admitted) that we were going to get a rest.

Marching by easy stages, we reached Ramleh about midday on the 3rd. On
arrival our hopes of a rest were at once fulfilled. We were told that we
were moving in three days' time, and that meantime we had to re-equip
and reorganise. Consequently we spent most of our time doing kit
inspections and issuing equipment. Our condition at this time was not
enviable. We had left Gaza on 7th November in drill clothing, carrying
packs, haversacks, and gas-masks. It was soon discovered, however, that
we had far too much luggage, and the packs were dumped next day, and the
gas-masks two days later. We had now been touring the country, with
frequent opposition from the enemy, for nearly a month with nothing more
than what we could carry in our haversacks. Most of our boots were like
those you sometimes see washed up by the tide on the seashore, and in
many cases the sole and upper had parted company, and could be persuaded
to bear with one another a little longer only by a skilful, if highly
unauthorised, use of a puttee. We had little or nothing except what we
were wearing, and that was not at all suitable for the cold we were now
experiencing.

Our three days were, therefore, busy ones. We were issued with serge
clothing, greatcoats, socks, and shirts and boots, but not nearly as
much as we would have liked.

When we had turned east at Ramleh to assist in the downfall of
Jerusalem, the cavalry, moving along the coast, had occupied Jaffa. One
of the Divisions in our rear had followed them, and a line had been
taken up on the north bank of the River Auja, covering the town. These
dispositions had not met with the approval of the Turks, and they had
made themselves most objectionable and driven our troops back to the
south bank of the river. This left Jaffa within shell-fire, and it was
necessary that we should recover the north bank and form a bridgehead.
This little job was to be entrusted to the 52nd Division.

We moved to Selmeh on 6th December, and bivouacked in a ploughed field.
The rain came on just about the time we arrived, but fortunately we were
able to get our bivouacs erected before we got very wet. It rained,
however, all that night and all next day, and as no one could remain in
his bivouac the whole time, everyone got thoroughly soaked. The
following day broke with no signs of clearing. No description of the
scene is possible. Picture a very large ploughed field, saturated