BATTLE OF ROMANI

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 266, 5 August 1932, Page 3

BATTLE OF ROMANI

To-day’s Anniversary RECITAL ON CARILLON Decisive Palestine Engagement To-day will be the 16th annniversary of the Battle .of Romani, one of the principal engagements of the SinaiPalestine campaign, which was fought in 1916, and in which the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade played an important part. In commemoration of the event, a special recital will be given on the National War Memorial Carillon, Buckle Street, to-day, commencing at 12.30 p.m. The carillonist. Miss Gladys Watkins, will play the following numbers: — “Hearts of Oak” (English), “Bells of Aherdovy” (Welsh), “Oft in the Stilly Night” (Irish), “Caller Herrin” (Scotch), “When You Come Home” (Squire), “O Canada!” (Lavalee), and the New Zealand National Anthem (Woods). History of Battle. Romani was a decisive British Victory. In prisoners and casualties the Turks lost about half their force, as well as equipment. ( With the appointment of Sir Archibald Murray to command the force (afterwards to be known as the Egyptian Expeditionary Force), came the first suggestion of an advance beyond the Suez Canal. The first step was to be the occupation of the Qatlya Oasis. By May 19, 1916, the broad gauge railway had been extended to Romani, and a narrow gauge line constructed from Port Said to Mahamdiyah. By June 4, 1916, the 52nd (Lowland) Division had moved up and developed a strong position covering the railhead. From Mahamdiyah, stretching inland for some seven miles, is a line of sandhills forming a strong natural defensive position facing east. This was the position occupied. The northern flank was ou the coast, and was covered by the western end of the Bardawil Lagoon. The southern flank rested on an outstanding dune called Katib Gannlt, which commanded the surrounding ridges. Running generally westward from this point was a broad.ridge (Wellington Ridge) which marked the limit

of the plateau over which ran the railway. South.of Katib Gannlt were a number of isolated sand dunes between which gullies ran up through Wellington Ridge into the plateau in rear of the position. Most prominent of these were Mt. Meredith and Mt. Royston, lying respectively four miles south and south-west of Katib Gannit. Along the position from Katib Gannit to Mahamdiyah were constructed a series of eighteen works, each holding, on an average, 100 rifles and two machine-guns. As soon as this position had been thoroughly organised, the railway was pushed on from Romani to Qatiya.

Up till July 17 the enemy aircraft became aggressive, and two days later a pronounced forward move of the Turkish forces, estimated at 16,000 troops with 30 guns, became apparent. No. 3 section (which was responsible for the Romani position) was reinforced, and by July 24 disposed of the 52nd Division, plus one infantry brigade, covering Romani; 42nd Division echeloned along the railway between Gillbran station and Qantara; Ist and 2nd A.L.H. Brigades at Romani; and N.Z.M.R. and sth Mounted Brigades east of Qantara. Section Headquarters remained at Qantara (25 miles from Romani), and were given a call on certain mounted troops in No. 2 section. Checked at Outposts.

The Turks made no further move till July 28, when they reached Um Ugba. By August 3 the Turks had occupied Qatiya. On the night of August 4 the Turks followed up the mounted troops, as they withdrew, with the intention of seizing Wellington Ridge by surprise. But owing to the near -approach of the Turks of late, a mounted brigade had occupied an outpost line southward from Katib Gannit and the Turks therefore met with strenuous resistance. But the Turks had been able to get close to the outpost line under cover of darkness, and their superior strength soon forced the light horsemen back bn to Wellington Ridge. By 4.30 a.m. another light horse brigade had come up and deployed on the right. Even this, however, only checked the Turkish advance, and by 8 a.m. the Turks were on Wellington Ridge. Two batteries now came into action and their lire kept the Turks below the crest of the ridge, but the Turks’ flanking movement was still making progress. At this stage a single squadron moved on the initiative of its own commander, struck the Turkish flank, and checked the outflanking movement for the next two hours. In the meantime, the prepared defences north of Romani came under artillery fire. Between Katib Gannit and Romani the Turkish infantry attacked, closely supported by their artillery. This attack, however, soon broke down some distance from our defences, which wore not afterward seriously engaged. Our reserve mounted brigades were now ordered up, and at 10 a.m. sth Mounted Brigade deployed on our extreme right in time to check a fresh attempt at envelopment. N.Z.M.R. Brigade, somewhat delayed by the changing situation, was not up till afternoon, but by 2 p.m., in conjunction with sth Mounted Brigades, commenced an attack on Mt. Royston. This attack made but slow progress till Supported by the leading battalions of an infantry brigade, which had been moved up from Gilban Station. Shortly after 4 p.m. the enemy made a last

effort. Everywhere these attacks broke down. The reserve infantry brigade (near Romani) was at once ordered against Wellington Ridge in conjunction with the counter attack on Mt. Royston which a little later fell to the mounted troops. Preceded by a short artillery preparation, the infantry commenced their attack about 7 p.m., but were soon held up close to the ridge. The attack of 156th Brigade suspended overnight was successfully concluded in the morning. Some 1500 prisoners were captured, but these proved to be merely a rearguard to the Turkish force which had with-, drawn during the night. G.O.C. No. 3 Section at once ordered a pursuit, but for one reason and another there were long delays before the troops were moving. The mounted pursuit commenced about 10.30 a.m., but by then the Turks were back in position about Qatiya and the opportunity had gone. Except for a successful action about Hamisah, which was not followed up, the mounted troops could do nothing. On August 6 the results were no better, the Turks fighting skilful rearguard action against our mounted troops. The Turks continued their retirement and on August 7,8, and 9 administered a decisive check 1° mounted troops west of Bir el Abd. The mobile column from No. 2 Section, handlefl with energy, had gained contact with the enemy on August 7, ana next day worked round his flank at Bir el Abd. But they were too weak and unsupported to embarrass the Turks, and that night fell back to Bir Bayud. There were no further serious engagements and the Turks finally fell back to El Arish.