Monday 23rd September 1918
This evening the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, will bid a none too fond farewell to Ronssoy as they will be relieved by 7th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment of the same division. The fighting has been protracted and made the point that, as the allies reach the defensive position of the Hindenburg Line enemy resistance will stiffen. Once the line is broken it is the firm opinion of everyone out here that the end of the war will quickly follow.
Yesterday in Palestine the 1st/5th Battalion continued its salvage work following the great success that has become known as the Battle of Megiddo, coincidentally, scene of a great victory for the Egyptian pharaoh Tuthmosis III 3,375 years ago. Large dumps of ammunition have been found and a party has proceeded to Wadi Ikba to bury the dead they have found.
Sources: X550/3/wd; X550/6/8
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Friday 20th September 1918
As promised yesterday, your correspondent has been assiduous in discovering more about the fighting in Palestine. It seems as if general Allenby unleashed a massive attack on Turkish lines stretching for a point south of Jericho all the way to the sea. Indeed, it is on the coastal flank that the greatest success has taken place. A complete breakthrough has been made, with Turkish units reeling and the desert Mounted Corps exploiting the gap to range deep into enemy territory with, it seems, no unbroken enemy in front of them.
I have been able to speak on the telephone with the adjutant of 1st/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, part of 54th (East Anglian) Division. They were shelled by the enemy just before the attack began, but received no damage. Casualties were suffered as they began their attack just before dawn and Turkish artillery fire increased. After a while of moving north the battalion struck east, as planned and reached its final objective about mid-afternoon. What most struck the adjutant, however, was not Turkish resistance, but the heat and the going: "the men were considerably exhausted and suffering from thirst, as day had been very hot and ground difficult". he was able to report with satisfaction: "large quantities of stores and material found left behind by Turks".
The advance will now, no doubt, continue. It seems as if this may be the defining blow in this conflict as the Turks seem to have no reserves to stem our advance along the coast. We may look back on the events of yesterday as being as significant for Palestine as the great victory on 8th August was for France.
Source: X550/6/8
Thursday 19th September 1918
Today 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment has again been involved in operations around Ronssoy, south-west of Cambrai. This is just a part of wider operations as divisions north and south of the Australian Corps aim to straighten the line.
Greater operations are, we understand, underway in Palestine. Allied guns opened up a bombardment of Turkish positions in the Plain of Sharon, well to the north of Jerusalem. The battlefront extends from a point just south of Jericho all the way to the coast. Things, at this great distance are, as yet, unclear and we hope to make a full report tomorrow. Certainly, the 1st/5th Bedfords are in action.
Source: X550/3/wd; X550/6/8
