Reliefs British occupation of the Jordan Valley

1 reliefs

1.1 relief of anzac mounted division
1.2 jerusalem tourists
1.3 return of anzac mounted division
1.4 relief of australian mounted division
1.5 return of australian mounted division
1.6 relief , return of anzac mounted division
1.7 australian mounted division move out of valley

reliefs

a british sentry @ 1 of 3 solomon s pools, few miles south of bethlehem (burak, 53rd division)


relief of anzac mounted division

on 16 may 2 brigades of anzac mounted division relieved of duties in jordan valley , ordered 2 weeks rest in hills near bethlehem. division trekked winding white road, ran between jericho , jerusalem, stopping @ talaat ed dum, dry, dusty bivouac near samaritan s inn where, lieutenant general chauvel, commander of jordan valley sector, had headquarters beside jericho road 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) east. brigades of anzac mounted division remained there until 29 may following morning moved through bethany, skirted walls of holy city, , through modern jerusalem , out along hebron road bivouac site in cool mountain air @ solomon s pools halfway between jerusalem , hebron. 1st light horse brigade , new zealand mounted rifles brigade left jordan valley @ time; 2nd light horse brigade remained; left valley solomon s pools on 5 june , returned on 22 june.

jerusalem tourists

even when nominally resting trooper s time never own. horse-pickets still had turn every night, guards, pumping parties watering horses , endless other working parties had supplied. horses watered twice day @ pools of solomon , great oblong cisterns of stone, hundreds of feet long, still in condition. pumps worked pumping parties on ledge in 1 of cisterns pushing water canvas troughs above, horses brought in groups. hand-pumps , canvas troughs carried everywhere, , water available erected.

during stay @ solomon s pools men attended celebration of king s birthday on 3 june, when parade held in bethlehem , inhabitants of bethlehem invited attend. erected triumphal arch decorated flowers , flags , inscribed: bethlehem municipality greeting on occasion of birthday of majesty king george v @ entrance square, in front of church of nativity.

while @ solomon s pools, of men got opportunity of seeing jerusalem many photographs of historical spots taken , sent home. gained impression light horsemen , mounted riflemen having sort of cook s tour . naturally of photos taken during these short rest periods long months of unending work , discomfort gave rare opportunities or inclinations taking photos.

return of anzac mounted division

talaat ed dumm. model t ford car on side road

on 13 june 2 brigades moved out return via talaat ed dumm jericho, reaching bivouac area in vicinity of ain es duk on 16 june. here spring gushes out mass of stones in arid valley , within few yards became full flowing stream of cool , clear water, giving flow of 200,000 imperial gallons (910,000 l) per day. part of stream ran across small valley along beautiful, preserved, roman arched aqueduct of 3 tiers.

for rest of june, while australian mounted division @ solomon s pools, anzac mounted division held left sector of defences, digging trenches , regularly patrolling area including occasional encounters enemy patrols.

relief of australian mounted division

the relief of australian mounted division anzac mounted division ordered on 14 june , 20 june command of left sector of jordan valley passed commander of anzac mounted division commander of australian mounted division took on command of troops @ solomon s pools. on several days 3rd light horse, 4th light horse , 5th mounted brigades relieved of duties , sent bethlehem earned rest.

the 4th light horse field ambulance moved out @ 17:00 on sunday 9 june in terrific storm , 3 hours later arrived @ talaat ed dumm halfway jerusalem spent couple of days; 6 weeks since brigade had first gone jordan valley.

on thursday 13 june field ambulance packed , moved onto jerusalem road @ 18:00 travelling on steep up-hill road till 23:00; on way picking 4 patients. rested till 01.30 on friday, before going on arrive @ jerusalem, 06:00, on bethlehem, , 2 miles beyond, reached solomon s pools 09:00. here 3 huge rock-lined reservoirs, built king solomon 970 bc supply water aqueducts jerusalem, still in reasonable repair aqueducts still supplying 40,000 gallons of water day jerusalem.

here in uplands near solomon s pools, sunny days cool, , @ night men had suffered sleepless nights on jordan enjoyed mountain mists , comfort of blankets. australian mounted division train accompanied division bethlehem repair effects of jordan valley on men, animals , wagons.

return of australian mounted division

light horse despatch rider carrier pigeons, jordan valley 1918

desert mounted corps informed australian mounted division @ 10:00 on friday 28 june attempt made enemy force crossing on jordan in area south of ghoraniyeh bridgehead. division packed , began return journey same day @ 17:30; 4th light horse field ambulance arriving @ talaat ed dumm or samaritan s inn @ 15:00 on saturday 29 june 1918. , @ dusk on sunday 30 june division moved out , travelled till midnight bivouacked in jordan valley, 3 weeks after leaving.

on monday 1 july 4 light horse brigade stood day near jericho until 20:00, when in dark, moved northwards 10 miles (16 km) position in gully between 2 hills, behind front line. horses picqueted , men turned in 23:00. next morning whole camp pitched, field ambulance erecting hospital , operating tents, , horse lines put down , straightened up. weather still hot daily morning parade continued, followed horses being taken water. necessary go 5 miles (8.0 km), water , back, through terrible dust, naturally horses churned difficult see horse in front. men wore goggles , handkerchiefs on mouths keep out of dust, long, dusty, hot trip.

each day during middle of summer in july, dust grew deeper , finer, heat more intense , stagnant air heavier , sickness , sheer exhaustion became more pronounced, , noticed older men better able resist distressing conditions. shell-fire , snipers caused casualties were, if not heavy, steady drain on australian , new zealand forces, , when men invalided, shortage of reinforcements necessitated bringing them valley before recovery complete.

daily mounted patrols undertaken during skirmishes , minor actions occurred, while bridgeheads remained contested ground. small fleet of armed launches patrolled eastern shore of dead sea, providing link prince feisal s sherifial force. many men wounded while on patrol during tours of duty.

during height of summer in heat, still atmosphere, , dense clouds of dust, there constant work associated occupation; getting supplies, maintaining sanitation front line duties active. occupation force persistently shelled in advanced positions on both sides of river, @ headquarters in rear.

from mid july, after action of abu tellul, both sides confined artillery activity, , patrol work, in indian cavalry, excelled.

relief , return of anzac mounted division

the anzac mounted division in process of returning jordan valley during 16–25 august after second rest camp @ solomon s pools began @ end of july – beginning of august.

australian mounted division move out of valley

on 9 august division ordered leave jordan valley 6 weeks after returning solomon s pools in july , 12 weeks since first entered valley. moved across palestine in 3 easy stages of 15 miles (24 km) each, via talaat ed dumm, jerusalem , enab ludd, 12 miles (19 km) jaffa on mediterranean coast; each stage beginning 20:00 in evening , completed before dawn avoid being seen enemy reconnaissance aircraft. arrived @ ludd midnight on 14/15 august; pitched tents in olive orchard , put down horse lines. following day camps established; paths made , gear in transport wagons unloaded , stored.

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