WAR STORY

Hokitika Guardian, 27 December 1929, Page 8

WAR STORY

AN EXPLOIT OF THE 9th AUSTRALIAN LIGHT HORSE. After the fall of Damascus our pursuit of the broken Turkish army continued towards Aleppo, and on the night of October 1, 1918, the 9th Australian Light Horse, composed of Victorians and South Australians, bivouacked 10 miles north of Damascus. Early next morning a column of infantry was reported only a mile away to the east making northward up the road towards a pass in the hills. The regiment turned out promptly and went forward at a fast' trot along tne road and turned off to the left through the vineyards. The enemy pushed out machine-gun parties, which opened a heavy hut ill-aimed fire upon the Australian horsemen, who gained a favourable position on the flank of the retreating Turks. Two squadrons then galloped on and cut off the enemy column from the pass by getting across the road in front of it. The remaining squadron, only about 100 strong, soon"rrrounted and charged with, drawn swords the main body of the Turks, who began to yield as the shouting Australians approached. The other two squadrons charged in similar fashion the Turkish advanced guard ,atid the whole force surrendered. It consisted of 91 officers—including divisional commander—3lß cavalry, 1,064 infantry, and eight Germans, with two field guns, and other booty. The light horsemen mustered only about 300, and the affair was over in little more than an hour after leaving bivouac. It cost them one man accidentally injured and five horses. Two Australian signalers afterwards encountered a detachment of more than 80 Turks and charged down upon them as a German officer was getting a machine-gun into action. They overpowered the officer, swung round the machine-gun, and persuaded the whole party to surrender.