(i) The Australian Corps and Desert Column were to operate from Beersheba north-westwards to Hareira.
(ii) Several mounted and dismounted divisions were to operate around Hareira and Gaza.
(iii) A composite force of French, Italians and West Indian troops was to demonstrate by raids in the vicinity of Outpost hill.
(iv) The XXIst Corps was to attack the enemy’s defences between Umbrella hill and the sea.
It is with the last of these four operations that this chapter is concerned. For this attack the force detailed consisted of the 54th Division, the Indian Cavalry Division, and the Tank Detachment—eight machines.
The attack of the 54th Division was divided into four phases—Blue, Red, Green, and Yellow.
The Tank Detachment left Deir El Belah on the night of October 22–23, 1917, for the beach near Sheikh Ajlin. From here a thorough reconnaissance of the area of operations was carried out on horseback and by drifter, after which this area was divided into tank sectors. To these tanks were distributed as follows:
(i) 156th Infantry Brigade.—Objective—Umbrella hill north-westwards to the eastern portion of El Arish redoubt. No. 1 tank was to support the infantry in their attack on El Arish redoubt, deposit R.E. stores, attack Magdhaba trench and cover the infantry consolidation.
(ii) 163rd Infantry Brigade.—Objective—El Arish redoubt northwards to south of Zowaiid trench. No. 2 tank was to attack El Arish redoubt, then Island wood, deposit R.E. stores, and on the arrival of the infantry take a southerly route and capture Crested rock.
(iii) 161st and 162nd Infantry Brigades.—Objectives—Zowaiid trench to Sea Post and the Cricket valley northwards to Sheikh Hasan and 500 yards beyond. For this operation four tanks were allotted.