the Passage of the 'Auja

[michaeldr]

20-21st December 1917 - the Passage of the 'Auja

It has been raining all day today, and tonight the down-pour continues, punctuated by the loud rolls of thunder. How very appropriate.

90 years ago tonight the river here was again swollen with recent rains and the wet ground made heavy going for the carrying parties: "…rafts had to be brought up, the carrying parties floundering in mud to their knees" says the OH.

On a fine day that walk will take me less than an hour; God knows how long it would take men at night, on unsurfaced tracks, in heavy rain, and carrying rafts.

In fine weather I walk there happily, looking forward to a pleasant stroll in the park, watching the king fishers dive, and the ducks and the geese on the river.

The men of the 52nd (Lowland) Division were hoping to surprise their enemy, and to gain the northern bank, putting Jaffa beyond the reach of the Turkish artillery.

"The passage of the 'Auja has always been regarded as one of the most remarkable feats of the Palestine Campaign. A great achievement it was, but its chief merits were its boldness - justifiable against troops known to be sluggish and slack in outpost work and already shaken by defeat - its planning, the skill of the engineers, the promptitude with which unexpected difficulties in the bridging of the river were met; finally, the combined discipline and dash of the infantry which carried out the operation without a shot being fired before daylight and won the works on the right bank with the bayonet. The hazard was great, for had the enemy defended his strong positions with vigour the conditions under which the crossing was carried out would have been very unfavourable to the attackers" [from the OH]

Part of Massey's contemporary account may be read here

where you will also see a recent photograph of one of the three pillars erected by General Hill to commemorate the 52nd (Lowland) Division's crossing.

Compare it with the photograph below which taken just a short while after the event

And let us not forget that the success of even such a well planned and well carried out operation as this, was only achieved at a cost – per the OH, the 52nd (Lowland) Division's casualties were "only 102"

Not forgotten

[michaeldr]

52nd DIVISIONAL SECTION ORDER N0.3

17th December 1917

Reference Maps: Palestine 1/63,360 and attached Hecto.

1. Information regarding the enemy's dispositions will be issued separately as and when received.

2. The 52nd Division will cross the 'Auja and establish itself on the right bank on the line Kh. Hadra-Sh. Muwannis-Tell er Ruqti in order to form a bridgehead from which further operations can be developed.

3. On night X - 1/X day, at a Zero hour to be notified later, the 52nd Division will cross the river as follows:-

[a] A Bn. 156th Inf. Bde. will cross the 'Auja in rafts and form a covering party to the N.E. for the construction of a light bridge capable of taking infantry in single file at Z.19c-Crossing C.1.

A Bn. 157th Inf. Bde. will cross the 'Auja in rafts and form a covering party to the N.W. for the construction of a light bridge capable of taking infantry in single file at Z.19b-Crossing C.2

[c] B and C Bns. 156th Inf. Bde. will cross the river by the bridge and form up under cover of the covering parties, D Bn. remaining in reserve.

[d] B and C Bns. 157th Inf. Bde. will cross by ford in Y.18, according to time-table attached, D Bn. remaining in reserve.

4.

[a] Whether the crossing is a surprise or not, all ground gained must be held, so that the programme shall be carried out without deviation.

G.O.C. 155th Inf. Bde. should be prepared to demonstrate vigorously towards F.13 if our crossing is discovered, prior to Zero + 150, but he will not so demonstrate without a definite order from Div. H.Q.

[c] The guiding principle must be that not a single man more than is necessary is sent N. of the river until our objectives are attained.

5. Moves subsequent to those outlined in para. 3 will take place according to the attached time-table, which must be adhered to.

6. The final objectives will be:-

155th Inf. Bde. Kh. Hadra.

156th Inf. Bde. High ground north of Muwannis and Slag Heap Farm.

157th Inf. Bde. Tell er Ruqti.

As the ground is unreconnoitred, it is left to G.O's.C. Inf. Bdes. discretion whether they will advance or modify their line on arrival at their objective or subsequently at daylight, bearing in mind the provisions of para. 2. Similarly, it is impossible to lay down dividing lines for the zones of attack. G.O's.C. Inf. Bdes. will concert measures at daylight to define their respective points of junction.

7. After the passage of 157th Inf. Bde. over the ford Y.18, B.G.R.A. will be prepared to push forward two batteries by the ford in Y.18 for the closer support of the infantry, when ordered to do so by Div. H.Q.

8. C.R.E. will arrange to throw one barrel bridge to take infantry in fours, as soon as possible after Muwannis is taken, near confluence of Nahr el Baride with Nahr el 'Auja. One bridge to take infantry in fours will be thrown as early as possible in Y.24b

9. On Zero - 1 day an iron ration will be issued in lieu of the ordinary ration.

10. Not less than 200 rounds S.A.A. per man will be carried.

11. Watches will be synchronized at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on X - 1 day under arrangements to made by O.C. Divl. Signal Coy.

12. Reports to Div. H.Q. at H.18 every half-hour after Zero hour

Acknowledge.

G. N. HOLDICH

Lieu.-Colonel, G.S., 52nd Division

Issued at 6 a.m., 18th.

details from 'Military Operations Egypt & Palestine - from June 1917 to the end of the war - Part II'

[michaeldr]

from the OH 'Military Operations Egypt & Palestine - etc- Part I'

"The attack had, then, been a complete success at every point. About daybreak, pontoon bridges were thrown at Jerishe and near the river's mouth, but prior to this two field batteries had managed to cross by the bar. The 412th Field Company had assembled a barrel bridge in the Nahr el Baride and floated it down into the 'Auja, but the sodden state of the banks prevented its completion until the morning of the 22nd. The 410th Field Company repaired the stone bridge at Hadra."

Below is the barrel bridge as it appeared a little time after the above events.