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Megiddo

Megiddo's Shadow

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Yeomanry

Leaving the Lincolnshire Yeomanry
On January 9th, 1917 Grandfather and Herbert's Machine Gun section became part of the 18th Mounted Machine Gun Squadron and Grandfather was given a new regimental number: 95981. Also during his time he became a Lance Corporal. At some point after this, Cecil Slade also joined them (after first being with the calvary in Ireland). Cecil was on the unlucky Aragon a troopship that was torpedoed and sunk on Dec. 30th, 1917 just off the coast of Alexandria (there is a family story, related by Aunt Elsie, about one of the brothers surviving a shipwreck, so this may be the basis of that story). Cecil survived. Now that the Machine Gun Squadron were no longer part of the yeomanry, they were "attached" to several different regiments, including the Lincs. Yeomanry (As a side note Herbert moved around a lot because he started the war in the Lincs. Yeomanry transferred to the Machine Gun Squadron went back to the Lins. Yeo. and finally ended up in the Notts and Derby Regiment).
Again they trained in the Machine Gun Squadron, drilled, watered their horses three times a day and drilled some more (Grandfather once said he received a gallon of water for him and his horse a day). But soon the boredom was over, because the British had been slowly driving the Turks back over the desert of the Sinai to Gaza. The British had tried twice to take Gaza and failed (the first time they actually captured it, then retreated due to a miscommunication of orders, the second time there were quite severe losses for the British). So Grandfather and his squadron were sent to Beersheba, a town east of Gaza.


MMC Here is an excerpt from the 18th Machine Gun Squadron Diary :
3/8/1917 Squadron less one section paraded for division. Tactical scheme was an attack on positions supposed to be held by Turkish rearguard. Carried out. 22nd brigade made attack from flank. 2 sections machine gun squadron supported a dismounted attack by 1/1 Staffordshire yeomanry. Remainder held ready to support attack or advance mounted and consolidate position. It was found to have been vacated by enemy (scheme stopped before attack had been driven home). Limbered wagons found. Great difficulty in getting through sandhills near advance GHQ.
24/8 Numbers 2 and 3 sections attached to 1/1 Staffordshire yeomanry and no 5, 6 attached to East Riding Yeomanry. Proceeded with these regiments to an outpost line. Covering recon of Beersheba from SW. Nos 2 and 3 sections were attached to Staffordshire yeomanry and marched with those taking up positions with them in the line. No. 3 section came into action against small bodies of Turks and Bedoin escorts on way to line.
30/8 Practice turnout brigade. Nos 3 and 4 section accompanied 1/1 Linc. Yeomanry in support of the 1/1 East Riding Yeomanry who were carrying out a minor enterprise. Heavily bombed by enemy aircraft which caused dome casualties of Linc Yeo but not MG squadron.


Troops

Grandfather's regiment took part in the third battle for Gaza, in which the British were victorious. They continued to drive the Turks north and by the 9th of December the British took control of Jerusalem. According to the regimental diary they then spend time in Jericho, the Jordan Valley, and Solomon's Pools. The time in the Jordan Valley would have been particularly trying since the temperature there got as high as 122 degrees F. Later, leave to Jerusalem was granted so I imagine Grandfather got to visit the Holy City.