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
About this time we had to say farewell to our old friend, Capt. Powell,
C.F., the Brigade Padre, who was compelled to go into hospital after
repeated attacks of malaria, and was eventually invalided home to England.
Capt. Powell had been with the Brigade since its original formation as the
"7th Mounted," and was a great favourite amongst all ranks.
The following brief record of the events and doings of the Squadron during
its long spell of duty at Aleppo (and Muslimie) may be interesting to some
members:--
1918.
Nov. 13--"No. 3" Section absorbed in "Nos. 1 and 2".
" 15--Inspection of horses by Corps Commander.
" 17--Memorial service in main station building.
" 18--Headquarters attached to "Nos. 1 and 2" Sections.
" 22--Inspection of Transport by Divisional Commander.
" 28--Inspection of horses by G.O.C. Brigade.
" 30--Ration strength: 4 officers, 122 O.R.s, 208 animals.
Dec. 4--Divisional Commander inspects horses.
" 5--Preparation for visit of "C.-in-C.".
" 9--Capt. J.B. Oakley and Lieut. E.P. Cazalet, with 60 reinforcements,
arrive from base. Capt. Oakley becomes Second-in-Command of
Squadron.
" 10--Four officers and 80 O.R.'s proceed to Aleppo mounted for--
" 11--"C.-in-C.'s" procession, and return to camp.
" 17--Thanksgiving Day.
" 24--"B" Echelon (and donkeys) arrive.
" 25--Anthrax in Brigade.
" 27--One case of anthrax in Squadron.
1919.
Jan. 3--Inspection of Transport by Divisional Commander.
" 4--"No. 1" Sub-section proceeds to Aleppo with two troops "S.R.Y." to
escort "C.-in-C." by train to Jerablus.
" 6--Return of party.
" 20--Short range practice.
" 25--Classes opened in Brigade for shorthand, engineering, lectures,
etc.
" 27--Coalminers leave for "demob.".
" 28--G.O.C. Brigade inspects horses.
Feb. 1--Classification of horses: A.30, B.33, C.II.42, D.8.
" 3--Divisional Commander inspects animals and first line transport.
" 11--Orders to move to Aleppo. Dismounted party with surplus equipment
proceeds by train.
" 12--Squadron moves to Aleppo.
" 14--Corps Commander visits lines during stables.
" 19--Sec.-Lieut. Arden appointed Brigade Educational Officer and
promoted Captain whilst so employed.
" 20--Move to old 19th Squadron camp.
" 23--Twenty-two farmers proceed "homeward" ("demob." camp at Kantara).
" 26--Divisional Commander visits lines during stables.
" 27--Eleven O.R.'s to "Homeward".
" 28--An Armenian massacre; Squadron proceeds to centre of town, four
guns in position, one sub-section ("D") to Brigade Headquarters
for night.
Mar. 1-3--Fifteen O.R.'s "demob.".
" 6--Move to camp in the centre of Aleppo.
" 11--Twenty-seven horses evacuated to M.V.S.
" 17--Farewell parade to the G.O.C., Desert Mounted Corps, Lieut.-Gen.
Sir H.G. Chauvel, K.C.B., K.C.M.G.
" 19--Fifteen reinforcements arrive from base.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account