The Third Battle of Gaza

Palestine, Z - 1, 30 October 1917

Contents

Items:

Map

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, Z - 1, 30 October 1917, Map

Outline

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, Z - 1, 30 October 1917, Outline

Roll of Honour

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, Z - 1, 30 October 1917, Roll of Honour

Lest We Forget

Further Reading:

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, Z - 1, 30 October 1917

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, Z - 1, 30 October 1917, Roll of Honour

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, 26 October 1917 - 2 January 1918

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 7:49 AM EADT

Updated: Saturday, 30 October 2010 8:21 AM EADT

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The Third Battle of Gaza

Palestine, Z - 1, 30 October 1917

Egyptian Expeditionary Force War Diary Account

War Diary account of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, Z - 1, 30 October 1917.

The transcription:

Kelab Kilo 207

30 October 1917

0703 - Desert Mounted Corps reports all clear.

0722 - Lieutenant Colonel Newcombe at Asluj wired that a party about 80 strong moved off at 0700 and that the Sherif was being left in charge of the Intelligence Officer and with a guard of 12 men from Imperial Camel Corps.

0809 - Wire from Desert Mounted Corps saying that situation was normal and that concentration was now complete.

0823 - 21st Corps wired that artillery programme had been commenced and that enemy artillery had been active during the night.

0915 - The Gaza - Hareira Royal Flying Corps Tactical reconnaissance reported no movement or hostile concentration.

0930 - It was reported by our liaison officer with XXI Corps that our night balloon had been brought down by an aeroplane but would be in action again this morning.

0939 - A wire from XX Corps stated that a desert captured at El Girheir by 53rd Division said that as far as he knew only the 3rd Cavalry Division and the 81st Regiment were at Bir Saba and that there was three separate telephone wires between Sheria and Bir Saba. 6 or 7 Infantry Regiments watering daily at Irgeig.

1000 - Orders were issued for the 53rd and 54th Kite Balloon Sections to move from Alexandria to Kantara on or after 31st instant under arrangement to be made by 2nd Echelon.

1015 - Telephoned XXI and Desert Mounted Corps that 53rd Division reported that a hostile aircraft had been brought down by machine gun fire and that pilot and observer had been captured. Note It was afterwards ascertained that this aeroplane was brought down by the Royal Flying Corps. It fell in front of the 53rd Division who machine gunned the pilot and observer who tried to escape. There were wounded and brought in.

1035 - Informed all concerned that the 2/4th Devonshire Regiment would move from Kantara to Shellal about November 1st and would be placed under orders of Officer Commanding Palestine Line of Communication Defences for the protection of Karm, Imara and Shellal.

1040 - Information received that Desert Mounted Corps Advanced Headquarters was established at Asluj Station at 1000.

1552 - XXI Corps wired that the 75th Division at 1315 reported a series of 8 long explosions followed by 30 smaller ones beyond railhead to the left of and below rise where Beit Hanun is situated. It appeared to be an ammunition dump blow up, there were large sheets of flame and explosions were continuing.

1625 - Information received that XX Corps Headquarters were established at El Buggar A.5d.

1653 - Royal Flying Corps wired that the result of today's shoot on Samarra Bridge had been successful and that one pier of the bridge seemed to be damaged

1702 - Wire from XX Corps saying that at 1030 a large enemy party had been seen carrying sleepers and rails to Samarra before and that then was much traffic from north to south on the Bir Saba road.

1706 - Royal flying Corps evening reconnaissance reported no movement or concentration in the Gaza Hareira tactical area.

1800 - Situation of troops at this hour are shown on Map in Appendix.

1801 - XX Corps wired that situation was unchanged and the troops have started according to programme.

1823 - Report from XXI Corps that artillery work was carried out according to programme and that enemy fire which had been normal, was pointed chiefly on Samson's Ridge and Sheikh Abbas. Two deserters surrendered at Lees Hill.

1831 - Desert Mounted Corps reports that situation was normal and that troops had started to move according to programme.

2100 - Evening Report to London and Baghdad. Movements being carried out as arranged, no enemy activity. Further damage caused to bridge south of Sheria. Hostile aircraft shot down, pilot and observer captured. Our artillery caused series of explosions at Beit Hanun where one of enemy's largest ammunition dumps is supposed to be.

2245 - In view of the Turkish wireless report of the 28th instant concerning skirmishing on the 27th instant, full details were sent to Chief London of all that happened and giving our total casualties as 1 Officer and 23 Other Ranks killed, 5 Officers and 48 Other Ranks wounded, 2 Officers and 8 Other Ranks missing which was far less than the Turkish wireless reported.

2355 - A wire was received from Chief London saying that the 2 Squadrons Royal Flying Corps which he had asked for was not to be sent at present time but that our requirements will be kept in mind.

Sources:

See: Egyptian Expeditionary Force War Diary, 26 October 1917, AWM4, 1/6/18 Part 1

Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy

Further Reading:

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, Z - 1, 30 October 1917

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, Z - 1, 30 October 1917, Roll of Honour

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, 26 October 1917 - 2 January 1918

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Saturday, 30 October 2010 8:32 AM EADT

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The Third Battle of Gaza

Palestine, Z - 1, 30 October 1917

Map

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, Z - 1, 30 October 1917, Map detailing the location of Allied Forces.

The use of the term "Z"

Z = Zero.

Z was the traditional letter allocation to the time when an offensive was due to be launched. It has later been supplanted with "D" Day and "H" Hour with the most famous D-Day being 6 June 1944 commencing with the assault by the Allied forces on the beaches of Normandy. However, in 1917, the term used was "Z" to indicate the precise time and day. 

The origin of the map series.

During and after the end of the Third Battle of Gaza, the Egyptian Expeditionary Force Headquarters staff produced a series of maps that detailed the daily disposition of forces, firstly Allied and then Allied and Turkish, during the entire conflict. The maps were never published. For the reader of these events, when seen in conjunction with the various War Diary entries, one is able to understand the scale of the operation and thus the immense amount of planning and training that went into achieving its goals.  

Further Reading:

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, Z - 1, 30 October 1917

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, Z - 1, 30 October 1917, Roll of Honour

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, 26 October 1917 - 2 January 1918

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Saturday, 30 October 2010 8:33 AM EADT

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The Third Battle of Gaza

Palestine, Z - 2, 29 October 1917

Contents

Items:

Map

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, Z - 2, 29 October 1917, Map

Outline

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, Z - 2, 29 October 1917, Outline

Roll of Honour

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, Z - 2, 29 October 1917, Roll of Honour

Lest We Forget

Further Reading:

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, Z - 2, 29 October 1917

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, Z - 2, 29 October 1917, Roll of Honour

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, 26 October 1917 - 2 January 1918

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 7:58 AM EADT

Updated: Friday, 29 October 2010 9:23 AM EADT

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The Third Battle of Gaza

Palestine, Z - 2, 29 October 1917

Egyptian Expeditionary Force War Diary Account

War Diary account of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, Z - 2, 29 October 1917.

The transcription:

Kelab Kilo 207

29 October 1917

0653 - All clear report received from Desert Mounted Corps.

0745 - XX Corps report all clear.

0802 - XX Corps report situation normal and that patrols reported considerable movement southwards on Gaza - Bir Saba road at intervals of about 15 minutes.

0817 - Wire received from XXI Corps saying that artillery has continued bombardment according to programme.

0829 - 53rd Division wired that Enemy aircraft has dropped 5 small bombs at 0725 on S23B Central.0840 - 53rd Division Artillery reported that 3 bombs had been dropped at S17B3.5 at 0755.

0926 - Desert Mounted Corps report the situation to be normal.

1016 - 7th Mounted Brigade wired that 3 small bombs were dropped at 0745 at water troughs in Wadi Imalaga but without doing any damage.

1246 - Wire to Colonel Newcombe asking whether he required any more supplies to be stored at Asluj.

1255 - Wired XX Corps saying that daily ammunition expenditure action had not been received by DOI and instructing them to send those for 27th and 28th instant as early as possible and future returns daily.

1540 - Wired Defences El Arish that the 96th Anti Aircraft Section would move by rail to Karm at once.

General Officer Commanding XX Corps was asked to convey the Commander in Chief's appreciation of the conduct of the 8th Mounted Brigade on the 27th instant to the Brigadier General commanding.

1830 - Wire from XX Corps saying that small cavalry posts have been established on Points 820, 810 and Hill 720.

1828 - Royal Flying Corps reconnaissance reports no hostile movement or concentration on Gaza Hareira tactical area.

1837 - Desert Mounted Corps reports situation normal and that 3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade group moved to Khalasa at 1700. An enemy aeroplane flew over Esani at 1610.

1839 - Report received from XXI Corps that bombardment by heavy artillery had been carried out according to programme and that enemy artillery had been occasionally active on Sampson's ridge and Queens Hill.

1940 - Evening report to London and Baghdad saying that the concentration was proceeding according to plan and that there was no hostile action. The railway bridge over wadi south of Sheria has been damaged by our artillery.

(ii) Miscellaneous

High Commissioner was asked to obtain the Authority of the Egyptian Government for the ??? in Fort Raml at Aboukia of a reserve required in connection with scheme for fire protection of aviation buildings.

Sources:

See: Egyptian Expeditionary Force War Diary, 26 October 1917, AWM4, 1/6/18 Part 1

Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, AIF War Diaries of the Great War, Site Transcription Policy

Further Reading:

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, Z - 2, 29 October 1917

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, Z - 2, 29 October 1917, Roll of Honour

The Third Battle of Gaza, Palestine, 26 October 1917 - 2 January 1918

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Friday, 29 October 2010 5:36 PM EADT

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