Prisoners of War captured by the Turks after the First Battle of Gaza.
We continue our series of articles as we mark the centenary of the ANZAC Palestine campaign in 1917: In the first three parts of this series we explained how ANZAC troops came to be deployed to fight the Turks in the Sinai Palestine area; we gave you a taste of what food was like on the NZ campaign and we discussed the climate and conditions met by the ANZACs.
By January 1917, Rafah had been captured and the Sinai was in British hands. It was time to press on northward towards Gaza.
The coastal railroad continued to supply troops with provisions and much needed water indicating a coastal campaign was preferable. The Anzac troops took the opportunity to get some rest before beginning the next phase in late February.
Khan Yunis was occupied by the ANZACs on 28th with very little resistance. The British command expected the Turks to retreat northward. Lloyd George was now PM and he wanted victory quickly to counter the stalemate on the Western Front.
Murray ordered the first Gazan offensive in late March taking the Turks by surprise. It was the best use of the mounted division and conducted under extreme cold and fog that camouflaged their position.
Once the Germans got wind of the attack they called for reinforcements. Time was of the essence. The ANZACs had to penetrate the fields to the north ringed by cacti hedges (3m high and 5m wide) with their bayonets and get the wells.
The Wellingtons made it into Gaza capturing the outer streets as did the Australians. Sadly Chetwode and Dobell were concerned about water and reinforcements and so ordered the troops to withdraw. It was to be a costly blunder.
The ANZAC leaders stood their ground waiting for confirmation in disbelief. It was a bitter blow to the troops and to their confidence in British leadership. When the error was discovered some troops were sent back only to be repelled. It was too late.
The second battle began on the 17th March, but by this time the Turks had reinforced in numbers and dug in expecting a major offensive on Gaza and the Gaza-Beersheva road. The EEF were no match for them. This time the campaign had to be largely infantry driven (British) with the mounteds playing a supporting role.
Overhead the German Taubs monitored enemy positions. The infantry losses were considerable and with little chance for advancement, a retreat was ordered. By the end the NZMR had four nights without sleep and suffered heavy losses of horses; who were attacked from the air. NZ casualties were 88. The troops became more despondent. The potential for a Western Front type stalemate loomed.
Lieut Gen Murray; who had been based in Egypt, had declared a victory in the first battle to the Home Office with British media suggesting huge numbers of Turks defeated and little resistance.
It was far from the truth. Murray had failed again in the second battle. He was ordered back to England in June and subsequent promotions meant that Edward Chaytor, a New Zealander, would now command the ANZAC Mounted Division and William Meldrum the NZMR.
Things would be relatively quiet for six months until a workable plan could be hatched by the incoming General Allenby.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Joanna Moss is a Wellington-based researcher and writer. See the food exhibition at National Army Museum Waiouru until Nov 2017 & at Hamilton’s Waikato Museum “Sand in the Apricot Jam” 4 March -11 June.
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