page 282

A Brigade Diary.

A Diary showing the more important moves taken by the N.Z.M.R. Brigade throughout the Sinai and Palestine Campaigns.

1915

• Dec. 20 Left Gallipoli
• 27 Arrival at Zeitoun (Cairo)

1916

• Jan. 23 Marched out from Cairo for the Suez Canal
• 29 Arrived at Serapeum
• March 4 Took over portion of the Canal Defences at Ferry Post.
• Apr. 1 Back to Serapeum
• 7 Camped at Salhia
• 24 Crossed the Canal (Turkish raid on Katia)
• 25 Camped at Anzac Siding
• May 11 Marched to Bir et Maler
• June 20 Camped at Hill 70
• Aug. 4-5 Battle of Romani
• 6-12 Actions of Katia, Aogratina and Bir el Abd
• 13 Camped at Hod el Amara
• Sep. 16-17 Action at Mazar (M.G. Squadron only)
• 18 Camped at Bir et Maler.
• Oct. 27 Camped at Moseifig.
• Nov. 13 Camped at Mazar.
• 24 Camped at Mustagidda.
• Dec. 20 Night march on El Arish.
• 21 Occupation of El Arish.
• 22 Night march to Magdhaba.
• 23 Battle of Magdhaba.

1917

• Jan. 1 Camped at Kilo 139.
• 4 Camped on the beach at El Arish.
• 8 Night March on Rafa.
• 9 Battle of Rafa.
• Feb. 23 Reconnaissance of Khan Yunus.
• 23 Camped at Sheikh Zowaiid.
• March 10 Camped at Rafa on the beach.
• 25 Night march to Deir el Belah.
• 26 First Battle of Gaza.
• 27 Outposts at Deir el Belah.
• April 17-18-19 Second Battle of Gaza.
• 20-29 Outposts on Wadi Ghuzzeh.
• 29 Camped at Tel el Fara.
• May 23 Destruction of Asluj railway.
• 28 Camped at Abasan el Kebir.
• June 8 On the beach at Marakeb.
• 18 Camped at Abasan el Kebir.
• July 6 Camped at Tel el Fara.
• Aug. 18 Camped at the Beach Marakeb.
• Sept. 18 Returned to Abasan el Kebir.
• Oct. 24 Night march to Bir el Esani.
• 28 Moved to Khalasa.
• 29 Night march to Asluj.
• 30 Advance on Beersheba by all-night march.
• 31 Action of Tel el Saba and Capture of Beersheba.page 283
• Nov. 1-6 Actions of Ras el Nagb and Tel Khuweilfeh.
• 7-10 Advance through Philistia.
• 14 Action of Ayun Kara.
• 16 Occupation of Jaffa.
• 24 Action of River Auja.
• 25 Action of Khirbet Hadrah.
• Nov. 26–Dec. 10. Holding trenches North of Jaffa.
• Dec. 26 Marched to Ashdod.

1918.

• Jan. 12 Camped at Rishon le Zion.
• Feb. 17 Marched to Bethlehem.
• 19 Advance on Jericho.
• 20 Action of El Muntar.
• 21 Capture of Jericho.
• 26 Returned to Richon le Zion.
• Mar. 13-17 Marched to Bethlehem.
• 20 Camped at Talaat ed Dumm.
• 24 Crossed the Jordan.
• 24 Action near Shunet Nimrin and began to climb the Mountains of Moab.
• 25 Arrival on top of plateau at Ain es Sir.
• 27-30 Battle of Amman.
• March 31-April 1. Withdrawal from the mountains.
• April 2 Camped at Jericho.
• April 9 Action on East Bank of Jordan.
• May 1-6 Raid on Es Salt.
• 16 Camped at Talaat ed Dumm.
• 29 Camped near King Solomon's Pools.
• June 3 King's Birthday Parade at Bethlehem.
• 13 Camped at Talaat ed Dumm.
• 15 Camped under Mt. of Temptation.
• 16 At River Auja (Jordan Valley).
• July 14 Action of Abu Tellul.
• 19 Moved to Talaat ed Dumm.
• 27 Marched to King Solomon's Pools.
• Aug. 6 Camped at Talaat ed Dumm.
• 7 Camped at Ain es Duk.
• Sept. 5 Moved to River Auja.
• 20 Night march up River Jordan.
• 21 Actions at Jisr ed Damieh.
• 23 Capture of Es Salt.
• 24 Capture of Suweileh.
• 25 Capture of Amman.
• 27 Surrender of remainder of Turkish IV. Army at Ziza.
• Oct. 4 Return to Jordan Valley.
• 8 The Brigade leaves the Jordan Valley for the last time.
• 14 March from Jerusalem to Richon le Zion.
• Nov. 14 Memorial Service at Ayun Kara.
• 27 Canterbury Mounted Rifles sail for Gallipoli.
• Dec. 18 The Brigade marched to Yebna en route for Egypt.
• 19 Marched to Mejdel.
• 20 Marched to Gaza.
• 21 Marched to Deir el Belah.
• 22 Arrived at Rafa.

1919.

• March 17 The Brigade received orders to proceed to Egypt to help quell the disturbances.
• April-May-June. On duty patrolling the Delta.
• July 23 Final draft left Egypt for New Zealand.