"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess
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Monday, 27 September 2010
The Battle of Ramadi, Mesopotamia, 28 September 1918, Outline Topic: BatzM - Ramadi
The Battle of Ramadi
Mesopotamia, 28 September 1917
Signallers at Ramadi resting before tragedy - within five minutes half the animals will be dead with shrapnel wounds.
Ramadi, an action fought in Mesopotamia on 28 September 1917, on the Euphrates River about 110 kilometres west of Baghdad. Realising that a Turko-German offensive was in preparation aimed at retaking Baghdad (q.v.), which had fallen to the British in March, Lieut.-General Sir Stanley Maude was determined to deliver the first stroke as part of a strategy of active defence. Ire accordingly moved against Ar Ramadi, where the Turks held a strong position, delivering a feint against the enemy's left flank between Lake Habbaniyah and the Euphrates while sending a column of cavalry supported by part of the infantry across desert to attack the opposite flank. When Maude commenced his attack on 28 September, the cavalry-having successfully passed around the enemy's line - cut across and by 4 p.m. were digging in and shelling the Turkish rear. This ensured that enemy attempts at escape were futile and the entire garrison of 8,545 men was taken captive, at a cost of only 995 British casualties (many of whom were only slightly wounded by high-bursting enemy shrapnel).
Mesopotamian operations. Ramadi is to the left of Baghdad.
Throughout the action the British cavalry's progress was reported (often under shrapnel fire) by a transmitting station of the 1st Australian Wireless Signal Squadron, which was formerly an 'Anzac' unit but had become wholly Australian following the withdrawal of the New Zealanders earlier that year; another station from the same unit was with the infantry. A few members of a second signal squadron newly arrived from Australia for service with the Indian Cavalry Division were also attached to the attacking force, purely to obtain experience.
1st Australian Wireless Signal Squadron operating at Ramadi.
Extracted from the book produced by Chris Coulthard-Clark, Where Australians Fought - The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles, Allen and Unwin, Sydney, 1998, p. 131-132.
Additional References cited by Chris Coulthard-Clark:
C.E.W. Bean, (1937), The Australian Imperial Force in France during the Main German Offensive, 1918, Sydney: Angus & Robertson.
The Battle of Jisr Benat Yakub, Palestine, 27 September 1918, Contents Topic: BatzP - JB Yakub
The Battle of Jisr Benat Yakub
Palestine, 27 September 1918
Jisr Benat Yakub (The Bridge of Jacob's Daughters)
The Battle of Jisr Benat Yakub (The Bridge of Jacob's Daughters)
Shortly after midnight orders were received that Division would move at 0600 with the object of relieving Damascus on the 29th September 1918. At 0730, 3rd Light Horse Brigade moved off, following 5th Light Horse Brigade as far as Rosh Pina, after which the 3rd Light Horse Brigade, with 9th Light Horse Regiment - Regiment and six machine guns as advance guard, took the lead. It had been reported that the Jordan River bridge at Jisr Benat Yakub had been blown up. Orders had therefore been given for the squadron 9th Light Horse Regiment at Rosa Pina to push forward at dawn and reconnoitre the fords as far as Lake Huleh. The 3rd Field Troop were pushed on ahead to collect material and repair the bridges.
Map illustrating the region around Jisr Benat Yakub
Our orders were to reach the high ground overlooking Kuneitra before dark. At 0030 while on the march a message was received from advanced squadron, 9th Light Horse Regiment that the enemy were holding Jisr Benat Yakub and the Jordan River crossings with machine guns and at least one field gun and were entrenching. Aeroplane reconnaissance confirmed this - the total enemy force facing was estimated at 600 - 800. The Division halted at Rosh Pina, the balance of the 9th Light Horse Regiment with Notts Battery, Royal Horse Artillery being sent on to clear up the situation. It soon became apparent that the enemy were determined to vigorously dispute the crossing of the river. Hannaford, Lieutenant E, reported a crossing not held by the enemy about two miles south of the bridge, at El Min. The enemy no doubt recognised that every hour he could hold the Division it was of vital importance. His 4th Army was now in full retreat from Deraa towards Damascus. He no doubt hoped that if those 20,000 fugitive's could get a little rest at Damascus, he could organise a defence of that place against our purely cavalry force. It was imperative that they should not get that rest and chance to reorganise. The Divisional Commander therefore decided on an immediate general attack. The 5th Light Horse Brigade were to cross the river to the south of Jisr Benat Yakub bridge at El Min and work round the enemy's flank while the 3rd Light Horse Brigade were to engage the enemy in front, and if possible gain round his right flank by crossing immediately south of Lake Huleh. The 9th Light Horse Regiment moved and engaged the enemy between the lake and the bridge, pinning him to his ground and forcing him to disclose his dispositions and strength. The Notts Battery early in the fight silenced the enemy guns, obtaining a direct hit upon one of them, and effectively kept down the fire of enemy machine guns which had been located by the 9th Light Horse Regiment. The 3rd Machine Gun Squadron took up positions along the western bank from which effective covering fire could be given to troops crossing the river. Vigorous reconnaissances under heavy rifle and machine gun fire for a crossing of the river was carried out by the 10th Light Horse Regiment, and a ford was located half a mile south of the southern end of the lake. 8th Light Horse Regiment were sent to join the 9th Light Horse Regiment, the plan being for the 8th and 9th Light Horse Regiments 3rd Machine Gun Squadron and Notts Battery, Royal Horse Artillery to give covering fire while 10th Light Horse Regiment crossed. After this Regiment had established itself on the eastern bank, the remainder of the Brigade would cross. It was expected that the operation would be facilitated by the fact that the 5th Light Horse Brigade at 1630 were reported to be crossing the river at El Min without opposition and would therefore soon make themselves felt on the enemy's flank. It turned out, however, that the country to the east of the 5th Light Horse Brigade crossing place was so rough that they were unable to get on to the main road until after daylight next morning. Up to 1700 the enemy hung on to his positions with determination, at times developing considerable rifle and machine gun fire, causing us a few casualties. By 1730 all covering troops were in position and the 10th Light Horse Regiment moved forward to cross at the ford previously located under heavy covering fire from the remainder of the Brigade. The water was about 2'6" in depth. The 10th Light Horse Regiment were all across by 1915 and were followed at once by the 8th Light Horse Regiment. These two Regiments were directed to make for Deir es Sarass, the 10th Light Horse Regiment detaching “B” Squadron to move south along the river to clear up any enemy still in position. This squadron encountered a party of enemy in the dark who opened fire at a few yards range causing casualties. Without hesitation the leading troop under Macnee, Lieutenant MH, flung themselves off their horses - it was too rough to charge mounted - and with fixed bayonets rushed the flashes. A sharp fight took place and for a time the enemy fought with great determination inflicting several casualties on us. The balance of the squadron soon supported the leading troop and the enemy surrendered. The post included twelve Germans, 41 Turks, one field gun and one machine gun, and one motor lorry.
During these operations it was apparent that the enemy were extensively using motor lorries as a means of withdrawing the troops, comprising their rear guard on this sector. In the morning a large, number of these had been seen moving down to the river positions. Similar tactics were two days later adopted by them at Sasa.
Extracted from the 3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary.
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