4th Essex in Egypt and the Battles for Gaza


1916

On 28 December 1916 the 4th Essex under Lieut-Colonel Jameson,arrived at El Rahman which was Brigade HQ.

The Battalion strength was 11 officers and 259 other ranks who were tested by the change of terrain from the rocky Turkey to a very sandy Egypt.

The sand filed the trenches quickly and damaged the rifles.

The command team was Lieut-Colonel Jameson, Adjutant Captain Swindels, Lieut Grahame and machine gun officer Lieut Butcher.

Reinforcements arrived in February 1916 to bring the Battalion up to19 Officers and 415 other ranks.

The rest of 1916 was spent in various posts through Egypt with boredom and illness more of a problem than enemy action.

Despite this the strength had again reduced to 32 officers and 869 other ranks.

In March 1917 all 4 Essex Regiments in the 161 Brigade marched together to attack Gaza.

First Battle of Gaza

4th and 5th Essex led the attack non the strategic defensive positions of Mansura Ridge that would open a route to Gaza. The 6th and 7th Essex were in reserve.

The attack faltered but with support from 2 companies of the 6th the lie was carried and Turkish trenches occupied by 5.30pm.

The Brigade suffered severe casualties including fatal wounds to Lieut-Colonel Jameson who was commander of the 4th Essex and wounding to Lieut-Colonel Gibbons who commanded the 5th Essex.

Lieut Colonel Jameson displayed heroism in leading the charge and when hit refused to allow RSM to get treatment for him until the men around his had been seen.

His second in command Major Barrington Wells was hit in the arm early on but stayed in the filed until the tranches were taken and the situation stabilised.

Sergeant Nye of B Company , 4th Essex, distinguished himself by leading his section in the assault during which he engaged and won a fist fight against a huge Turkish Soldier.

On the morning of 27 March 1917 a counter attack by the Turks forced a partial withdrawal of the 6th and 7rth Essex who were defending the forward lien. During the retreat Captain Tee, Captain Rayner and Captain Silverwood of the 6th Essex were all killedStiffening attacks by the Turks caused the withdrawal of the Brigade to Seirat so ending the first battle of Gaza.

The Casualty bill for the 4th Essex was high with 9 officers and 49 other ranks being killed and 12 Officers plus 322 other ranks wounded with 74 missing.

The officers killed were Lieut-Colonel Jameson DSO, Captain J W Bell, Lieut F W Gidley, 2nd Lieuts W M Vincent, F G Sweet, G O Richardson, A D Hay Smith, V H Butcher and B A Clapham.

Click here for the memorial erected after this battle.

2nd Battle of Gaza

Gaza remained strategically important to both sides which meant that a second attempt to take it would be mounted. Although the Allied forces were reinforced so were the Turkish defences and crucially the element of surprise was absent.

At 4am on 16 April 1917 the assault began with the 4 Essex Battalions operating in the same area as the first battle.

The initial assault met little resistance and a new front line was consolidated. A further advance on 19 April 1917 again made initial advances but  they ran into fierce resistance holding a new line albeit one that still did not meet the objectives.

A decision was taken to halt the assault and maintain the new lines.

During this period shelling and small arms fire was exchanged but there was no real movement in the lines although the Turks took the opportunity to strengthen the defences and turn Gaza into a fortress.

The 4th Essex under Major G G Ewer were in support for the operation and suffered 2 killed , 3 injured and 7 suffering from shellshock.

On 26 April 1917 Major B C Wells assumed command of the 4th Essex which were involved in holding the line, patrols and occasional skirmishing with the Turks.

3rd Battle of Gaza

The third Battle of Gaza was fought at the end of October/Start of November 1917. The successful breaking of the Turkish line opened the way to the advance on Palestine and Syria in the final months of the war.

The four Essex Regiments were all again part of 161 Brigade for the battle.

The 161 Brigade Staff were

Brigadier-General W Marriot Doddington - OIC

Captain A C M Paris - Brigade Major

Lieut J H F Bensford - 7th Essex - Staff Captain

The 4th Essex Command was  With Lieut Colonel Barrington C Wells and Adjutant Captain A J Beach.

For the initial attack on 2 November 1917 the 4th Essex were in reserve although they were ordered to attack at dawn on 3 November 1917 to gain control of a trench line at Balah.

The 4th Essex succeeded in gaining the trench but were unable to hold it.

On 3 November 1917 the 4th were attached to 162 Brigade for an attack on a defensive position at Gun Hill.

A Company command was with Captain Beddow, B Company Captain Carhart, C Company Captain Bittles and D Company Lieut Bishop.

The initial advance was successful in that the target trench was seized but a counter attack forced a withdrawal.

The casualties from this attack were 11 officers and 280 other ranks killed or wounded. The dead included Captain J F H Beddow and 2nd Lieut S G Y Saunders.

The performance of Sergeant Merrington received special praise.

The battle raged for several days until dawn on 7th November 1917 showed that the Turks had abandoned their positions.

An advance by the 6th Essex showed that they had also vacated Gaza although it was badly damaged.