THE ANZACS’ PART
In most of the operations which cleared Sinai and Palestine of the Turk, the lead was entrusted to the veterans of the Anzac Mounted Division. In this last and greatest campaign of all, the Division found itself away from the spectacular side of the enterprise. A trusty mounted Division was needed for the subsidiary, but highly important, work on Moab and Gilead, east of Jordan, and the choice fell upon the Anzacs.
The Australians and New Zealanders complained about their luck. But their task made one strong appeal to them. Twice before they had been across the Jordan, and twice they had returned leaving not a few of their men in enemy graves. The two great raids over the river, early in the year, were brilliantly successful, as raids. Each time our purpose was achieved. But each time our men broke off the fight strongly against their inclination, and prayed for the day when they would get orders to go over and see the job through, and stay. Old Amman, the ancient Philadelphia, was especially coveted by our men. There, in March, 1918, we had fought for days over sodden ground in extreme winter weather and come away, the railway having been well broken, just after the New Zealanders had won into the town. This time, Australians and New Zealanders competed, in a sporting way, for first entry, and the 5th Light Horse Regiment, from Queensland, narrowly gained the honour.
At the outset, the Anzacs, and the small infantry force operating with them, made up chiefly of the Jewish Battalion, the British West Indians and troops from India proper, had no chance of breaking out of our bridgeheads east of the river. Their orders were to keep in very close and firm touch with the enemy, and to demolish him as soon as he began to withdraw in consequence of his defeat on Samaria. Also, this Jordan Valley force was to push northwards up the Valley, and complete the cordon round the two Turkish armies on Samaria. Both missions were admirably accomplished. While the New Zealanders and infantry were advancing up the Valley, the Australians were probing the strongly entrenched and wired positions along the Moab and Gilead foothills, across the river. As soon as the Turk moved the two Australian Brigades pounced upon his rear-guard, and fought him as he climbed the narrow wady tracks up on to the tableland. Meanwhile, the New Zealanders, crossing away to the north at Jisr el Darnie, ascended the goat-track which leads from there to Es Salt, and, for the third time in the campaign, that old stone-built town was in Australasian hands.
All the way our men had evidence of the success of the British bluff. The Turks’ defences on the foothills, and higher up, were particularly strong. Had our main attack gone that way, the fight would have been very bitter, with the enemy in a strong natural position. But now the Turks were compelled to abandon their stronghold because of their disaster in the west, and, also, because the Arabs had broken their communications to the north, and were joining hands with a British and Indian cavalry Division right across those communications. As the Australians passed Shunet Nimrin, they discovered a long-range navy gun lying on its side, a piece known to them as “Nimrin Nellie” and “Jericho Jane,” with which the Turk had often made our camps near Jericho dusty and unpleasant.
ORANGE SELLER, JAFFA
IN THE SHADE
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THE VILLAGE WELL
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NATIVE PLOUGH AND TEAM
JAFFA
AUSTRALIANS PRIOR TO THE FIGHT FOR HEIGHTS OF NALIN
Photos, in colour by Capt. Frank Hurley