OFFICIAL EYEWITNESS,
HEADQUARTERS,
S. AFRICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE.
1.3.16.
On February 20th, a mobile column under the command of Brigadier-General H.T. LUKIN, C.M.G., D.S.O., left MERSA MATRUH with the object of pushing out westwards towards SIDI BARINI and SOLUM – two Egyptian Coast Guard Stations on the Mediterranean – and tackling the SENOUSSI in their various strongholds in the desert. The column was composed of all arms – Infantry being the main factor, with a proportion of mounted troops, artillery etc. – and the invariable accompaniment of all expeditions in these waterless, arid corners of the earth, a long unwieldy train of camel transport. But on such occasions the camel is worth its weight in gold, for a beast that will hump a regulation load of 300 lbs, with ease, which has enormous staying powers and only asks for a drink about every eight days, and finds all sorts of luxuries in the forage line in the dessert scrub, gives a solution of transport difficulties, which makes one very large minded in respect of the animal’s other little peculiarities and shortcomings.
Two Battalions of South African Infantry – the 1st, (Cape Colony) Regiment and the 3rd (Transvaal) Regiment – formed part of the column.
The route from Matruh lay along an old disused road which runs westward along and close to the coast through UM RAKHU, BIR ABDIH, UNJEILA, SHAMAAS to MAKTIL, which was reached after five days’ continuous, heavy marching, the column halting and bivouacking each night at the places mentioned. These places are merely points on the old route at which there are wells. At some of them the water supply was found to be quite plentiful, at others there was only just sufficient for drinking purposes and washing was a luxury which could not be indulged in. But in one respect none of these places failed us and that was in an abundant supply of mosquitoes, which must have had the time of their lives when kilted men arrived.
MAKTIL was reached at mid-day on the 24th February by the column, and the proximity of the enemy was revealed during the last few miles of the march by stray shots from snipers hanging on to our left flank, a couple of whom were captured.
The column halted at MAKTIL and bivouacked on the sand dunes overhanging the sea shore. Inland here the ground rises gradually by a succession of long sloping ridges to a plateau, and on a crest about 6,000 yards distant the enemy had taken up a position forward of their main camp and position, which was reported by aero-plane reconnaissance to be about 10 miles south of MAKTIL.
It was decided to give the troops a day’s rest at MAKTIL before pushing on to the attack on the enemy’s main camp South, as they had already done some tough marching and it was expected that a pretty strenuous time lay ahead of them. So on the night of the 24th/25th the column rested – the SENOUSSI kindly refrained from sniping. All the following day – the 25th Feby the enemy could be seen moving about on the crest above us, and snipers kept working their way down the slopes, taking long pot shots at our horses as they were being watered at the wells which were in a wady (dry river bed) on our right and somewhat exposed. But no damage was done and the day was spent by the troops in getting rid of the dust and weariness of the previous days’ marches by disporting themselves in the blue waters of the Mediterranean.
Suddenly – just before sunset – a big gun boomed and a shell whirred and whizzed over our heads and fell in the sea just behind us. The enemy had evidently decided that the scene was too suspiciously peaceful and were beginning a little evening hate. So they pitched some thirty or forty shells into the camp and at the same time pushed a machine gun forward down the slope and opened fire with that also. Our artillery promptly replied and soon silenced the enemy’s guns. Companies of our infantry cleared the ground to the front and by dark peace reigned once more. The hate had only cost us one man killed and one wounded.
The following morning – Saturday February 26th,– at daybreak, the Yeomanry were sent forward to reconnoitre the position from which the enemy had shelled us the previous evening and which it was found they had evacuated during the night. Patrols were therefore sent forward to locate the enemy and got into touch with them about eight miles due South on the site on which their main camp had already been reported by aeroplane reconnaissance.
Leaving all supplies and baggage at MAKTIL with a sufficient force to garrison the position, the column moved out to the attack. It was to be der tag, and great was the jubilation at knowing that the elusive enemy was really within striking distance, after the weary miles of desert which had been covered in search of them.
Beyond the crest originally held by the enemy lay a long flat plateau, stretching for miles east, west and south. It is for the most part hard and covered with a sparse short scrub, with in places belts of sand dunes. And along one of these belts of dunes the enemy had formed their position on a frontage of nearly three miles. It formed an ideal natural defensive position, as it could only be approached over three or four miles of open level country, and the position when reached consisted of successive lines of dunes, each with a good field of fire, and affording excellent cover to the defenders. The SENOUSSI were holding in force, were in possession of artillery and machine guns and officered by Turkish Officers. It was a nut which required some cracking.
About 4000 yards from the enemy’s position was a small kopje – very small, but of vital importance from a reconnoitring point of view as from it could be seen the whole length of the frontage to be attacked. It was lightly held and the Yeomanry quickly gained possession of it. As soon as it was occupied, Brig-General Lukin rode forward to it and from his personal reconnaissance was quickly able to make the necessary dispositions for the final attack.
The 3rd (Transvaal Regiment) South African Infantry under Lt. Col. Thackeray were launched to the attack from this point on a frontage of slightly over a mile direct on the enemy’s left centre, with the 1st (Cape Colony) Regiment, South African Infantry under Lt. Col. Dawson held in reserve. A regiment of Yeomanry – the Dorsets – under Lt. Col. Souter, accompanied by two armoured cars were detached on a wide flanking movement on the enemy’s left and two armoured cars with a squadron of Yeomanry were sent out to threaten the enemy’s right flank.
As the 3rd S.A.I. advanced it was seen that the SENOUSSI were making an attempt to out flank them and to obviate this a portion of the 1st S.A.I. were pushed up in support, with a company thrown out to ward off the flanking movement and if possible turn the enemy’s right flank. This completely disposed of the Senoussi’s attempted flanking movement and they quickly retired again into their main position.
The advance was now being made under a very heavy machine gun and rifle fire, with the enemy’s guns distributing their fire over the whole field of advance. Our own artillery had been brought up to a position within 4000 yards of the enemy’s position and were making excellent practice in covering the advance of the Infantry. But the enemy’s emplacements were difficult to locate in the dunes and their shelling and machine gun fire went merrily on. But so also did our Infantry! Steadily the long, extended line advanced despite the heavy fire to which they were exposed. On and on they pushed over the level intervening ground, nearer and nearer to the enemy’s position. And on the ground they had just passed over there could be seen men bending down over crumpled up khaki figures, some of whom lay strangely still. The Stretcher-Bearers were busily at work. Right up to the position the 3rd South African Infantry intrepidly advanced, whilst at the same time the 1st S.A.I. swung out round the enemy’s right flank, which they succeeded in turning, and the enemy was now compelled to retire, falling back from dune to dune before our on-coming Infantry, who were quickly in occupation of the captured position.
As soon as it was seen that the enemy’s right flank had been turned by the 1st S.A. Infantry, the squadron of Yeomanry was withdrawn from that flank and sent out to the enemy’s left to augment Lt. Col. Souter’s command in order that it should be as strong as possible to brush aside any opposition when the time for pursuit arrived, and also to prevent the enemy breaking westward.
The advance and attack of the two battalions of South African Infantry was a fine piece of work. They had covered over two miles of dead level ground swept by the enemy’s artillery, machine gun and rifle fire, and they had done it without a check, unhesitatingly advancing and taking their punishment all the way. In cold blood and with nothing to see to shoot at – that is what an Infantry advance of this nature means. And it is a tremendous test of endurance, good discipline and cool intrepidity.
Driven out from their position, the enemy were now retiring to the South East, and the opportunity for the Yeomanry under Lt. Colonel Souter, who had worked well round their left flank, had arrived and was immediately seized by him. Hotly pursuing the enemy, who were covering their retreat with machine gun fire, the Yeomanry executed a dashing charge, in which they killed or wounded a great number of the Senoussi and captured three Turkish Officers, one of whom proved to be GAAFAR PASHA, a famous Turkish General who was sent over from Europe at the beginning of the war by the Turkish Government to take charge of the operations here, and who has been General Officer Commanding the enemy forces.
The Senoussi received a very severe knock in the engagement, in which their casualties were estimated at somewhere about 500, and large supplies of ammunition, foodstuffs, camels, tents etc were captured from them.
The Bay Museum & Research Facility 