During the summer of 1917 The mounted division that was serving as the DMC's front line divison based at Shellal had responisiblity for manning the Ghabi Defence Works.

The following has been primarily taken from the war diary of the 1/1st Berks Yeomanry

12th June 1917
The Berkshire Yeomanry moved to El Ghabi, and took over the defence works X, Y and Z from the Warwickshire Yeomanry. These redoubts consisted of supporting entrenched post and wire, strong points (Each manned by one squadron?)

31st August 1917
The Berkshire Yeomanry was ordered to take over the Ghabi Defence Works to relieve a regiment of the 22nd Mounted Brigade by 0900. The X Y and Z Redoubts, four and a half miles S.W. of Shauth were to protect the open right flank from (cavalry) attack.

1st September 1917
The Regiment was at Ghabi. holding the Defence Works (X,Y,Z. Redoubts).
Strength
26 .. .. . Officers
449 .. .. Other Ranks
518 .. .. Animals.

Can anybody help with further information about this post, where exactly it was located and with any pictures ?

Regards
Andrew

Andrew,

I have not been able to come up with anything 'exact'
However, starting from your entry for 31st Aug 1917 "The X Y & Z Redoubts, four and a half miles S.W. of Shauth" then there may be some clues in Teichman's 'Diary of a Yeomanry MO'
See pages 143/4 where he gives a few indicators for the position of Sha'uth
"Our camp at Sha'uth was on the 500 contour line 2 miles south-west of Weli Sheik Nuran… … … …
About 3 miles to the north-east of our camp was that very prominent feature Tel el Fara… … … …"
He also goes on to say that Gamli was about 3 miles from the camp.

All of these three places can be found on the map below, (Gamli here shown as Kamli)
However, despite Teichman's clues, I still find it difficult to pin down 'El Ghabi' - I am afraid that the best this offers is the general area


for scale here, the distance between Weli Sheik Nuran and Tel el Fara is about three and three-quarter miles

Andrew

The following is an extract from The Warwickshire Yeomanry in the Great War:

'On May 28th the Warwicks were on the extreme southern position, with the enemy country stretching for miles across the flat towards Khalsasa. They occupied the X;Y and Z redoubts with "D" "B" and "C" Squadrons in that order. The remainder of the Brigade were on the Ghuzze, and the three Warwick Squadrons had to provide patrols on the Ghuzzee in rotation. Except for occassional visits of enemy planes there was no serious attack and no casualties occured.'

Here is El Gabi just over the Turko-Egyptian Frontier - see left hand corner of map its above the word 'Cultivation'.

Click to view attachment

The WY Museum closes shortly for the winter hibernation - I am in this Sunday and will see what we might have covering this period.

If you want a better copy of this map then send me a pm - its not that good when you have to compress it.

Philip Wilson,
Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum

Dear Philip
Thanks for your assistance. I am not sure what a "pm" is but my email is andrewgfrench@hotmail.com. I would be grateful for anything else you can find and a better copy of the map. You must be pleased with the Leasowe Castle thread - it had got a good response.

regards
Andrew

Dear Michael

I thought I might hear from you and thanks very much for your thoughts. Philip Watson form the Warks Yeo Museum seems to have pinned it dwon for me.

regards
Andrew

thanks very much for your thoughts. Philip Watson form the Warks Yeo Museum seems to have pinned it dwon for me.

No problem Andrew
You can put away the compass and dividers now

best regards
Michael

Happy to be of assistance. Likewise I am pleased the thread on the Leasowe Castle has provided some very useful WY material.

Philip Wilson
Warwickshire Yeomanry Museum

Not 100% certain but I think this is part of those defensive works

Hi Centurion
Just back from a few days holiday. Thanks for photo
regards
Andrew




Thanks this was a bit of a slow burner but we got there in the end