4160 Trooper John Gordon Hicks.

12th LHR, AIF.

John Gordon Hicks, a brief military biography from The AIF Project:

John Gordon Hicks ancestory was Irish from around Belfast, Bellashannon [Ballyshannon] and Beleke[Belleek] with family names of McElvenan, McLean, Muldoon and  Mulvena. He was born on 5 November 1898 to John Gordon Hicks and Ann Catherine (neé Mulvena b. 1872 - d. 1953) married at Lismore in 1897. John Gordon Hicks was the oldest child, the others being Robert WK (1900), Henry (1902), and Amelia M (1903). His father was a bacon manufacturer, who shipped product up the east coast between Sydney and Lismore.

For high school, John Gordon Hicks went to Newington College where apart from scholastic activities, he participated in both Rugby Union and Cricket, being part of the school teams.

School Photographs

Hicks in the Newington College 1914 Rugby Union 2nd XV

Universal Training, 1916

Once reaching the age for enrollment in the Universal Training Scheme, John Gordon Hicks enrolled as a University Scout in 1916. He remained in service for about one year when he enlisted in the AIF. The brief military biography is given above.

Once discharged, John Gordon Hicks moved to Lismore where eventually he became the licensee of the Civic Hotel.

In 1937, John Gordon Hicks married Elsie Prudence Pearl Ede in Lismore.

Elsie Prudence died in 1976 and John Gordon Hicks died in 1981.

Acknowledgement: Many thanks are given to John Gordon Ede who supplied both detail and photographs about his grandfather, John Gordon Hicks.

Further Reading:

12th LHR, AIF, Contents

Citation: 4160 Trooper John Gordon Hicks, 12th LHR, AIF

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Sunday, 10 May 2009 12:46 PM EADT

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The Battle of Beersheba

Palestine, 31 October 1917

Cameron Account

12th ALHR Beersheba Post Battle Report, 31 October 1917.

After the victory at Beersheba on 31 October 1917, the Commanding Officer of the 12th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Donald Cameron wrote his post battle summary which is transcribed below.

Report of the assault on Beersheba on 31 October 1917

1545 - Received orders to saddle up and get ready to move immediately. The Regiment had previously moved into the concentration area of Iswaiwin with the Brigade at 1130 and off saddled, fed horses and men.

1600 - General Officer Commanding 4th LH Brigade sent for Commanding Officers and Seconds in Command. On reporting to Brigade Headquarters orders were received that the 4th and 12th LH Regiment would attack Beersheba commence at once.

1630 - The 4th and 12th LH Regtiments deployed from a point 1 mile N of Pt 1280. The 12th Regiment moved with "A" Squadron in advance in line extended to 5 yards with right flank in vicinity of and south of flank track W and connecting with the 4th LH Regiment. "B" Squadron moved in the same formation 300 yards in rear of "A" Squadron. Headquarters, "C" Squadron and 1 sub-section of Machine Gun Squadron moved in line of troop column 300 yards in rear of "B" Squadron. The Regiment moved on Beersheba at the gallop. Heavy enemy rifle and machine gun fire developed on the left flank from the vicinity of 1180. This fire was silenced by artillery. The leading Squadron came under very heavy rifle fire and machine gun fire from the trenches in (see note at foot).  On reaching a point about 100 yards from these trenches one Troop of "A" Squadron dismounted for action, and the remainder of the Squadron galloped on, leaving the trenches on the right. "B" and "C" Squadrons followed this route. The trenches were left to the Troop that dismounted. The Regiment, less 1 troop, kept straight on to Beersheba. Headquarters and "C" Squadron were halted about 1 mile from Beersheba and held in support in a Wadi under cover. "A" and "B" Squadrons less 1 troop entered Beersheba along the Asluj - Beersheba road. At the crossing of the Wadi Saba the pace of the leading file was checked to enable an accommodation of pace. Both Squadrons entered Beersheba in a body. When reaching the red brick building in the vicinity of the Mosque the greater portion of the force under Captain Jack Rupert Cyril Davis moved to the right leaving the mosque on the left thence to a point about 200 yards south of railway station. Thence across railway line making a turning movement to the right finishing in the vicinity of a building with an oval roof on the northern outskirts of Beersheba. A party of 6 men galloped in front General Headquarters (Turkish). One troop under Lieutenant Rodney Keith Robey and Second Lieutenant Edward Alfred Mulford skirted the town on the left. The whole rallying in the main body while Captain Jack Rupert Cyril Davis on the northern outskirts turned about checked and held up the enemy force which was escaping in a northerly direction. The greater part of the enemy immediately surrendered. 9 Guns attempted to escape but were retaken complete.

One troop under Major Eric Montague Hyman (after half an hours action)  and and cleared the enemy in the trenches east of Beersheba. About 60 of these enemy, including 3 officers tried to escape by were intercepted by a troop of our "C" Squadron and taken prisoners. "C" Squadron then moved up to the angle of the railway into the vicinity of the viaduct.

Consolidation:

All prisoners were rounded up in the angle of  the above railway and counted. Defensive positions were taken up at the pumping station and preparations made for all round defence. Major Eric Montague Hyman consolidated the redoubt east of Beersheba in anticipation of a counter attack from the south-west and held the positioons all night. The picquets in the vicinity of the pumping station were withdrawing at 2300 when Brigade Headquarters arrived and took over. A patrol of 1 NCO and 8 men was sent out at 2300 and made a reconnaissance in a south-west direction returning a 0300 bringing in 23 prisoners and reporting "All clear."

In all, 38 Officers and 700 Other Ranks were taken, 9 guns, 3 machine guns and a large quantity of various war material including rolling stock, transport vehicles and animals were captured.

12th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF

Citation: The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917, Cameron Account

Posted by Project Leader at 1:01 AM EADT

Updated: Thursday, 8 December 2011 8:47 AM EAST

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The Battle of Beersheba

Palestine, 31 October 1917

12th LHR, AIF, Charge at Beersheeba

12th Light Horse Regiment men who charged at Beersheba

The following list comprises the men from the 12th Light Horse Regiment who were possibly at Beersheba on 31 October 1917 and may have been available to have taken part in the famous Charge at Beersheba.

The problems

The reason for the uncertainty, except for those wounded or killed in action arises from the situation that no roll was ever taken of the men who did charge. The historian is then left to search through the individual service records to ascertain if the man was likely to have been at Beersheba on the appropriate date. The exercise required examining many hundreds of records from potential candidates and narrowing down to the likely candidates whose files show no reason not to be at Beersheba.

The absence of a reason in itself does not mean that the person actually charged. A person may have reported sick in the morning and spent a couple days at the Field Ambulance. If the stay at the Field Ambulance was less than 14 days, generally it would not be recorded on the service record unless it was a reportable illness. Thus, the absence of a reaqson not to be at Beersheba is not evidence that a person was at Beersheba but it is more than likely that the person was at Beersheba.

The List

The following list was researched and constructed by Steve Becker and is reproduced with his permission.

12th Light Horse Regiment

Regimental Headquarters

Donald CAMERON

Joseph Percival BARR

Charles John SIMPSON

Frank Raymond MASSIE

Alfred John FINLAYSON

Frederick Raymond SWEENEY

Norbert Spencer WHELAN

Lance BATHIE

George Leslie BROOKS

William John Henry VITNELL

Joseph CAMERON

Joseph James WELCH

Owen Joseph HARTLEY

Frederick John MOORE

Cecil Ernest ROXBURGH

James Patrick BOURKE

Louis Henry AMBROSOLI

Frederick Archibald CAMERON

Joseph Henry CHIVERS

Vincent Leonard CHIVERS

Harry Martin CONWAY

Harold CREBER

Roy Charles DENNIS

John Joseph EGAN

Lewis EYRE

Claude Russell GLASSON

Thomas Herbert HAMPTON

Robert HUNTER

Hilton Sydney INGERSOLE

William John KEVERN

John James KOTZE

Edward Albert LEWIS

James William MARTIN

William MAWDSLEY

Claud Ackerman MAY

William James McLEAN

John Joseph MONROE

Claude Alpine NICHOLS

Percival Frederick RICHARDSON

Arthur Henry Elias SAMUEL

Frank Raymond STEVENSON

Sidney Theodore SYMONDS

Cuthbert William THOMPSON

Keith Charles WADE

George Sidney WILLIS

Archibald David WILSON

Mervyn Cyrnos WOODD

Arthur WYNDHAM

Olaf Peter WHITFIELD

 

 

A Squadron

Eric Montague HYMAN

Edward Bolton RALSTON

Edward Spencer HORDERN

John (Mackay) WEBB

Walter James MURRAY

Edwin Alfred MULFORD

Joseph Percival BARR

Daniel James MASON

Frank Bemarr HUTCHINSON

Arthur Talbot Scott ADAMS

Rudolph Askwith ADELT

Arthur George AUSTIN

Horace Malcolm AUSTIN

Cecil Charles BAILEY

John BAILEY

John BAILEY

Arthur James BAKER

Eli Irwin BEAZLEY

James BEAZLEY

John Stephen BEAZLEY

William Henry BEST

Robert Victor BLACKBURN

William Robert BLAIN

Belfield BONE

Robert Hayden BONE

Robert BORTHISTLE

Harry BOYLE

William BROWN

John BRUNTON

Adam BUCHAN

Alfred BULL

Colin Brodie BULL

Harry BUNYAN

Reginald Charles BURGESS

Alfred BURROWS

Wilfred Edward CALLOWAY

Robert CAMPBELL

Rupert Colin CAMPBELL

Herbert CANTLE

Verney CHILCOTT

Harry Rex George COLEY

Clifton Bert COLLESS

Frederick John COLLETT

Edwin Wensley COLLINS

George John COMERFORD

Henry Thomas COMMINS

David Albert CORMIE

Albert COTTER

Bert James DADDO

Gerald DIGBY

John Stewart DONKIN

Patrick Bede DONNELLY

Ralston Alexander DOWLING-BROWN

Pierce Ignatius DWYER

William Augustus DWYER

David Percy EASON

Charles George EDWARDS

James ELLIOTT

Geoffrey Somerset Sharpe FARMILOE

John Henry FIELDING

John FLEET

Martin FOGARTY

Thomas Augustine FOLEY

William Percival FRANCIS

Frederick Charles FRENCH

William Vincent GALLAGHER

Clarence GILL

Richard James GOGGIN

Frederick James GOODWIN

Archibald Donald GRANT

Abel Alfred GREEN

Algernon HAMPTON

Robert James HASTIE

Herbert John Hawkins HAYS

James Samuel HEARNE

George Sydney HENLEY

William John HENWOOD

Harold Clifford HIBBURD

James HIGGINS

Stanley R HODGES

Arthur Joseph HOGAN

Cyril HOLMES

Herbert Ernest HOLROYD

Walter Leonard HORSLEY

Albert Victor HUNTER

Thomas JOPLIN

Leo Alphonsos KENNEDY

Frank Claude KENNIFF

Frederick William KIRK

Carl Seigfred KLEMKE

Frank LUXTON

Alexander MacAULAY

Robert MARSDEN

Robert MASON

Norman Conrad McCARTHY

Stanley Arthur McCARTHY

Wilfred McCARTHY

James Edward Bruce McCOLL

Harold Ronald McDONALD

Arthur McILROY

Patrick Joseph McKENNA

Alexander Hugh McLELLAN

Robert Ashleigh McNAB

- McGILVRAY Malcolm McNEILL

Frederick Arthur MURRAY

Victor Ayah Adam NOSWORTHY

Robert Archibald O'NEILL

George Thomas PEACOCK

Maurice James PENSON

Leo QUINLIVAN

Charles Samuel Francis RHIND

George Henry RICHARDS

Frederick Hastings RICHARDSON

Jack Lewis ROSENTHALL

John Joseph Bede SAMUELS

Percival Alec SHEPHARD

Peter SINCLAIR

William SIRKITT

John Frederick SMEE

Arthur Ernest SMITH

Clifford SMITH

Erwin Lindsay SNODGRASS

Frederick Restall SNOWBALL

Jack STACY

Clarence Howard STANFORD

Herbert STEWART

Thomas Harold SWEENEY

Harold John TAYLOR

Oscar THOMPSON

Charles Lucian Schaunard TRENTY

Percy WARD

William Henry WELDING

William John WHITE

Peter James WOLD

 

 

B Squadron

Cuthbert Murchison FETHERSTONHAUGH

Rodney Keith ROBEY

Guy Bloomfield HAYDON

Clyde EASTERBROOK

Roy Wickham LINDEMAN

Adam Park MacLEAN

Frederick COLEMAN

Alfred Richard TOWNSEND

Arnold ANDERSON

George Hamilton ATKINSON

Norman BAIRD

Thomas Percy BARBER

Sydney Joseph BARROW

James Maxwell BATES

Edward Bland BECK

James Albert BENNETT

Alwynne Steel BEVERIDGE

William BRADBURY

Thomas Richard BRADLEY

Stanley BROOME

Stanley Victor BULLOCK

Godfrey Lambert BURGESS

Thomas Robert CAMPBELL

Frank Ernest CASELEY

Joseph CHARLESWORTH

Bute Alfred CHARTERS

Leslie Price CLARKE

Noel James CLARKE

Edward Thomas CLEARY

Albert Edwin COGGAN

George Herbert COOKE

Earl William Joseph CORBY

Matthew William COSIER

George David Alaxander COVENTRY

Ernest James CRAGGS

Robert CRUTCH

Walter DARBY

Jack Essington DARGIN

Edward Cornelius DENGATE

Kenneth Clive DENT

George Bede Leonard DICK

Charles DOHERTY

John William DOWLEY

Charles Ernest DOWNEY

Vivian Theophilus ENGLAND

George Lacey EVANS

William Thomas FLOOD

John Ernest FOWLER

Bruce Turnbull FRANKEL

Alfred John GALVIN

Leslie John Samuel GENNER

Eric William GRAHAM

Bruce Ogilvie GRANT

Walter Bede GREENHALGH

Edward HANNELL

William Ernest HARFIELD

David Woodward HARRIS

Howard Reginald HAYES

Thomas John Cornelius HOSKISSON

Thomas HYDE

Ernest HYLAND

William Henry Douglas JEFFREYS

George Dace JENNINGS

William Charles JOSEPHS

Walter Mundell KEDDIE

Frederick John Graham KELLY

Frederick Raymond KERR

James Murray KILPATRICK

Robert Matthew KINGSLAND

Miles Gordon KITE

Frederick Cecil LEE

Lachlan Irvin LONGWILL

Eric MacLEAN

Horace Graham McALPINE

James Thomas McCABE

Robert McCANN

Alexander Thomas McCLYMONT

Norman Strang McCLYMONT

Horace George McCRAE

Thomas Henry McNALLY

Duncan Mcdonald Forbes MEAKIN

Arthur Edward MELVAINE

Herbert MITCHELL

Alexander MOFFETT

Daniel James MOON

Richard John MOORE

Raymond Dean MORGAN

Ejgie (Ejgil) NEERGAARD

Guy Manning NIELD

Ernest William NOBLE

John Philip O'BIERNE

Edward Goodwin O'DELL

John Albert Taylor O'DWYER

Frederick William PABST

Ernest PAULS

Henry Harrison PEARD

Alfred Irwin PHILLIPS

George Thomas PHILLIPS

Jack Walter Lawrence PICCLES

Eric POWELL

Allan PRITCHARD

James PROPHET

William Winter Home PURVES

Edward QUINN

James RILEY

Edgar Alison ROBB

John ROBERTS

Victor James ROSS

David ROWE

Frank SCHAAF

George Alexander SHANNON

Harry Leonard SHELRIGE

Horace Graham SHERWOOD

Austin SMITH

Charles Harold SMITH

Edward SMITH

James Murray SMITH

Joseph Francis SMITH

Joseph William SMITH

Akien SPENCE

Robert John STINSON

Selwyn STODDART

James Patrick TAYLOR

Linus TAYLOR

Sydney Thomas THOMPSON

Leyton Forsyth THORPE

James TIMMINS

George William TORR

Norman URCH

Frank Billingsley WALKER

Jack WALL

Vincent WALSH

Edward WEBSTER

Edward James WHITE

Roy WIGHTMAN

John WISHART

William WRIGHT

Roy WYNTER

Henry Selwyn ZIEMS

 

 

C Squadron

Bertie Capt LOWING

Jack Rupert Cyril DAVIES

Arthur DOBSON

Arthur Ernest LISLE

Joseph Bernard EATHER

Harvey Halling McGREGOR

Leonard ALLAN

Bertie ANDREWS

Joseph Ernest BAKER

Stanley Thomas BELL

Edward Henry BERRY

Frederick James BISGROVE

Leslie Richard BODLE

Leslie John BOLAND

Samuel Issac BRAIN

Victor Percy BUSH

Ernest Frederick BYRNE

Timothy CALLAGHAN

Leslie CAMERON

Joseph CARTER

Arthur Edward CHALLENGER

Harry Harold CLARKE

John Foster COLLINS

Frederick COOK

Henry COOK

Pope Francis COOPER

Frank CULLEN

George William DALTON

Maurice Edward DAWSON

Joseph DENNERLEY

William Joseph DESMOND

Gregory James DODD

James DONLAN

John Thomas DUTTON

Eugene Alfred EATHER

Gordon EDGAR

Thomas Claude EDWARDS

Thomas Claude EDWARDS

Stewart Glenridding FAWCETT

Joseph Leo GALLAGHER

William John GANT

Ernest Henry GARDINER

Martin Joseph GIBBINS

William GLAZEBROOK

George GORDON

William GREWCOCK

George Herbert HANNAFORD

Bertram HARRIS

Edward Ray HARRIS

Harold Cure HAYNE

Geoffrey Austin HILL

Cecil Thomas HILLS

Alexander Vernie HOUGH

Arthur HOWARD

George JEFFERY

John Stephen JENNINGS

Arthur William JOHNSON

George Whiting KELLY

Edward Vincent KENNY

Arthur Stuart KNOX

Harold Jack LAUER

Alexander Thomson LAURIE

Frederick Joseph LAWS

Eric Oswald LEES

Murty William LINNEGAR

Edward James LONERGAN

John LONERGAN

Harold Edward LONG

Herbert Arthur LUMMIS

Alexander James MacKIE

Hugh Lawrence MacLEOD

Clifford Lindsay MARKWELL

John Raymond McCARTHY

Eric Keith McGREGOR

Henry James McINNES

John Michael McINTYRE

Alfred David MESSERVY

Richard Hetherington MILLER

Arthur Burton MUGGLETON

George MURRAY

James Gordon MURRAY

Neil NICHOLSON

John Palmer NORTHMORE

Cecil Norman O'BRIEN

David James O'ROURKE

Joseph Patrick O'ROURKE

Keith PALMER

Harry PATTERSON

John Leslie PAYNE

Roy PAYNE

William Henry Charles PEIME

Walter Irving PILTON

Thomas Albert PLUMMER

Cecil Reginald POWYS

Allan Douglas PURDIE

Alexander REVELLY

Frederick James RILEY

Frederick Hadley ROBINSON

Angus William ROSE

John Patrick ROSE

Arthur John ROSER

Robert Walter ROSS

George Richard Davies ROWLAND

David Alexander RUSSELL

John James SAINSBURY

Henry Rupert SALMON

James David SHEARER

Stephen SIMMONDS

Edgar George SMALL

Rupert Leonard SMITH

Leslie Rex STANGER

Dauphin Hamden STEELE

Oscar August STENGERT

Alfred Joseph STONE

William Goth TAIT

Alexander Angus TAYLOR

Colin Forsythe THORPE

Percy Leslie TOWNSEND

Henry TULLY

Edwin TURNER

Richard UNWIN

Albany Thomas Frederick VARNEY

Royal Mervyn WALCOTT

Richard Willis WALTON

Arthur Samuel WATTS

John Thomas WEBB

Roydon John WEBB

Lindsay John Payne WEST

Frederick George WILLIAMS

Percival Thomas WILLIAMS

Theodore George WRIGHT

Walter Henry YOUNG

Charles Vivian ZIEMS

 

 

No known Squadron

Andrew ABERCROMBIE

James Wallace BELL

David Charles BOWTELL

Norman John FISHER

George Cecil GREEN

Frederick Harrison HORSLEY

George Richard LEE

Alexander Booth MacDONALD

Frank William MAGILL

Brian Donald Buchanan MAY

John MAYNARD

Edwin Alfred MULFORD

Joseph William Conolly SHAW

William Joseph SMEE

Thomas Edward WALL

Those whom are believed to have charged at Beersheba, 31 October 1917: 

The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917, 4th LH Bde, AIF, Charge at Beersheeba

The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917, 4th LHR, AIF, Charge at Beersheeba 

The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917, 12th LHR, AIF, Charge at Beersheeba 

Acknowledgement: Many thanks to Steve Becker who provided much of the raw material for this entry.

Posted by Project Leader at 1:01 AM EADT

Updated: Monday, 5 October 2009 4:05 PM EADT

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The Battle of Maghara

Sinai, 15 October 1916

13 October 1916

A Column was formed today, approximate strength of which was 800 Australian Light Horse, 400 City of London Yeomanry, 600 Mounted Camelry and 4,500 Transport Camels, also 200 Camels for Army Medical Corps work.

The Column moved off today at 1700 in 2 Echelons, the Yeomanry leading, then 11th Light Horse Regiment and the 12th Light Horse Regiment in the rear.


14 October 1916

Column arrived at 0100 and fed horses and placed Posts. Column left Zagadan at 1930 for Maghara. Bright Moonlight night. Camel Company leading followed by 11th Light Horse Regiment, then 1st  City of London Yeomanry and 12th Light Horse Regiment in rear with the Regiment's Machine Gun Section and Hong Kong and Singapore Mounted Battery.

Heavy mist came over at 2300, which retarded the progress of the Column considerably.


15 October 1916

The Column halted and fed horses on slopes of Rakwa at 0100 and moved on again at 0230. The Column halted again on west side of sand hills, ½ mile from the slopes of Maghara Hills at 0730, waiting for the fog, which was still very heavy to lift. Could hear our own planes, but could not see them. The screen had by now become close to the enemy and stray shots could be heard.

At about 0800 an attack on the Hills was made. "A" and "C" Squadrons of the 12th Light Horse Regiment occupied the centre, the 11th Light Horse Regiment were on the Right Flank and the Yeomanry were on the left flank. All troops dismounted when they reached the foot of the Hills and handed over lead horses, for which there was excellent cover. The dismounted men then scaled the heights and in isolated cases, got into action. The 11th Light Horse Regiment captured 7 Turkish prisoners and 3 Bedouin.

At 1400 the 11th and 12th Regiments withdrew to Rakwa.

The whole Column eventually camped at Rakwa for the night. The 12th Light Horse Regiment found all outposts and guards for the safety of the camp.


16 October 1916

The Column moved out from Rakwa at 0730 and arrived at Zagadan at 1600. The 11th Light Horse Regiment supplied all outposts and camp guards. Major Chambers reported to the Regiment for duty.


17 October 1916

The Column marched out from Zagadan at 0800, arrived at Bayud Wells at 1300. The Column bivouacked for the night at Bayud.

Roll of Honour

Lest We Forget

Further Reading:

12th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF

12th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour 

The Battle of Maghara, Sinai, 15 October 1916

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Tuesday, 1 December 2009 9:15 PM EAST

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The Battle of Maghara

Sinai, 15 October 1916

Maghara Operations.

The Regiment in conjunction with the 11th. Regt. "The City of London Rough Riders" and an Indian Mountain Battery now carried out a raid on a strong Turkish post in the Maghara Hills. Major. D. Cameron with "C" Squadron moved out to "Bayud (the scene of recent fighting) a week in advance of the Regiment and carried out preliminary reconnaissances in the country over which it was intended to operate. The Regiment marched out from Gebel Habeita on the 27th., Sept. 1916, and trekked along the line El Ferdan, Mahadat, Bada, Mageibra, Bayud, a well watered oasis was the base from which the Mounted force was to operate. The objective lay about forty miles from Bayud, the intervening country being a sea of sand dunes, waterless and with no defined roads. The operations occupied six days, during which time men and horses were rationed and watered by camel transport. It was an impressive sight to see this miniature army (a desert flying column) move out just before dusk on the 13th. October; as far as the eye could see great strings of camels and horses stretched far across a sea of sand like great rivers. Travelling was done under cover of night, the Force camping by day in hollows between the sand dunes, so as not to reveal to enemy patrols or aircraft, the presence of a hostile force, for the success of the venture depended upon a sunrise attack. The last night ride when ten miles from the objective, a dense fog settled down, making riding uncomfortable and the work of the advance guard more difficult. When nearing Maghara a Turkish outpost was located, surrounded and silenced with the bayonet. At daybreak still under cover of the fog the whole force deployed and moved into position for the attack, the "Rough Riders" being in position on the Left of the Regiment and the 11th Regiment on the Right. As the fog lifted the whole line moved forward in extended order at the gallop across a cultivated field half a mile in width. Although surprised the Turkish Garrison subjected the attackers to a fusillade of bullets from rifles and machine-guns. Gaining the foothills with few casualties the whole line dismounted and moved to the attack on foot. Climbing the hills which were precipitous in places, tested the metal of the best trained troops; the wind was like a blast from a furnace and the pitiless rays of an Egyptian Sun tried the courage of the stoutest hearted. The enemy outnumbered but holding a position almost impregnable gradually fell back; one redoubt given a heap of trouble was eventually silenced by the Indian Mountain Battery with a few well directed shots, the occupants being either killed or wounded.

The enemy gradually vacated his forward position but the country was far too hilly and broken to follow up the advantage gained. At midday, having beaten and routed the enemy, killing and taking many prisoners, the whole line withdrew and trekked back to Bayud.

Further Reading:

12th Australian Light Horse Regiment, AIF

12th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Roll of Honour 

The Battle of Maghara, Sinai, 15 October 1916

Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Tuesday, 1 December 2009 9:46 PM EAST

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