Topic: AIF - NZMRB - AMR
AMR Regiment
Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment
The Photographer
| Full Name: | Frederick James Foote |
| Serial No.: | 13/2187 |
| First Known Rank: | Trooper |
| Next of Kin: | Mrs W.M.E. Foote (mother), Helena Bay, Whangarei, North Auckland, New Zealand |
| Marital Status: | Single |
| Enlistment Address: | Helena Bay, Whangarei, North Auckland, New Zealand |
| Military District: | Auckland |
| Body on Embarkation: | 6th Reinforcements |
| Embarkation Unit: | Auckland Mounted Rifles |
| Embarkation Date: | 14 August 1915 |
| Place of Embarkation: | Wellington, New Zealand |
| Transport: | HMNZT 28 Tofua |
| Destination: | Suez, Egypt |
The Photograph
This remarkable photograph shows the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade baggage train in a waggon park in the foreground while in the background a Regiment is seen crossing Wadi el Esani and essembling on the southern bank at Esani during the late afternoon of 28 October 1917. Each Troop of every Squadron is clearly separated giving the ability to determine the number of troops approaching the crossing in the picture. The men in the photograph have received their final orders for the attack on Beersheba and are moving to their jump off point, a march of two nights to arrive on the morning of 31 October 1917.
Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment War Diary
The transcription:
The Regiment stood to Arms at 0400 till 0600, and remained in bivouac all morning. At 1330 orders were received that the Brigade would move out to Khalassa at 1700. Wadi Imal Aaga was crossed at Malassa at 1800, and the Brigade moved to Khalassa via Esani - Khalassa Road on East side of Wadi. At 2030 the Regiment reached a Point 1 mile north of Junction Esani - Khalassa and Beersheba - Khalassa roads, and bivouaced there for the night.
The road map of the route taken by the NZMR
[Click on map for larger version.]
The Journey
Following the directions given in the AMR War Diary entry, the crossing in the photograph was the crossing of Wadi el Esani at Esani, 28 October 1917. In finding the crossing on the map, it is the segment of road marked "D1" to the north of Esani following the route over Wadi el Esani along the road markded "C". Later on, the Brigade crossed Wadi Imal Aaga at Malassa, This is found on the segment between the portions marked "C" in the west and "E" on the east of Wadi Imal Aaga with the figure "E2" in the centre of these two marks but to the north. The men then followed the road marked "E" south to Khalassa.
Acknowledgements:
Many thanks to the following two people -
Judith Brown, the daughter of Trooper Frederick Foote, who has kindly given permission to use the photograph taken by her father.
Steve Butler from New Zealand Mounted Rifles Association who supplied the photographs.
It is through the generosity and spirit of such people that the people of Australia and New Zealand know and understand the history of these brave men.
Further Reading:
New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: AMR Regiment, Foote's Beersheba March Photograph
