Then “lines” were put down, animals off-saddled again and a much needed wash-up and shave indulged in—­after watering and stables.  To feel clean once more and to be able to have a sleep in the heat of the day, which at this time was intense (in spite of the cold nights), was a treat enjoyed by all.

Beersheba was very disappointing.  Instead of being a town, as Europeans understand that term, a place where one can buy such things as cigarettes and something to eat, nothing at all was obtainable, and the only buildings in it, that were not mud huts, were empty.[2]

During our stay at Beersheba, enemy planes, often flying quite low, paid us several visits, for whose benefit one Sub-section always had its guns mounted for anti-aircraft work.  On one of these raids two men and several animals, in an Australian Field Ambulance a couple of hundred yards from the Squadron Camp, were killed.  One man had a “narrow shave”.  He was standing beside his horse when the plane appeared, and, for safety, he jumped into a trench that happened to be at hand still holding the reins.  The animal was killed, but he himself escaped without a scratch!

FOOTNOTES: 

    [2] Beersheba—­“Well of the oath”:  See Genesis, chaps. xxi and xxvi,
    v. 23 and 32.

THE COASTAL SECTOR.

To the 21st Infantry Corps in front of Gaza, had been given the task of attracting enemy reserves to that neighbourhood, thus to lighten the task of the troops on the right of the line, in the capture of Beersheba.  On October 27th, a bombardment of the elaborate Gaza defences had been commenced, assisted by the Navy, and on the night of November 1st-2nd, “Umbrella Hill” was captured, followed in the early morning by the whole of the front-line system of trenches.

OPERATIONS AT TEL KHUWEILFEH.

After a day’s rest, the 7th Mounted Brigade started off again (on November 2nd) at 08.30.  “C” Sub-section reported to the “S.N.H.”; “D” Sub-section to the “S.R.Y.”  The Transport ("B.1” Echelon) just arrived as the Squadron was timed to move off, and rations had to be issued out on parade. [It may here be mentioned that the transport had had a “rough time,” and without having accurate knowledge of what was happening to the Brigade, owing to the many difficulties of communication en route, did splendidly in arriving even when it did.]

The railway being crossed, the Brigade “carried on,” along a sort of old track north of Beersheba for about 10 miles, where a halt was called.  A short description of the country hereabouts would not, perhaps, be out of place.  Doubtless other people will read this record besides the members of the Squadron who have seen the “beauties” of that remote part of the world; a brief reference to the characteristics of the locality may, therefore, be appreciated by those who would like to spend a short holiday there!