Centenary of the First Battle of Gaza, 26 March 1917

[paulr]

Part 3

Our third evening brought this game to a conclusion.



On the right the 5^th Regiment Light Horse occupied El Meshahera and 6^th Regiment Light Horse occupied the trenches to the west. One section of Ayrshire Battery, Royal Horse Artillery shifted fire onto MG Company 125 to give some support to the hard pressed 5^th Regiment Light Horse while the remaining section continued to fire on the Ottoman artillery.

MG Company 125 and the survivors of III/125^th concentrated their fire on El Meshahera and caused significant casualties to 5^th Regiment Light Horse. The Ottoman artillery fired on the reserve squadron of 6^th Regiment Light Horse that was still in the open.



On the left the NZ Mounted Rifles Brigade, despite extremely heavy casualties, continued to try and follow their orders to attack Gazza. The Wellington Mounted Rifles regrouped on Es Sire Ridge, Canterbury Mounted Rifles managed to eject one company of the Ottoman I/79^th Regiment from the trenches after they had repulsed some Yeomanry. The Auckland Mounted Rifles pressed forward against two companies of I/125^th Regiment in the open on Clay Hill. The Leicester Battery, Royal Horse Artillery caught MG Company 267 as they withdrew towards Gaza causing major casualties.

One squadron of 1/1st Staffordshire Yeomanry managed to retake some of the trenches from I/79^th Regiment while another squadron was repulsed. The remainder of 22^nd Mounted Brigade closed up on the trench line heading for Gaza.



On the right the 2^nd Australian Light Horse Brigade consolidated its hold on El Meshahera and the trenches to the west against increasing Ottoman fire. On the left the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade and 22^nd Mounted Brigade cleared the trenches on Clay Hill and pressed on towards the outskirts of Gaza.



On the right the Ottoman MG Company 125 and the survivors of III/125^th continued to inflict casualties on 5^th Regiment Light Horse in El Meshahera. II/125^th opened fire on 6^th Regiment Light Horse supported by Ottoman artillery, while the recently occupied Ottoman trenches provided some cover casualties mounted particular on 2^nd squadron in the centre.

The MG Squadron of 2^nd Australian Light Horse Brigade moved up to occupy the trenches on the right of the brigade with the intention of firing on the Ottoman artillery. They were briefly caught in the open by one section of Ottoman artillery.



On the left 1/1^st Staffordshire Yeomanry, Canterbury Mounted Rifles and 1/1^st East Riding Yeomanry cleared the trenches on Clay Hill while 1/1^st Lincolnshire Yeomanry and the depleted Wellington Mounted Rifles moved up in support. The much depleted Auckland Mounted Rifles pressed on towards Gaza forcing the Turks back at bayonet point.

Major Tiller and the commander of 125^th Infantry Regiment conferred. While the situation in the north was debatable the situation in the east was desperate. Both battalions on this flank were in disarray and the MG Company had been destroyed. The NZ Brigade was still fighting despite horrific casualties and the Yeomanry Brigade was still full of fight. With only a squadron of cavalry and a Camel company in reserve the Ottomans conceded.

Historically, due to the threat from Ottoman forces advancing to relieve Gaza from the east Dobell, the commander of Eastern Force, after talking with Chetwode, the commander of Desert Column, decided that unless Gaza was captured by nightfall, the fighting must stop and the mounted force be withdrawn. By dusk, some of the strong Ottoman trenches and redoubts defending the south east of Gaza, had not been reported as captured. The British infantry casualties were substantial and there was concern about the state of the mounted units horses that hadn't been watered since the previous night.

Therefore, with the approval of Dobell, just after sunset Chetwode commanding Desert Column, ordered Chauvel to withdraw the mounted force and retire across the Wadi Ghuzzeh.

The Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division "saw victory snatched away from them by the order to withdraw." The Australian official history claims Chauvel protested strongly, while the British official history notes there is no written record of Chauvel's protest."

[pierre the shy]

This was a very close fought, but most enjoyable game which showed that the ITLSU rules work really well even at divisional level.

The attack plan actually worked quite well    , though NZMB took a lot of casualties in its initial attack on the Clay Hill trenches, but we were able to get the supporting units of 22nd Mounted Brigade into action to ensure the trenchline was eventually secured after an epic defence.

Thanks to Paul for putting together the troops and scenario and the Saturday night regulars for adopting ITLSU over the past couple of years.

On to second Gaza at some stage in the near future.....bring on those tanks!!  

Cheers
Peter

[Techno]

Great stuff !

Cheers - Phil

[paulr]

On to second Gaza at some stage in the near future.....bring on those tanks!!  

I have a scenario in mind
It won't be staged as soon after the first battle as in history but then we aren't under the same political pressure as General Archibald Murray was

[DFlynSqrl]

Great looking game and I enjoyed the report.   

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Great pt3!

[Martin1914]

Inspiring game and reports!