Attack on the Turks Near Mulebbis

Wednesday 13th March 1918

Yesterday 1st/5th Battalion took part in an attack. Operations have been underway since 8th March when 53rd (Welsh) Division, 10th (Irish) Division and 74th (Yeomanry) Division attacked the enemy on the high ground above the Jordan Valley north of Jerusalem. Yesterday 75th Division joined 162nd Brigade in attacking north-east of Mulebbis.

The 1st/5th Bedfords paraded at 5.30 a.m. and marched to the jumping off point for the attack, which began at 7.45, preceded by artillery fire. The Bedfords’ attack was completely successful though a severe storm blew up during it , which, as the adjutant noted, made observation very difficult.

About 9 a.m. the 1st/4th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment and 1st/10th Battalion London Regiment passed through the Bedfords to launch the enxt phase of the attack. The Northamptons gained their objective without opposition. The Londoners were held up at Mejdel Yaba(1) but a barrage by artillery helped them to take the place by 12.30 p.m.

During the afternoon the Bedfords worked on creating second line defences. It was too rocky to dig trenches so small enclosures called sangars were made from the stones. The Battalion relieved the Northamptonshire Regiment in the front line last night.

These offensive operations have given the army a good base for future offensive operations.

Source: X550/6/8

(1) This Arab Village was depopulated by the Israelis in 1948 and the Israeli town of Rosh Haayin now stands on the site. 

Attacks at Cambrai and in Palestine

Friday 30th November 1917

Here at Cambrai the enemy have launched a surprise attack of their own, just as it seemed the year would end with our forces digging in to consolidate the gains they have recently made. The attack has covered the same area as the initial British attack, all the way from Bourlon Wood in the north to Honnecourt in the south. At times during the day it seemed as if the enemy might carry all before him and he has managed to advance nearly three miles in places. But Tommy Atkins is never as dangerous as when his back is against the wall and our men have fought with terrific spirit once the initial surprise was past.

Still, it must be admitted that the enemy have regained a good deal of the ground they lost ten days ago. Strangely enough it was the scene of the bloodiest and most frustrating fighting for our men, around Bourlon Wood, which has also seen the most successful defence against the German attack.

The adjutant of the 8th Bedfords, which began the day in Villers-Plouich has been able to let us know that they were called upon to go to the assistance of the right flank of 29th Division. They advanced to Dead Man’s Corner at 11.30 a.m. under light shell-fire. They were then ordered to move further forward and form a defensive line on Highland Ridge (the rough position shown in pink on the map above) covering the line from Beaucamp to Villers-Plouich. They were all in position by 2 p.m. and now wait to see whether the enemy puts in an appearance.

Yesterday in Palestine the 1st/5th Bedfords were also under attack. Just after midday the Turks began to shell their positions on Zeify Hill near Beit Nabala. This continued intermittently throughout the day. As the adjutant drily described it in his wire: “at same time the enemy infantry showed a disposition to attempt to gain ground”. They were fired on from Zeify Hill as they advanced on 10th Battalion, London Regiment, at Deir Tuweif. They were stopped about nine hundred yards from the Londoners’ position.

After dark, about 6 p.m. the Turks attempted a surprise attack with about a company of men on Zeify Hill, which they have clearly identified as the key to making any advance in the area. They managed to capture one of the Bedfords’ machine-guns but an immediate counter-attack organised by Captain F B Hobbs drove them out again at bayonet point, though they did bear their prize with them, much to the chagrin of Captain Hobbs and his men. The Turks left behind were counted as nine dead (including two Austrians(1)) and three prisoners. It was some emollient to losing the machine-gun that thirteen enemy rifles were captured. There were numerous dead Turks in front of the Bedfords’ position, most of which could not be collected for burial. The Bedfords have lost one officer and two other ranks killed and eight other ranks wounded.

Sources: X550/6/8; X550/9/1

(1) Probably from the German Asia Corps, part of the Turkish 7th Army.

A Turkish Attack

Wednesday 28th November 1917

More news has reached us today from the 1st/5th Battalion in Palestine. Yesterday morning, about 2.30 a.m. an Arab gave himself up to C Company. He had useful news as to the disposition of the Turks.

An exciting day then developed as the Turks chose to attack the 54th Division of which the Bedfords form a part. About 8.15 around 150 Turks were seen by the Bedfords on Zeify Hill near Beit Nabala to advance down a wadi between that hill and a village called Deir Tuweif(1), held by 10th Battalion, London Regiment. The Bedfords duly opened fire at just under a mile range and scattered them with some loss. The Turks then went to ground and, as the adjutant described it, a sniping contest then took place.

At 10.30 the Bedfords pushed a strong patrol forward to a water cistern on a hill where an advanced post was established consisting to two Lewis guns and a section(2) of riflemen. At 3 o’clock last afternoon the Turks were once more on the move - estimated as about a battalion in strength, with transport. They moved east and about fifteen minutes later encountered the Bedfords’ advanced post at what they called Cistern Hill. Again fire was opened at just under a mile range by the section of men and two parties of Lewis gunners at the post. A good number of casualties were inflicted, especially on the transport and clearly the enemy had no idea that our men were there. The odds were about forty to one in the Turks’ favour, however, and once they recovered their composure they advanced in open order on the advanced post, which was evacuated when the Turks were about three hundred yards away. The Turks duly occupied the post and the hill, but the day has seen many casualties inflicted on them for the loss of two of the Bedfords’ officers, Captain Franklin MC and Lieutenant Pinchin, who have died of wounds. Attacks on the rest of the division have also been repulsed.

Here at Cambrai the offensive has ended after nine days. The units involved in the frustrating fight for Bourlon Wood have been ordered to dig in and prepare for any German counter-attack.

Source: X550/6/8

(1) These two villages were destroyed in the fighting between Arabs and Israelis in 1948. Beit Nabala is now occupied by the Israeli village of Beit Nehemia near Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport.

(2) A section would have consisted of about 8 to 10 men

The Battle of Gaza Continues

Friday 20th April 1917

Yesterday British and Imperial forces began their attack on Gaza at 5.30 in the morning. They had to overcome around ten miles width of Turkish defences. 52nd (Lowland) and 54th (East Anglian) Divisions were to swing north from the Mansura Ridge to attack Ali Muntar before moving on to Gaza itself. Meanwhile 53rd (Welsh) Division was to overcome the coastal defences on Samson Ridge and Sheikh Ajlin on the seashore.

We understand that the Welsh, still severely depleted from the battle in March, were successful in their attack, but lost another six hundred men and it took until early afternoon to do it. On the right of the Welsh the Lowland Division met heavy opposition in places and was unable to secure all its initial objectives. It was a similar story for the East Anglians, the 10th Battalion, London Regiment and 4th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment both suffered many casualties and the 1st/5th Bedfords, in brigade reserve, threw in D Company to support them. Again, it was early afternoon before much progress was made.

It was around nightfall, 6 o’clock that the attack was called off for the day. We understand that the Bedfords were thrown into the front line to help man it against counter-attacks during the night, the battalion holding around a mile of the front in hastily-dug pits, each holding seven riflemen at intervals of twenty five yards. Lieutenant Wilkin and Second Lieutenant Brereton were both wounded and forty other ranks became casualties(1). It is not known whether the the attack will begin again soon or whether a siege is now prospect.

Last night the 8th Bedfords were relieved from the front line south of Loos and are now at Maroc. During these recent operations the Medical Officer, Captain Black and also Second Lieutenant Taylor and seventeen other ranks were killed, four officers and 91 other ranks have been wounded.

Last night 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment made their way from Couin up to the front near at Arras and are now under the command of VII Corps. They are presently just south-west of the village of Beaurains.

Sources: X550/3/WD; X550/6/8; X550/9/1

(1) Second Lieutenant Leonard Leader Brereton would die of his wounds in Cairo on 29th April.

The Second Battle of Gaza Continues

Friday 20th April 1917

Yesterday British and Imperial forces began their attack on Gaza at 5.30 in the morning. They had to overcome around ten miles width of Turkish defences. 52nd (Lowland) and 54th (East Anglian) Divisions were to swing north from the mansura Ridge to attack Ali Muntar before moving on to Gaza itself. Meanwhile 53rd (Welsh) Division was to overcome the coastal defences on Samson Ridge and Sheikh Ajlin on the seashore.

We understand that the Welsh, still severely depleted from the battle in March, were successful in their attack, but lost another six hundred men but took until early afternoon to do it. On the right of the Welsh the Lowland Division met heavy opposition in places and was unable to secure all its initial objectives. It was a similar story for the East Anglians, the 10th Battalion, London Regiment and 4th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment both suffered many casualties and the 1st/5th Bedfords, in brigade reserve, threw in D Company to support them. Again, it was early afternoon before much progress was made.

1st/5th Bedfords on Mansura Ridge from the history of the battalion by A M Webster

It was around nightfall, 6 o’clock that the attack was called off for the day. We understand that the Bedfords were thrown into the front line to help man it against counter-attacks during the night, the battalion holding around a mile of the front in hastily-dug pits, each holding seven riflemen at intervals of twenty five yards. Lieutenant Wilkin and Second Lieutenant Brereton were both wounded and forty other ranks became casualties(1). It is not known whether the the attack will begin again soon or whether a siege is now prospect.

Last night the 8th Bedfords were relieved from the front line south of Loos and are now at Maroc. During these recent operations the Medical Officer, Captain Black and also Second Lieutenant Taylor and seventeen other rankls were killed, four officers and 91 other ranks have been wounded.

Last night 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment made their way from Couin up to the front near at Arras and are now under the command of VII Corps. They are presently just south-west of the village of Beaurains.

Sources: X550/3/WD; X550/6/8; X550/9/1

(1) Second Lieutenant Leonard Leader Brereton would die of his wounds in Cairo on 29th April.