Boot and Saddle by JG GilberdWW1 - Suez and Palestine
The Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury mounted rifle regiments comprised the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade of 147 Officers and 2,900 NCOs and Men. Together with two Australian Light Horse Brigades they became the Anzac Mounted Division. Their artillery came from RHA's 13-pr guns. The Division also had Camel Transport Coys as part of their organisation. The Fourth Mounted Rifle Regiment, the Otago's, went with the Division as divisional troops. The horses were soon to encounter the rigours of desert warfare - heat, flies, thirst and camel ticks, plus choking sandstorms. The average trooper and his gear weighed in excess of 200 lbs, some heavier. Most desert marches were made at night, not only to escape the heat but a new threat, the aeroplane. The constant worry was water supplies for large numbers of animals. Portable pumps and canvas troughs were carried by pack camels and used at wells and rivers where they existed. When water was 40 miles behind or a mile in front and behind enemy lines and night was fast approaching, the incentive was to win the battle and get water. In November 1917 the Mounted Division covered 65 miles in eight days, engaging in many skirmishes with the Turks. The NZ Mounteds horses were without water for 72 hours and the Light Horse for 60 hours. What is regarded as the last cavalry charge took place during the battle of Romani on the Sinai Peninsula. The attack began at 1430 hours, 5 August 1916. The Mounted Division plus a British Yeomanry Brigade advanced at the gallop - riding knee to knee with fixed bayonets and sabres drawn. Their success in this battle as being a turning point in the Turks' advance to capture the Suez Canal and conquer Egypt. At the end of hostilities the horses were shot except selected animals for use again by the British forces. One horse did return to New Zealand - her name was Bess - she lived to a great age. LtCol Guy Powles (father of our first Ombudsman) owned Bess. Jim Gilberd, 1989 |
