Page 186 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

The Gaza Exhibition at The Ri es Berkshire and Wiltshire Museum in The Wardrobe Salisbury
SG Cook
SERGT MUNDY AND CORPL. COULDREY WERE AWARDED THE DCM
to all kneel down (which to our surprise they all did at once). Away to our left was another team, so surprised that they were covered so quickly – I held one team and Mundy the other – they all knelt down and handed over guns and all re arms – we jabbered away and gestulated [sic] and they did everything we told them – in fact I made a German of cer light my cigarette, as I had no matches. He said Yah-Yah and did as he was told, for I was very brave now I knew they had no rearms but a few minutes before that I wasn’t. Anyway, there were 40 men and 2 of cers captured and 2 machine guns. We held them till our Capt Merewether and Colonel came along and they congratulated us – a party was told off to take the prisoners away and amid a hail of bullets Mundy and I rejoined our Company who had now formed a line near us and we were soon ring again at the Turks 300 yds away. We were soon driven back by artillery and machine guns, and Cpl Shersby got a bullet in the arm, and after bandaging him up or rather helping, I sent a man back with him to the dressing station. Then went and got up some reinforcements to help us keep the
Turks at bay – ring through the cactus. When I got back poor old Captain Merewether said to me “Well done Couldrey – old man you are doing good work” We still continued ring and I can remember taking back a fellow name Bishop of D Coy who was uncon- cious [sic] and had a deep – long head wound. I took him back where it was safe for the ambulance men to see to him and returned
amongst a hail of bullets. The 1/4th Wilts and 5th Somersets had now nished their bit they had to do, but the 3rd Gurkas and 2/4th Hants who were supposed to come through had not turned up to take the ridge in front – The Turkish shell re having kept them back. All that afternoon we lay ring in the cactus plantation – Captain Merewether
some water and when he returned we had orders to be ready in 5 minutes to go out of the cactus and take the Ridge in front. C Company went out rst on the right and I could see them being mowed down as was afterwards discovered – Johnny had Machine guns ring from the right ank. B Boy went out on the left and we gave them supporting re until we went out and made up the line and advanced and how I am alive now to write this I cant [sic] tell – for advancing up to the ridge with Shells bursting and bullets – spitting through the air was terrible, and there were many casualties. When we got near the Turks on the Ridge they retired and the last I saw of them was 900 yds away and we were ring at them. We now had to dig ourselves in on the Ridge for Johnny’s shells were pitching all around us and Devons, Somersets – Wilts were all digging in together laying at on our stomachs.”
(Later in the diary)
“On Boxing Day it came through the Regiment that Sergt Mundy and Corpl. Couldrey were awarded the DCM for their work at Mesmyieh on Nov 13th. The Sisters in Hospital were very pleased with me and I had congratulations from everybody. When I got out of bed – (I could hobble about with a big splint down my leg) and I generally helped with the dressings etc. Sisters Clayden and Ferry gave a Whist Drive and Tea to the whole Ward in honour of my winning the Decoration and the old Matron sent me up a lovely big bunch of violets.”
The erce heat by day and rationing made for slow progress. Water, as well as food, had to be severely limited to make supplies last. As Corporal Couldrey put it, “when you are thirsty and can’t get anything, then you know what thirst is”. However, there was the very occasional treat when, on Christmas Day 1917, 3⁄4 of a pint of red wine was offered to everyone.
During the rainy season temperatures dropped and heavy rains meant mud, like that in Western Europe. Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong explained in his diary that the new road being built in December 1917 was “needed as in the present wet weather the country is a sea of mud”.
Equipment was not as advanced as that used in Western Europe. The steel helmet, which had been on issue in Europe since late 1915, had not reached the 1st/ 4th Battalion until February 1918. Sergeant Welch wrote in a letter dated 10 March 1918, “I wish we had had them last Autumn as they would probably have saved the lives of 5 or 6 men of our Battalion”.
By 9 December 1917, the Turks had ed Jerusalem leaving the city in the hands of the British. General Allenby entered the city on 11 December. Lloyd George’s wish had been achieved.
Fighting continued in Palestine until 30 October 1918 when an Armistice was agreed. In December 1918 1st/4th Battalion were demobilised and some were sent back to the UK. By 8 August 1919, the Battalion was of cially “rested” from duty and was eventually disembodied, or discontinued.
The Allies were victorious but the process on how to divide the land between France, Britain and the Arabs proved complex and eventually affected peace in the area. This led to new unrest between the Arab and Jewish communities which remains unresolved and an international concern today.
went back to get us Manager Curator
THE RIFLES