13th Cavalry Brigade on the first hours of The Battles of Megiddo – September 19th, 1918

[Eran Tearosh]

All,

As usual, I start with something that appears small, and then find myself diving deeper and deeper…

I looked at a report of a minor event on the north bank of Nahr el-Falik, just after the vanguard of the 13^th Cavalry Brigade, 9^th Hodson's Horse, leading the 5^th Cavalry Division's advance, crossed it at the ford, a bit after 08:00.

Over the next few hours, the 9^th Hodson's Horse Regiment had a few more engagements in the area which is now covered by the city of Netanya. The most important one was at Mukhalid (It really should be called Umm Khaled). Just behind them, the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Yeomanry had their own piece of the action, including events that led to 2 D.C.M's.

Gradually, I managed to put together a not-too-bad idea of the events that took place there, and some of the battle sites can even still be traced, in spite of the complete change of the ground, from a fairly unpopulated area with a few small pockets of cultivation to a modern urban area with over 200,000 people.

While searching, I came across mentions of a few more sources that I don't personally have and I've been unable to find online.

The most important one is the regimental history: HODSON’S HORSE 1857-1922 / Major F. G. Cardew.

I don't know if the 18^th Bengal Lancers (18^th King George's Own Lancers) published a separate regimental history. After the war, they amalgamated with the 19^th King George's Own Lancers and that became the new name of both regiments. The 19^th Lancers published a regimental history titled: History of the 19^th King George Own Lancers, 1858-1921 / H. Hudson. From what I understand, they are referring in that book also to the 18^th Lancers, but I guess it won't be a detailed reference.

I found a few references to a personal memoir of an officer of the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Yeomanry (Their regimental history is available online), Lieutenant Robert Wilson, published in 1987, as PALESTINE 1917 / R. Wilson. It's a bit of a strange name, as the memoir relates to the entire war… Anyway – seems that it's worth reading, but could not find it online.

 

If anyone can help regarding the 3 books – I'll be delighted. The best will be online sources, but if someone has hard copies, that will be a great help too.

 

Eran

[johntaylor]

Hi Eran,

I don't believe the first two books are available online but reprints are available from Naval & Military Press - there is no separate history of 18th Lancers but the 19th Lancers book apparently covers both regiments:

https://www.naval-military-press.com/product/hodsons-horse-1857-1922/

https://www.naval-military-press.com/product/history-of-the-19th-king-georges-own-lancers-1858-1921/

Details of the other book are available on the publisher's website here - it looks as though there is online access for certain institutions: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781351327282/palestine-1917-robert-wilson-helen-millgate

I hope this is helpful,

John

[Eran Tearosh]

On 06/11/2023 at 12:38, johntaylor said:

Hi Eran,

I don't believe the first two books are available online but reprints are available from Naval & Military Press - there is no separate history of 18th Lancers but the 19th Lancers book apparently covers both regiments:

https://www.naval-military-press.com/product/hodsons-horse-1857-1922/

https://www.naval-military-press.com/product/history-of-the-19th-king-georges-own-lancers-1858-1921/

Details of the other book are available on the publisher's website here - it looks as though there is online access for certain institutions: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/mono/10.4324/9781351327282/palestine-1917-robert-wilson-helen-millgate

I hope this is helpful,

John

Hi John,

Sorry, I was sure I answered you, but it seems I wrote a reply, but didn't press 'send'. I'm told it helps...

I'm exactly about to place an order for these books, hoping I'm not about to spend a lot of money (postage is almost double the price...) on very short chapters about the service of these units in the Palestine Campaign. 

As to the other book - I too have found that source, but it's available only through affiliated institutes, I found a friend who might be able to help me with this.

Thanks for everything.

Eran 

 

 

[johntaylor]

No problem - I'm always pleased to help, but it's good to know whether I actually did! I appreciate the problem of getting hold of these books - many of the Naval & Military Press reprints are available on the Fold3 website, but you have to pay a subscription for that, and I see the one on 19th Lancers isn't there in any case.

At least the one on the Ordnance Services is available online.

All the best, 

John