The Brigade being now south of the bridge over the Wadi Ghuzze, rations were also likely to be better and the mail more regular; there was, in addition, a CANTEEN at Belah!

Many changes in personnel took place about this time.  Before leaving Esdud S.Q.M.S.  Harrison, Corpl.  Barrett, Lance-Corpl.  Blenkin, Ptes.  Dransfield, F.W.  Harrison, Ellams and Hadden left to become cadets in the R.A.F.  Sergt.  Fisher was promoted S.Q.M.S.  Capt.  Spencer, M.C., had arrived, being posted as second in command, but was reposted a few days later, to the same position which he had previously held in the 18th Squadron.  Capt.  L.F.  St. John Davies, M.C., arrived from the 21st Squadron the day Capt.  Spencer left, and became second in command.  Lieut.  G.M.  King was posted from the 17th Squadron (January 8th), and Sec.-Lieut.  J.K.W.  Arden arrived from the base (January 19th); Sec.-Lieut.  Kindell was admitted to hospital again, but he returned within a few weeks.

Reinforcements continued to arrive, consisting of both old and new faces:  January 6th, Lance.-Corpl.  Keatley and six men; January 7th, Lance.-Corpl.  G. Neal and 11 men; January 17th, Lance.-Corpl.  Smith and 15 men; January 23rd, Saddler Hayward and eight men.  Sec.-Lieut.  Arden formed “F” Sub-section; remounts being now available.  The Squadron thus became complete, having six Sub-sections.  The training commenced, mounted drill, elementary gun drill, mechanism, “I.A.”, special classes for range-finding, signalling, also lectures.  N.C.O.’s were instructed in indirect fire.  Lieut.  Hibbert left for leave in the United Kingdom on February 10th, and Lieut.  King took his place in “B” Sub-section, and O.C.  “No. 2” Section.

[Illustration]

On February 18th, Capt.  D. Marshall, M.C., proceeded on leave to the United Kingdom, and Capt.  L.F.  St. John Davies, M.C., became O.C., with Lieut.  Oakley second in command.  On returning to the E.E.F.  Capt.  Marshall was posted to the 17th Squadron.  On February 22nd the Brigade moved north to Gaza,[10] or rather to about 1-1/2 miles south of it.  Here there was a fair amount of grazing, and the animals were taken out every day for that purpose.  They had been very slow in picking up condition, and it was hoped that this would do the necessary, as indeed it did.

The camp was arranged in the form of a square, a favourite formation with the Squadron, and a safe one during air raids.  Water was a mile away in the Wadi Ghuzze, and rations were drawn from Gaza.  On February 25th, Lieut.  Oakley went to hospital; Lieut.  King became second in command.  On February 26th, Lieut.  R.H.  Fairbairns, M.C., arrived, and was posted to “No. 1” Section, taking command of “C” Sub-section.  Training continued as at Belah, and on February 28th there was a Divisional Field Day—­“crossing the Wadi Ghuzze,” in which the 20th and 21st Squadrons were combined under Capt.  R.O.  Hutchinson, M.C., of the 21st.