Through Palestine with the Twentieth Machine Gun SquadronUnknown
History
Through Palestine with the Twentieth Machine Gun Squadron
Unknown
Great Britain. Army. Machine Gun Squadron, 20th -- History; World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- Great Britain
Each "G.S." (general service) limbered wagon is designed to carry about a
ton, and is drawn by 4 mules. On this occasion, however, 4 cwts. was the
maximum load, and for this 6 mules were required in every case. In spite of
such a team, the going was hard enough, in very truth, and sore shoulders
were not uncommon, owing to the mules being so "soft," and the new
breast-collars so hard!
It was not long before the advantage a "M.G." Squadron possesses, in being
able to change "pack" mules to "draught" and _vice versa_, was seen, this
method relieving sore shoulders and sore backs by one simple operation.
Although an early start was made every day, many miles had to be traversed
with the sun right overhead; the afternoon was usually well advanced before
the horses had been watered, lines put down, and shelters erected,
blankets, rifles, bayonets and bits of string being used for this purpose.
The following were the days' marches:--
1917.
August 12th to El Ferdan.
" 13th " Kantara (Hill 70). Long day in great heat.
" 14th at Kantara drawing ordnance stores.
" 15th to Pelusium 13 miles.
" 16th " Romani 7 miles. Heavy going.
" 17th " Khirba 14 miles.
" 18th " Bir el Abd 7 miles. Heavy going.
" 19th " Tilul, watering at Salmana.
" 20th " Bir el Masar 8 miles.
" 21st " Maadan 15 miles. Very heavy going and particularly hot.
" 22nd " Bardawil 8 miles. Good going.
" 23rd " El Arish 8 miles. Heavy going.
" 24th Rested.
" 25th to El Burd 11 miles.
" 26th " Sheikh Zowaid, by the shore. Very heavy.
" 27th " Rafa.
" 28th at Rafa obtaining stores which were sent forward by rail.
" 29th to Amr into camp, 1 mile south of railway.
It may here be mentioned that, at this time, the Kantara Military Railway
had been completed as far as Shellal, and whilst on the march, rations and
forage were drawn from "dumps" which had been placed at intervals along the
line. As regards drinking water, this was brought up every day on camels.
The supply of water was not too plentiful by any means, and it required a
certain amount of care and self-restraint to make it last the appointed
time, in fact, strict water-discipline was very necessary among all ranks.
It was a tired but wiser Squadron that arrived at Amr! Many were the
difficulties that had been overcome, and many the hardships that had been
silently endured!
THE SQUADRON AT AMR.
Having arrived at Amr, further progress was made in the training of the
unit. Each day one man was "told off" to three animals, the remainder thus
being free for work on the gun. The "horse-men" did one hour on the gun,
remainder of day on animals. "Gun-numbers" worked one hour at stables and
the remainder of the day on the gun. The daily routine was as
follows:--Reveille 04.30; Parades, 06.30 to 10.00 and 15.00 to 17.30.
Horses were watered twice (from troughs at the railway), and fed four times
a day.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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