First Battle of Gaza - Battle - Ottoman Reinforcements Attack Mounted Screen

Ottoman Reinforcements Attack Mounted Screen

The Ottoman Fourth Army's 3rd and 16th Infantry Divisions launched a counterattack by 1,000 men advancing on the right.

Ten minutes after the attack on Gaza began; at 15:50 news came that Ottoman reinforcements were advancing towards Gaza. Some 300 had been seen marching from the north towards Gaza and a little later three Ottoman columns were reported moving from the same direction another 300 Ottoman soldiers had moved into the sand hills west of Deir Sineid. A squadron from the 22nd Mounted Yeomanry Brigade was sent to oppose this advance towards Gaza.

I wish to draw special attention to the excellent service rendered by the Imperial Mtd Div under Major General H.W. Hodgson CB CVO, in holding off greatly superior forces of the enemy during the afternoon of the 26th and the night of 26/27th thus enabling the A & NZ Mtd Div to assist in the Infantry attack on Gaza and subsequently to withdraw after dark. Had the work of this Division been less efficiently carried out it would have been quite impossible to extricate the A & NZ Mtd Div without very serious losses.

Major General Chauvel's report dated 4/4/17 of the battle in his division's war diary

The advance of units of the Ottoman Army from Jemamah became apparent and their attack suddenly forced back the outposts holding Hill 405, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from Beit Durdis. Hodgson ordered the 6th Mounted Yeomanry Brigade with the Berkshire Battery RHA to advance and retake the hill. Lieutenant Colonel Wigan with two squadrons and one troop of Berkshire Yeomanry took command of the front and sent back information about the German and Ottoman attack by infantry, mounted troops and some machine guns. He brought his own regiment into the line to delay the attack on Hill 405 but as the front became critical the commander of Imperial Mounted Division, Hodgson ordered up the 6th Mounted Brigade with the Berkshire artillery battery. But the 6th Mounted Yeomanry Brigade were in the process of watering and could not start at once. The delay allowed the Ottoman force to capture the hill at 17:15.

At 17:00 at the request of the Imperial Mounted Division, Chauvel sent back from the attack on Gaza, Royston's 3rd Light Horse Brigade less, the 10th Light Horse Regiment. The 3rd Light Horse Brigade moved back quickly and seized a high hill north west of Hill 405 enabling the 6th Mounted Yeomanry Brigade to hold on where they were. The 8th and 9th Light Horse Regiments, 3rd Light Horse Brigade, with the 1/1st Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry, 6th Mounted Yeomanry Brigade, on their right and 1st Nottinghamshire Battery Royal Horse Artillery on the left of the 6th Mounted Yeomanry Brigade and Berkshire Battery in the centre enfiladed the advancing Ottoman formations. Despite considerable damage being done, more Ottoman guns in addition to the six already in action were brought into their firing line. Three Ottoman batteries enfiladed the Berkshire Battery, forcing them to withdraw at about 18:30, just before dusk.

At 17:15 No. 7 Light Car Patrol was sent up the road towards Deir Sineid and together with Nos. 11 and 12 LAM Batteries opposed an Ottoman advance from Huj where units of the Ottoman Army were now reported to have 4,000 soldiers; 3,000 infantry and two squadrons of cavalry. A squadron of 22nd Mounted Yeomanry Brigade supported two squadrons of 6th Light Horse Regiment, 2nd Light Horse Brigade, were sent to reinforce two squadrons of 6th Light Horse Regiment holding the main road to the north. The cars reported to Royston and engaged the Ottoman Army advancing from Huj until dark.

It was nearly dark when, at 17:30 a gap occurred in the line between 6th Mounted Brigade and 1st (Australian) Battalion of the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade. Fortunately Ottoman soldiers did not attempt to follow it up and the commander of the Imperial Mounted Division, Hodgson, requested Chauvel, commanding the mounted attack on Gaza, to send back the 10th Light Horse Regiment still in reserve at Divisional Headquarters; this was done.