Thursday 18 May 2017

An All-Day Patrol



Friday 18th May 1917

Yesterday a detachment 1st/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment carried out an all-day patrol. At 2 a.m. an officer and twenty other ranks made their way surreptitiously to a point 800 yards south-east of the Cactus Hedge, south of Gaza and remained there all day secretly observing the enemy. As opportunity offered they changed their position from time to time, being sniped at every now and then. At dusk many snipers got out of the grass and went for The Garden nearby, as though they rested there during the night. To spend all day under the burning sun in close proximity to the enemy front line takes huge nerve and endurance.

Source: X550/6/8

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