EventWar

First Battle of Gaza

The First Battle of Gaza was fought on 26 March 1917 during the first attempt by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF), which was a British Empire military formation, formed on 10 March 1916 under the command of General Archibald Murray from the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and the Force in…

Start Mar 26, 1917Last edited Oct 15, 2026, 4:29 PM

Details

Start: Mar 26, 1917
Date: 26 March 1917
Location: Gaza, southern Palestine
Result: Central Powers victory
Location: 31.4893, 34.4737

See this era on the big map →

Contents

1.Background
1.1.Mounted units reorganised
1.2.EEF raid on Khan Yunis
1.3.EEF aerial bombing
2.Prelude
2.1.Defending force
2.2.Attacking force
3.Battle
3.1.Infantry attack
3.2.Combined attack
3.3.Mounted screen attacked
3.4.Withdrawal of mounted divisions
3.5.Withdrawal of infantry
3.6.Casualties
4.

The First Battle of Gaza was fought on 26 March 1917 during the first attempt by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF), which was a British Empire military formation, formed on 10 March 1916 under the command of General Archibald Murray from the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and the Force in Egypt (1914–15), at the beginning of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of the First World War. Fighting took place in and around the town of Gaza on the Mediterranean coast when infantry and mounted infantry from the Desert Column, a component of the Eastern Force, attacked the town. Late in the afternoon, on the verge of capturing Gaza, the Desert Column was withdrawn due to concerns about the approaching darkness and large Ottoman reinforcements. This British defeat was followed a few weeks later by the even more emphatic defeat of the Eastern Force at the Second Battle of Gaza in April 1917.

In August 1916, the EEF victory at Romani ended the possibility of land-based attacks on the Suez Canal, first threatened in February 1915 by the Ottoman Raid on the Suez Canal. In December 1916, the newly created Desert Column's victory at the Battle of Magdhaba secured the Mediterranean port of El Arish and the supply route, water pipeline and railway stretching eastwards across the Sinai Peninsula. In January 1917, the victory of the Desert Column at the Battle of Rafa completed the capture of the Sinai Peninsula and brought the EEF within striking distance of Gaza.

Two months later, in March 1917, Gaza was attacked by Eastern Force infantry from the 52nd (Lowland) Division reinforced by an . This attack was protected from the threat of Ottoman reinforcements by the and a screen from the . The infantry attack from the south and southeast on the Ottoman garrison in and around Gaza was strongly resisted. While the Imperial Mounted Division continued to hold off threatening Ottoman reinforcements, the Anzac Mounted Division attacked Gaza from the north. They succeeded in entering the town from the north, while a joint infantry and mounted infantry attack on Ali Muntar captured the position. However, the lateness of the hour, the determination of the Ottoman defenders, and the threat from the large Ottoman reinforcements approaching from the north and north east resulted in the decision by the Eastern Force to retreat. It has been suggested that this move snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

This page is based on “First Battle of Gaza” from English Wikipedia, (r1370618661) CC BY-SA 4.0 used under the license. The original authors are listed in its page history.

Last edited Oct 15, 2026, 4:29 PM · r125402 · Text is available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Falls 1930. Vol. 1 p. 272 ↩
Bruce 2002, pp. 92–3 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 273 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵
Falls 1930. Vol. 1 p. 279. ↩ ↩²
Woodward 2006, p. 68–9 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 276 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 281 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴
McPherson 1985 pp. 172–3 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Secret Military Handbrook 23 January 1917 Supplies pp. 38–49 Water pp. 50–3 Notes pp. 54–5 ↩ ↩²
Moore 1920 p. 68 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 272, 278 ↩
Bruce 2002 p. 88 ↩
Bou 2009, pp. 162–3 ↩
Imperial Mounted Division War Diary AWM4-1-56-1 Part 1 ↩
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary AWM4-10-3-26 ↩
Bruce 2002, p. 90 ↩
Carver 2003, pp. 196–7 ↩
Powles 1922, p. 82 ↩
Erickson 2001, p. 161 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴
Powles 1922, pp. 83–4 ↩
Keogh 1955, pp. 78–9 ↩
Bruce 2002, pp. 90–1 ↩
Downes 1938, p. 616 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 277–8 ↩ ↩²
Blenkinsop 1925 p. 184 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Bruce 2002 p. 87 ↩
Cutlack 1941, pp. 56–9 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 321 note 1 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷
Erickson 2007 pp. 99–100 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵
Cutlack 1941 p. 57 note ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 277 and note ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 285 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Bruce 2002, p. 93 ↩
Gullett 1941, pp. 253–254 ↩
Keogh 1955, p. 84 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 281–2 ↩
Downes 1938, p. 618 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Powles 1922, p. 91 ↩ ↩²
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 Appendix No. 54 Sketch Map showing position of attacking infantry and mounted divisions at about 09:30 on 25 March 1917. ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 283 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 280 ↩ ↩²
Erickson 2007, p. 100 ↩ ↩²
Keogh 1955, p. 83 ↩ ↩²
Bruce 2002, p. 92 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴
Gullett 1941 p. 265 ↩
The numbers of British troops involved are approximate only. One instance of a report telegraphed to Britain stated a division's strength at about 9,000 "when its battalions were only 400 strong in action." [Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. ix] ↩
Becke, pp. 117–23. ↩
The 160th had originally been the Welsh Border Brigade, but had been broken up in 1914 and reconstituted with battalions from Home Counties regiments.[Becke; Dudley Ward, pp. 12–4.] ↩
MacMunn & Falls, p. 286. ↩
One RFA brigade was absent from each of 53rd and 54th Divisions, and the 18-pdr batteries only had four of their six guns. [MacMunn & Falls, pp. 285, 304.] ↩
Wavell 1968, pp. 92–4 ↩ ↩²
Powles 1922, pp. 84, 278–9 ↩ ↩²
Preston 1921, p. 331–3 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 301 ↩
Although listed under Dobell's direct command, [Wavell 1968, pp. 92–4, Powles 1922, pp. 84, 278–9, Preston 1921, p. 331–3] these cars assisted Desert Column hold off the approaching Ottoman reinforcements. [Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 301] ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 285 note3 ↩
Becke, pp. 109–15. ↩
Bruce 2002, pp. 93, 95 ↩
Blenkinsop 1925 p. 185 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵
Becke, pp. 125–31. ↩
See 53rd Divisional Artillery ↩
"Imperial Camel Corps". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 10 December 2011. ↩
The ICB battalions have also been described in an April 1917 Order of Battle as the 1st (Australian and New Zealand), the 2nd (Imperial) and the 3rd (Australian and New Zealand) battalions. [Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 397] ↩
Powles 1922, p. 84 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴
Wavell 1968, pp. 92–3 ↩
MacMunn & Falls, pp. 285–8, 304. ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 289 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 278 ↩
Gullett 1941, pp. 337–8, 347 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 284 ↩ ↩²
Preston 1921, p. 315 ↩
Gullett 1941, pp. 244–5 ↩
Downes 1938, p. 615 ↩
Moore 1920, p. 82 ↩
Lindsay 1992, pp. 346, 379 ↩
Mounted Service Manual 1902, p. 10 ↩
Hill 1978, pp. 99–100 ↩
Falls notes there was insufficient transport to support operations at any considerable distance from railhead and while the infantry had wheeled transport the mounted divisions still had camel transport. [Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 280] ↩
Powles 1922 p. 23 ↩
Cutlack 1941 p. 59 ↩ ↩²
Moore 1920 p. 65 ↩ ↩²
Powles 1922 p. 87 ↩
Hill 1978 pp. 100–1 ↩
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 pp. 1–2 ↩
Keogh 1955, pp. 85–6 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 285–6 ↩
Powles 1922 pp. 84–5 ↩
Pugsley 2004 p. 138 ↩ ↩²
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 1 10:00 ↩
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 1 14:40 ↩
3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade War Diary AWM4-10-3-26 Order No. 15 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 287–8 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 289–90 ↩
There are varying accounts of exactly when the fog lifted from 07:00 to 11:00. [Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 290 note] ↩
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 2 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Dennis et al 2008, p. 407 ↩
Downes 1938, p. 619 ↩ ↩²
Desert Column War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-64-3 Part 1-1 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷
Hill 1978, pp. 103–4 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 293 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 288 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 291 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 292 ↩ ↩²
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 3 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 291–2 ↩
Powles 1922, p. 90 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 297 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 292–3 ↩
Hill 1978, p. 101 ↩
Downes 1938, pp. 618–9 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 293–4, 301 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 294–5 ↩
Bou 2009 p. 160 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 289–90, 293 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 296 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Gullett 1941 p. 273 ↩
There is no mention of any units of the 53rd (Welsh) Division in Desert Column's War Diary between 09:30 when the division established headquarters at Mansura and 13:10, when the 159th (Cheshire) Brigade came into action beside the 158th (North Wales) Brigade. [Desert Column War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-64-3 Part 1-1] ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 296–7 ↩
It has been claimed that at 10:15 the commander of 53rd (Welsh) Division ordered the attack on Gaza and fifteen minutes later the attack commenced. [Hill 1978 pp. 103–4, 22nd Mounted Brigade Headquarters War Diary AWM4–9–2–1 Part 1] ↩
Powles 1922, p. 89 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 295–6 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 297–8 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 298 ↩
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 4 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸
22nd Mounted Brigade Headquarters War Diary AWM4–9–2–1 Part 1 ↩ ↩²
Powles 1922 p. 90–1 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 302 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 301–3 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 299 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴
While fighting on foot, one quarter of a light horse and mounted rifle brigade were holding the horses. A brigade was then equivalent in rifle strength to an infantry battalion. [Preston 1921 p. 168] ↩
Powles 1922, pp. 92–3 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 pp. 4–5 ↩ ↩²
Powles 1922, p. 93 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 303 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 299–300 ↩ ↩²
Erickson 2007 p. 99 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 321–2 note ↩
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 4 14:20 ↩
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 5 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 300 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 300–1 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 305 ↩
It is claimed that the need to water the horses was "constantly on their minds." The horses had been watered as they crossed the Wadi Ghuzzee and small quantities had been found by the mounted divisions and reported to headquarters during the day.[Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 305] ↩
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 6 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 307 ↩ ↩²
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 5 18:10 ↩
The Australian history claims Chauvel protested strongly. [Gullett 1941 p. 282] While the British history notes no written record of Chauvel's protest is "on the record." [Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 307 note] ↩
McPherson et al., 1985, pp. 171–2 ↩
Powles 1922, p. 94 ↩ ↩²
Downes 1938, p. 620 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 308 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Powles 1922, pp. 93–4 ↩
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 pp. 5–6 ↩
Lieutenant McKenzie commander of No. 7 Light Car Patrol gives a description of making full use of the patrol's capabilities during their retirement. [Gullett 1941 pp. 288–9 and Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 308] ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 307, 309 ↩ ↩²
Powles 1922, pp. 94–5 ↩ ↩²
Bruce 2002, p. 97 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 311 note ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 311 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 309–10 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 311–2 ↩
Burrows, pp. 143–70. ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 312–3 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 314 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 313 ↩ ↩²
Cutlack 1941, pp. 59–60 ↩
McPherson 1985 p. 173 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 315, 322 ↩
Erickson 2001, p. 161. ↩
Keogh 1955, p. 102 ↩ ↩²
Moore 1920, p.67 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 332 note ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 320, 326–350 ↩
Daily Telegraph, Tuesday 3 April 1917, reprinted in Daily Telegraph, Monday 3 April 2017, page 24 ↩
Vagg, Stephen (9 October 2025). "Forgotten Australian Films: Forty Thousand Horsemen". Filmink. Retrieved 9 October 2025. ↩

Falls 1930. Vol. 1 p. 272 ↩
Bruce 2002, pp. 92–3 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 273 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵
Falls 1930. Vol. 1 p. 279. ↩ ↩²
Woodward 2006, p. 68–9 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 276 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 281 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴
McPherson 1985 pp. 172–3 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Secret Military Handbrook 23 January 1917 Supplies pp. 38–49 Water pp. 50–3 Notes pp. 54–5 ↩ ↩²
Moore 1920 p. 68 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 272, 278 ↩
Bruce 2002 p. 88 ↩
Bou 2009, pp. 162–3 ↩
Imperial Mounted Division War Diary AWM4-1-56-1 Part 1 ↩
3rd Light Horse Brigade War Diary AWM4-10-3-26 ↩
Bruce 2002, p. 90 ↩
Carver 2003, pp. 196–7 ↩
Powles 1922, p. 82 ↩
Erickson 2001, p. 161 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴
Powles 1922, pp. 83–4 ↩
Keogh 1955, pp. 78–9 ↩
Bruce 2002, pp. 90–1 ↩
Downes 1938, p. 616 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 277–8 ↩ ↩²
Blenkinsop 1925 p. 184 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Bruce 2002 p. 87 ↩
Cutlack 1941, pp. 56–9 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 321 note 1 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷
Erickson 2007 pp. 99–100 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵
Cutlack 1941 p. 57 note ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 277 and note ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 285 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Bruce 2002, p. 93 ↩
Gullett 1941, pp. 253–254 ↩
Keogh 1955, p. 84 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 281–2 ↩
Downes 1938, p. 618 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Powles 1922, p. 91 ↩ ↩²
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 Appendix No. 54 Sketch Map showing position of attacking infantry and mounted divisions at about 09:30 on 25 March 1917. ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 283 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 280 ↩ ↩²
Erickson 2007, p. 100 ↩ ↩²
Keogh 1955, p. 83 ↩ ↩²
Bruce 2002, p. 92 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴
Gullett 1941 p. 265 ↩
The numbers of British troops involved are approximate only. One instance of a report telegraphed to Britain stated a division's strength at about 9,000 "when its battalions were only 400 strong in action." [Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. ix] ↩
Becke, pp. 117–23. ↩
The 160th had originally been the Welsh Border Brigade, but had been broken up in 1914 and reconstituted with battalions from Home Counties regiments.[Becke; Dudley Ward, pp. 12–4.] ↩
MacMunn & Falls, p. 286. ↩
One RFA brigade was absent from each of 53rd and 54th Divisions, and the 18-pdr batteries only had four of their six guns. [MacMunn & Falls, pp. 285, 304.] ↩
Wavell 1968, pp. 92–4 ↩ ↩²
Powles 1922, pp. 84, 278–9 ↩ ↩²
Preston 1921, p. 331–3 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 301 ↩
Although listed under Dobell's direct command, [Wavell 1968, pp. 92–4, Powles 1922, pp. 84, 278–9, Preston 1921, p. 331–3] these cars assisted Desert Column hold off the approaching Ottoman reinforcements. [Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 301] ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 285 note3 ↩
Becke, pp. 109–15. ↩
Bruce 2002, pp. 93, 95 ↩
Blenkinsop 1925 p. 185 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵
Becke, pp. 125–31. ↩
See 53rd Divisional Artillery ↩
"Imperial Camel Corps". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 10 December 2011. ↩
The ICB battalions have also been described in an April 1917 Order of Battle as the 1st (Australian and New Zealand), the 2nd (Imperial) and the 3rd (Australian and New Zealand) battalions. [Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 397] ↩
Powles 1922, p. 84 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴
Wavell 1968, pp. 92–3 ↩
MacMunn & Falls, pp. 285–8, 304. ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 289 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 278 ↩
Gullett 1941, pp. 337–8, 347 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 284 ↩ ↩²
Preston 1921, p. 315 ↩
Gullett 1941, pp. 244–5 ↩
Downes 1938, p. 615 ↩
Moore 1920, p. 82 ↩
Lindsay 1992, pp. 346, 379 ↩
Mounted Service Manual 1902, p. 10 ↩
Hill 1978, pp. 99–100 ↩
Falls notes there was insufficient transport to support operations at any considerable distance from railhead and while the infantry had wheeled transport the mounted divisions still had camel transport. [Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 280] ↩
Powles 1922 p. 23 ↩
Cutlack 1941 p. 59 ↩ ↩²
Moore 1920 p. 65 ↩ ↩²
Powles 1922 p. 87 ↩
Hill 1978 pp. 100–1 ↩
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 pp. 1–2 ↩
Keogh 1955, pp. 85–6 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 285–6 ↩
Powles 1922 pp. 84–5 ↩
Pugsley 2004 p. 138 ↩ ↩²
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 1 10:00 ↩
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 1 14:40 ↩
3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade War Diary AWM4-10-3-26 Order No. 15 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 287–8 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 289–90 ↩
There are varying accounts of exactly when the fog lifted from 07:00 to 11:00. [Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 290 note] ↩
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 2 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Dennis et al 2008, p. 407 ↩
Downes 1938, p. 619 ↩ ↩²
Desert Column War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-64-3 Part 1-1 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷
Hill 1978, pp. 103–4 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 293 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 288 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 291 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 292 ↩ ↩²
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 3 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 291–2 ↩
Powles 1922, p. 90 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 297 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 292–3 ↩
Hill 1978, p. 101 ↩
Downes 1938, pp. 618–9 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 293–4, 301 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 294–5 ↩
Bou 2009 p. 160 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 289–90, 293 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 296 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Gullett 1941 p. 273 ↩
There is no mention of any units of the 53rd (Welsh) Division in Desert Column's War Diary between 09:30 when the division established headquarters at Mansura and 13:10, when the 159th (Cheshire) Brigade came into action beside the 158th (North Wales) Brigade. [Desert Column War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-64-3 Part 1-1] ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 296–7 ↩
It has been claimed that at 10:15 the commander of 53rd (Welsh) Division ordered the attack on Gaza and fifteen minutes later the attack commenced. [Hill 1978 pp. 103–4, 22nd Mounted Brigade Headquarters War Diary AWM4–9–2–1 Part 1] ↩
Powles 1922, p. 89 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 295–6 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 297–8 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 298 ↩
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 4 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸
22nd Mounted Brigade Headquarters War Diary AWM4–9–2–1 Part 1 ↩ ↩²
Powles 1922 p. 90–1 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 302 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 301–3 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 299 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴
While fighting on foot, one quarter of a light horse and mounted rifle brigade were holding the horses. A brigade was then equivalent in rifle strength to an infantry battalion. [Preston 1921 p. 168] ↩
Powles 1922, pp. 92–3 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 pp. 4–5 ↩ ↩²
Powles 1922, p. 93 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 303 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 299–300 ↩ ↩²
Erickson 2007 p. 99 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 321–2 note ↩
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 4 14:20 ↩
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 5 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 300 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 300–1 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 305 ↩
It is claimed that the need to water the horses was "constantly on their minds." The horses had been watered as they crossed the Wadi Ghuzzee and small quantities had been found by the mounted divisions and reported to headquarters during the day.[Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 305] ↩
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 6 ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 307 ↩ ↩²
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 5 18:10 ↩
The Australian history claims Chauvel protested strongly. [Gullett 1941 p. 282] While the British history notes no written record of Chauvel's protest is "on the record." [Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 307 note] ↩
McPherson et al., 1985, pp. 171–2 ↩
Powles 1922, p. 94 ↩ ↩²
Downes 1938, p. 620 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 308 ↩ ↩² ↩³
Powles 1922, pp. 93–4 ↩
Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 pp. 5–6 ↩
Lieutenant McKenzie commander of No. 7 Light Car Patrol gives a description of making full use of the patrol's capabilities during their retirement. [Gullett 1941 pp. 288–9 and Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 308] ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 307, 309 ↩ ↩²
Powles 1922, pp. 94–5 ↩ ↩²
Bruce 2002, p. 97 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 311 note ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 311 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 309–10 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 311–2 ↩
Burrows, pp. 143–70. ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 312–3 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 314 ↩ ↩²
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 313 ↩ ↩²
Cutlack 1941, pp. 59–60 ↩
McPherson 1985 p. 173 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 315, 322 ↩
Erickson 2001, p. 161. ↩
Keogh 1955, p. 102 ↩ ↩²
Moore 1920, p.67 ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 332 note ↩
Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 320, 326–350 ↩
Daily Telegraph, Tuesday 3 April 1917, reprinted in Daily Telegraph, Monday 3 April 2017, page 24 ↩
Vagg, Stephen (9 October 2025). "Forgotten Australian Films: Forty Thousand Horsemen". Filmink. Retrieved 9 October 2025. ↩

First Battle of Gaza

Background

Mounted units reorganised

EEF raid on Khan Yunis

EEF aerial bombing

Prelude

Defending force

Ottoman Army defences

Plan of defence

Attacking force

Lines of communication

Transport

Plan of attack

Preliminary moves

Approach marches 26 March

Encirclement

Battle

Infantry attack

Combined attack

Mounted screen attacked

Withdrawal of mounted divisions

Withdrawal of infantry

Reoccupations and retreats

Casualties

Aftermath

Notes

References

Further reading

Notes

Footnotes

Background

Mounted units reorganised

EEF raid on Khan Yunis

EEF aerial bombing

Prelude

Defending force

Ottoman Army defences

Plan of defence

Attacking force

Lines of communication

Transport

Plan of attack

Preliminary moves

Approach marches 26 March

Encirclement

Battle

Infantry attack

Combined attack

Mounted screen attacked

Withdrawal of mounted divisions

Withdrawal of infantry

Reoccupations and retreats

Casualties

Aftermath

Notes

References

Further reading

Notes

Footnotes

Other languages

Sub-pages

Nearby events

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