Battle of Rafa
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Rafa took place on 9 January 1917 at el Magruntein to the south of Rafa, close to the frontier between the Sultanate of Egypt
's Sinai Peninsula
and the Ottoman Empire, and in the area to the north and east of Sheikh Zowaiid. This was to be the third and final battle in the Sinai theatre of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign
during the First World War. A British Empire
attacking force defeated an Ottoman Empire
garrison entrenched in a series of strategically
strong redoubts
.
After the British Empire victories at the Battle of Romani
in August 1916 and the Battle of Magdhaba
in December, the Ottoman Army had been forced to retreat back across the Sinai Peninsula
to the southern edge of Palestine
. Here an Ottoman garrison had developed a strongly fortified series of redoubts and trenches on rising ground surrounded by flat grassland.
By January construction of the railway and water pipeline from the Suez Canal was continuing and an attack on Rafa by the newly formed Desert Column
became a possibility. The Anzac Mounted Division with battalions of the Camel Corps Brigade, a mounted brigade of Yeomanry and a light car patrol successfully assaulted El Magruntein, during a day-long attack in which the Ottoman position was encircled; it was finally successfully captured in the late afternoon.
on 4 August 1916, British mounted forces supported by infantry garrisons, had been on the offensive; their pace of advance governed only by the speed by which the railway and water pipeline could be constructed from the Suez Canal
. On 23 December 1916 the Anzac Mounted Division
less the 2nd Light Horse Brigade
but with the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade attached, during a day-long battle, won a victory at the Battle of Magdhaba
which secured the British infantry occupation of El Arish.
The 52nd Infantry Division arrived to garrison El Arish while railhead was still 30 miles (48.3 km) away, and began to fortify this important British base on the Mediterranean Sea
. El Arish was 90 miles (144.8 km) by road from their nearest base at Kantara on the Suez Canal, but during the fortnight beginning 23 December, the establishment of this British forward base quickly grew, when 1,500 tons of supplies arrived at the port of El Arish, by ship.
On 28 December the 1st Light Horse Brigade reconnoitred Bir el Burj 12 miles (19.3 km) along a road, which was found suitable for cars and guns, from El Arish to Rafa. A further reconnaissance by the same brigade two days later to Sheikh Zowaiid 20 miles (32.2 km) from El Arish reported rolling stretches of pasture crops, poppies. An advance guard moved 10 miles (16.1 km) forward to within sight of El Magruntein and reported enemy activity.
General Sir Archibald Murray
, the commander of British forces in Egypt, was keen to complete the advance across the north of the Sinai, believing this would compel the Ottoman forces to abandon their desert bases and outposts in the inland of the Sinai Peninsula
. He ordered the advance from El Arish to Rafa, a distance of 27 miles (43.5 km), to begin as soon as possible.
On 4 January 1917 the first construction train arrived at El Arish, but it was some time before the railway with all its important supply capacity for the development of infrastructure and garrisons, was fully developed. Until that time, supplies of all kinds could be unloaded from supply ships by the Egyptian Labour Corps
and distributed by the Egyptian Camel Transport Corps
. This industry at El Arish was protected by ground based artillery supported by the Royal Navy
.
The weather cleared up on 5 January and a patrol of the No. 1 Squadron
, Australian Flying Corps, observed 2,000 or 3,000 Ottoman soldiers digging defences south of Rafa. British air patrols on 7 January found Ottoman garrisons in strength at El Kossaima and Hafir el Auja in the middle of the northern Sinai which could threaten the right flank
of the advancing Allies and/or quickly reinforce Rafa.
While the British air patrols were away on 7 January, German airmen took advantage of the growing British concentration and bombed El Arish during the morning and evening. The next day No. 1 Squadron's patrols were in the air all day covering the assembly for the attack on Rafa.
(Desert Column) and Major General Harry Chauvel (Anzac Mounted Division), the same units which attacked Magdhaba were joined by the 5th Mounted Brigade and No. 7 Light Car Patrol of 4 gun cars and 3 stores cars. This force rode out of El Arish at 16:00 towards Rafa where a 2,000-strong Ottoman garrison was based.
Risking an aircraft attack, the force began the 30 miles (48.3 km) journey before sun set on 8 January in order to have enough time for the force to arrive at el Magruntein. The first few miles they trekked over very heavy sand-dunes, which were difficult for the doubled teams of horses pulling the guns and ammunition wagons. Once the great shallow trough worn down by traffic since ancient times along the Old Road or Pilgrims' Way appeared the guns and ammunition wagons travelled on the firm middle way while the mounted units rode on either side. The vanguard of the column reached Sheikh Zowaiid at about 10:00 where a halt was made. Here the first grass the horses had seen since leaving Australia was found on the edge of the fertile grasslands of the maritime plain 16 miles (25.7 km) north of El Arish.
At 22:00 Chetwode's force bivouacked near the cross roads to the west of the village of Rafa.
The plan for the attack at Rafa next morning, 9 January was a repetition of the Magdhaba engagement; the regiments and motor cars would surround the Ottoman garrison position, gallop up under fire, and then engaged dismounted, the strongly defended, treble system of trenches and field-works around an earthwork redoubt on a knoll.
No. 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps, which had been based at Mustabig during the El Arish, Magdhaba operations, moved forward to 5 miles (8 km) west of El Arish.
While the 1st Light Horse and the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigades rode to a position from which to attack from the south, east and north, the 5th Mounted Yeomanry
Brigade (less two troops of the Worcester Yeomanry
Regiment protecting the ammunition at Sheikh Zowaiid and a squadron from the same regiment which followed the old El Arish to Rafa road.) with the six Ford motor cars of the 7th Light Car Patrol in support, continued along the old caravan road straight to Rafa.While fighting on foot, one quarter of the light horse, riflemen and yeomanry were holding the horses, a brigade was equivalent in rifle strength to an infantry battalion. [Preston 1921 p.168]
At 06:15 the Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment
was first to reach the boundary pillars on the Egyptian and Ottoman frontier, and move from the African continent into Asia. The Anzac Mounted Division headquarters was established near Karm Ibn Musleh on the frontier to the south south east of Rafa and El Magruntein. On the way there the Camel Brigade was deployed 0.75 miles (1.2 km) to the west with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade 1 miles (1.6 km) to the north. Desert Column's headquarters were established 4.5 miles (7.2 km) west of Karm Ibn Musleh, with the 5th Mounted Brigade in column reserve while a patrol of the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment went to cut the telegraph line running east from Rafa towards Shellal while Chauvel reconnoitred the El Magruntein defences. By 07:00 the telegraph lines to Gaza had been cut, isolating the Ottoman garrison and the British Empire horse artillery
batteries began firing on the redoubts at El Magruntein.
Just after 08:00 the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade circled northwards moving into position in preparation to attack groups of redoubts and trenches identified as C4 and C5, while the 1st Light Horse Brigade was ordered to attack C3, C2 and C1 Groups. When these objectives were won both brigades were to attack the central redoubt. Three battalions of the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade were ordered to attack D Group fortifications while the 3rd Light Horse Brigade was to form the divisional reserve. By 09:45 the attacking troops had approached to within 2000 yards (1,828.8 m) of the entrenchments.
The divisional artillery had selected their targets and the Leicester, Inverness and Somerset Batteries RHA
were to cross fire with "B" Battery HAC
to produce a concentrated artillery attack for half an hour from 09:30 to 10:00.
At 10:00 the attack from the north was led by the Auckland Mounted Rifle Regiment supported by two machine guns while the Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment
on their right rode towards Rafa where they quickly captured the village along with six German and two Ottoman officers, 16 other ranks and 21 Bedouins. Two troops were sent to watch for the approach of enemy reinforcements; one north towards Khan Yunis
and one eastwards in the direction of Shellal
.
The 1st Light Horse Brigade advanced from the direction of El Gubba westwards on El Magruntein, during their attack on the "C" group of redoubts, the brigade was heavily machine gunned and German and Ottoman guns fired shrapnel. To the south the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade was moving towards B4 redoubt and at 10:30 the 5th Mounted Brigade was ordered to demonstrate against the works further west. On arriving on a plateau 2500 yards (2,286 m) from El Magruntein the Warwickshire Yeomanry
Regiment (5th Mounted Brigade) was ordered to attack the B1 and B2 redoubts while the Gloucestershire Yeomanry Regiment
(5th Mounted Brigade) attacked the right of A1, the most westerly entrenchment. They dismounted 2000 yards (1,828.8 m) from their objectives, but these attacks also suffered, from heavy machine gun fire and two Ottoman or German guns firing shrapnel.
With the Ottoman garrison defending El Magruntein cut off from the north and east, orders were issued for all reserves, to be committed and the attack pressed.
At 11:00 the position of the attacking force was the Canterbury and Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiments, two squadrons of 1st Light Horse Regiment, one squadron of 2nd light Horse Regiment, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, 10th Light Horse Regiment (3rd Light Horse Brigade), 1st Battalion, Imperial Camel Corps Brigade, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire Yeomanry with the Inverness Battery covering the New Zealanders, the Leicester and Somerset Batteries the Australians, the Hong Kong Battery covering the Battalion of Camel Corps Brigade while the HAC battery shelled "C" group of redoubts from a distance of 0.75 miles (1.2 km). By this time the commander of New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade had moved his headquarters up to the boundary post 1 miles (1.6 km)south-east of Rafa, immediately behind the Auckland Regiment and half an hour later the attack was progressing well all along the line.
By 12:15 the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment
, had come up between the Canterburys on the right and the Aucklanders on the left, in the front line and were within 600 yards (548.6 m) of El Magruntein. Shortly afterwards, the Canterbury Regiment found touch with the left of the 5th Mounted Yeomanry Brigade, whose attack was extended to the left by the 7th Light Car Patrol, and the cordon around the enemy entrenchments was complete. Meanwhile, the batteries had pushed forward about 1500 yards (1,371.6 m) from their previous positions, with "B" Battery HAC switching fire from the "C" group of redoubts and coming into action at a range of 1600 yards (1,463 m) to fire on A1 and A2 redoubts, in support of the 5th Mounted Brigade.
However, the Ottoman defenders were in a very strong defensive position, with their redoubts ideally placed to provide supporting fire for other redoubts, and in most places the dismounted attackers were utterly exposed to view from the redoubts. In order to provide some cover for these attackers, a constant stream of fire was maintained on the Ottoman parapets, to keep the defenders suppressed and unable to take aim. The attack continued but from about 12:15 to about 14:15 they pressed more and more slowly, as little by little the cordon slowly drew closer under intense fire over the bare, gently-sloping grasslands.
By early to mid-afternoon supplies of ammunition began to run low, and although Chauvel called on further effort, the mistake of leaving the ammunition vehicles behind was paid, as the attack appeared to falter. The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade ran out of ammunition for four of its machine guns and the Inverness Battery ran out of shells and had to withdraw.Major Wilkie, Quartermaster of the Wellington Mounted Rifle Regiment, remained at Sheikh Zowaiid with the supply convoys. But during the early hours of the battle, he was so concerned at the small amounts of SAA (Small Arms Ammunition .303 used by both rifles and machine guns) his regiment had gone into battle with, that he went forward to Rafa. There he heard that his regiment was calling for ammunition and seized a cable wagon, emptied out the signalling gear and wire, filled it with boxes of SAA and galloped across to the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade in time for the general assault on the redoubt, materially assisting in the final success.[Powles 1922, pp. 77–8]
At 14:45 an Ottoman machine-gun officer and three Germans, who had been captured by a troop of Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, stated that their 160th Regiment had left Shellal on the Wadi Ghuzzeh when the attack began, with the intention of reinforcing the Rafa garrison. Shellal was about 10 – or three and a half hours away. The patrol of a section of Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment in the direction of Shellal, confirmed that about two battalions were advancing in artillery formation, over the ridges west of Shellal. At 16:15 the flank guard of one troop of the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment watching in the direction of Khan Yunus reported about 500 enemy soldiers were marching in the direction of Rafa.
At 14:30 Chauvel ordered a fresh effort against the system of redoubts
and the "C" group, to be launched at 15:30, while the artillery was to continue a sustained barrage until that time.
A general assault supported by all available guns made slow progress and German planes became very active in their bombing while the Ottoman defenders in the trenches continued their stubborn fight. By this time two troops of the Wellington Regiment were engaged with the advanced guard of Ottoman reinforcements coming from Khan Yunus in the north and Shellal in the east.
Four guns of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, on the right flank were placed in a trench, but were afterwards moved forward to the sunken road. From there they were able to maintain overhead covering fire, until the assaulting troops were within a few yards of the trenches, providing good covering fire at effective ranges. These guns were also well positioned to provide cover for a retirement of the New Zealand brigade to the coast, if pressure from the Ottoman reinforcements from Khan Yunus and Shellal proved too strong.
After a day of steady methodical and persistent work the attack was carried through, and by 16:00 the hail of bullets from rifles and machine guns, fired on the central redoubt during the general assault, made it smoke like a furnace. Faced with this fire, the Ottoman defenders had extreme difficulty in taking aim and firing their rifles and machine guns, and so it became possible for the attacking forces to cover the last 600–800 yd (548.6–731.5 m) of smooth grassy slope in two rushes, everyone determined to finish the job. At about 16:30 the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade launched its final assault on the central redoubt from the north north west, the north and the north north east. Without artillery support these troops were seen sweeping up the slope with the bayonet, and shortly afterwards the central position was captured. The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade won the central redoubt in a final bayonet charge, at the run, with many men firing as they ran. Having captured the dominating central position, they were able to enfilade redoubts still held by Ottoman defenders, and the remaining positions quickly fell to the other brigades.
The New Zealanders successful attack depended on the determined use of machine-guns in the firing line, crossing their fire to get better targets, and co–operating with one another and with the machine guns of the 1st Light Horse Brigade to advance to within 400 yards (365.8 m) of the Ottoman's main position.
The 1st Light Horse Brigade followed up the success of the New Zealanders by advancing and capturing the remaining enemy positions on its front, as did the 3rd Light Horse Brigade on its front. The 3rd Battalion of the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade was also successful in assaulting the "B" group. As they approached the trench a white flag appeared while B2 and the central work of "B" group was captured by 16:50 together with five officers and 214 other ranks. The Warwickshire Yeomanry captured B 1 redoubt and another 101 prisoners.
This successful attack was supported by aircraft recently fitted with wireless, (they had had to drop messages during the Magdhaba attack) which hovered over the fight during the afternoon, reporting its progress constantly to headquarters. At intervals they dropped bombs on the system of redoubts and trenches.
After establishing a strong rearguard position manned by two light horse regiments commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Maygar
, the bulk of Desert Column moved back towards Sheikh Zowaiid. The arrived about midnight where rations and water were waiting for them.
Chetwode reported to the commander of Eastern Force C. Dobell
, that the work of all troops engaged had been excellent, and the part played by the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade had been outstanding.
The mainly Ottoman prisoners including some German machine gunners, totalled between 1,472 and 1,635 with 162 of them wounded.
Desert Column suffered three times the losses suffered at Magdhaba. The 467 casualties included 124 New Zealanders; 71 killed, 415 wounded and one missing.
With the protection of two light horse regiments the battlefield was cleared by light horse field ambulance
s, ambulance carts and stretcher bearers all busy collecting and tending to the wounded. This work was carried on far into the night, even though the ambulances had worked without ceasing throughout the long day. All available empty wagons were sent up from Sheikh Zowaiid to help.
Among those working to clear the wounded from the battlefield the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance was covered by the 8th Light Horse Regiment (3rd Light Horse Brigade) which remained on the battlefield all night. In the morning this regiment drove off Ottoman cavalry and camel units and captured 14 prisoners. The whole of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade returned to the battlefield on 10 January with the 7th Light Car Patrol with wagons to collect captured material.
, and there the First Battle of Gaza
was fought in March 1917.
That night, ten days after the victory at El Magruntein and Rafa, with the benefit of a full moon, German and Ottoman aircraft carried out a night bombing on El Arish. It was the biggest aerial bombing raid yet inflicted on the Allied force, on what was fast becoming an important British Empire forward base. As well as dropping bombs these aircraft, probably the powerful new Taube Albatros D.III, swooped down firing machine gun bullets into the camp. Casualties, particularly in the horse lines which were an obvious target from the air, were considerable.
Sultanate of Egypt
The Sultanate of Egypt is the name of the short-lived protectorate that the United Kingdom imposed over Egypt between 1914 and 1922.-History:...
's Sinai Peninsula
Sinai Peninsula
The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai is a triangular peninsula in Egypt about in area. It is situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Red Sea to the south, and is the only part of Egyptian territory located in Asia as opposed to Africa, effectively serving as a land bridge between two...
and the Ottoman Empire, and in the area to the north and east of Sheikh Zowaiid. This was to be the third and final battle in the Sinai theatre of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign
Sinai and Palestine Campaign
The Sinai and Palestine Campaigns took place in the Middle Eastern Theatre of World War I. A series of battles were fought between British Empire, German Empire and Ottoman Empire forces from 26 January 1915 to 31 October 1918, when the Armistice of Mudros was signed between the Ottoman Empire and...
during the First World War. A British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
attacking force defeated an Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
garrison entrenched in a series of strategically
Strategy
Strategy, a word of military origin, refers to a plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal. In military usage strategy is distinct from tactics, which are concerned with the conduct of an engagement, while strategy is concerned with how different engagements are linked...
strong redoubts
Redoubt
A redoubt is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort, usually relying on earthworks, though others are constructed of stone or brick. It is meant to protect soldiers outside the main defensive line and can be a permanent structure or a...
.
After the British Empire victories at the Battle of Romani
Battle of Romani
The Battle of Romani was fought east of the Suez Canal, near the Egyptian town of Romani and the site of ancient Pelusium on the Sinai Peninsula during the First World War...
in August 1916 and the Battle of Magdhaba
Battle of Magdhaba
The Battle of Magdhaba took place on 23 December 1916 south and east of Bir Lahfan in the Sinai desert, some inland from the Mediterranean coast and the town of El Arish...
in December, the Ottoman Army had been forced to retreat back across the Sinai Peninsula
Sinai Peninsula
The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai is a triangular peninsula in Egypt about in area. It is situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Red Sea to the south, and is the only part of Egyptian territory located in Asia as opposed to Africa, effectively serving as a land bridge between two...
to the southern edge of Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
. Here an Ottoman garrison had developed a strongly fortified series of redoubts and trenches on rising ground surrounded by flat grassland.
By January construction of the railway and water pipeline from the Suez Canal was continuing and an attack on Rafa by the newly formed Desert Column
Desert Mounted Corps
The Desert Mounted Corps was a World War I Allied army corps that operated in the Middle East during 1917 and 1918.Originally formed on 15 March 1916 as the Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division under the command of Major General Harry Chauvel The Desert Mounted Corps was a World War I...
became a possibility. The Anzac Mounted Division with battalions of the Camel Corps Brigade, a mounted brigade of Yeomanry and a light car patrol successfully assaulted El Magruntein, during a day-long attack in which the Ottoman position was encircled; it was finally successfully captured in the late afternoon.
Background
Following the British Empire victory at the Battle of RomaniBattle of Romani
The Battle of Romani was fought east of the Suez Canal, near the Egyptian town of Romani and the site of ancient Pelusium on the Sinai Peninsula during the First World War...
on 4 August 1916, British mounted forces supported by infantry garrisons, had been on the offensive; their pace of advance governed only by the speed by which the railway and water pipeline could be constructed from the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
. On 23 December 1916 the Anzac Mounted Division
Anzac Mounted Division
The ANZAC Mounted Division was a mounted infantry and mounted rifles division formed in March 1916 in Egypt during World War I following the Battle of Gallipoli when the Australian and New Zealand regiments returned from fighting dismounted as infantry...
less the 2nd Light Horse Brigade
2nd Light Horse Brigade
The 2nd Light Horse Brigade was a mounted infantry brigade of the First Australian Imperial Force which served in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I. The brigade first saw action during the Dardanelles Campaign in the Battle of Gallipoli. After being withdrawn to Egypt in February 1916 they...
but with the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade attached, during a day-long battle, won a victory at the Battle of Magdhaba
Battle of Magdhaba
The Battle of Magdhaba took place on 23 December 1916 south and east of Bir Lahfan in the Sinai desert, some inland from the Mediterranean coast and the town of El Arish...
which secured the British infantry occupation of El Arish.
The 52nd Infantry Division arrived to garrison El Arish while railhead was still 30 miles (48.3 km) away, and began to fortify this important British base on the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
. El Arish was 90 miles (144.8 km) by road from their nearest base at Kantara on the Suez Canal, but during the fortnight beginning 23 December, the establishment of this British forward base quickly grew, when 1,500 tons of supplies arrived at the port of El Arish, by ship.
On 28 December the 1st Light Horse Brigade reconnoitred Bir el Burj 12 miles (19.3 km) along a road, which was found suitable for cars and guns, from El Arish to Rafa. A further reconnaissance by the same brigade two days later to Sheikh Zowaiid 20 miles (32.2 km) from El Arish reported rolling stretches of pasture crops, poppies. An advance guard moved 10 miles (16.1 km) forward to within sight of El Magruntein and reported enemy activity.
General Sir Archibald Murray
Archibald Murray
General Sir Archibald James Murray, GCMG, KCB, CVO, DSO was a British Army officer during World War I, most famous for his commanding the Egyptian Expeditionary Force from 1916 to 1917.-Army career:...
, the commander of British forces in Egypt, was keen to complete the advance across the north of the Sinai, believing this would compel the Ottoman forces to abandon their desert bases and outposts in the inland of the Sinai Peninsula
Sinai Peninsula
The Sinai Peninsula or Sinai is a triangular peninsula in Egypt about in area. It is situated between the Mediterranean Sea to the north, and the Red Sea to the south, and is the only part of Egyptian territory located in Asia as opposed to Africa, effectively serving as a land bridge between two...
. He ordered the advance from El Arish to Rafa, a distance of 27 miles (43.5 km), to begin as soon as possible.
On 4 January 1917 the first construction train arrived at El Arish, but it was some time before the railway with all its important supply capacity for the development of infrastructure and garrisons, was fully developed. Until that time, supplies of all kinds could be unloaded from supply ships by the Egyptian Labour Corps
Egyptian Labour Corps
The Egyptian Labour Corps was a group of Egyptian labourers who worked for the British Army in Egypt during the First World War's Sinai and Palestine Campaign.-Historical context:...
and distributed by the Egyptian Camel Transport Corps
Egyptian Camel Transport Corps
The Egyptian Camel Transport Corps were a group of Egyptian camel drivers who supported the British Army in Egypt during the First World War's Sinai and Palestine Campaign...
. This industry at El Arish was protected by ground based artillery supported by the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
The weather cleared up on 5 January and a patrol of the No. 1 Squadron
No. 1 Squadron RAAF
No. 1 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force squadron based at RAAF Amberley. The squadron is currently being re-equipped with F/A-18F Super Hornet multi-role fighters.-World War I:...
, Australian Flying Corps, observed 2,000 or 3,000 Ottoman soldiers digging defences south of Rafa. British air patrols on 7 January found Ottoman garrisons in strength at El Kossaima and Hafir el Auja in the middle of the northern Sinai which could threaten the right flank
Flanking maneuver
In military tactics, a flanking maneuver, also called a flank attack, is an attack on the sides of an opposing force. If a flanking maneuver succeeds, the opposing force would be surrounded from two or more directions, which significantly reduces the maneuverability of the outflanked force and its...
of the advancing Allies and/or quickly reinforce Rafa.
While the British air patrols were away on 7 January, German airmen took advantage of the growing British concentration and bombed El Arish during the morning and evening. The next day No. 1 Squadron's patrols were in the air all day covering the assembly for the attack on Rafa.
Prelude
In the afternoon, under the command of Lieutenant General Philip ChetwodePhilip Chetwode, 1st Baron Chetwode
Field Marshal Philip Walhouse Chetwode, 1st Baron Chetwode, 7th Baronet of Oakley, GCB, OM, GCSI, KCMG, DSO was a British cavalry officer who became Commander in Chief in India.-Early life and education:...
(Desert Column) and Major General Harry Chauvel (Anzac Mounted Division), the same units which attacked Magdhaba were joined by the 5th Mounted Brigade and No. 7 Light Car Patrol of 4 gun cars and 3 stores cars. This force rode out of El Arish at 16:00 towards Rafa where a 2,000-strong Ottoman garrison was based.
At 22:00 Chetwode's force bivouacked near the cross roads to the west of the village of Rafa.
The plan for the attack at Rafa next morning, 9 January was a repetition of the Magdhaba engagement; the regiments and motor cars would surround the Ottoman garrison position, gallop up under fire, and then engaged dismounted, the strongly defended, treble system of trenches and field-works around an earthwork redoubt on a knoll.
Attack Force
The mounted units of Desert Column commanded by Chetwode which moved out to the attack were:- Anzac Mounted DivisionAnzac Mounted DivisionThe ANZAC Mounted Division was a mounted infantry and mounted rifles division formed in March 1916 in Egypt during World War I following the Battle of Gallipoli when the Australian and New Zealand regiments returned from fighting dismounted as infantry...
's Australian 1st1st Light Horse BrigadeThe 1st Light Horse Brigade was a mounted infantry brigade of the First Australian Imperial Force which served in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I. The brigade first saw action during the Dardanelles Campaign in the Battle of Gallipoli. After being withdrawn to Egypt in February 1916 they...
and 3rd Light Horse Brigades3rd Light Horse BrigadeThe 3rd Light Horse Brigade was a mounted infantry brigade of the First Australian Imperial Force which served in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I....
, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles BrigadeNew Zealand Mounted Rifles BrigadeThe New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, consisting usually of four units of mounted infantry, fought in World War I and World War II. Initially a milita, under the instruction of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Henry Banks they formed the core of the New Zealand Army following successful service in the...
and the Inverness, Leicesters and Somersets Territorial Royal Horse ArtilleryRoyal Horse ArtilleryThe regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
batteries - 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions Imperial Camel Corps Brigade with the Hong Kong and Singapore Mountain Battery
- British 5th Mounted (Yeomanry) Brigade with a battery of the Honourable Artillery Company (18–pounders)
- No. 7 Light Car Patrol – six FordFord Motor CompanyFord Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
Light Armoured Motorcars (LAM) equipped with machine-guns.
No. 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps, which had been based at Mustabig during the El Arish, Magdhaba operations, moved forward to 5 miles (8 km) west of El Arish.
Ottoman defenders
Rafa was defended by the 31st Infantry Regiment (3rd Division) supported by one mountain gun battery. A force of 2,000 to 3,000 Ottoman troops were seen digging a defensive position south of Rafa. This force supported by a field artillery became strongly entrenched in four main formidable positions on the highest ground about Hill 255, or El Magruntein. The central redoubt about 200 feet (61 m) above and dominating the surrounding grassland was supported by three systems of redoubts identified as A, B and C systems with trenches on the slopes spreading out towards the south east, south and south west. These strong, well prepared and well sited redoubts and trench systems provided all-round defence with a clear view of a battlefield devoid of cover for some 2000 yards (1,828.8 m). The only slight weakness was to the rear of the position in the north east.Battle
At 01:00 Chetwode's force began moving to attack Rafa on 9 January 1916 under protest from all the brigadiers because Chetwode had ordered that all wheeled vehicles, excepting the guns remain at Sheikh Zowaiid. As a result they left without any reserve ammunition for the guns, rifles and machine guns.It was the intention of Desert Column Headquarters that the reserve ammunition supply would be sent on after daylight. For some reason this did not occur and there was a failure of the ammunition supply during critical hours of the battle and in many cases supplies rushed forward failed to reach the units in the firing line.[Powles 1922, pp. 77–8]While the 1st Light Horse and the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigades rode to a position from which to attack from the south, east and north, the 5th Mounted Yeomanry
Yeomanry
Yeomanry is a designation used by a number of units or sub-units of the British Territorial Army, descended from volunteer cavalry regiments. Today, Yeomanry units may serve in a variety of different military roles.-History:...
Brigade (less two troops of the Worcester Yeomanry
Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars
-History:The Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars were formed in 1794, as the Worcestershire Yeomanry, when King George III, was on the throne, William Pitt the Younger was the Prime Minister of Great Britain, and across the English Channel, Britain was faced by a French nation that had recently...
Regiment protecting the ammunition at Sheikh Zowaiid and a squadron from the same regiment which followed the old El Arish to Rafa road.) with the six Ford motor cars of the 7th Light Car Patrol in support, continued along the old caravan road straight to Rafa.While fighting on foot, one quarter of the light horse, riflemen and yeomanry were holding the horses, a brigade was equivalent in rifle strength to an infantry battalion. [Preston 1921 p.168]
At 06:15 the Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment
Auckland Mounted Rifle Regiment
The Auckland Mounted Rifle Regiment was a New Zealand Mounted Regiment formed for service during World War I. It was formed from units of the Territorial Foirce consisting of the 3rd Mounted Rifles the 4th Mounted Rifles and the 11th Mounted Rifles.They served in the Middle Eastern theatre of...
was first to reach the boundary pillars on the Egyptian and Ottoman frontier, and move from the African continent into Asia. The Anzac Mounted Division headquarters was established near Karm Ibn Musleh on the frontier to the south south east of Rafa and El Magruntein. On the way there the Camel Brigade was deployed 0.75 miles (1.2 km) to the west with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade 1 miles (1.6 km) to the north. Desert Column's headquarters were established 4.5 miles (7.2 km) west of Karm Ibn Musleh, with the 5th Mounted Brigade in column reserve while a patrol of the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment went to cut the telegraph line running east from Rafa towards Shellal while Chauvel reconnoitred the El Magruntein defences. By 07:00 the telegraph lines to Gaza had been cut, isolating the Ottoman garrison and the British Empire horse artillery
Horse artillery
Horse artillery was a type of light, fast-moving and fast-firing artillery which provided highly mobile fire support to European and American armies from the 17th to the early 20th century...
batteries began firing on the redoubts at El Magruntein.
Just after 08:00 the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade circled northwards moving into position in preparation to attack groups of redoubts and trenches identified as C4 and C5, while the 1st Light Horse Brigade was ordered to attack C3, C2 and C1 Groups. When these objectives were won both brigades were to attack the central redoubt. Three battalions of the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade were ordered to attack D Group fortifications while the 3rd Light Horse Brigade was to form the divisional reserve. By 09:45 the attacking troops had approached to within 2000 yards (1,828.8 m) of the entrenchments.
The divisional artillery had selected their targets and the Leicester, Inverness and Somerset Batteries RHA
Royal Horse Artillery
The regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
were to cross fire with "B" Battery HAC
Honourable Artillery Company
The Honourable Artillery Company was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII. Today it is a Registered Charity whose purpose is to attend to the “better defence of the realm"...
to produce a concentrated artillery attack for half an hour from 09:30 to 10:00.
At 10:00 the attack from the north was led by the Auckland Mounted Rifle Regiment supported by two machine guns while the Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment
Canterbury Mounted Rifle Regiment
The Canterbury Mounted Rifle Regiment was a New Zealand Mounted Regiment formed for service during World War I.It was formed from Units of the Territorial Force consisting of one squadron each from the 1st Mounted Rifles , the 8th Mounted Rifles and the 10th Mounted Rifles.They served in the...
on their right rode towards Rafa where they quickly captured the village along with six German and two Ottoman officers, 16 other ranks and 21 Bedouins. Two troops were sent to watch for the approach of enemy reinforcements; one north towards Khan Yunis
Khan Yunis
Khan Yunis - often spelt Khan Younis or Khan Yunnis - is a city and adjacent refugee camp in the southern part of the Gaza Strip. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics the city, its refugee camp, and its immediate surroundings had a total population of 180,000 in 2006...
and one eastwards in the direction of Shellal
Shellal
Shellal is a small ancient village on the banks of the Nile, south of Aswan in Egypt. It was the traditional north frontier of the Nubian region with both the Egyptian Empire and the Roman Empire. During the period of ancient Egypt it was a very important quarry area for granite production...
.
The 1st Light Horse Brigade advanced from the direction of El Gubba westwards on El Magruntein, during their attack on the "C" group of redoubts, the brigade was heavily machine gunned and German and Ottoman guns fired shrapnel. To the south the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade was moving towards B4 redoubt and at 10:30 the 5th Mounted Brigade was ordered to demonstrate against the works further west. On arriving on a plateau 2500 yards (2,286 m) from El Magruntein the Warwickshire Yeomanry
Warwickshire Yeomanry
The Warwickshire Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment of the British Army, first raised in 1794, which served as a cavalry and dismounted infantry regiment in the First World War and as a cavalry and an armoured regiment in the Second World War, before being amalgamated into The Queen's Own...
Regiment (5th Mounted Brigade) was ordered to attack the B1 and B2 redoubts while the Gloucestershire Yeomanry Regiment
Royal Gloucestershire Hussars
The Royal Gloucestershire Hussars was a unit of the British Army.Raised in 1795 following William Pitt's 1794 order to raise volunteer bodies of men to defend Great Britain, through various re-organisations, the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars remain today on the establishment of the Territorial...
(5th Mounted Brigade) attacked the right of A1, the most westerly entrenchment. They dismounted 2000 yards (1,828.8 m) from their objectives, but these attacks also suffered, from heavy machine gun fire and two Ottoman or German guns firing shrapnel.
With the Ottoman garrison defending El Magruntein cut off from the north and east, orders were issued for all reserves, to be committed and the attack pressed.
At 11:00 the position of the attacking force was the Canterbury and Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiments, two squadrons of 1st Light Horse Regiment, one squadron of 2nd light Horse Regiment, 3rd Light Horse Regiment, 10th Light Horse Regiment (3rd Light Horse Brigade), 1st Battalion, Imperial Camel Corps Brigade, Warwickshire and Gloucestershire Yeomanry with the Inverness Battery covering the New Zealanders, the Leicester and Somerset Batteries the Australians, the Hong Kong Battery covering the Battalion of Camel Corps Brigade while the HAC battery shelled "C" group of redoubts from a distance of 0.75 miles (1.2 km). By this time the commander of New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade had moved his headquarters up to the boundary post 1 miles (1.6 km)south-east of Rafa, immediately behind the Auckland Regiment and half an hour later the attack was progressing well all along the line.
By 12:15 the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment
Wellington Mounted Rifle Regiment
The Wellington Mounted Regiment was a New Zealand Mounted Regiment formed for service during the Great War. It was formed from units of the Territorial Force consisting of the Queen Alexandra's 2nd Mounted Rifles the 6th Mounted Rifles and 9th Mounted Rifles.They served in the Middle Eastern...
, had come up between the Canterburys on the right and the Aucklanders on the left, in the front line and were within 600 yards (548.6 m) of El Magruntein. Shortly afterwards, the Canterbury Regiment found touch with the left of the 5th Mounted Yeomanry Brigade, whose attack was extended to the left by the 7th Light Car Patrol, and the cordon around the enemy entrenchments was complete. Meanwhile, the batteries had pushed forward about 1500 yards (1,371.6 m) from their previous positions, with "B" Battery HAC switching fire from the "C" group of redoubts and coming into action at a range of 1600 yards (1,463 m) to fire on A1 and A2 redoubts, in support of the 5th Mounted Brigade.
However, the Ottoman defenders were in a very strong defensive position, with their redoubts ideally placed to provide supporting fire for other redoubts, and in most places the dismounted attackers were utterly exposed to view from the redoubts. In order to provide some cover for these attackers, a constant stream of fire was maintained on the Ottoman parapets, to keep the defenders suppressed and unable to take aim. The attack continued but from about 12:15 to about 14:15 they pressed more and more slowly, as little by little the cordon slowly drew closer under intense fire over the bare, gently-sloping grasslands.
By early to mid-afternoon supplies of ammunition began to run low, and although Chauvel called on further effort, the mistake of leaving the ammunition vehicles behind was paid, as the attack appeared to falter. The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade ran out of ammunition for four of its machine guns and the Inverness Battery ran out of shells and had to withdraw.Major Wilkie, Quartermaster of the Wellington Mounted Rifle Regiment, remained at Sheikh Zowaiid with the supply convoys. But during the early hours of the battle, he was so concerned at the small amounts of SAA (Small Arms Ammunition .303 used by both rifles and machine guns) his regiment had gone into battle with, that he went forward to Rafa. There he heard that his regiment was calling for ammunition and seized a cable wagon, emptied out the signalling gear and wire, filled it with boxes of SAA and galloped across to the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade in time for the general assault on the redoubt, materially assisting in the final success.[Powles 1922, pp. 77–8]
At 14:45 an Ottoman machine-gun officer and three Germans, who had been captured by a troop of Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, stated that their 160th Regiment had left Shellal on the Wadi Ghuzzeh when the attack began, with the intention of reinforcing the Rafa garrison. Shellal was about 10 – or three and a half hours away. The patrol of a section of Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment in the direction of Shellal, confirmed that about two battalions were advancing in artillery formation, over the ridges west of Shellal. At 16:15 the flank guard of one troop of the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment watching in the direction of Khan Yunus reported about 500 enemy soldiers were marching in the direction of Rafa.
At 14:30 Chauvel ordered a fresh effort against the system of redoubts
Reduit
A reduit is a fortified structure such as a citadel or a keep into which the defending troops can retreat when the outer defences are breached...
and the "C" group, to be launched at 15:30, while the artillery was to continue a sustained barrage until that time.
A general assault supported by all available guns made slow progress and German planes became very active in their bombing while the Ottoman defenders in the trenches continued their stubborn fight. By this time two troops of the Wellington Regiment were engaged with the advanced guard of Ottoman reinforcements coming from Khan Yunus in the north and Shellal in the east.
Four guns of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment, on the right flank were placed in a trench, but were afterwards moved forward to the sunken road. From there they were able to maintain overhead covering fire, until the assaulting troops were within a few yards of the trenches, providing good covering fire at effective ranges. These guns were also well positioned to provide cover for a retirement of the New Zealand brigade to the coast, if pressure from the Ottoman reinforcements from Khan Yunus and Shellal proved too strong.
After a day of steady methodical and persistent work the attack was carried through, and by 16:00 the hail of bullets from rifles and machine guns, fired on the central redoubt during the general assault, made it smoke like a furnace. Faced with this fire, the Ottoman defenders had extreme difficulty in taking aim and firing their rifles and machine guns, and so it became possible for the attacking forces to cover the last 600–800 yd (548.6–731.5 m) of smooth grassy slope in two rushes, everyone determined to finish the job. At about 16:30 the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade launched its final assault on the central redoubt from the north north west, the north and the north north east. Without artillery support these troops were seen sweeping up the slope with the bayonet, and shortly afterwards the central position was captured. The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade won the central redoubt in a final bayonet charge, at the run, with many men firing as they ran. Having captured the dominating central position, they were able to enfilade redoubts still held by Ottoman defenders, and the remaining positions quickly fell to the other brigades.
The New Zealanders successful attack depended on the determined use of machine-guns in the firing line, crossing their fire to get better targets, and co–operating with one another and with the machine guns of the 1st Light Horse Brigade to advance to within 400 yards (365.8 m) of the Ottoman's main position.
The 1st Light Horse Brigade followed up the success of the New Zealanders by advancing and capturing the remaining enemy positions on its front, as did the 3rd Light Horse Brigade on its front. The 3rd Battalion of the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade was also successful in assaulting the "B" group. As they approached the trench a white flag appeared while B2 and the central work of "B" group was captured by 16:50 together with five officers and 214 other ranks. The Warwickshire Yeomanry captured B 1 redoubt and another 101 prisoners.
This successful attack was supported by aircraft recently fitted with wireless, (they had had to drop messages during the Magdhaba attack) which hovered over the fight during the afternoon, reporting its progress constantly to headquarters. At intervals they dropped bombs on the system of redoubts and trenches.
After establishing a strong rearguard position manned by two light horse regiments commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Maygar
Leslie Cecil Maygar
Leslie Cecil Maygar VC, DSO, VD was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, for service in the Second Boer War.-Early life:According to his birth certificate, from Victorian...
, the bulk of Desert Column moved back towards Sheikh Zowaiid. The arrived about midnight where rations and water were waiting for them.
Chetwode reported to the commander of Eastern Force C. Dobell
Charles Macpherson Dobell
Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Macpherson Dobell KCB, CMG, DSO was a Canadian soldier who served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers of the British Army.-Education:...
, that the work of all troops engaged had been excellent, and the part played by the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade had been outstanding.
Casualties
It was thought about 200 Ottoman soldiers were killed on the battlefield and a total of 1,800 Ottoman defenders were killed or captured.The mainly Ottoman prisoners including some German machine gunners, totalled between 1,472 and 1,635 with 162 of them wounded.
Desert Column suffered three times the losses suffered at Magdhaba. The 467 casualties included 124 New Zealanders; 71 killed, 415 wounded and one missing.
Clearing the battlefield
The New Zealanders remained close to the main redoubt system while prisoners were collected and sent to Sheikh Zowaiid and the four captured guns were taken away.With the protection of two light horse regiments the battlefield was cleared by light horse field ambulance
Light horse field ambulance
A light horse field ambulance was an Australian World War I military unit whose purpose was to provide medical transport and aid to the wounded and sick soldiers of an Australian Light Horse brigade....
s, ambulance carts and stretcher bearers all busy collecting and tending to the wounded. This work was carried on far into the night, even though the ambulances had worked without ceasing throughout the long day. All available empty wagons were sent up from Sheikh Zowaiid to help.
Among those working to clear the wounded from the battlefield the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance was covered by the 8th Light Horse Regiment (3rd Light Horse Brigade) which remained on the battlefield all night. In the morning this regiment drove off Ottoman cavalry and camel units and captured 14 prisoners. The whole of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade returned to the battlefield on 10 January with the 7th Light Car Patrol with wagons to collect captured material.
Aftermath
The campaign across the Sinai desert which had begun in August, ended with the expulsion of the Ottoman Empire from Egyptian territory. With the victory at Rafa, the steady progress of the railway and pipeline and the build up of supplies at El Arish, the British were able to build up a firm base from which to advance into Ottoman territory. But to do so would require the capture of the Ottoman Empire's fortifications at GazaGaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
, and there the First Battle of Gaza
First Battle of Gaza
The First Battle of Gaza was fought in and around the town of Gaza on the Mediterranean coast in the southern region of Ottoman Palestine on 26 March 1917, during World War I...
was fought in March 1917.
Operations in mid-January
Meanwhile, it had been thought that Ottoman garrisons would continue to hold on to the Nekhl area in the center of the Sinai Peninsula, including the villages of Bir el Hassana, Gebel Helal, Gebel Yelleg and Gebel el Heitan. Two columns of light horse and yeomanry moved out from Serapeum near Ismailia on the Suez Canal with three aircraft in support to attack Nekhl 60 miles (96.6 km) east. However, on 17 February when the columns were approaching the area, reconnaissance aircraft found the Ottoman garrisons had retired. On 19 January aerial reconnaissance found they had also evacuated El Kossaima and the strength of the main desert base at Hafir el Auja had decreased.That night, ten days after the victory at El Magruntein and Rafa, with the benefit of a full moon, German and Ottoman aircraft carried out a night bombing on El Arish. It was the biggest aerial bombing raid yet inflicted on the Allied force, on what was fast becoming an important British Empire forward base. As well as dropping bombs these aircraft, probably the powerful new Taube Albatros D.III, swooped down firing machine gun bullets into the camp. Casualties, particularly in the horse lines which were an obvious target from the air, were considerable.