Topic: AIF - 2B - 6 LHR
The Battle of Beersheba
Palestine, 31 October 1917
6th LHR, AIF, Unit History Account
Lieutenant George Lachlan Berrie produced a unit history published in 1919 called Under Furred Hats (6th ALH Regt) which included a section specifically related to the battle of Beersheba and is extracted below.
Berrie, GL, Under Furred Hats (6th ALH Regt), (Sydney 1919), p. 110:
Chapter V
The Promised LandFor five days the Regiment remained at Asluj cleaning out wells which had been blown in by the enemy. This work proceeded in shifts day and night and was undoubtedly one of the most arduous undertakings the Regiment ever accomplished. The water supply available was so small that a large number of horses had to be sent back to Khalasa. In addition we found day patrols to various points and night outposts around the camp area.
On the night of the 30th, the Regiment moved out to take its part in the flanking movement around Beersheba. The country travelled over was very difficult, hilly and stony, but by daylight the flanking movement was complete. Reconnaissance was carried out towards Sakaty, and that night outpost positions were taken up astride the Beersheba-Hebron Road. The water supply in this locality was almost non-existent, save for a few Bedouin underground reservoirs and a scanty surface supply in the wadis, the latter due to a providential storm a few days previously.
On the 2nd November the Regiment moved out along the Hebron Road to the Dhaheriyeh Hills,, and were held up by strong forces of the enemy and by snipers in impregnable spots about 12 miles from Beersheba.. Till the 6th inst. a very unequal warfare continued in rough country, the difficulty of water supply for both horses and men, the heat by day, and the continuous night outpost work, was very trying to all ranks.
Citation: The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917, 6th LHR, AIF, Unit History Account
