Capture of the Wadi el Hesi
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Capture of Wadi el Hesi and the associated Sausage Ridge, began during the evening of 7 November 1917, was fiercely fought for during 8 November and not cleared until the early hours of 9 November, at the beginning of the pursuit phase of the Southern Palestine Offensive in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign during World War I. The advancing
British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts esta ...
units of the
Egyptian Expeditionary Force The Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) was a British Empire military formation, formed on 10 March 1916 under the command of General Archibald Murray from the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and the Force in Egypt (1914–15), at the beginning of ...
(EEF) were held by rearguard units of the withdrawing
Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
units of the Yildirim Army Group, holding a strategically strong position to the north of Gaza. After the EEF victory at the Battle of Beersheba, the
Beersheba Beersheba or Beer Sheva, officially Be'er-Sheva ( he, בְּאֵר שֶׁבַע, ''Bəʾēr Ševaʿ'', ; ar, بئر السبع, Biʾr as-Sabʿ, Well of the Oath or Well of the Seven), is the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel. ...
to Gaza line was broken in consequence of a series of attacks, at
Tel el Khuweilfe Tel H̱alif, formerly Tel H̱alifa ( he, תל חליף, Arabic name: Tel el-Khuweilifeh) is an archaeological site, a mound (tell (archaeology), tell) in northern Negev area, west from kibbutz Lahav, Israel. Albrecht Alt suggested that it is t ...
, Hareira and Sheria and Gaza. The Ottoman 7th Division, one of the retreating Ottoman Army units, established a defensive line on the northern side of the Wadi el Hesi which included Sausage Ridge.Not to be confused with Sausage Ridge to the south east of Gaza, which had formed part of the Gaza to Beersheba defensive line, from before the Second Battle of Gaza and during the
Stalemate in Southern Palestine The Stalemate in Southern Palestine was a six month standoff between the British Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) and the Ottoman Army in World War I. The two hostile forces faced each other along the Gaza to Beersheba line during the Sinai and ...
. (See the second battle's article for Falls Map 14 showing Central operations on 17 April 1917 :File:FallsMap14detGaza.jpeg)
After the wadi was fairly quickly crossed late on 7 November, Sausage Ridge protecting the road and railway along which the retreating Ottoman columns were traveling, was attacked on 8 November by the EEF's
52nd (Lowland) Division The 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that was originally formed as the Lowland Division, in 1908 as part of the Territorial Force. It later became the 52nd (Lowland) Division in 1915. The 52nd (Lowland ...
. However, supported by an Ottoman cavalry attack on the British infantry's northern flank, the Ottoman rearguard strongly defended the ridge all day and most of the night, until it was finally captured early on 9 November. By then the rearguard had successfully withdrawn along with the withdrawing Ottoman columns.


Background

After the capture of Beersheba on 31 October by General Edmund Allenby's forces, between 1 and 7 November strong Ottoman rearguards at
Tel el Khuweilfe Tel H̱alif, formerly Tel H̱alifa ( he, תל חליף, Arabic name: Tel el-Khuweilifeh) is an archaeological site, a mound (tell (archaeology), tell) in northern Negev area, west from kibbutz Lahav, Israel. Albrecht Alt suggested that it is t ...
in the southern
Judean Hills The Judaean Mountains, or Judaean Hills ( he, הרי יהודה, translit=Harei Yehuda) or the Hebron Mountains ( ar, تلال الخليل, translit=Tilal al-Khalīl, links=, lit=Hebron Mountains), is a mountain range in Palestine and Israel whe ...
, at Hareira and Sheria on the maritime plain, and at Gaza close to the Mediterranean coast, held the
Egyptian Expeditionary Force The Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) was a British Empire military formation, formed on 10 March 1916 under the command of General Archibald Murray from the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and the Force in Egypt (1914–15), at the beginning of ...
(EEF) in heavy fighting. Towards the end of the week the Ottoman Army was able to withdraw mainly at night in good order, under cover of effective rearguards.Grainger 2006, p. 159 The Ottoman XXII Corps had not been defeated at Gaza, but conducted a skillful, tactical retreat from the town, demonstrating both operational and tactical mobility.Erickson 2007 pp. 124–5 The Gaza garrison withdrew in three detachments, the Ottoman 53rd Division moved eastwards, delaying the pursuit by Desert Mounted Corps, the Ottoman 3rd Division occupied a strong rearguard position at Beit Hanun, while the Ottoman 7th Division established the Wadi el Hesi line of defences. However, in conjunction with the captures in the centre of the line at Sheria, the occupation of Gaza enabled a swift direct advance northwards, preventing a strong consolidation of the Wadi el Hesi rearguard position. This wadi was the second of the major watercourse on the Palestine coast, flowing parallel with, and north of the Wadi Ghuzzee.Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 131


Prelude

On 7 and 8 November rearguards of the Ottoman Eighth Army, delayed the EEF's advance by Lieutenant General
Edward Bulfin Sir Edward Stanislaus Bulfin (6 November 1862 − 20 August 1939) was a United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, British General officer, general during World War I, where he established a reputation as an excellent commander at the brigade, ...
's XXI Corps and Lieutenant General Harry Chauvel's Desert Mounted Corps.


Ottoman withdrawal from Gaza

Gaza was defended during the third battle for Gaza, by the XXII Corps commanded by Refet Bey with headquarters at Jebaliye holding the strongly fortified positions around Gaza: * the 53rd Division's 3,100 rifles had held from the Mediterranean shore to the eastern side of Gaza (veteran of the Second Battle of Gaza), * the 3rd Division's 3,698 rifles on their left (veteran of the
First First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...
and Second Battles of Gaza), and * the 7th Division's 2,886 rifles had been in Eighth Army reserve at
Deir Sineid Dayr Sunayd ( ar, دير سنيد) was a Palestinian Arab village in the Gaza Subdistrict, located northeast of Gaza. Situated at an elevation of along the southern coastal plain of Palestine, Deir Sunayd had a total land area of 6,081 dunams. ...
. The corps had been supported by 116 guns, six large naval guns, and several
batteries Battery most often refers to: * Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power * Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact Battery may also refer to: Energy source *Automotive battery, a device to provide power t ...
of 150mm howitzers. The rifle figures were as at 30 September 1917. Not mentioned are the machine guns, which progressively replaced 25% of the rifles in each infantry battalion, from 10 August 1917. These divisions would have been included in a general activation of ''Stoßtruppen'' style assault troops, across the whole Ottoman Army. On 1 September 1917,
Enver Pasha İsmail Enver, better known as Enver Pasha ( ota, اسماعیل انور پاشا; tr, İsmail Enver Paşa; 22 November 1881 – 4 August 1922) was an Ottoman military officer, revolutionary, and convicted war criminal who formed one-third ...
ordered assault battalions and detachments to be established in the Yildirim Army Group. After the limited fighting during the third battle, the Ottoman XXII Corps was not defeated, skillfully conducting a tactical retreat from Gaza, during which the corps demonstrated both operational and tactical mobility.


Gaza to Beersheba road

At 01:00 on 7 November during the EEF occupation of Gaza the 233rd Brigade of the 75th Division (XXI Corps) took control of Outpost Hill on the eastern outskirts of Gaza without meeting any opposition. Only individual Ottoman riflemen opposed their occupation of Green Hill and the Labyrinth at 05:00, and by 07:00 the 233rd Brigade had patrols on Ali Muntar. However, on their right, the 234th Brigade (75th Division) was delayed by Ottoman units in strength armed with machine guns, defending Beer trench and Road Redoubt on the Gaza to Beersheba road.Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 75Keogh 1955 p. 161 These rearguards targeted the EEF rear during the day, delaying the hand over of the transport, from XX Corps to the XXI Corps. Tank and Atawineh Redoubts were defended by strong Ottoman rearguards, which targeted the increasing numbers of EEF infantry, with their artillery. The EEF units advanced behind Atawineh, Road and Tank Redoubts' flanks and eventually occupied them by nightfall. Allenby had decided by noon on 7 November, to leave them as "their garrison must surrender, and I am not wasting men by assaulting them." During the morning of 8 November, a detachment of the
10th (Irish) Division The 10th (Irish) Division, was one of the first of Kitchener's New Army K1 Army Group divisions (formed from Kitchener's 'first hundred thousand' new volunteers), authorized on 21 August 1914, after the outbreak of the Great War. It included b ...
(XX Corps) advanced along the road to Gaza from Beersheba, to find touch with the Composite Force of the XXI Corps near Atawineh, having passed the undefended Hairpin redoubt on Sausage Ridge.


Ottoman 53rd Division

After evacuating Gaza the Ottoman 53rd Division advanced eastwards towards Huj, marching across the front of the advancing cavalry, to stop the threatened breakthrough by Desert Mounted Corps, and to cover the retreating columns. The superior strength of this Ottoman division, temporarily halted and drove in the advance squadrons of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade and the 7th Mounted Brigade on their right, but withdrew towards the Wadi el Hesi when threatened by the
1st Light Horse Brigade The 1st Light Horse Brigade was a mounted infantry brigade of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), which served in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I. The brigade was initially formed as a part-time militia formation in the early 1900s in ...
. However under cover of this attack, the Ottoman 16th and 26th Divisions were able to withdraw, without being harassed.


Wadi el Hesi defences

A second group of the retreating Gaza garrison had marched through the previous night, to gain distance and time to establish light field defences on a strong position just north of the Wadi el Hesi, north north east of Gaza. In the sand dunes and in the cultivated area nearby, they constructed a series of short trenches. Behind these defences they resisted the EEF advance all day,Baly 2003 p. 124Falls 1930 Vol. 2 pp. 131–2Gullett 1919 p. 16 making a determined stand on the Wadi el Hesi. It was towards this line held by the 7th Division, that the 53rd Division had withdrawn, while the 3rd Division held Beit Hanun.Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 130 Rising in the Judean Hills, the Wadi el Hesi stretched west to enter the sea north of Gaza. When not flowing, water was available all year round, either in large pools, or just below the surface. On the northern bank, in the small village of Herbie, in the areas of cultivation, and in the sand dunes, the Ottoman rearguard constructed lines of trenches, which made the most of the natural strengths of the area. However, this second line was not nearly as strong as the Gaza to Beersheba line, and was vulnerable to attack from the south over the sand dunes. The aim of this rearguard was to delay the EEF advance until the arrival of the winter rains. In the mud, the Ottoman Army was hopeful that it could to hold the EEF until spring, when reinforcements from the Baghdad campaign in Mesopotamia were expected to arrive in Southern Palestine, along with Ottoman divisions from Salonika. German battalions might also become available following Russia's withdrawal from the war.


EEF pursuit

On 7 November, the
54th (East Anglian) Division The 54th (East Anglian) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army. The division was raised in 1908 following the creation of the Territorial Force (TF) as the East Anglian Division. During the First World War the division fo ...
(XXI Corps) had taken over garrison duties in Gaza, while their 162nd Brigade advanced through the gardens and fields to the main road, north of the town. While it has been suggested the 54th (East Anglian) Division subsequently occupied the Wadi el Hesi,Carver 2003 p. 218 due to supply problems this division was forced to remain at Gaza.Wavell 1968 pp. 150–1Bruce 2002 pp. 147–9 Although dumps of rations, ammunition and engineer stores had been formed in concealed positions in the XXI Corps area before the Third Battle of Gaza, the corps was not in a position to move any distance. Almost all of their transport except ammunition tractors had been transferred to the XX Corps and the Desert Mounted Corps for their attacks during the Battle of Beersheba. The XXI Corps ordered the
52nd (Lowland) Division The 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that was originally formed as the Lowland Division, in 1908 as part of the Territorial Force. It later became the 52nd (Lowland) Division in 1915. The 52nd (Lowland ...
to take up a line from the Jaffa road north of
Sheikh Radwan Sheikh Radwan ( ar, الشيخ رضوان) is a district of Gaza City located nearly northwest of the city center. It borders al-Shati camp to the southwest, Rimal to the south, and Jabalia to the east. The Sheikh Radwan Cemetery is located in the ...
to the sea on the northern outskirts of Gaza, and the 157th Brigade (52nd Division) with a squadron of the XXI Corps Cavalry Regiment on their right, began the infantry pursuit by passing through the 54th (East Anglian) Division to advance along the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, to occupy Sheikh Hasan by 12:15.Grainger 2006 p. 150 The 157th Brigade was also supported by the 264th Brigade RFA (with footed wheels) and the 413rd Field Company Royal Engineers. By 16:00, these troops were seen marching along the coast towards the mouth of the Wadi el Hesi, the nearest likely defensive line north of Gaza.Egyptian Expeditionary Force General Staff War Diary 7 November 1917 AWM4-1-6-19 Part 2Grainger 2006 p. 155


Beit Hanun

On the eastern side of Gaza, the 75th Division (XXI Corps) commanded by Major General
Philip Palin Sir Philip Charles Palin (8 August 1864 – 22 January 1937) was an officer of the British Indian Army who served in frontier campaigns and then commanded British, Indian and South African troops in Egypt, Gallipoli and Palestine during World W ...
, with the
Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade The 15th (Imperial Service) Cavalry Brigade was a brigade-sized formation that served alongside British Empire forces in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, during World War I. Originally called the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade it was formed ...
attached, had been ordered to exploit any potential breakthrough. The cavalry brigade, which had been carrying out patrol duties based at Tel el Jemmi, during fighting for the Gaza to Beersheba line, rode through the ruins of Gaza at 09:00. They arrived at Beit Hanun at 13:00, where the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade encountered part of the Gaza garrison defending a strong rearguard position on a ridge south-east of Beit Hanun.Preston 1921 pp. 48–9Grainger 2006 pp. 149–50The Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade had served in the
Force in Egypt The Force in Egypt was a British Army formation established in August 1914 to administer garrisoning armed forces in Egypt at the beginning of the First World War. The force had the objective of protecting the Suez Canal and was originally comma ...
during the defence of the Suez Canal including the
Raid on Suez Canal The Raid on the Suez Canal, also known as Actions on the Suez Canal, took place between 26 January and 4 February 1915 when a German-led Ottoman Army force advanced from Southern Palestine to attack the British Empire-protected Suez Canal, mark ...
early in 1915. Subsequently they served on the EEF lines of communication before coming under the direct command of Allenby.
rainger 2006 pp. 128–9 Ralph Rainger ( Reichenthal; October 7, 1901 – October 23, 1942) was an American composer of popular music principally for films. Biography Born Ralph Reichenthal in New York City, United States, Rainger initially embarked on a legal career, ...
/ref> The Hyderabad and Mysore
Lancers A lancer was a type of cavalryman who fought with a lance. Lances were used for mounted warfare in Assyria as early as and subsequently by Persia, India, Egypt, China, Greece, and Rome. The weapon was widely used throughout Eurasia during the M ...
had advanced through
Jebaliya Jabalia also Jabalya ( ar, جباليا) is a Palestinian city located north of Gaza City. It is under the jurisdiction of the North Gaza Governorate, in the Gaza Strip. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, Jabalia had a popu ...
to link with the Glasgow, Lancashire, and
Hertfordshire Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is one of the home counties in southern England. It borders Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire to the north, Essex to the east, Greater London to the south, and Buckinghamshire to the west. For govern ...
squadrons of the XXI Corps Cavalry Regiment, holding the high ground at Beit Lahl north of Gaza, to threaten the Ottoman flank. At about noon Ottoman munitions at the railhead near Beit Hanun were blown up. Early in the afternoon, the 12th Light Horse Regiment (
4th Light Horse Brigade The 4th Light Horse Brigade was a mounted infantry brigade of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) serving in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I. The brigade was initially formed as a part-time militia formation in the early 1900s in Victo ...
, Australian Mounted Division) rode to the north-west to give the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade a message, as the cavalry brigade had been out of contact with XX Corps and the Desert Mounted Corps. They met east of Beit Hanun at 14:45.Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 13712th Light Horse Regiment War Diary 8 November 1917 AWM4-10-17-10Falls and Paget state touch was gained at 15:00. aget 1994 Vol. 5 p. 187, Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 137/ref> The light horsemen delivered orders for the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade to "try and close the gap" by attacking the Ottoman rearguard on the Wadi el Hesi near Tumra to the north of Beit Hanun.Falls implies the 12th Light Horse Regiment combined with the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade but according to the 12th Light Horse Regimental War Diary they back rode to Huj. 2th Light Horse Regiment War Diary November 1917 AWM4-10-17-10, Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 137/ref> (See sketch map showing the advance by the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade and the 52nd (Lowland) Division on 7 November 1917). While the Corps Cavalry Regiment captured Beit Lahia, the Hyderabad Lancers advanced at 15:00 to capture the ridge west of Beit Hanun at Sheikh Munam, but the village was strongly defended by numerous Ottoman machine gun detachments. Despite meeting considerable resistance, they advanced to the ridge overlooking Beit Hanun from the east, capturing the position, twenty-three prisoners, a gun / howitzer and a large quantity of ammunition. They also captured the water pumping machinery intact; however, this ran on gas made from charcoal which had to be converted before it could be used. As a consequence, the regiments were forced to withdraw back to Jebaliye for water.Massey 1919 p. 47The three squadrons of XXI Corps Cavalry and the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade were forced to retire back to Gaza for supplies and water. aget 1994 Vol. 5 p. 187/ref> At 16:55 the Ottoman rearguard was reported to still be holding Beit Hanun, with concentrations of forces at Al Majdal (also known as el Mejdel), the ancient place of Ashkelon and
Beit Duras Bayt Daras ( ar, بيت دراس) was a Palestinian Arab town located northeast of Gaza and approximately above sea level, which was depopulated in 1948. History A grave, dating to the Hellenistic era, probably from the first half of the thi ...
. By evening lancers from the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade had pursued the Ottoman force as far as Tumrah and Deir Sineid.


Battle

On the far left of the EEF pursuit, the 157th Brigade (52nd Division) and attached cavalry, artillery and engineers, had advanced north of Gaza along the shore covered by cliffs, to within of the Ottoman army entrenchments on the banks of the Wadi el Hesi, the sand dunes giving good cover to their approach from the south.Bruce 2002 p. 146 By dusk on 7 November, the 157th Brigade had reached and crossed the Wadi el Hesi near its mouth. On 8 November, the
Royal Scots Fusiliers The Royal Scots Fusiliers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that existed from 1678 until 1959 when it was amalgamated with the Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment) to form the Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Mar ...
and King's Own Scottish Borderers battalions of the 155th Brigade (52nd Division), crossed the wadi behind the Highland Light Infantry battalions of the 157th Brigade (52nd Division) and "extended their line northwards ... into an area of sand–dunes bounded by the coast on the left and a ridge, called by the mapmakers 'Sausage Ridge', behind which the road and railway ran." Sausage Ridge extended from the southern edge of the village of Burbera, southwards for towards Deir Sineid, ending nearly on the right bank of the Wadi el Hesi, inland from the coast.Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 132 The ridge was held in strength by the Ottoman 7th Division rearguard which held the EEF advance in determined fighting for most of the day, with the division successfully covering the majority of the retreating columns as they withdrew north along the road and railway to the east, and behind Sausage Ridge.Falls 1930 Vol. 2 Sketch Map 8The 54th Division has also been identified as the Ottoman division defending Sausage Ridge. rickson 2001 p. 173/ref> At 05:30 the 155th and 157th Brigade were ordered to capture Sausage Ridge. They were to attack the ridge to the north west of Herbie and not far from Ras Abu Ameire, with the support of the 164th Brigade RFA, and unknown to Brigadier General John Pollok-M'Call commanding the 155th Brigade, naval guns on
monitors Monitor or monitor may refer to: Places * Monitor, Alberta * Monitor, Indiana, town in the United States * Monitor, Kentucky * Monitor, Oregon, unincorporated community in the United States * Monitor, Washington * Monitor, Logan County, West Vir ...
off the mouth of the Wadi el Hesi.


Ras Abu Ameire Ridge

The 1/5th Highland Light Infantry followed by the 1/7th (Blythswood) Bn, Highland Light Infantry (157th Brigade), did not begin their attack on Ras Abu Ameire, a high dune east of the main position until dark on 7 November. By 20:20 they had not been strongly resisted, capturing their objective along with a machine gun and some rifles, but no prisoners. Only the southern portion of the Ras Abu Ameire Ridge had been captured the previous night by the 157th Brigade. Accordingly, on 8 November Brigadier General Hamilton Moore commanding the 157th Brigade, had been told his brigade's contributions would be defensive. While the 155th Brigade was to advance to attack Sausage Ridge on his left, Moore extended his flank north along the Ras Abu Ameire Ridge to attack the Ottoman rearguard holding the northern part of the ridge, which had clear targets on the advance of the 155th Brigade. Although the rearguard strongly resisted, the 7th Highland Light Infantry cleared most of the Ras Abu Ameire Ridge, while the leading battalion of the 155th Brigade, the 5th Kings Own Scottish Borderers completed the job by 10:30.Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 133


Sausage Ridge

When Pollok-M'Call commanding the 155th Brigade, reconnoitred the proposed battlefield from Ras Abu Ameire Ridge, he found Sausage Ridge was further away from Ras Abu Ameire, was more than high in places, with a
glacis A glacis (; ) in military engineering is an artificial slope as part of a medieval castle or in bastion fort, early modern fortresses. They may be constructed of earth as a temporary structure or of stone in more permanent structure. More genera ...
fortification constructed on the western face. In addition to these very formidable Ottoman defences, he also found the ridge extended further north than maps had indicated, and previously appreciated, and as a consequence the approach by 155th Brigade would expose these British infantry units, to an attack from the north by hostile units from Ashkelon. Bulfin, commanding the XXI Corps, arrived at Major General John Hill's headquarters of the 52nd (Lowland) Division, and despite the newly appreciated physical strength of the position, "the attack must be carried out as ordered." By 16:00 all units were in position for the attack but only one hour of daylight remained in which to advance .Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 135


157th Brigade

Holding the southern sector, the 157th Brigade was ordered at 13:30 to attack "with its whole strength", leaving no units to strengthen their northern flank. The 157th Brigade was to attack through Herbie to capture the southern edge of Sausage Ridge overlooking the Ottoman Palestine railway which ran from Beit Hanun to Junction Station. The 5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the 5th Highland Light Infantry were to extend "along the southern end of the Ras Abu Ameire Ridge" advancing frontally, while on the southern bank of the Wadi el Hesi, the 6th Highland Light Infantry was to cross the wadi southwest of Sausage Ridge, in a turning movement. The 157th Brigade, advanced unopposed until they were three-quarters of the way from Herbie towards the Sausage Ridge, at dusk they suffered considerable casualties from heavy rifle and machine gun fire.Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 135 The 157th Brigade went on to attack the southern end of Sausage Ridge, and succeeded in gaining ground as darkness fell.Wavell 1968 pp. 148–9 By 18:00 the leading troops of the Argyll and Southern Highlanders and 5th Highland Light Infantry reached the foot of the hill and charged straight up to gain the crest. Under very heavy Ottoman machine gun fire, strengthened by '' minenwerfer'' short range mortars, small groups of British soldiers "came to close quarters" with the Ottoman troops, fighting each other with bombs and bayonets. An Ottoman battalion counterattacked a few minutes later driving the British off the ridge. After rallying, they were driven off four times when many British were killed with the bayonet. After losing all their officers and NCOs the survivors reformed and returned to the attack. However, the Ottoman defenders were also armed with hand grenades and trench mortars.Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 136 After suffering heavy losses the 5th Highland Light Infantry were ordered to "stand fast", while the 7th Highland Light Infantry, the reserve battalion moved through them to take up the attack, with the 5th Highland Light Infantry forming the reserve. Meanwhile, the turning movement of the 6th Highland Light Infantry, which had advanced slowly in close formation through sand, was becoming effective as the defenders had not been prepared for a flank attack, on this south-western end of Sausage Ridge. At 20:50 a general attack along the whole line captured the position with the bayonet, except for rearguards on the heights away. Strong officers' patrols captured this higher ground and the whole position was cleared by 03:30 on 9 November. The 157th Brigade lost more than 400 casualties.


155th Brigade

The 1/4th and 1/5th Royal Scots Fusiliers and the 1/4th and 1/5th King's Own Scottish Borderers (155th Brigade) crossed the Wadi el Hesi and passed through the 157th Brigade's Highland Light Infantry to extend the line northwards, bringing the 155th Brigade into the sand dunes of the Mediterranean coast. At 12:30 the 155th Brigade formed up on the Ras Abu Ameire Ridge with their right to the north-east on a front with the 5th Kings Own Scottish Borderers on the right, the 4th Royal Scots Fusiliers in the centre, the 5th Royal Scots Fusiliers on the left, and the 4th Kings Own Scottish Borderers in reserve. The Corps Cavalry Regiment guarded their left, northern flank, while the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade covered their right flank, attacking the Ottoman rearguard positions on the Wadi el Hesi near Tumra. The attack was launched at 14:20 under heavy hostile artillery fire from four field batteries, two field howitzers, a 150-mm howitzer and two 100-mm high-velocity guns. These guns could not be located by the 264th Brigade RFA or the monitors off the coast. The 5th Royal Scots Fusiliers (155th Brigade) on the northern flank of the attacking force, approached the line of its objectives about too far to the left, as a consequence of the threatening advance of a squadron of Ottoman cavalry from Ashkelon, when fire from machine guns in the dunes, "completely enfiladed the advance." An infantry
company A company, abbreviated as co., is a Legal personality, legal entity representing an association of people, whether Natural person, natural, Legal person, legal or a mixture of both, with a specific objective. Company members share a common p ...
forced the machine gunners back, but a gap opened between the 5th and the 4th Royal Scots Fusiliers. Before the gap was closed, counterattacks were launched from the front by two battalions, supported by mountain howitzers and machine guns, and from Ashkelon by Ottoman cavalry. One company of the 5th Royal Scots Fusiliers slowed the cavalry but was gradually forced back until the left flank of the brigade was back at its starting point on Ras Abu Ameire Ridge, compelling the right flank and the whole brigade to withdraw. At this time 285 casualties were suffered by the British infantry. This counterattack, which had developed about 16:00, forced the infantry brigade to face north to meet the attack. Here they remained awaiting reinforcements.


Aftermath

The Ottoman rearguards had succeeded in covering the Gaza garrison's withdrawal for two full days, and the 1,000 strong rearguard also escaped capture. They were seen by the Scots as they reached the top of Sausage Ridge, marching north in full regulation formation, "under no pressure at all." The British infantry battalions had captured about twelve prisoners but suffered seven hundred casualties.Grainger was critical of the operation, saying "with some imagination" the British could have outflanked the rearguard on Sausage Ridge, and "saved their several hundred killed and wounded." rainger 2006 p. 156/ref> However, by the evening of 8 November, all the Ottoman positions which had made up the Gaza to Beersheba line had been captured and the Eighth Army was in full retreat. The pursuit by Desert Mounted Corps across the Southern Palestine plain, which eventually ended some north, began during the morning of 8 November, after the Ottoman line of defence had been broken in the center at Sheria. Late in the afternoon of 8 November, twenty-eight British and Australian aircraft had flown over Huj, the headquarters of the Ottoman force, in bombing formation targeting German and Ottoman aerodromes, railway junctions, dumps, and troops marching in close formation, with bombs and machine guns.
Arak el Menshiye Iraq al-Manshiyya ( ar, عراق المنشية) was a Palestinian Arab village located 32 km northeast of Gaza City. The village contained two mosques and a shrine for Shaykh Ahmad al-Arayni. It was depopulated after the 1948 Arab-Israeli Wa ...
was raided twice during the day when two hundred bombs were dropped, forty-eight hit ten hostile aircraft still on the ground. The next day, Et Tine was bombed, when at least nine hostile aircraft were damaged. Virtually continual aerial attacks were made on railway stations, troops on the march and transport, while a German aircraft was shot down near the Wadi el Hesi. Before midnight on 8 November GHQ EEF issued instructions for the XXI Corps to send the 75th Division to join the 52nd (Lowland) Division in the pursuit. Their next objective was the JulisHamama line northeast of Gaza. Although the Composite Force took over the 75th Division position at Sheikh Abbas on 9 November, the return of transport delayed this division's advance. While the 75th Division waited for the return of their 75th Divisional Train, the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade withdrew to Beit Hanun for supplies, food and water, and the 54th (East Anglian) Division was unable to advance from Gaza as the division's transport had been transferred to the 52nd (Lowland) Division. While Desert Mounted Corps advanced northwards, the XX Corps could not move as its transport had been transferred to the XXI Corps. The 10th (Irish) and the 74th (Yeomanry) Divisions withdrew to Karm to get supplies, the
60th (London) Division The 60th (2/2nd London) Division was an infantry division of the British Army raised during the First World War. It was the second line-formation of the 47th (1/2nd London) Division, and was the second of two such Territorial Force divisions for ...
could not move from Huj as it also lacked transport. Further, while the Ottoman 19th Division retreated, the
53rd (Welsh) Division The 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division was an infantry division of the British Army that fought in both the First and Second World Wars. Originally raised in 1908 as the Welsh Division, part of the Territorial Force (TF), the division saw service in ...
, along with the
New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade was a brigade of the New Zealand Army during the First World War. Raised in 1914 as part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, it was one of the first New Zealand units to sail for service overseas. The ...
and the Imperial Camel Brigade, remained on the front line in the Tel el Khuweilfe area.Grainger 2006 pp. 157–8Grainger states the 53rd (Welsh) Division moved back to Beersheba. rainger 2006 pp. 157–8/ref> On 9 November the 52nd (Lowland) Division's
156th (Scottish Rifles) Brigade The 156th (Scottish Rifles) Brigade was an infantry brigade formation of the British Army. The brigade saw active service in both the First and the Second World Wars with the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division. Origins The Scottish Rifles Brigade w ...
, commanded by Brigadier General Archibald Herbert Leggett was the only brigade of that division able to advance. While the 156th Brigade advanced northwards along the coast, the division's 155th and 157th Brigades were regrouping after the fierce fighting at Sausage Ridge the previous day. The brigade sent two infantry patrols in support of a squadron of the XXI Corps Cavalry, to reconnoitre Ashkelon but this squadron could not move, as the men and horses had been without water for 36 hours. The 156th Brigade's patrols found Ashkelon deserted by the Ottoman army. They continued on to Al Majdel, a large village north of Gaza where they met units of the Anzac Mounted Division. Here substantial stores and a water supply were found. The towns of Beit Jerja, Burbera and Huleikat were all reported clear of Ottoman units.Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 138


Footnotes


Notes


Citations


References

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wadi el Hesi, Capture of the Conflicts in 1917 1917 in British-administered Palestine Battles of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign Battles of World War I involving the United Kingdom Battles of World War I involving the Ottoman Empire Battles of World War I involving Germany November 1917 events