Topic: AIF - NZMRB - Sig-Trp
The Battle of Rafa
Sinai, 9 January 1917
New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade Signal Troop, War Diary Account
New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade Signal Troop, War Diary Account
The following is a transcription of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade Signal Troop, War Diary Account detailing their role at the Battle of Rafa, Sinai, 9 January 1917.
Masaid 8 January 1917
1200 Marched out to concentration point of force for attack on Rafa. Strength 1 Officer 25 Other Ranks
1600 Moved off to Sheikh Zowaiid
2130 Arrived.
Rafa 9 January 1917
Left Sheikh Zowaiid for Point 250. New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade moved on east to Arab settlement of Karm ibn Musleh and then concentrated at Point 350 near Shokh el Sufi. Visual communication with Desert Column Headquarters and Anzac Mounted Division Headquarters.
0800 Anzac Mounted Division Headquarters established at Point 350.
0930 New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade commenced operations moving north to cut telegraph line east of Rafa.
1040 Rafa captured by Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment.
1200 New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade Headquarters established at Border Post south of Rafa at 1200
1230 Regiments commenced attack on redoubt at Point 255 at 1230.
Communications maintained with Anzac Mounted Division Headquarters, 1st Light Horse Brigade (on left) and all regiments throughout. Owing to the lack of cover signallers were much exposed - discs would have been very useful. Mounted DR's (Drum Rolls) did valuable service for short distances between units. Sun failed about 1620 and lamps were erected but not used as redoubt was captured 1635. There was no telegraph wire between Division and Brigade and this caused some delay after it became cloudy.
Communication was maintained also with patrols at Khan Yunis.
Masaid 10 January 1917
Returned to camp.
War Diaries
All War Diaries cited on this site should be read in conjunction with the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy which may be accessed at:
Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy
Further Reading:
New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade Signal Troop
New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade Signal Troop, Roll of Honour
The Battle of Rafa, Sinai, 9 January 1917
The Battle of Rafa, Sinai, 9 January 1917, Roll of Honour
The Palestine Campaign, 1917 - 1918
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
