To the Border of Palestine
By December 1916, the EEF was getting close to the border with Palestine. Two large Ottoman garrisons remained in their way, at El Magdhaba and El Magruntein. These were both attacked by the A&NZ Mounted Division and the Imperial Camel Corps, El Maghaba on 23 December 1916 and El Magruntein (also known as Rafa) on 9 January 1917. In both cases, the cavalry marched through the night to attack at dawn. It was necessary to capture the enemy posts, which were extremely well dug in and heavily defended, by nightfall, so that the horses could be watered. In both cases the fighting went on all day, and it was only at the very end of the day that the positions were captured. In fact at El Madghaba the final charge that won the day happened after the general commanding, Major General Harry Chauvel, had ordered the attack to break off. Combined, the A&NZ Mounted Division suffered about 100 men killed and 550 wounded across the 2 actions, whereas the Ottomans lost about 500 killed and 2,700 men taken prisoner.
The EEF now advanced into Palestine, and began to establish positions south of Gaza, a heavily fortified city on the coast that blocked the route north. At the same time, they continued to build the railway and pipeline across the desert, as well as develop water sources at El Arish to keep the army supplied.
By December 1916, the EEF was getting close to the border with Palestine. Two large Ottoman garrisons remained in their way, at El Magdhaba and El Magruntein. These were both attacked by the A&NZ Mounted Division and the Imperial Camel Corps, El Maghaba on 23 December 1916 and El Magruntein (also known as Rafa) on 9 January 1917. In both cases, the cavalry marched through the night to attack at dawn. It was necessary to capture the enemy posts, which were extremely well dug in and heavily defended, by nightfall, so that the horses could be watered. In both cases the fighting went on all day, and it was only at the very end of the day that the positions were captured. In fact at El Madghaba the final charge that won the day happened after the general commanding, Major General Harry Chauvel, had ordered the attack to break off. Combined, the A&NZ Mounted Division suffered about 100 men killed and 550 wounded across the 2 actions, whereas the Ottomans lost about 500 killed and 2,700 men taken prisoner.
The EEF now advanced into Palestine, and began to establish positions south of Gaza, a heavily fortified city on the coast that blocked the route north. At the same time, they continued to build the railway and pipeline across the desert, as well as develop water sources at El Arish to keep the army supplied.
'Little Tich', a mule captured at El Pillars marking the border between Egypt Ottoman officers captured at El Madghaba.
Magruntein by the New Zealand Mounted and Palestine.
Rifles.
Magruntein by the New Zealand Mounted and Palestine.
Rifles.