The handwritten manuscript called The 4th Brigade Trek from the Canal to Khan Yunis and the 2nd Gaza Battle was produced by 666 Sergeant David Woodward HARRIS of the 12th Light Horse Regiment.
David Woodward HARRIS was a 24 year old Overseer from Turramurra, New South Wales. He enlisted on 30 December 1914 and was allotted to the 12th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF, Machine Gun Section, which embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board HMAT A29 Suevic 13 June 1915.; and at the conclusion of the war Returned to Australia, 20 July 1919.
For further information, see:
4th Australian Light Horse Brigade, AIF
and:
difficulty of collecting the ever increasing number of casualties led to many stricken men being hit repeatedly by the increasing rain of shrapnel.
Finally the survivors gained the temporary cover of a wady tributary. The 3rd ALH on our right had charged Attawineh Redoubt three times and had been repulsed with heavy losses at each attempt. The attacking force, which had assaulted the Tank Redoubt fought until scarcely a man was left. Out in front the long line of Turkish trenches on the transverse ridge, further strengthened with frequent redoubts, poured an increasing fire down on us; while the Turkish artillery placed well back, sent over regular bursts of fire with occasional organised salvos, without any opposition from our artillery. The enemy artillery was also constantly searching for the various groups of led horses and our guns.