Through Palestine with the Twentieth Machine Gun Squadron (WWI Centenary Series)
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Through Palestine with the Twentieth Machine Gun Squadron (WWI Centenary Series)

Anon

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Through Palestine with the Twentieth Machine Gun Squadron (WWI Centenary Series)

Anon

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About This Book

""This Booklet has been compiled with the object of enabling the members of the 20th Machine-Gun Squadron to recall the principal incidents in its history, as well as to allow their friends and relations to obtain some idea of their experiences whilst they were serving with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.Although no pains have been spared to obtain accuracy, the statements made must, necessarily, not be regarded as absolutely authoritative.Beyond doubt, many brave deeds, fully deserving of mention in these pages, must have been unavoidably overlooked, in which case the leniency of readers is requested.""This book is part of the World War One Centenary series; creating, collating and reprinting new and old works of poetry, fiction, autobiography and analysis. The series forms a commemorative tribute to mark the passing of one of the world's bloodiest wars, offering new perspectives on this tragic yet fascinating period of human history. Each publication also includes brand new introductory essays and a timeline to help the reader place the work in its historical context.

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Information

Year
2021
ISBN
9781528765398
Through Palestine
with the
Twentieth
Machine-Gun
Squadron.

Foreword.

This Booklet has been compiled with the object of enabling the members of the 20th Machine-Gun Squadron to recall the principal incidents in its history, as well as to allow their friends and relations to obtain some idea of their experiences whilst they were serving with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.
Although no pains have been spared to obtain accuracy, the statements made must, necessarily, not be regarded as absolutely authoritative.
Beyond doubt, many brave deeds, fully deserving of mention in these pages, must have been unavoidably overlooked, in which case the leniency of readers is requested.
In view of the probability that the incidents described herein may be read by many persons who have not been to the East, explanations have frequently been included, which might appear to some as unnecessary.
The writer is indebted to several members of the Squadron for their valuable assistance, without which, obviously, it would have been very difficult to have given an adequate account of any particular incident at which he was not present in person.
The Author.
1st July 1920.

Glossary.

The following are a few descriptive terms which occur in the following pages, with place-names, and the abbreviations used:—
ABU
Father.
AIN
Spring.
BEIT
House.
BIRKETT
Pool.
BIR
Well.
DEIR
Monastery.
ED, EL, ER, ES, EZ
The definite article THE
JEBEL
Mountain.
JISR
Bridge.
KEFR
Village.
KAHN
Inn.
KHURBET (abbrev. KH.)
Ruin.
MAKHADET
Ford.
NAHR
River.
NEBY
A Prophet.
RAS
Head, cape, top.
SHEIKH (abbrev. SH.)
Chief, elder, saint.
TEL
Mound (especially one covering ruins).
WADI
A watercourse (normally dry).

TIME.

The following table shows the military method of stating the time which is used throughout this book:—
1
a.m.
01.00
2
a.m.
02.00
3.15
a.m.
03.15
6.45
a.m.
06.45
12
midday
12.00
1
p.m.
13.00
2.35
p.m.
14.35
3.50
p.m.
15.50
8
p.m.
20.00
10
p.m.
22.00
12
midnight
24.00
12.15
a.m.
00.15

PART I.

Formation of the Squadron.

It was on the 4th July 1917 that authority was given to the 7th Mounted Brigade (then at Ferry-Post, Ismailia), for the formation of a Machine-Gun Squadron to be known as the "20th." It was to consist of "Headquarters" and only three sub-sections, there being but two regiments (instead of the usual three) in the 7th Brigade.
On July 4th, Lieut. E.P. Cazalet and Lieut. E.B. Hibbert, machine gun officers of the Notts (Sherwood Rangers) Yeomanry and South Notts Hussars respectively, brought their sub-sections to the new camp. Lieut. C.D. Macmillan also arrived from the "S.N.H." From these two regiments there came, in all, 3 officers, 121 men and 98 animals (horses and mules). The "A" Sub-section was formed of "S.R.Y." men; the "B" Subsection of "S.N.H." men, "C" Sub-section being composed of both "S.R.Y." and "S.N.H." men.
From the commencement, the Squadron "carried on" under very difficult conditions, as, out of its total strength of 121, only 30 men were qualified gunners, and 63 had never previously been attached to a Machine Gun Section. Then there were fresh animals to draw from "Remounts" besides new saddlery and equipment from "Ordnance". The health of the Squadron, also, was at first none too good; a large number of men had contracted malaria whilst with the Brigade in Salonica, and many others were liable to septic sores, after two years' sojourn in Egypt, Suvla and Salonica. From time to time, seven days' leave was granted to small parties to the Rest Camp, Port Said, and lucky were those men whose turn it was to go!
In due course, on July 30th 1917, Lieut. D. Marshall (Fife & Forfar Yeomanry), arrived from the 4th "M.G." Company. He had been "posted" as Commanding Officer, and "took over" from Lieut. Cazalet; shortly afterwards he was promoted to the rank of Captain.
The first reinforcements to reach the Squadron from the training centre at Maresfield Park, England, were Ptes. Ramsay and Wick on August 4th 1917. Pte. Ramsay at once took up the duties of orderly-room clerk, and was subsequently promoted sergeant. The work of equipping, organising and training were hurried on, the new guns tested on the range, and at length, on August 6th, the Squadron was inspected with the Brigade by General Bailloud.
On August 8th, Capt. E. Davies (previously with the 7th Brigade in Egypt) arrived from "leave" in the United Kingdom, and was posted to the Squadron as "second in command". Orders were received on August 10th that the Brigade would move to the Palestine front on the 12th—within a month of the M.G. Squadron being formed!
Our Trek to Amr, through the Desert of the Sinai Peninsula.
The forthcoming continuous trek (which lasted 18 days) through the desert at the hottest time of the year was no light task for a new unit to contemplate, and the two days in which to make all the preparations were none too many; yet, everything was ready by the time ordered for parade, and from that moment the "20th M.G. Squadron" became a fighting force! There was, however, a lot of training still to be done, before it could hope to play its proper part in active operations.
The organisation of the transport for the unit was one of the greatest difficulties to be overcome. No one, unless he has actually seen it, would believe the energy required to pull even a lightly loaded wheeled vehicle through the desert sand, which, in places, is of the soft "silver" variety found at many English seaside resorts.
Each "G.S." (general service) limbered wagon is designed to carry about a ton, and is drawn by 4 mules. On this occasion, however, 4 cwts. was the maximum load, and for this 6 mules were required in every case. In spite of such a team, the going was hard enough, in very truth, and sore shoulders were not uncommon, owing to the mules being so "soft," and the new breast-collars so hard!
It was not long before the advantage a "M.G." Squadron possesses, in being able to change "pack" mules to "draught" and vice versa, was seen, this method relieving sore shoulders and sore backs by one simple operation. Although an early start was made every day, many miles had to be traversed with the sun right overhead; the afternoon was usually well advanced before the horses had been watered, lines put down, and shelters erected, blankets, rifles, bayonets and bits of string being used for this purpose.
The following were the days' marches:—
1917.
August 12th to El Ferdan.
August 13th to Kantara (Hill 70). Long day in great heat.
August 14th at Kantara drawing ordnance stores.
August 15th to Pelusium 13 miles.
August 16th to Romani 7 miles. Heavy going.
August 17th to Khirba 14 miles.
August 18th to Bir el Abd 7 miles. Heavy going.
August 19th to Tilul, watering at Salmana.
August 20th to Bir el Masar 8 miles.
August 21st to Maadan 15 miles. Very heavy going and particularly hot.
August 22nd to Bardawil 8 miles. Good going.
August 23rd to El Arish 8 miles. Heavy going.
August 24th Rested.
August 25th to El Burd 11 miles.
August 26th to Sheikh Zowaid, by the shore. Very heavy.
August 27th to Rafa.
August 28th at Rafa obtaining stores which were sent forward by rail.
August 29th to Amr into camp, 1 mile south of railway.
It may here be mentioned that, at this time, the Kantara Military Railway had been completed as far as Shellal, and whilst on the march, rations and forage were drawn from "dumps" which had been placed at intervals along the line. As regards drinking water, this was brought up every day on camels. The supply of water was not too plentiful by any means, and it required a certain amount of care and self-restraint to make it last the appointed time, in fact, strict water-discipline was very necessary among all ranks. It was a tired but wiser Squadron that arrived at Amr! Many were the difficulties that had been overcome, and many the hardships that had been silently endured!
The Squadron at Amr.
Having arrived at Amr, further progress was made in the training of the unit. Each day one man was "told off" to three animals, the remainder thus being free for work on the gun. The "horse-men" did one hour on the gun, remainder of day on animals. "Gun-numbers" worked one hour at stables and the remainder of the day on the gun. The daily routine was as follows:—Reveille 04.30; Parades, 06.30 to 10.00 and 15.00 to 17.30. Horses were watered twice (from troughs at the railway), and fed four times a day.
As early as September 8th, there was a test "turnout" of the Squadron in full marching order, with guns on packs. The new regulations regarding rations and forage included "Iron" and two days' emergency-rations (in wallets) for the man, and one day's emergency-forage (9 lbs. of grain), in a "sandbag" rolled in a ground-sheet and carried on the front arch of the saddle, for the horse, in addition to the two days' forage carried in the nosebags; furthermore one day's rations and forage were carried on the wagons. The time taken for the turn-out was actually 2 hours 10 minutes. No doubt many members who read this will smile at the recollection of the incident—and well they might! Three days later the Squadron paraded in exactly half that time, and when, on September 13th, there was a test Divisional "turnout," all that was needed was 44 minutes—not a bad achievement for marching-order with nothing ready!
On September 13th the formation of a fourth Subsection was approved. It was just about this time that the "Khamseen" became very troublesome. This is a strong wind that blows at this season of the year, particularly in the afternoon. The soil at Amr being a mixture of fine sand and dust, the result can be better imagined than described; it was so bad that on two days training was entirely suspended!
"Mounted" training was started on September 22nd, and in the absence, at that time, of any "set" official-drill (one actually did exist, but was known only to those who had passed through the Machine-Gun Cavalry training centre in England of whom there were not half-a-dozen in the Squadron), the O.C. (Capt. D. Marshall) thought out, and perfected, a drill that was easy to pick up, and was one which, in all respects, fulfilled requirements. Everything was proceeding most satisfactorily, the men were keen, and, towards the end of September, firing practice was started ...

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