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I possed this question on another site, any ideas?
"Mates,
I was rereading Max Emery's book "They Rode into History", and on page 93 he makes the coment to the fighting at Atawineh Redoubt.
"At 7PM two armoured cars were brought into the line but were of little use. In fact they added to the casualties as they attracted concentrated fire from the enemy. and troopers in their vicinity suffered heavily, in addition one men was actually run over by one of the cars and had to be evacuated."
This possed some questions,
What battery were these cars from?
and, who was the man run over by these cars?
I had not read that the AC's of one the Light Armoured battery's (more likely then a Light car patrol) were involved in the fighting during this stage?
And I have checked almost all the 8th LHR men wounded at 2nd Gaza but found none that record, run over by a AC?
Any ideas for these questions? "
Bill gave me this;
"8th LHR History, p. G6
Captain Thomas Sidney AUSTIN, 8th LHR History: 1914-19, Unpublished Manuscript, AWM224-MSS35, p. G6:
- Some incidents worthy of note occurred throughout the fighting. The first was the action of armoured cars. At about 1000 when the line was being subjected to a particularly heavy volume of fire two armoured cars blew gaily along into the thick of the action. Their intentions were, beyond doubt, of the best, but the result of their coming was to draw every piece of ordnance which the enemy possessed within range upon that particular sector. The cars proved of no assistance, except to the enemy as they took up positions right on our firing line and so gave them the exact range. They were speedily put out of action as their tyres were riddled and guns damaged, whilst besides being indirectly responsible for a few casualties, one car actually ran over one man lying in the line and rendered his removal to hospital necessary.
The time is a problem. AUSTIN says 10am while Emery says 7 pm. I think I will place my money on Austin which is confirmed by Olden, p. 146:
- The 5th Yeomanry Mounted Brigade galloped up through the barley fields on the right of the 9th Light Horse Regiment, dismounted, and moved in extended order towards what appeared to be the left flank of the Atawineh system. Simultaneously the 9th and 10th Regiments pushed onward down the reverse slope towards the Wadi, but were now met by heavier concentrated fire than hitherto. The reason of this concentration was not far to seek. Two armoured cars had been sent up to assist us in our attack. They came up the re-entrant to the crest of our position and pulled up in full view of the enemy. For some minutes they remained immobile, and the enemy gunners fired frantically at these fresh targets with a view to their disablement. Fortunately for the personnel of the cars, the shooting was erratic in aim, but many casualties were sustained by the advancing Light Horsemen in consequence.
The attack Olden is talking about occurred at 9.30 am.
Do you know the Light Armoured Battery that sent two AC's into this actionm and can the time be correctly given?
Cheers
S.B
