In the main attack almost all objectives were reached. Between the 1st and the 6th progress was made east of Gaza and on the 7th it was found that the fortress had been evacuated. The fighting 27th October-7th November is now the “Third Battle of Gaza.”
The British at once pursued, the 52nd Division following the coast. In paragraph 15, Sir E. Allenby speaks “of the rapidity of our movement along the coast and the determination with which his rearguards on this flank had been pressed.”
“The advanced guard of the 52nd (Lowland) Division had forced its way almost to Burkah on the 11th.”
After describing the position taken up by the Turks the despatch states that an attack for the 13th November was arranged. “This Katrah-El-Mughar line forms a very strong position, and it was here that the enemy made his most determined resistance against the turning movement directed against his right flank. The capture of this position by the 52nd (Lowland) Division, assisted by a most dashing charge of mounted troops, who galloped across the plain under heavy fire and turned the enemy’s position from the north, was a fine feat of arms. Some 1100 prisoners, 3 guns and many machine guns were taken here. After this the enemy resistance weakened, and by the evening his forces were retiring east and north.”
“In fifteen days our force had advanced sixty miles on its right, and about forty on its left. It had driven a Turkish army of nine infantry divisions and one cavalry division out of a position in which it had been entrenched for six months, and had pursued it, giving battle whenever it attempted to stand, and inflicting on it losses amounting probably to nearly two-thirds of the enemy’s original effectives. Over 9000 prisoners, about 80 guns, more than 100 machine guns, and very large quantities of ammunition and other stores had been captured.”
It is pardonable to point out here that the infantry of Sir E. Allenby’s army was up till April 1918 composed, to the extent of four-fifths, of Territorial Divisions.
Jaffa was occupied on 16th November, 1917.
The despatch, paragraph 17, states that the “52nd Division in nine days covered 69 miles.” Much of this was over heavy sand or very poor tracks.
Paragraph 20 refers to various attacks by the Turks: there was “particularly heavy fighting” towards the close of November near El Burj, “but Yeomanry and Scottish troops successfully resisted all attacks and inflicted severe losses on the enemy.” A large number of prisoners were taken. Officially the fighting, 17th-24th November, is now the “Battle of Nebi Samwil.”
Jerusalem was surrendered to troops of the 53rd and 60th Divisions on 9th December. See also 53rd, 54th and 60th Divisions.