The following narrative of the fighting on the Canal is issued for the benefit of the Battalions at EL KUBRI, which it is understood have received no authentic news of the fighting on Feb 3rd or how the rest of the Brigade fared.
Report of Fighting on Canal.
February 2nd to 4th 1915.
KANTARA. (Qantara)
Early on the morning of the 3rd an attack was made on our outposts which was repulsed, the enemy retreating leaving 15 killed & wounded & forty unwounded. Later in the day a partial attack was made from the S.E. but the enemy was stopped 1200 yards from the position.
EL FERDAN
At EL FERDAN, were the 13th Regt Coy. lay & two platoons of the 1st Regt were stationed, the enemy made an attack. At ** a.m. a Turkish Battery of 4 small guns opened fire on the Signal Station, finding the range immediately, they hit the buildings several times. At this juncture H.M.S. “Clio” came up & silenced the batteries. Though she was hit three times in so doing the action was over at 1 p.m.
BATTERY POST.
North of ISMAILIA at the BATTERY POST, there were two platoons of the 12th Nelson Regt. Coy. These men were not actually fired on. But the battery on their left was shelled. Later in the day this post was relieved by two platoons of the 3rd Auckland Regt. Coy. These platoons were shelled on their way out to the post but suffered no casualties.
ISMAILIA FERRY.
By ISMAILIA FERRY POST, where the 2nd South Canterbury Coy were stationed under Major Grant as general reserve, the enemy were found to be entrenching about ½ a mile to the East at Daylight. Two Battalions opened fire & the enemy’s guns engaged the “Hardinge” “Requiem” & our Mountain Artillery. Though no regular attack was made intermittent shelling continued throughout the day. The New Zealand Platoons actually saw no fighting, but they were exposed to shell fire throughout the day. Some of the shells fired at this point fell within half a mile of the ground where the Auckland & Canterbury Battalions were encamped.
The shipping on Lake TIMSAH was subjected to shell fire during the day & also the outskirts of ISMAILIA at various points.
During the night of the 3rd a half hearted attack was made, after which the enemy withdrew the bulk of their forces to KATAIB & KHEIL.
TOUSSUM (Tussum) and SERAPEUM.
At daylight on the 3rd the enemy were found to be close to TOUSSUM & SERAPEUM & their guns opened fire on both posts. At the latter post, where our ships & artillery engaged the enemy, there were two platoons of the 12th Nelson Regt. Coy under Major Brereton, who took up outposts at 5 p.m. on the night of the 2nd on the West bank of the Canal. On his right was a battery of the Lancashire Artillery, & on his left the 62nd Punjabi Infantry. All was quiet until 3.20 a.m. when heavy machine gun fire from the enemy commenced to our North. At this time there was no fire to the New Zealanders front. The Punjabis were reinforced with 30 of our men, who on arrival at once commenced opening fire at a party of Turks attempting to cross the Canal in boats, which movement they effectively stopped. At this the enemy retreated & entrenched on the Eastern bank under our fire. Many of the enemy tried to retreat but were stopped by our fire. We were helped by enfilading fire from the rest of the two platoons on our right, who had the command of the enemy’s trenches for a distance of 1200 yards. There were three distinct attempts made to cross the Canal at this point, all of which failed.
A counter attack by the 62nd Punjabis about midday produced considerable results.
Early in the afternoon orders were received to close on the 22nd Brigade Headquarters. During this move Pte. Ham was severely wounded & afterwards succumbed to his wounds. The only other New Zealand casualty was that of Sergt. Williams who was slightly wounded by Shrapnel. Outpost duty was resumed at 5 p.m. No more fighting took place except for persistent sniping. The enemy having retired leaving many dead & nearly 300 prisoners.
On the morning of the 4th troops from SERAPEUM captured some 150 of the enemy, who were still entrenched on the Canal bank some 1½ miles S. of TOUSSUM, after having been treacherously fired on, the white flag having been raised & signs of surrender made.
During the day H.M.S. “Swiftsure” “Clio” & “Hardinge” the French ships “Requin” & “D’Entrcasteaux” as well as torpedo boats & launches engaged the enemy & rendered valuable assistance. The “Hardinge” was struck by two 6” shells, & had ten men wounded. The “Swiftsure” had one man killed. Military casualties during the day were: – British Officers, killed 1, – wounded 4. British, Indian & Egyptian rank & file killed 17 wounded 79. The enemy along the canal at all points attacked, appear to muster in all some 12,000 men, & at least 6 Batteries. One 6” gun was also located, which is thought to have been silenced by the “Requiem”.
Throughout the fighting two companies were always kept ready to leave camp at a moment’s notice to reinforce any position where they might be required.
Over 500 of the enemy were buried by our troops & afterwards of 500 are prisoners in our hands. It is calculated that on a basis of 3 wounded to 1 killed, the enemy must have suffered a loss of at least 1500 wounded, making total casualties of between 2500 & 3000. The enemy is now in retreat all along the line; whether they will make another **** not yet be determined. It has been ascertained that General Dzermal Pasha was present during the action with a number of German officers, one of whom has been killed.
On February 5th a message of congratulation on the 3 days fighting was received from the General Officer Commanding in Chief & Lord Kitchener.
A.C. Temperley Major
Brigade Major
N.Z. Infantry Brigade
ISMAILIA
Feb 12th 1915.
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