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The History of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles 1914-1919
A Regimental Diary
page 265
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A Regimental Diary.
1914.
| Aug. 18 | The first man reported to the Mobilisation Camp, Addington. |
| Sept. 23 | The Regiment embarked on the "Tahiti" and "Athenic' at Lyttelton. |
| 25 | Went into camp at Lyall Bay and Trentham. |
| Oct. 14 | Embarked on transports "Tahiti" and "Athenic." |
| 15 | Sailed. |
| 21 | Called at Hobart. |
| 28 | Joined the Australian transport fleet at Albany. |
| Nov. 9 | H.M.A.S. "Sydney," one of the convoy's protecting ships, defeated and destroyed the German cruiser " Emdem." |
| 16 | Arrival at Colombo. |
| 24 | Called at Aden. |
| Dec. 1 | Arrival at Suez. |
| 3 | Began disembarkation at Alexandria. |
| 4 | Arrived at Zeitoun, a suburb of Cairo. |
| 23 | March through the streets of Cairo. |
| 30 | Inspection by General Birdwood. |
1915.
| Jan. 9 | Parade held for Sir T. Mackenzie, High Commissioner for N.Z. |
| 28 | First tactical exercise held in desert, vicinity of signal towers. |
| Feb. 3 | First Turkish attack on Suez Canal. |
| 26 | Trek to Bilbeis. |
| March 12 | First Khamsim experienced. |
| 22 | Review by Sir H. McMahon, High Commissioner for Egypt. |
| 29 | Review by Sir Ian Hamilton. |
| April 25 | N.Z. Infantry landed at Anzac. |
| May 5 | Orders received to go to Gallipoli as infantry. |
| 9 | Embarked at Alexandria on " Grantully Castle." |
| 12 | Landed at Anzac Cove. |
| 15 | Major Overton's first reconnaisance. Raid on Lala Baba. |
| 18-19 | Great Turkish attack driven off. |
| 24 | Armistice for burying the dead. |
| 25 | H.M.S. "Triumph" torpedoed. |
| 28 | Capture of "Old No. 3" by 1st Squadron C.M.R, |
| June 29-30 | Second great Turkish attack driven off. |
| July 1 | C.M.R. takes over trenches, Russell Top. |
| Aug. 5 | Regiment moves to No. 2 Outpost. |
| 6 | At 9 p.m. moved out to attack Walden Point and Bauchop Hill. |
| 7-8-9-10 | The desperate fighting on Chunuk Bair. |
| 21 | Attack on Hill 60 (Kaiajik Aghala). |
| 22-23 | Holding on to Hill 60. |
| 27 | Second and final attack on Hill 60. |
| Sept. 2 | Moved to Cheshire Ridge. |
| 13 | N.Z.M.R. Brigade goes to Mudros for rest and reorganisation. |
| Nov. 10 | Returned to Anzac and camped in Waterfall Gully. |
| 27 | Relieved Suffolk Yeomanry and a portion of the 162nd Brigade on the Aghyl Dere. |
| 28 | A cold blizzard swept the lines.page 266 |
| Dee. 12 | Definite steps began to be taken for the evacuation. |
| 18 | First portion of Regiment left Anzac. |
| 19-20 | Evacuation takes place. |
| 21 | At Mudros. |
| 22 | Embarked on "Hororata" for Egypt. |
| 26 | Arrived at Zeitoun and horses again taken over. |
1916.
| Jan. 18 | N.Z.M.R, Brigade inspected by Colonel R. H. Rhodes. |
| 23 | Trek to the Canal begun. 29' Regiment arrived Serapeum. |
| March 6 | C.M.R. takes over lines at Ferry Post. |
| 21 | H.R.H. The Prince of Wales visited the Regiment. |
| April 7 | Arrived at Salhia. |
| 24 | Crossed Suez Canal into Sinai. |
| 25 | Moved to head of Military Railway at "Canterbury Post." |
| May 7-8 | Cutting canal from sea to Sabkhet el Bardawil. |
| 11 | Moved to Et Maler. |
| 15-16 | Reconnaissance—heavy Khamsin. |
| June 23 | Moved to Hill 70. |
| Aug. 4-5 | Battle of Romani. |
| 6-12 | Actions of Katia, Ogratina, Bir el Abd. Sept. Advance through the desert. |
| Sept. | Advance through the desert. |
| Oct. | Advance through the desert. |
| Nov. | Advance through the desert. |
| Dec. 20 | Night march to surround El Arish. |
| 22-23-24 | Advance on and action of Magdhaba. |
| Dec. 27 | Camped at beach Masaiol. |
1917.
| Jan. 8 | Night march on Rafa. |
| 9 | Battle of Rafa. |
| 10 | Return to El Arish. |
| Feb. 23 | Reconnaissance of Khan Yunus. |
| Camped on beach at Rafa. | |
| March 11 | First reconnaissance of Gaza. |
| 25 | Final reconnaissance of Gaza and the crossings of the Wadi Ghuzze. |
| 26 | First Battle, of Gaza. |
| April 17-18-19 | Regiment crosses Wadi Ghuzze at Shellal. Second Battle of Gaza. |
| April 20-May 22 | Reconnaissances east of Wadi Ghuzze. |
| May 22-23 | Raid upon Beersheba-Asluj railway. |
| June 8 | On beach at Marakeb. |
| Oct. 16 | Special parade for presentation of honours and awards by General Allenby. |
| 24 | Moved to Esani. |
| 29 | Moved to Asluj. |
| 30 | Advance on Beersheba by all-night march. |
| 31 | Action of Beersheba and capture of Tel el Saba. |
| Nov. 1-6 | Actions of Ras el Nagh and Tel Khuweilfeh. |
| 7-8-9 | Occupying position Kb el Ras. |
| 10-11-12 | Rode north through Plain of Philistines and reached Hamame (near Ascalon). |
| 13 | Advanced to Yebna. |
| 14 | Action of Ayun Kara. |
| 17 | Took over the City of Jaffa. |
| 24 | Advanced across River Auja and seized enemy covering positions. |
| 25 | Action of Khirbet Hadrah and withdrawal across river.page 267 |
| Dec. 4-10 | Holding lines between Jaffa and foothills. |
| 11 | Allenby's entry into Jerusalem. |
| 13 | Moved to sandhills at Esdud. |
1918.
| Jan. 20 | Moved to Nalin. |
| Feb. 3 | Moved to Ayun Kara (Rishon le Zion). |
| 17 | Arrived at Bethlehem. |
| 19-20-21 | Advance on Jericho. |
| 22 | Reconnaissance of Jordan. |
| 22-23 | Marched up to Jerusalem. |
| 26 | Returned to Rishon le Zion. |
| Mar. 13-18 | March to Bethlehem. |
| 20 | Arrived at Talaat ed Dumm (in the Wilderness). |
| 24 | Crossed the Jordan. |
| 25-26 | Climbing Mountains of Moab. |
| 27-30 | Attack upon Amman and capture of Hill 3039. |
| 31 | Retirement to edge of plateau. |
| April 1 | Descent to the Jordan. |
| 2 | Camped near Jericho. |
| 30 | Action on east side of the Jordan. |
| May 1-6 | Raid on Es Salt. |
| 16 | Moved to Talaat ed Dumm. |
| 27 | 8th Squadron goes to Richon. |
| 28 | Regiment camped near King Solomon's Pools. |
| June 3 | Special King's Birthday Parade at Bethlehem. |
| 14 | Back in Jordan Valley—camping at Ain ed Duk. |
| 26 | The Turks began long range shelling with "Jericho Jane." |
| July 14 | Combined German-Turk attack driven off. |
| 19 | Camped at Talaat ed Dumm. |
| 27 | Camped near King Solomon's Pools. |
| Aug. 16 | Returned to the Valley of the Auja River. |
| Sept. 21 | Advanced up west bank of Jordan. |
| 22 | Captured Damieh Bridge. |
| 23 | Capture of Es Salt. |
| 24 | Regiment moved to Suweile. |
| 25 | Capture of Amman. |
| Oct. 2 | 8th Squadron goes to Madeba. |
| 3 | Regiment moved to Kissir. |
| 4 | Return to the Jordan. |
| 8 | The Regiment rode out of the Valley for the last time. |
| 14 | Reached Ayun Kara. |
| Nov. 13 | The Regiment, without horses, entrained at Ludd. |
| 14 | Arrived at Kantara. |
| 27 | Embarked on " Huntscastle." |
| Dec. 5 | Disembarked at Maidos, at the Dardanelles. Visits to the old battlefields. |
1919.
| Jan. 17 | A party of officers and other ranks visited ancient Troy. |
| 19 | Embarked on "Norman." |
| 22 | Arrived Port Said and went to Rafa. |
| March 23 | Regiment mounted moved to Tanta. |
| April, May, June Patrolling in the Delta. | |
| June 17 | Camped at Chevalier Island. |
| 30 | First portion of Regiment embarked on "Ulimaroa." |
| July 23 | Remainder of Regiment embarked for N.Z. on "Ellenga." |
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