St. John Davies, M.C., became O.C., with Lieut.
Oakley second in command. On returning to the E.E.F. Capt. Marshall was
posted to the 17th Squadron. On February 22nd the Brigade moved north to
Gaza,[10] or rather to about 1-1/2 miles south of it. Here there was a
fair amount of grazing, and the animals were taken out every day for that
purpose. They had been very slow in picking up condition, and it was hoped
that this would do the necessary, as indeed it did.

The camp was arranged in the form of a square, a favourite formation with
the Squadron, and a safe one during air raids. Water was a mile away in the
Wadi Ghuzze, and rations were drawn from Gaza. On February 25th, Lieut.
Oakley went to hospital; Lieut. King became second in command. On February
26th, Lieut. R.H. Fairbairns, M.C., arrived, and was posted to "No. 1"
Section, taking command of "C" Sub-section. Training continued as at Belah,
and on February 28th there was a Divisional Field Day--"crossing the Wadi
Ghuzze," in which the 20th and 21st Squadrons were combined under Capt.
R.O. Hutchinson, M.C., of the 21st.

On March 4th another Divisional Scheme took place on the hills south-east
of the camp, the object being to intercept and defeat an imaginary enemy
(represented in skeleton), advancing from Tel el Jemmi. This manoeuvre was
satisfactorily performed.

On the 7th a pleasant diversion was made by a race meeting held by our
neighbours, the 22nd Mounted Brigade. They had taken great trouble in
preparing the course for both steeplechases and flat races, and on the day,
a scene was presented very similar to a meeting at home, except for the
absence of the ladies. On March 13th, Sec.-Lieut. J.W. Cummer arrived, and
was posted to "C" Sub-section, Lieut. R.H. Fairbairns, M.C., being now
second in command of the Squadron--a post which he held without
interruption until he became Officer Commanding. On March 22nd, Sergt.
Wright, who had been with the Squadron since its formation, left for an
infantry cadet course at Zeitoun.

FOOTNOTES:

[10] _Gaza, see Judges xvi and l, 18; Genesis x, 19; Deut. ii, 23; Jer.
xxv, 20, xlvii, 1, 5; Josh. xi, 22, xv, 47; I Kings iv, 24 (Azzah);
Amos i, 7; Jeph. ii, 4; Zech. ix, 5; Acts viii, 26._

INSPECTION BY H.R.H. THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT.

News was at this time received that H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught would
shortly inspect our Brigade, which was now commanded by Brig.-Gen. G.V.
Clarke, D.S.O. Several pr