The quote below is from 'Under Fire in the Dardanelles' by Major the Hon Edward E. G. Cadogan [Pen & Sword, 2006, ISBN 1 84415 374 6]
After Gallipoli he went with his regiment (the Suffolk Yeomanry) to Egypt and then Palestine, before joining the Staff in the latter theatre.


In April 1917 he was still with his regiment and he records the following incident at the end of the 2nd Battle of Gaza: the date is 19th April 1917
"We were weary and sick at heart when we commenced our march retrogressively. An army in retreat is not a cheerful affair. We came into a shelter of a very narrow wadi where the sun's rays beat down on us mercilessly. We had not been moving long when a German tank appeared and hovered over us. I noticed that it turned round twice. A minute afterwards we had some enemy shells over us, but the target was a narrow one and no-one was injured. The tank shot at us with a machine-gun but with no effect. At last we emerged into the open."

I admit to being under-informed about the pre-Allenby side of things in this area,
but a German tank? Does this account stand-up? Any comments or possible explanations?

Thanks in advance
Michael

From the description of what the "tank" actually did it sounds like it was an arty spotting aircraft.

Michael,

I agree with Squirrel, the account reads more like it was a German aircraft circling over them, maybe "tank" is a misinterpretation of the word "Taube", the most commonly used name for all enemy aircraft.
Apart from that, the Germans, or Turks, did not have any tanks at Gaza, 1. 2. or 3. Our tanks proved be an abject failure in the attacks on the Gaza defensive line.

Jeff

Many thanks Squirrel & Jeff,

Your explanation does indeed sound very plausible
(and I am now kicking myself for not having thought of that)

Thanks again for your quick responses

A mis-transcription from a handwritten document does sound the most likely explanation, and Jeff's proposal of 'Taube' seems eminently plausible to me. I do a lot of transcription of manuscript material, and when the handwriting is at all tricky to decipher, 'foreign' words can often catch you out. In handwritten German documents - Flanders flotilla U-boat KTBs, for example - English words (geographical names, etc) are fortunately usually spelled out carefully in 'modern' script, which contrasts nicely with the German manuscript. German words in handwritten English documents, on the other hand, often take some figuring out - especially when they are mis-spelt or occur unexpectedly.

Thanks for your comments Mick; I can understand the problem
It is not exactly clear who did the transcription here; possibly the copyright holder, Viscount Chelsea (his editors were Kira Charatan & Camilla Cecil)
But Pen & Sword Military could have had someone read it through, surely?

regards
Michael

Hi no German Tanks at that time in Europe or Middle East.

The british did send over 8 tanks and a mistake sent Mark 1s. Do not remember hearing anything of the Turks capturing any.

17tankman

The Turks certainly captured some tanks at 2nd Gaza - or rather captured the remains of some tanks. The phrase hovered over us gives one the attractive impression of a Turkish AFV with magic carpets where one would expect wheels or tracks (and doubtless its commander relaxing in the back sipping sherbert). Unfortunately I have to concur that it must be a misprint!

However I understand that the RFC and AFC raided the Turkish/German airfields before the battle to eliminate airborne interference so this must have been one that got away.

My thanks to all who have joined in this thread
And a personal welcome back to Centurion

To the pure, all things are pure (or some such) and I am afraid that the ref to "hovered over us" in no way surprised me when I read it. I don't know enough Old Etonians to be an expert on their use of the King's English, but I can quite easily imagine the family of the 5th Earl Cadogan referring to some ancient retainers who "hovered over us" In this hod-carrier's family we say 'hanging about' which amounts to the same thing, I think.

Regarding enemy air activity at this time, the history of the Honourable Artillery Company with regard to their 'A' Battery, informs that their "wagon line was bombed by hostile aircraft during the day, but fortunately had no casualties, though the neighbouring wagon lines were not so fortunate." And on the next day (20th April 1917) Capt. Teichman DSO, MC., etc., writing in his 'Diary of a Yeomanry MO' mentions 'Fritz amused himself by dropping a few bombs on us and also some smoke-balls, the latter, however, failing to attract the Turkish gunners' attention.'
Both refs seems to confirm the ideas of Squirrel & Jeff

Thanks again to one and all
Michael