“Shortly after leaving the Brigade,” he writes, “we came into action on a ridge and gave overhead fire, while the S.R.Y. attacked the enemy position which was on another ridge about 1,800 yards off.  After a short time, in order to get closer to the enemy, we advanced to an intervening ridge about 900 yards, bringing us this distance from the enemy.  During this advance, which was carried out at the gallop, we were subjected to very heavy machine-gun fire, through which we were lucky to come with the loss of only one pack mule.  The second position was a good one, and we were able to bring very effective fire on to the enemy who were in a similar position to ourselves, only rather higher up.  Observation was very bad owing to the hard ground.

“After being in action for a considerable time and having fired a large quantity of ammunition, we suddenly became aware that we were entirely “on our own,” not one S.R.Y. or a man of any other unit to be seen.  Mr. Raynor went back to try to re-establish communication, and just as it was rapidly getting dark he sent up an orderly to tell us to come out of action, and to lead us down into a gulley below the position we held, where he was.  When we arrived at what the guide thought was the spot, however, it was quite dark, indeed “pitch black”.  He was nowhere to be found, and after sending out scouts in all directions, and still being unable to find him in the darkness, we took the opportunity to feed the horses.  After a short rest and being under the impression that the Brigade had advanced (from information previously obtained) we advanced too!  After passing our former position, and descending the steep slope beyond, we at last sighted a light, and sent out a man (Pte.  Chantry) to reconnoitre.  Our surprise can be imagined, when he got to within a hundred yards of it he was fired at.  It was a party of Turks!  They immediately ‘stood to’ and let us have it ‘hot’.  We at once galloped to cover on the left flank, but unfortunately before we reached it Francis was hit, and we never saw the poor chap again!  The pack animal he was leading, however, came along with the rest of the horses.

“Just after this incident a gun ‘pack’ (the Bint), got loose (she was always difficult to lead), and galloped off.  But she came in by herself the next morning, followed shortly afterwards by the horse poor Francis had been riding when he met his end.  After we reached cover, we found the ‘S.R.Y.’  Headquarters close by, so we reported there, when we were told that orders had been issued for us to re-join the Squadron.  The ‘O.C.’ and Mr. Raynor were there also, who told us to remain for the night, off-saddling half at a time.  The following morning we again came into action near our original position of the previous day, but did not fire.  During the morning we were relieved by some machine guns from the Camel Corps, and then rejoined the Brigade”.

“B” SUB-SECTION’S WORK.