These teams were composed as follows:—­

Lance-Corpl.  Grice Lance-Corpl.  Thompson. 
Pte.  Willmore Pte.  Duncan " Crossman " Joiner " Goldie " Roberts.

They opened fire upon the Mosque at a range of 700 yards with good effect, silencing two enemy machine-guns.

After being in action about half-an-hour the “S.R.Y.” sent to Lieut.  Price to deal with a party of Turks who were bringing fire to bear on their rear.  The Turks were found to be in a trench with a machine-gun.  Fire was opened on them, and all were killed except one man who escaped, mounted.  Attention was then directed to the Mosque, where the Turks were still causing some trouble.  “Covering-fire” was given to the “S.R.Y.” who attacked, but without entire success and had to withdraw.  In the end the Turk was ejected, however, and he was not able again to occupy it.

During the day’s fighting Pte.  Crossman had been wounded.

DEATH OF LIEUT.  PRICE, M.C.

At night both guns were placed about 50 yards apart, facing up the hill.  Working hard during the night, the enemy built a breastwork on the top of the hill, and the flash of their machine-gun fire could be seen directed from that position across the front of the Mosque, apparently to prevent it being occupied.  About midnight Lieut.  Price was walking along the line having a look-out and had just passed his right-hand gun when he was unfortunately hit by a bullet in the groin.  Lance-Corpl.  Grice at once had him bandaged up and carried down to the dressing station by Ptes.  Baker and Roberts.  To the sorrow of all his comrades, however, he died in the Field Ambulance.  He was taken to Ramleh, where he was buried.

Just after Lieut.  Price was hit, Sergt.  Hawkins, who had only arrived a few days previously, but rendered splendid service on this his first day’s fighting, was wounded (he was afterwards awarded the Military Medal) and Corpl.  Franklin then came up to take charge.  He reported the casualties to Squadron Headquarters when S.S.M.  Larwood came up and “took over,” sending him to resume charge of the led horses.

In the morning, before daylight, the guns were moved further up the hill in line with the infantry (Scottish Rifles), who had arrived the previous evening and advanced after dark.  It was during this morning’s operations that Pte.  Cowley was unfortunately wounded.  The Turkish defenders of the breastwork, after being submitted to heavy fire, came in under a German N.C.O. and surrendered, upon which the infantry went up and occupied their late position.  The infantry soon had to fall back again, however, owing to heavy shell fire, when the Turks re-occupied it.  During the day there was a certain amount of bombing and sniping on both sides, during which Pte.  Joiner was killed.  He had been trying to account for the sniper himself, and upon being ordered to go down the hill to see about the rations for his sub-section he was hit as soon as he moved.