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With the Machine Gunners in France and Palestine

Chapter II — Formation of the Squadron

page 178

Chapter II
Formation of the Squadron

The New Zealand Mounted Brigade left Salhia on the evening of 23rd April, 1916, on its march to Kantara and Romani. During April, May and June the Brigade had a strenuous time at patrol work in the intensely hot weather, and fought its first mounted action at Salmana. In the last week in June the Brigade returned to rest at Hill 70, until the beginning of August, when the active operations which were destined to free the Holy Land from the tyranny of the Crescent commenced in earnest. It was during this period of rest that the formation of the New Zealand Machine Gun Squadron was commenced and completed.

* * * * *

On 15th July the formation of the Squadron commenced, in accordance with the new establishment of Cavalry Brigades. 2nd Lieut. (Temp. Capt.) R. P. Harper, D.C.M., who had been acting as Brigade Machine Gun Officer, was appointed to the command of the Squadron, and the following officers were seconded from their regiments for duty in the Squadron:—

  • Lieut. G. F. Yerex (Auckland M.R.), Adjutant.
  • 2nd Lieuts. T. McCarrol and A. C. Hinman (A.M.R.).
  • 2nd Lieuts. G. G. Harper, D.C.M., and L. A. Craven (C.M.R.).
  • Lieut. R. F. Chapman and 2nd Lieut. D. E. Batchelar (W.M.R.).

The work of forming a camp, posting n.c.o.'s and men to the sections, appointing specialists and drawing horses and equipment to complete establishment was accomplished on 24th July, by which date the training of the Squadron was in full swing. There were not sufficient Light Vickers Guns for the Squadron, which had to be content with six Light Vickers page 179and six Maxims. The Squadron, being much more mobile and rapid in its action than the Companies, used pack horses to carry the guns and equipment instead of limbers. A great deal of difficulty was experienced in obtaining the regulation pack saddlery, and when it was obtained it was short of hangers for the guns and ammunition panniers. This did not interfere with the gunners, who quickly displayed the resource-fulness that characterised their actions throughout the long and trying campaign. They made hangers and panniers out of hoop iron, bits of leather and ammunition boxes, which stood the strain of rough work as well if not better than the genuine regulation articles.

On 31st July, when the Squadron had settled itself down to its new conditions, and was working like a well-tried and old-established unit, it received orders to be in readiness to move at short notice with the Brigade to drive back the enemy desert force that was advancing towards Romani.

In the following chapters the reader will observe a great difference between the work of the mounted machine guns and that of the companies in France. In the open warfare campaign in Sinai and Palestine the method of attack differed very slightly, if at all, to the principles laid down in the prewar training manuals. The mounted machine-gun section was as mobile as other mounted units. In open warfare the attack generally develops quickly, and the successful employment of machine guns depends on the speed with which they are brought into action and the initiative displayed by the section officers in handling them.

Once the mounted troops leave their horses to go forward to the attack their job is similar to the infantry, but in the campaign in Sinai and Palestine they did not have the same artillery support; indeed, at times there was no artillery at all to help them; but the excellently-handled machine guns filled the breach, and much of the success of the operations of our mounted troops was to a large measure due to the covering fire given by the guns of the mounted machine-gun squadron.

The machine guns in the desert warfare were not used from well-entrenched positions, on set objectives, like the guns in France: the gunners had to advance their guns from time page 180to time as the attack developed, keeping up covering or enfilading fire until masked by their own troops, and then on to new positions until the operation was completed.

During the campaign, for the most part waged on heavy sand and under a tropical sun, necessitating many long marches, our splendid mounted machine-gun squadron never failed the troops it worked with, and earned the reputation of being the most efficient unit in the N.Z. Mounted Brigade.