Topic: AIF - DMC - Eng 2FSE
The Battle of Beersheba
Palestine, 31 October 1917
2nd FSE Unit History Account
At the conclusion of the war, Lieutenant J. E. Angus, O.C. 5th Field Troop produced an unpublished manuscript in 1919 called Weekly Works Report and Diary, which included a section specifically related to the battle of Beersheba and is extracted below.
Angus, JE, Weekly Works Report and Diary, unpublished, pp. 19:
30th. Laying wire road. Dismantled water supply gear at 1130 and moved out to ASLUJ, erected two troughs at well near station buildings and watered Divisional ransport. Moved on with 5th Bde. at 0200.
31st. Accompanied Bde. throughout operations. Moved with S.H.Q. and 4th Troop back to IMITNAN, watered a holes in Wadi - 1 O/R to Field Amb.
Nov 1st Moved out from IMITNAN at 0500, to BEERSHEBA, arriving at 1200. Erected 4 troughs and pumps in wadi bed - got sagia on well BB in working order and drew water into 10,000 gallon reservoir by means of horses.
2nd. Arranged drinking water supply at 8B, erected bottle filler and pump - wheel lifting approx. 1000 gals. per hour. Found what appears to be a mine arch in 8B and marked it DANGER.
Erected 10000 gallon reservoir as storage, and one trough at 8B - examined sagia at well 8A and found it in bad order but repairable and usable.
3rd Erected 2nd 10,000 gallon reservoir at 8B. Cleared hedge and trees to enable watering to be carried out if necessary. Water gave right out in reservoir at 1600 and drawing was suspended for 2 hours. At 2400 the wheel was stopped to enable pump to be put down well, at 0600 on 4th wheel was still out of action. 1 R.H to M.V.S.
4th. Erected ANZAC hauling gear at well 7, two 2300 gallon and one 5000 gallon reservoir - 1 Officer to ASLUJ for deep well gear, reported back at 2030.
The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917
Australian and New Zealand Roll of Honour
Battles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: The Battle of Beersheba, Palestine, 31 October 1917, 2nd FSE Unit History Account
