| Regiment | 1/4th Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Location | Egypt, Lees Hill |
| Entry | Early in the morning front line trenches and Headquarters shelled, one man wounded. 1 NCO and 50 OR arrived. [The following written by CO on note paper, not 100% legible, items in square brackets are where an educated guess has been made] 1st. [Bn] in trenches in position LEES HILL, 3/3rd Gurkhas on left, 2/4th Hants on right, SLI in reserve, facing Turkish position at OUTPOST HILL. At 0200hrs 3/3rd Gurkhas raided Turkish position at OUTPOST HILL debouching from our line. The Battalion assisted to the extent of clearing gaps in wire, and placing guides. Turkish shellfire drawn by raid [concurred] losses amounting to 2 OR killed, 3 OR wounded. 2nd. In trenches LEES HILL. 3rd. In trenches LEES HILL. 4th. In trenches LEES HILL. 5th. In trenches LEES HILL. 6th. At 2330hrs Battalion attacked OUTPOST HILL and MAZE, in conjunction with 1/5th SLI whose objective was MIDDLESEX HILL. Attack was carried out, 3 Coys in firing line, 1 Coy in reserve. OUTPOST HILL and MAZE found to be evacuated. All efforts were made during night to consolidate positions by digging out trenches which had been almost obliterated by our shellfire. At the same time that we occupied OUTPOST HILL and MAZE, 1/5th SLI occupied MIDDLESEX HILL. 7th. In the morning the Turks commenced shelling OUTPOST HILL and MAZE. Bn received orders about 0800hrs to push on to FRYER HILL about 3 miles N of MAZE to occupy a position there with SLI on right. Bn arrived at FRYER HILL having been shelled all the way from MAZE. A position was then taken up on N side of FRYER HILL facing N. This position and the ground S of FRYER HILL was shelled by Turks with HE till night. At nightfall Bn moved to a new position facing E which was the direction from which the shelling came [ie] from ATAWINEH and TANK REDOUBT. The operations of the 6th and 7th inst may be said to finish on evening 7th. Total casualties all from shellfire amounted to 8 OR killed, 73 OR wounded. 8th. Remained in bivouac S of FRYER HILL. Turks inactive. 9th do 10th. Marched to BERBERA 8 Miles (Ref map E3 1/20000). The strength of Bn then amounted to 600 all ranks, 150 all ranks having been sent back to MANSURA RIDGE from FRYER HILL. 11th. Marched to the neighbourhood of BEIT DURAS 8 miles (Ref map PALESTINE Sheet xvi) position 072 D27, where we took up an outpost position with 1/5th SLI on right. 12th. Marched to 072 K22, 2 miles. 13th. Bn moved to attack enemy, 1st objective EL RUSTINEH, 2nd objective EL MESMIYEH, 1/5th SLI participating in attack on EL MESMIYEH. The attack was carried out 2 Coys in firing line, 2 in reserve, EL RESTINEH found unoccupied. Whilst going through the village and taking up position on the far side, the Bn came under shell fire. At 1100hrs orders were received to attack EL MESMIYEH, Wilts on left, SLI on right. Advance was carried out in artillery formation sections in single file, very few losses sustained during advance of 2 miles under heavy shell fire. Cactus gardens W of EL MESMIYEH were seized by No 1 Coy, No 2 Coy and 1/5th SLI taking village. 2 Turkish Officers and about 50 OR and personel of 2 MG Sections were taken together with their MG's in cactus gardens and about 6 Turks killed. Bn then occupied the W and N edge of the garden, and improved communications by cutting roads between cactus fences. These roads proved very useful as the day went on. At about 1530 the Bn received orders to attack the heights N of EL MESMIYEH. These heights were occupied by the Turks at a distance of about 800* from position, numbering roughly 200 and falling S. They had 2 MG's in position, other Turks were facing W and SW of heights still further N. The attack commenced at 1600hrs, with 3 Coys in firing line and 1 Coy in reserve and 1 1/2 Coys SLI in echelon on left rear in support, these were under CAPT TIMMS and gave valuable support. As the Bn debouched from both sides of Cactus Gardens they came under heavy fire from Artillery, MG's and rifles. The ground was smooth and slope gentle, so that the attack was carried out very quickly and the losses all considered were not heavy. As the Bn attacked from S, 1/5th Devons attacked from W, as that very few Turks escaped unwounded. 3 MG's were taken and next day some 60 odd Turks buried. On arrival at crest Bn faced NE and came under very heavy shell fire and dug themselves in. Owing to failing light, and protection men were able to get from their entrenching tools and equipment which they put in front of them, comparatively few losses were sustained. With darkness the shelling ceased. Total casualities: 3 Offiicers wounded. 10 OR killed. 87 OR wounded. 14th. Moved [sic] to 072 J21 before daylight. Reconnoitred as far as 072 J10 no enemy in sight. Later in day moved to bivouac at 072 J23. A proportion of the Bn was engaged in salvage work. 15th. In Bivouac at 072 J23. 16th. Marched for 072 J23 to neighbourhood of JUNCTION STATION about 4 miles. 17th. In Bivouac 086 010. 18th. do 19th. Marched to 085 N21 where road enters mountains. Progress necessarily slow as 232 Bde had to clear heights in front of enemy. 20th. Marched to KURYET-el-ENAB 099 [529] (Ref Map PALESTINE Sheet xvii) distance 5 1/2 - 6 miles. Road ascended steadily and was commonded by heights on both sides as far as SARIS 100 A2, where valley widens out to the South. At about 1600hrs Bn together with SLI was lent to 232 Bde to assist in attack on KURYET-el-ENAB. 2 Coys moved immediately in support of SLI, 2 Coys in rear in echelon on left, the attack started from heights N of road about 2 miles from KURYET-el-ENAB and moved due E, 2 Coys with SLI recrossed the roads and secured heights covering village immediately S of road, 2 Coys in reserve seized height DEIR-el-AZAR on which a monastery has just been built. Casualities 2 OR killed 3 OR wounded. 2 Turks were killed, how many wounded impossible to say, they evacuated their positions before we could get to close quarters. The small losses was due to heavy mist and rain which enabled us to advance without being seen. Bn camped for night in monastery with outposts all round. 21st. Marched to neighbourhood of BIDDU along Roman Road. Bn was not in action that day but came under shell fire just before leaving KURYET el ENAB. Lost 1 Officer wounded, 2 OR killed, 6 OR wounded. 22nd. Bn with 1/5 SLI formed an advance guard with objective villages of EL JIB and BIR NEBALA. The Bn moved as part of the Main Guard. The Advance Guard moved N leaving BIDDU on right. On proceeding about 1 mile came under long range artillery fire from a ridge immediately N. The OC then decided to take the ridge, and keeping to the high ground, attack at 71B from the West. This was attempted but the ridge in question was strongly held by enemy, but owing to formation of ground it was impossible to develop any strength against him, nor could the position be rushed as the ground was too ricky. An attempt was made to ease the situation up a neighbouring spur which converged on to the main ridge. They were able to bring surprise fire on the Turks but with one Lewis gun and 1 platoon, but no great strength could be developed. At night the advance guard fell back on BEIT IZZA leaving 2 Coys on spur 099 R21a where they dug themselves in for the night. Casualities 2 OR killed, 19 OR wounded. 23rd. 2 Coys left out night 22/23 covered left flank of a force attacking BIR NEBALA along the valley followed by the Roman Road joining BIDDU with BIR NEBALA. Another Coy supported 2/3rd Gurkhas and got to within 400* of BIR NEBALA. Receiving order to cover retirement of SLI which it did. Casualities 3 OR killed, 10 OR wounded, 3 OR missing. Two of the missing were stretcher bearers who volunteered to go back to fetch in wounded of SLI. 24th. Bn remained in reserve in neighbourhood of BEIT IZZA. Starting about 2330 marched to EL ENAB. 25th. Arrived in Bivouac at EL ENAB at 0500hrs, remained in bivouac that day. 26th. Marched to a camp 2 miles NW of JUNCTION STATION, starting at 0900hrs and arriving at 1900hrs (Ref map PALESTINE Sheet xvi). Distance about 16 miles. 27th. Marched to AKIR (Jewish Colony) about 085 C25. Arrived 1200hrs. Distance about 4 miles. 28th. In bicouac at AKIR. 29th. Marched at 12 noon, amrched LUDD about 085 T25. Distance 7 1/2 miles. 30th. Marched to [TIMZU] 085 B12 (Ref map PALESTINE Sheet xiv). Distance 3 miles. Took up outpost position, 3 Coys as outpost coys, 1 Coy in reserve. Position extended fro 085 He central to 085 Y21 Central, having 2/4th Hants on right, 8th Hants on left. Signed A Armstrong Lt Col Commanding 1/4th Wilts Regt 3.12.17 |
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