The German Commander General Von Falkenhayn was committed to relieving this pressure on his Seventh Army under Fevzi Pasha in its defence of Jerusalem, and the Eighth Turkish Army under Kress Von Kressenstein was ordered to counterattack the exposed Allied line along the Northern flank. As new Turkish Divisions began to appear these enabled him to plan a number of attacks all along the Northern front, particularly the area of Nahr El Auja, where Colonel Refet Bey, the commander of the 22^nd Turkish Corps with the 20^th and 16^th Turkish Division’s were given the objective of Bald Hill and the surrounding area to cut off allied troops in the Nahr El Auja.

 

The Veteran 20^th Division, under Lieutenant Colonel Yasin Hilmi, and its Regiments, the 61^st under Lieutenant Colonel Bahattin, the 62^nd under Major Nazmi, and the 63^rd Turkish Infantry under Major Ahmet Muhtar, and with the 20^th Artillery Regiment (16x 75mm Field Guns and 4x 105mm Howitzers of the 4th Light field Obüs Bty/41st FAR), under Major Suleyman Avni, had just arrived at the Palestine front fresh from its victories in Galicia where a special Storm Battalion of trained storm troops including flamethrowers and grenadiers were grouped from the 19^th and 20^th Turkish Infantry Divisions for the 15^th Turkish Corps, it is not known if some of these troops were with the 20^th Division, as most of the Storm Battalion were attached to the 19^th Division during there attack against the 3^rd Light Horse Brigade at El Burj, probably something like a mixed company group of these trained assault troops appear to have been with the 20th Division. The 16^th Division was by this time exhausted by weeks of warfare having completed a fighting withdraw from Gaza and its Regiments the 48^th, the 79^th and 125^th Turkish Infantry, were all under strength, nevertheless unquestioningly carried out their part in the following battle, attached to the 22^nd Corps was the 73^rd Heavy (Agir) Howitzer Artillery Battalion with eight 150cm Heavy Howitzers.

 

The 20^th Division completed their assembly into the area of Ras el Ain and Mejdel Yaba by the 25 November, and then began to filter into the area around Mulebbis fitting next to the 16^th Turkish Division already in the line. The 2^nd Light Horse Brigade had quickly detected them and engaged small groups of Turks on the 26 November and a force of four thousand Turks were observed moving in the area north the old Jewish colony of Mulebbis, only the ground was cut by orchards and the main force was skilful enough to build up undisturbed for the attack.

 

When the 4^th Anzac Battalion had taken over its new area they commenced to dig their defences, however tools were short and only superficial work was completed on the trenches which had been dug in the stony ground, still since the battalion was in support of the 2^nd Light Horse Brigade and would probity move, not enough of the defences had been completed at the time of the attack. The departing British 2^nd Camel Battalion had informed there relief that Mulebbis village, to there northern front was full of eggs, milk and oranges, nonetheless patrols from the NZ companies failed to locate any, little knowing that the Turks had filtered into the town. For the last few days indications were seen that the Turks was planning something big as columns of transport could be seen in the distance, still no Turks were seen in front of Bald Hill and escaped detection by the Light Horse.

 

At 6.15 am on the 27 November a intense concentrated barrage of Turkish artillery fell on Mulebbis, Bald Hill and on the 54^th Division in the area of Wihelmia, the combined 4.2’s and 5.9’s of the 20^th and 16^th Turkish Artillery Regiments and the 73^rd Heavy Artillery Battalion forced the troops to their trenches allowing a large force of around four thousand Turks to overrun and capture the town of Mulebbis from a thin skirmish line of the 6^th Light Horse Regiment, who retired in front of them inflicting casualties on the Turks as they left an Almond orchard around the village. The Turkish artillery could be seen firing from the plain below while the movement of the Turks could be followed, still without any attached guns the Camel Brigade could do little to break them up. By 8.30 am a strong force of about 400 men from the 61^st Turkish Infantry Regiment using this orchard as a forming up point, attacked the exposed left flank of the 15^th company on Bald Hill around Posts 5 and 6, the New Zealanders held their posts with difficulty as the Turks worked their way along both flanks, as an intense cross fire and bomb fight developed, however in the end the section posts 5 and 6 were overrun or in the words of one kiwi “were compelled to retire” some time before 9 am.

 

At Post 5 during this fight Lieutenant Clifford Gorringe 15^th Company, soon found he was driven out by this sudden attack, then at once counterattacked with the survivors, and directed fire on the exposed Turks, and inspired his men with his bravery, as this contest lasted for some time till he was wounded, shot in the head. The fighting was fierce around these exposed posts and Sergeant William Trott was shot in the thigh and Private Tom Boyd was shot in the back, while others were hit by shell fire of whom Sergeant George Parsons was hit by a splinter in the arm, and Private Victor Wright in the leg, while Private Charles McArthur was seriously wounded and died later in the day. The garrison was slowly reduced by casualties, then fearing encirclement the company was forced to give ground. Mean while at another post Sergeant Leslie Purves soon found him self cut off by both shell and machine gun fire, and carried the seriously wounded Lieutenant Sam Gooding to the rear when the company was ordered to retire. This retirement happen abruptly and the company abandoned much equipment, which could not be recovered, as the men quickly moved to the reserve positions around Lone Tree Hill, carrying their wounded and fighting as they moved.

 

The sudden withdrawal by the 15^th company put the entire Brigade defences in danger, as the Turks were energetic to take advantage of the collapse around Bald Hill with the abandonment by the 15^th company, which now exposed the 16^th company, who had to fight the Turks attacking on their rear and flanks, no request for reinforcement or to retire was sent by Lieutenant Black to Lieutenant Colonel Lee, and their collapse happen within half an hour of the first assault.

 

With the left flank of the 16^th Company now in the air, they continued to struggle during which Sergeant James Adams of 16^th company was prominent in the action holding post 4 against heavy odds and suffering 50% casualties. Among the casualties was Private Ash Giles (16Co), who was shot in the arm and leg, Corporal Percy Coxhead (15Co) shot in the arm, along with Pat Colbert (16Co) and Horace Couchman (16Co) wounded, still they continued to fight, as the long morning dragged on.

 

Around midday Lieutenant Colonel Lee became aware of the serious trouble with his command and realized that the 16^th company was about to be surrounded and captured, regardless of holding on all morning, and now ordered posts 2, 3 and 4 held by the 16^th company and a number of survivors of the 15^th company to be abandoned before they were cut off. Despite the valiant defence by the New Zealanders its withdrawal resulted in a running fight in trenches and along a cactus hedge as the troops struggled to retire to the 18^th Company positions in rear of Bald Hill near Lone Tree Hill.

 

On arrival Trooper Robert Maxwell of the 16^th company found his mate missing during the withdrawal and returned the 500 yards threw the Turkish positions found his mate and rescued him under the eyes of the Turkish troops and regaining the 18^th company trenches to the cheers of his comrades.

 

Part of the reason for the disaster that day was due to the lack of any artillery attached to the Camel Brigade, this had tragic consequences as the companies had been unable to break up the exposed Turkish concentrations before they reached our lines, and when they reached our posts the overused New Zealand companies had little to stop the heavy flanking attacks on their exposed positions. Another reason for the collapse were the use of these new Storm Troops and tactics used by the Turks, who outflanked the posts and showered them with hand grenades, while the defenders were kept to their posts by machine gun and artillery fire, this was assisted by five Taubes which were constantly over head observing for their guns, which pounded our trenches continuously.

 

By 12.30 pm all posts had been abandoned, other then one section of the 17^th company which remained in post 1, casualties thought were not heavy with one man killed and two officers and 27 men wounded during in the action.

 

As the exhausted troops reorganized, the Turks quickly occupied the vacant posts and turned Bald Hill into a fortress contending themselves with this valuable position instead of advancing towards Jaffa to complete their victory.

 

At Corps headquarters the loss of Bald Hill caused considerable alarm and much finger pointing at the Camel Brigade, and forced General Chaytor to order its immediate recapture, this was in part due to the problems on the right flank, with the 1/4^th Northamptonshire Battalion at Wilhelma and Yehudiyeh who were under heavy pressure from the 48^th and 125^th Turkish regiments (16^th Division) which due to the withdrawal of the Camel Brigade on their left, were in danger of being overrun. General Smith was insistent that as a matter of honour an attack is put in before dark by Lieutenant Colonel Lee and the 4^th Battalion was ordered to recover the ground abandoned during the day.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Lee quickly began to organize this counterattack, to carry out his plan, he had only the well-used 16^th company, still they were familiar with the objective and were more then willing to regain their former posts, also the attacking force would have two sections each from the 17^th and 18^th company, and a section from the newly arrived 7^th company, to carry out the attack, while the remainder of the battalion was needed to occupy the defences. The 2^nd Battalion had been released from the Anzac Mounted Division reserve at 10 am, and ordered to move from Selmeh to the Camel Brigade’s exposed right flank to cover the area south from Yafa Hill and Wilhelma this allowed the 4^th Battalion to concentrate for their counterattack. The 10^th company relieved the single section of the 17^th company at post 1 on Point 249 at 3 pm while the 7^th company moved to support the 4^th Battalion as the remainder of the 2^nd Battalion dug support and reserve lines, the brigade machine gun squadron was committed to support the battalion, and Private William Gordon was killed by shell fire. By 7.30 pm patrols had reported the Turkish positions around the objectives and the attack went in at 8 pm in darkness.

 

The 16^th NZ Company was after blood since it was one of there own companies who had lost Bald Hill, still what followed during the night was confused and bloody fighting.  Both 16^th and 18^th company advanced in line on section fronts in two lines supported by the 17^th company, and quickly overran the first line of Turkish posts, which were held by only a thin skirmish line, however the higher the troops advanced the more exposed they became. The 16^th company regained posts 4 and 3 below and to the right of Bald Hill at the point of the bayonet and much butchery. Sergeant James Adams was conspicuous in this work leading a bayonet charge, only to be stabbed in the struggle with a Turk, and despite his serious wound, consolidated the position won and a prisoner and machine gun were taken, only to die later from his wounds. Private Carroll Sandford and Private Bob McSkimmer were also seriously wounded during the melee and soon died from their wounds. The 17^th company now moved through the 16^th company to recover post 2, with Lieutenant James Archibald, who led the section of the 7^th company in the assault, which assisted the 17^th company regaining post 2 from the Turks on Yafa Hill, during which Private John Dunlop 17^th Company was mortally wounded.

 

As the men gained their 1st objectives, having retaken most of the posts abandoned earlier in the day, it left only post 5 and 6 around Bald Hill to be recovered, still any advance by the two sections of the 18^th company towards the top of the hill was meet with an overwhelming fusillade from hidden machine guns and riflemen. 

 

The cameleers found that the Turkish position was well defended, and any advance were exposed to the enemies cross fire, still the men struggled for over an hour supported by Lieutenant Ronald Mackenzie 16^th company to gain this last post and regain their honour, in spite of everything it was for naught, and about 9.15 pm the troops were ordered to retire to the positions already recovered. By 9.30 most of the lower trenches were cleared having recaptured most of the lost posts, other then the main positions on Bald Hill, which held out against all efforts by the 4^th Anzac Battalion and with casualties mounting Lieutenant Colonel Lee ordered all companies to hold what had been gained and to await the dawn. The Turks counterattacked during the night, still never in overwhelming numbers and with the help of a captured machine gun kept them at a distance.

 

Once the warming rays of the mornings sun came out, patrols soon discovered that Bald Hill was now occupied by more than 500 Turks entrenched with Machine guns and was now too strong for the 4^th Anzac Battalion to capture alone. Casualties in the 17^th and 18^th company numbered approximately 30 wounded while the losses in the 16^th company were not recorded.

 

General Smith realized that the hill and the Turkish penetration could just as well be contained and controlled by fire from three sides, and rather then risk more lives in a direct assault against the salient in the line, he instead proposed to hold his present positions provided that he was given some artillery support, this was agreed to by both General Chauvel and Chaytor, and the Camel Brigade took measures to hold what had been regained with artillery batteries from the 54^th Division and the 2^nd Light Horse Brigade now directed to support the Camel Brigade.

 

While the battle was raging around Bald Hill on the 27 November the Turks had attacked in other areas along the front constantly probing for a weak spot along the Allied line, still all positions held and only Bald Hill was reported lost that day. The position of the 1/4^th Northamptonshire Battalion at Wihelmia was controlled late in the day by a counterattack of the Brigade reserves, and with the help of all batteries of the 54^th Divisions artillery.

 

In the morning of the 28 November the battle had quieted down until 10.20 am when post 1 was heavily shelled till 11.30 am, while the rest of the posts continued to be shelled through the day, mortally wounding Private Sid Coleman 18^th company who was hit in the head, the Turks did not attack contending themselves on working on their defences and resting after a bitter night. At 8.50 pm that night the 4^th Anzac Battalion was relieved by the 3^rd Battalion which had been waiting in reserve, its companies had been hard hit in the fighting at Tel el Khuweilfeh and despite the reduced strength of the companies occupied all posts and extended the old trenches as well as exchanging fire with the ever observant Turks.

 

The Camel Brigades position now had the 2^nd Battalion south of Yafa Hill holding the right flank while over looking Willimina, next in line was the 3^rd Battalion holding the old defences of the 16^th company taking in Yafa Hill and Point 266 and Point 286 along the south-eastern part of Bald hill, then the 4^th Battalion now concentrated around One Tree Hill. All battalions had dug both reserve and support trenches in depth and barbed wire were delivered and over the next few days the position was developed and extended. The 2^nd Light Horse Brigade continued the line from One Tree Hill towards the Auja River and Tel Abu Zeitun.

 

On the 29 November while the Turks again remained inactive during the day, other then their artillery which again shelled the posts searching with his guns along the trenches, during which Lieutenant Aubrey Bickford MC, Adjutant 3^rd Battalion was wounded when hit in the right thigh by a piece of shrapnel. At the Camel Brigade HQ General Smith and Lieutenant Colonel Lee planned a raid for that night to bomb Turkish work parties, which were active on the defences of Bald Hill, this in cooperation with a raid by the 6^th Light Horse Regiment, who were to assist with two troops (A and B Troops) from A Squadron under Captain Stuart Tooth and would advance from the north while the cameleers attacked from the south. The 2^nd Battalion was asked to assist and Captain Fleming Gregory Commanding the 7^th Company was ordered to send 2 sections to support the 4^th Anzac Battalion by occupying the vacant posts, Captain Gregory instead decided to bring his whole company to help and was relieved by the 9^th company that morning. During the afternoon the 7^th company was hit by shell fire with one shell falling on a section of trench occupied by Fleming Gregory, a well liked British officer, killing him and wounding Lieutenant James Archibald and forcing Lieutenant John Bell-Irving to assume command of the company.

 

Lieutenant Black’s reduced 15^th company (about 60 men) was chosen to carry out the raid as it had held Bald Hill and knew the ground, and using the cover of the darkness moved up to the 3^rd Battalion trench near post 4, which were the closest to the Turkish works on Bald Hill. At 10 pm an artillery barrage from B Battery HAC and the Inverness Battery fell on Bald Hill and under cover of this fire the New Zealanders of the 15^th company moved forward at the rush with the bayonet and were met by the Turks with bomb and bayonet, as a desperate fight developed when the New Zealand troops drove the Turks up the hill where stores lost on the 27 November by their company were recovered, still once near the top of Bald Hill they found Turkish resistance growing.

 

It appears at the same time the cameleers and Light Horse had attacked Bald Hill, a Turkish force of 300 men were about to commence their own attack and the 6^th Light Horse ran into them forcing both forces to go to ground as they became strongly engaged firing at each other in the dark,  two other ranks (Ray Bloodworth and Henry Christie A Troop) were killed and Lieutenant Robert Ronald A Troop with a number men were wounded as the 6^th Light Horse was forced back on their supports exposing the 15^th company which despite its success had been ordered to retire at the completion of its task, the company retired back to their trenches as fighting went on during the night as the Turks shelled the 2^nd Light Horse brigade and Camel Brigade defences and the night sky was lit by the flashes of exploding shells and flares till around midnight when the firing died down. All of the 15^th company where safely back in the 3^rd Battalion trench by 2.20 am having suffered three casualties during the night.

 

In morning of the 30 November the troops stood to arms, however the Turks made no attempt to attack, nevertheless artillery fire on both sides increased and any movement attracted the keen eye of Turkish spotters on top of Bald Hill. To the north the night battle between the 6^th Light Horse and the Turkish forces continued and the Turks who had gained a number of posts from the 6^th Light Horse during the night now found themselves exposed and with help from C Squadron 7^th Light Horse, under Major Nat Barton, counterattacked capturing two officers and 146 Turkish soldiers and four new Bergman type 15 Light machine guns and winning Lieutenant Gilbert Finlay DCM, the Military Cross.

 

The afternoon pasted with insignificant fire, as the Turks appeared demoralized by the night and morning battles, this respite allowed the men to continue working on the defences and permitted the companies to be relieved, as the terrain around Bald Hill took on the appearance of the battlefields of France, with large areas of trenches and wire began to appear, as the companies pushed forward constructing new lines and tying in all posts held. The night of the 30 November pasted without any major fighting instead both sides contending to improve their positions as snipers ruled the dark. It was during this time that the 62^nd Regiment relieved the fatigued 61^st Regiment in the firing line taking over the line from Bald Hill to the Auja River while the 63^rd Turkish Regiment continued the line to the area of the 16^th Division around Wihelmia.

 

The first day of December was also quite, other then Turkish snipers and between 4.30 and 6 am the men stood to before commencing the day’s activities. The odd burst of artillery fire which all to often betrayed that intrepid person trying to move around the battlefield, was all to be heard as the work continued on the defences, which around Lone Tree Hill was turned into a redoubt and new works were commenced during the day and those men not working tried to rest in the shade of their trenches from the burning sun.

 

German aircraft were active helping the long range artillery by spotting and one salvo scored hits on the camel lines near Brigade HQ at Ibn Ibrak and Sakia killing Lieutenant Horace Hallam R.A.S.C the Brigade Admin Officer, and a large number of animals which were barracked in close formation near the watering point. The 3^rd Battalion still working on the new works was shelled heavily late in the day wounding two men and damaging the posts, Private Harold Cummin 11^th Company, was evacuated to the 2^nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, only to die from his wounds that night. Once darkness came the Turks were heard working on their defences as snipers came out to snipe at the men, of whom Private John Currie of the Brigade machine gun squadron was killed. 

 

 

The 2 December was again quite, other then irregular shelling of all posts, as most of the troops tried to rest after a night of work parties, which had kept most busy doing what labour could not be done during the day, and Lieutenant Leslie White 11^th Company was wounded during this exchange. Turkish long range artillery was still used to keep the supply columns under fire disrupting the resupply of the forward companies. The Camel Corps Field Ambulance had been busy over the week administering and recovering the wounded, while doing this valiant work under fire, three of its doctor’s Captain’s Henry Dolman, William Collier and Sam Seccombe, along with Private Edward McMahon, a stretcher bearer, were themselves wounded on the 27 November, when an enemy plane came over machine gunning the wounded around the Field Ambulance and where because of over crowding a number of the wounded were recovered to the 2^nd Light Horse Field Ambulance, who had set up a clearing station for both Brigades. The night was quite as the work continued on the defences repairing damage extending and improving the posts.

 

On the 3 December after stand to, another raid was ordered to take place that night, Lieutenant Colonel Lee alerted the 17^th company, being the strongest company remaining in the Battalion, to move up to post 9, situated in the 3^rd Battalion trenches, that afternoon, and the 18^th company was alerted to support if needed. The plan was for the company to discover how strongly the enemies position were held, and three officers were attached to inspect the defences and report on them, as the force was only to be in the enemies trenches for 10 minutes before returning. The attached officers were Lieutenant Richard Camm, sent to see how many men could be held in the Turkish trenches, Lieutenant Vic Adolph, to see at what stage the Turks were at in their construction and Lieutenant Edward O’Keefe 18^th Company, to check their observation posts.

 

The attacking company could muster six officers and 100 other ranks (with the three attached officers) to carry out the raid, the foray was to attack from the south, the same direction used on the 29 November, and a similar raid was once more planned by the 6^th Light Horse to support this raid, it was composed from A and C Squadron under Captain Doug Close, with five officers and 100 men. Lieutenant Adolph the 4^th Anzac Battalion intelligence officer carried out a reconnaissance of the Turkish position in the afternoon, and at 7.40 pm the 17^th company left its trench moving up a small nullah from post 9, to a form up point within 300 yards of the Turkish line, allowing the troops to line the nullah till the artillery fell at H Hour.

 

At 7.55 pm after a 10 minute bombardment, Captain John Hampton signalled the attack allowing the men time to reach the trenches before the guns would be switched to cut off the Turks escape to the rear, while the Brigades machine guns would support the main attack. The 17^th company started to advance in line on a section front in three waves, the Battalion Padre Captain Ignatius Bossence joined with the attacking force setting a fine example to the men, however again things began to go wrong from the start.

 

The Turks quickly recognized that an attack was coming, and moved out of their trenches into no mans land to escape the worst of the shell fire, which allowed them time to prepare for the attack. The attacking company ran straight into a prepared Turkish defence and a bayonet fight ensued as a line of spider holes were found 50 metres from their front line containing a skirmish line of Turks, they showered the men with bombs inflicting a large number of casualties before they were all killed, still not before disorganizing and delaying the assault. Meanwhile on the left flank the 6^th Light Horse found they had been blasted out of their positions by what they believed to be a defective gun, which was short shooting, they lost about 23 men wounded before the barrage lifted disorganizing their attack.

 

The main Turkish line was then attacked, only the Turks opened with shell fire onto their own position, and the cameleers could make no head way against a stiffening Turkish line, which by chance, had missed the intended point of entry, and so lost the full benefit of supporting artillery and machine gun fire. The cameleers tried moving along the outer line to find a weak spot to break in and capture the Turkish posts still no where they could gain a foot hold.

 

Adding to their problems that night were two of the three officers attached to look at the Turkish defences, now found themselves wounded during the wild fight along the outer trenches, and two sections of the 18^th company were committed, until they at last gained entry into the objective, which allowed only a brief inspection before the whistle was blown to order the retirement.

 

With the raid now completed Captain Hampton ordered all troops back to the start point, with the 10 minutes allowed for the raid long passed. When the troops retired machine guns from the 3^rd Battalion opened on the enemies defences which prevented the recovery of all the wounded. Captain Hampton stayed to help and his direction of the withdrawal enabled all of the wounded to be recovered with the help of Sergeant Lionel Towner, who rescued a number of men in front of the Turkish trenches, they were the last men to return with the Padre, who went among the troops and wounded keeping their spirits up, and by 9.40 pm all had returned other then Lieutenant Adolph who stayed to complete a final check on the enemies works before arriving back carrying a wounded man. Only one man (Trooper James Fairbairn) was believed left in the Turkish’s trenches, as he had been killed, and could not be recovered. The Turks still alarmed by the raid continued to shell the area till 10 pm when all fell silent.

 

The 6^th Light Horse to the north had still advanced at H hour plus 10 and reached their objective bayoneting 20 Turks from the 2^nd Battalion 57^th Regiment (19th Division), where they stayed long enough in the Turkish’s trenches to capture three prisoners from the 57^th Regiment and one prisoner from the 1st Battalion 52^nd  Regiment (possibly 62^nd Regiment) and some rifles before returning with the required information with the loss of one officer (Owen Tooth) and one other rank (Brian Barton) killed and one officer (Norman Dickson) and 22 men wounded.       

 

The casualties in the 17^th company were reported as two other ranks killed (Albert Cox and James Fairbairn) while Corporal Henry Johnson died of wounds on the battlefield and four officers and 32 men were wounded, in the 18^th company Sergeant Albert Chard was killed when hit in the head by a piece of shell fragment while waiting in support and 16 men wounded. Captain Graham Shipway the Battalion medical officer worked tirelessly throughout the night dispatching the casualties back to the rear, clearing all the wounded, by 2 am a further four men died of their wounds that night or over the next few days (Bill Bryce, Archie Duncan, Elias Pryor and Harry Punshon).

 

Defending Bald Hill at this time was the 62^nd Turkish Infantry Regiment under Major Nazmi Bey, who reported coming under heavy artillery and machine gun fire around 8.30 pm, when an ambush attack was conducted on them, which they controlled the battle after a counterattack was sent in by the reserves of the Regiment. Facing the 6^th Light Horse Regiment were elements of the 2^nd Battalion 57^th Regiment (19^th Div) under Ali Bey to the north of Bald Hill, when their posts were attacked. Post 1 (containing 18 men) was hit hard by shell fire, and post 2 (with 20 men and two machine guns) was to the right near the road, while post 3 was held by 20 men from the 52^nd Regiment (possibly 62^nd Regiment (20^th Div). Ali Bey was in post 1 when the attack began and he at once sent a messenger for the reserves in post 4, however the messenger was killed. Ali Bey then requested help from post 2, who sent half there strength (10 men) to post 1, which now contained around 28 men. The garrison of post 1 was taken by surprise, when the Light Horse found the Turks with there heads down due to the artillery fire, killing or capturing all including Ali Bey, who was reported killed, being shot be a rifle bullet. A reinforcement of 90 men under a Sergeant were dispatch to retake post 1, only to be hit by artillery fire which killed or wounded many of the men and broke up this move allowing the Light Horse to retire with there prisoners.

 

British Intelligence reports say, the Camel Brigade captured three men from the 57th Turkish Regiment and one from the 62nd Regiment, while the 2nd Light Horse Brigade reported 5 prisoners of the 57th Regiment and 20 men bayoneted.

 

The 4 December passed quietly, other then the odd shell fire, when at 3 pm three German planes appeared overhead resulting in a storm of fire on all posts along the line till it eased off at 5.30 pm. One gun continued to fire during the night at post 10 in the 2^nd Battalion area with one shell every 10 minutes and Turkish snipers were out in force till 11 pm when all went quiet.

 

The 2^nd Battalion in the meanwhile had spent the last week covering Yafa Hill, and other then suffering heavily artillery fire, had not been attacked, the Battalion had supported the 54^th Division on their right with fire during the emergency late on the 27 November only most of the time contending themselves with holding three posts with half companies and providing fire support for the 3^rd Battalion on the left and the 54^th Division at Yehudiyeh and Wilhelma.

 

On the 5 December the front line was relieved at 11 pm by the Auckland Mounted Rifles, as the Brigade exchanged with the New Zealand Mounted Brigade.  That night as the led camels were brought up and they prepared to leave, the Turks constantly on the alert detected the movement and shelled all positions of whom three men were reported killed, however two men can be confirmed in the records (Arthur Peace 18^th Company and Tom Bedelph Canterbury Mounted Rifles) with a number of animals. While waiting for the relief Private John Romaro was sent from the 3^rd Battalion HQ with a camel and cachalots to pick up two wounded men, during his movement to the front missed the posts and wandered lost into the Turkish defences and soon found him self captured by a German Staff officer and Staff on a reconnaissance.

 

The Camel Brigade once relieved moved back passed Jaffa through thick mud as it had now begun to rain in buckets and the men and animals struggled passing the plains of Sharon and Gaza back to Shellal arriving 2 pm on the 11 December for a well errand rest.

 

One of the sad results of this battle happened two days after the Brigades return to Shellal, when a Court of Inquiry was held into the loss of Bald Hill, its loss had caused some concern at GHQ, and held Lieutenant Colonel Lee and Lieutenant Alexander Black, the Commanding Officer of the 4^th Anzac Battalion and Officer Commanding 15^th NZ Company, responsible for its capture, Lieutenant Colonel George Langley said, its loss had been due to Lee not putting out patrols or forming an outpost line from the main posts on the 27 November to warn of the enemies approach, while others said that there was the problem of the tactical position occupied by the battalion in that the posts were not properly dug or wired allowing the Turks to drive the garrisons out by strong artillery fire.  Only it should be said that Lee and his battalion didn’t expect to stay long in the position they were in, having been on the move for a month they believe that they would again be on the move, also they were only in support of the 2^nd Light Horse Brigade and possibly that was the reason for all companies not digging in appropriately. Whether he was to blame for the loss or not is hard to say still the court of inquiry found Lieutenant Colonel Lee responsible and he was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Mills MC, who was promoted and posted from the 1^st Battalion and took command on the 14 December 1917, while Lee, the son of a well known New England politician was returned to Australia, and Lieutenant Black was also replaced and returned to New Zealand.

 

On the 1 January the 3^rd Battalion now reduced through illness and casualties were sent back to the Canal, the 13^th company not having been heavily engaged over the last month was sent to the 4th Battalion on the 30th December replacing the reduced 15^th (NZ) company which returned with the 3^rd Battalion. The 1^st Battalion arrived from the Canal on the 16th January with strength of 23 officers and 660 other ranks.

 

Total Brigade casualties for the month of November were recorded in the War Diary as five officers and 23 other ranks killed, 12 officers and 109 other ranks wounded and two missing, most of these losses were at Khuweilfe earlier in the month.

 

The Battle casualties for December at Bald Hill were reported as two officers and five other ranks killed, seven officers and 44 other ranks wounded and three missing.

 

The brake down of casualties for the Battalions at Bald Hill is harder to uncover for the 2^nd Battalion reported only one officer (Captain Gregory) and one man killed and one officer and six men wounded, with one other rank dying of wounds, still neither were they heavy engaged over the month.

 

New Zealanders of 15^th and 16^th company reported only one other rank killed and two officers and 16 men wounded, of who one officer (Lieutenant Gooding) and six other ranks died of wounds, this would seem erroneous as 27 men were reported casualties on the 27 November, and probity many of these remained with their units with minor wounds.

 

The Australians of the 3^rd and 4^th Anzac Battalions had lost six other ranks killed while six officers and 67 other ranks were reported wounded, of whom 11 other ranks died of wounds, two other ranks were reported missing, of which one was known captured, the other killed in action and left in the Turkish trenches.

 

The 26^th Camel MG Company reported two men killed and one officer and three other ranks wounded, of which one died of wounds.

 

From the Camel Brigade HQ, one officer was killed (Lieutenant Hallam).

 

The following men were recommended or received these awards,

 

Capt/Rev	Bossence	IE	MC	4Bn
Capt	Hampton	JW	MC	4Bn
Lt	Adolph	VE	MC	4Bn NZ
Lt	Gorringe	CRMc	MID	4Bn NZ
Lt	Kinkead	JJB	MC	4Bn
Lt	Tree	RE	MC	4Bn
Lt	Archibald	J	MC	2Bn
Sgt	Adams	JA	MM	4Bn NZ
Sgt	Purves	LD	DCM	4Bn NZ
Sgt	Towner	LG	DCM	4Bn
Pte	Bell	AE	MID	4Bn NZ
Pte	Maxwell	R	DCM	4Bn NZ

 

Hope its of interest

S.B

[Martyzone]

Hi Steve, this is amazing info to have. Thank you so much for sharing your work with me, I certainly appreciate it. Cheers, Marty.

[Guest]

Mate,

 

No worries always glad to help

 

S.B

[Goosegirdle]

Hi Paul,

If you are interested in the ICC, Trooper Jim Briant was recorded in 1973 by his grandson recounting his time, firstly in the ICC and later in 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance (They used camels with cacolet stretchers). You can hear his story straight from the camel's mouth if you listen to this link: http://traffic.libsyn.com/6bobaday/Episode_4.1_Interview_of_Jim_Briant_Part_1.mp3

 

I have added a picture of Jim and some AWM pictures of cacolets and camels. The next episode, when I get to it will cover Jim's time as a 'guest' of the Turks.

 

Phil

[Goosegirdle]

Steve Becker,

 

What a great post, thanks!

[Guest]

Mate,

 

Yes young Ben was with the Camel Brigades field Ambulance which joined the Brigade in June 1917.

 

Ben joined the 4 LHFA in Feb 1918 and was amoung the many captured in the Ottoman counter attack near Es Salt.

 

The Damieh Bridge fight shows the 4 LH Bde pushed back and over run by the Ottoman 2nd Infantry and 143rd Regts.

 

Strangely the 2nd Regt was the same unit that lost part at Beersheba, when over run in that charge by the 4 LH Bde.

 

How the worm turns

 

I wrote something else where;

 

 At the Damieh Bridge was the 24th Div (shown May 1918 Allied reports (2250 men 100 Cav 42 Mgs) the main Regts that crossed the Jordan to hit the 4 LH Bde was the 2nd and 143rd Regts. what is little known was the same 2nd Ottoman Infantry Regt, was the unit over run at Beersheba in the 4 LH Bde charge, now the boot was on the other foot and this time it was the 2nd Regt over running the 4 LH Bde and driving them back, capturing many guns and the Bde Transport.

These attacks would continue with the 58th Regt joining the fighting over three days, as the 48th Div (shown May 1918 Allied reports 2xBns/17th Regt (450 men 12 Mgs) 23rd Regt + 2Bn/24th Regt (600 men 16 Mgs) 3Bn/66th Regt (350 men 6 Mgs) 191st Regt (900 men 18 Mgs) 1Bn/63rd Regt (250 men 6 Mgs) kept attacking Es Salt.

 

Shown lost on the 1 May 1918 as PoWs from the Damiah attack.

ARMSTRONG   Darcy St George   1015   Pte   11 LHR   4R Tos 2-16 to 3 LHTR 4-16 to 4Co/1Bn ICC 9-16 WIA 19-4-17 L/shoulder & back shot reported in fighting at Tank redoubt at 2nd Gaza to 4 LHFA 10-17 to Dvr 4-18 PoW 1-5-18 reported captured when over ran by Turks at El Damie near Es Salt to Turkey repat to Egypt 12-18 

BRENNAN   Martin   94   Pte   11 LHR   A Sqn att DSqn/02 LHR 8-15 (G) to Dvr 5-16 revert 11-16 PoW 1-5-18 last seen retiring from Red Hill when captured by Turks at Es Salt to Turkey repat to Egypt 11-18 Ex 5R/05 LHR DNE brothers John 9 LHR and Robert 10 LHR

BRIANT   Benjamin James   16961   Pte   ACFA   Tos 6-17 to 4 LHFA 2-18 reported MIA & PoW 1-5-18 at Es Salt later CMF BCo/10Bn (308682) 14-12-38 

BROCKHURST   Henry Thomas   3080   Pte   05 LHR   23R to AAMC ACFA 7-17 to 4 LHFA 7-17 to Dvr 10-17 PoW 1-5-18 reported when cut off and over run by Turks at Es Salt repat to Egypt 12-18 

CARR   Charles Louis Norman   1540   Pte   01 LHR   12R tos B Sqn D Troop (Lt Fawcett) 1-16 att WFF PoW 1-5-18 reported captured while on patrol at Red Ridge near Es Salt sent to Afion Kara Hissar prison in Turkey repat to Egypt 11-18 

CHALLINOR   Ronald Tynsdale   499   Pte   02 LHR   C Sqn WIA 7/8-8-15 R/foot shot at Quinns Post rtn 10-15 (G) att WFF to T/Cpl (from Carylon) 3-16 to Cpl 6-16 to T/Sgt (from Bolton) 7-16 to Sgt 9-16 prom 2/Lt 1 LHTR 1-5-17 att school of Instruction (unknown course) Zeitoun 5-17 rtn 6-17 rtn ? Sqn ? Troop 9-17 to obsver trg 67 Sqn (1 Sqn) AFC at Fukhari 9-17 att 3 SMA Heliopolis 10-17 att 23 Res Sqn RFC Heliopolis 12-17 qual (obsver) & rtn 1 Sqn AFC 1-18 reported MIA in FE 2b (A7196) with Lt Haig PoW 1-5-18 crashed picking up two downed airmen (Rutherford and MacElligott) near Amman repat to Egypt 11-18 

CLARKE   George Carchrie   18861   Pte   14 AGH   1R Tos 10-17 to 4 LHFA 2-18 PoW 1-5-18 reported cut off when over run by Turks at Es Salt repat to Egypt 11-18

HAIG   Frederick William   137   Pte   1 Sqn AFC   HQ Driver MT att 17 Sqn RFC 4-16 to A/Cpl 4-16 to Armourer 7-16 to Cpl 8-16 to Sgt 7-17 to cadet 3 SMA 7-17 att 21 Trg Sqn RFC 8-17 att 22 Trg Sqn RFC 9-17 att 23 Trg Sqn RFC 9-17 prom 2/Lt (pilot) A Flight 67 Sqn (1 Sqn) AFC 9-17 att 23 Trg Sqn RFC 10-17 PoW 1-5-18 crashed in BF (A7196) with Lt Challinor rescuing two downed airmen (Lt's Rutherford & McElligott) near Amman repat to UK 12-18 to NME UK auto engineering Ex Cpl FCo/5Bn (277) to Sgt WIA 6-5-15 chest & R/shoulder shot in 2 Bde attack at Krithia (G) disch 7-3-16 to Munitions worker AKA alais Frederick William Schultz later WWII Sqd/Ldr RAAF 

HALPIN   John   2421   Sgt   12 LHR   20R tos C Sqn 4 Troop 3-18 (not reported KIA PoW 1-5-18 when captured after horse fall in action at Es Salt to Kelbek camp Turkey repat to Egypt 11-18 (2/Lt CMF 2 years)

HEBBARD   Herbert Leslie   17649   Dvr   AAMC   Apr 1917 R tos 4 LHFA 9-17 to Dvr 10-17 PoW 1-5-18 reported MIA captured with 11 others when overrun by Truks at Es Salt to Turkey repat to UK 1-19 (1Sqn/10 LH VMR to A Troop BSqn/13 LH CMF 3 years) 

KELLY   William Vincent   3832   Pte   04 LHR   30R to Dtls camp 12-17 WIA 24-1-18 fractured metarcarpal accident thrown from horse at camp Tos B Sqn? 4-18 WIA 1-5-18 abdoman shot reported during Turkish attack and fighting withdrawal from Damieh Bridge to Black Hill at Es Salt & PoW 1-5-18 reported shot and left wounded on field repat to Egypt 11-18 Ex Home guard Vic Bks

MATTHEWS   Francis James   2110   Pte   ICC   7R tos Dvr 4 LHFA 5-17 PoW 1-5-18 reported captured with 11 others when overrun by Turks at Es Salt to PoW Turkey repat to Egypt 11-18 

McELLIGOTT   Joseph   31   Sig   11 LHR   RHQ att Sig/Cpl DSqn/05 LHR 8-15 (G) rtn Sig/Sgt RHQ/11 LHR 2-16 MID - reason not stated possibly for his work with Cpl Groundwater during Romani operations 8-16 prom 2/Lt Sig officer RHQ (from Leask) 30-10-17 shown to Sig officer RHQ/11 LHR 12-17 to (obsvr) 67 Sqn (1 Sqn) AFC 1-18 att 3 SMA Heliopolis 2-18 MID - reason not stated PoW 1-5-18 brought down with Capt Rutherford in BF (B1146) shot down by AA fire near Amman to Kara Hissar Turkey repat to Egypt 21-11-18 Ex AN&MEF Pte 2Bn (1729) disch 18-9-14

MERSON   John   187   Pte   11 LHR   A Sqn to L/Cpl 7-15 att DSqn/02 LHR 8-15 to T/Cpl 8-15 evac to hosp (ersipelas) 9-15 (G) rtn 2-16 to T/Cpl (from Burke) 4-16 to T/Sgt (from Bartlett) 7-16 mentioned a 10 men patrol under Sgt Merson captured 8 Turks at Badiah 6-8-16 to Sgt 10-16 WIA 19-4-17 R/hand shot reported 11 killed and 53 wounded at 2nd Gaza rtn 6-17 to 4 LHTR 1-18 rtn 4-18 shown WIA 1-5-18 & MIA 1-5-18 reported he was in a four man post when rushed by the Turks and wounded and captured near Red Hill at Es Salt & PoW 1-5-18 at Es Salt shown recaptured by British at Allepo rtn A Sqn 11-18 RTA 1914 leave (British & Boer War Cpl 27Co 7Bn Devonshire Imperial Yeomanry (6571) and CSqn/The Royal North Devon Yeomanry (Hussars) TF 3 years)

MILLER   George Musther   5468   Pte   3 LHFA   9R tos 11-15 to Dvr 4 LHFA 2-17 PoW 1-5-18 reported captured with 11 others when overrun by Turks at Es Salt to Turkey

MITCHELL   Ernest England   2135   Pte   9 LHR   15R tos 4 Cml Regt ICC 11-16 to Cml Bde HQ 3-17 to Dvr 4 LHFA 5-17 PoW 1-5-18 reported captured with 11 others when overrun by Truks at Es Salt repat 11-18 

RUTHERFORD   Douglas Wallace      Lt   05 LHR   1R tos B Sqn possibly B Troop (from Ryan?) 2-15 WIA 28-6-15 R/thigh shrapnel in attack on the Balkan Pitts evac to hosp 7-15 to hosp UK 8-15 (G) rtn 4-16 to 67 Sqn (1 Sqn) AFC 7-16 qual (obsver) 8-16 prom Capt (from Ryan) 11-16 to 3 SMA Aboukir 12-16 to 22 Res Sqn RFC 1-17 rtn FO (pilot) 2-17 reported brought down in BE2c (N4479) during raid rescued by Lt McNamara gaining the VC 20-3-17 WIA 28-3-17 R/thigh reported hit in BE2c (N4312) from AA fire over Gaza RTA 3 months leave Rtn att X Aircraft Park 12-17 to 40th Wing 3-18 rtn 67 Sqn (1 Sqn) AFC 3-18 reported MIA 1-5-18 in BF (B1146) with obsver Lt McElligott now PoW 1-5-18 shot down by AA fire near Amman with Lt Haig and Lt Challinor who attempted to rescue them. (1Sqn/15 LH QMI 9-10-10 to Prov 2/Lt A Troop ASqn/1 LH 4-5-12 to Lt 1-7-15 CMF 3 years) AKA David Wallace Rutherford

SEATON   Robert   11243   Pte   AAMC    18R tos Medical Orderly CSqn/11 LHR 6-16 to 4 LHFA 2-17 PoW 1-5-18 reported MIA captured with 11 others when overrun by Turks at Es Salt prisoner to Turkey repat to Egypt 12-18

SLOAN   John Clarke   11249   Dvr   AAMC    18R Tos 2 LH MGS 7-16 to 2 LHFA 12-16 to Dvr 4 LHFA 2-17 PoW 1-5-18 reported MIA captured with 11 others when overrun by Turks at Es Salt at Es Salt prisoner to Turkey repat to Egypt 11-18 brother Matthew AAMC

SLOAN   Matthew Black   11250   Dvr   AAMC    18R to 3 LHTR (8 LHR) 7-16 tos 7 San Sect 7-16 to 4 LHFA 2-17 att 65 CCS 8-17 rtn 9-17 to ACFA 12-17 rtn 4 LHFA 1-18 PoW 1-5-18 reported MIA captured with 11 others when overrun by Turks at Es Salt prisoner to Turkey repat to Egypt 11-18 (B Troop ASqn/2 LH CMF 4 years) brother John AAMC

THOMPSON   Arthur    2113   Pte   ICC   7R tos 4 LHFA 5-17 to Dvr 10-18 PoW 1-5-18 reported captured with 11 others when overrun by Turks at Es Salt repat to UK 12-18 

WISHART   Peter   18961   Pte   14 AGH   2R tos Dvr 4 LHFA 10-17 PoW 1-5-18 reported MIA captured with 11 others when overrun by Turks at Es Salt

 

Cheers

S.B

Edited 14 January , 2019 by stevebecker

[leibregiment]

Great posts and information, sorry I have nothing further to add

[Guest]

Hi Steve

I am just touching base to complement you on your research and presentation of the Battle of Bald Hill. I stumbled onto it whilst doing some research on my wife's family. Lt Colonel Charles Arthur Lee was her great uncle and whilst I have been able to collect a good deal about his time at the Boer War, I have struggled somewhat with his history in WW1. He was at Lone Pine and after that with the Imperial Camel Corp. Before your article came to my attention I had read Langley and like you was a little perplexed about the circumstances surrounding Charlie Lee's returning to Australia after the hearing following the Battle of Bald Hill. I think he was made a scape goat of the system. Charlie on returning to Australia spent a good deal of time in hospital and suddenly passed away on 6th December 1918 at Tenterfield which was his family town. He was not married and his father was Hon. Charles Arthur Lee a prominent politician in the NSW government for many years.

Thanks again

Paul Norman

 

 

[Guest]

Paul,

 

Thanks mate nice to fill in some gaps.

 

I tried to be fair to Charlie Lee, as many had hard words about his actions.

 

I tried to fill in the details I found on the defence that day and the units (surposed temp) position on Bald Hill.

 

There was some coments about the 2nd (British) Bn, who it appears did none to little work in the defences, before being replaced by the 4th (Anzac) Bn (25 Nov) and the Ottoman attack (27 Nov) had little time to built up there defences.

 

I did wonder why there was no more on the Lee's after the war, but as he died, it was best left alone.

 

I record him as;

 

LEE    Charles Arthur        Maj    11 LHR    B Sqn OC att DSqn/05 LHR 8-15 (G) rtn OC B Sqn 2-16 (Troop Lts Gee Koch Stumm Farlow) 8-16 MID - for his work at Bir el Aweidiya as part of Smiths Colunm 7-8-16 to hosp (malaria) 8-16 to 4 Cml Regt 9-16 prom LtCol HQ/4Bn ICC 2-17 recom DSO (his own request) - for operation at Auja RTA SNLR Court of Inquiry over the loss of Bald Hill to the Turks on the 27-11-17 disch 14-2-18 (Boer War Cpl ASqn/NSWMR (100), Lt 1 NSWMR & Capt 2 NSWMR and 3 NSWIB) father Hon CA Lee MLA brother Lionel 11 LHR died    (no CMF service shown) Dredge owner    40    Tenterfield NSW    Enl 20-3-15    RTA 28-12-17    NOK Hon Charles Arthur Lee MLA Tenterfield NSW

 

Mate,

 

If possibly do you have a photo of him?

 

Stay safe

 

Cheers

 

S.B