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
Just then the Turk got some field guns in action and sent a few shells over
at us, the very first one falling right on top of Brigade Headquarters;
fortunately, it did not hit anyone!
"No. 3" Section accompanied the Poona Horse on the left flank, and there
had some "practice" on the road, similar to the other sections. It was
joined there by "D" Sub-section, Nos. 1 and 2 having come out of action,
as there were no further "targets" for them. "No. 1" Section was now sent,
with one squadron of Deccan Horse, to occupy a hill south-east of Ashrafie
and due north of the position they had been holding. Machine-gun fire was
met with half a mile from the hill, but only one casualty was sustained
(Pte. Knott, wounded). The Deccan Horse charged the hill, and the section
came in action on the top of it, firing upon the retreating enemy and
silencing two of their machine-guns. The groves round Ashrafie, and the
road to the east, were "traversed" and a regiment of Turkish cavalry, which
was in the groves, at length sent a representative under a white flag
expressing a desire to surrender. Outposts were now put out, and the
remainder of the Brigade was moved up to Ashrafie and watered, staying in
that vicinity for the night.
Some splendid grapes and other minor luxuries were obtained at the village
and were very acceptable. That night the country was lit up for miles
around, and the air resounded with explosion after explosion by the
destruction of large ammunition dumps and other stores by the Turks. "No.
3" Section remained with the outposts, owing to the fact that two orderlies
who had been sent out were unable to find them.
In the early morning they obtained some splendid "targets" on the road,
against the tail of the Turkish force which was being driven along by the
4th Division and the Hedjaz troops. Close on their heels came Lieut.-Col.
Lawrence and Major Sinclair of the Sherifian Army in a car. They would have
been fired on, but for the fact that our own troops were in the danger
zone. Their identity was discovered in time, however, and Major Davies, who
had just arrived to see how "No. 3" Section was faring, went down and spoke
to them.
WE ENTER DAMASCUS.
At 07.30 the Australians having got round to the north of the city, our
Brigade moved through Ashrafie and groves eastward to the road, so
frequently referred to above, and marching along it, passed Meidan, at
09.30 entering Damascus--just 12 days from the start of operations, it
being then October 1st 1918. The approximate distance covered by the
Division was 215 miles, the distance due north of our old Line 104 miles.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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