The Warwickshire Yeomanry in the Sinai

22nd April 1916 

The 5th Mounted Brigade were dispersed as follows:

Two Squadrons of Warwick Yeomanry and one of Worcesters at Hamisah, one Squadron of Gloucester Yeo (Major BAKER) at Katia (Qatia); two Squadrons of   Worcesters (Capt. CHEAPE) with some Royal Engineers at Oghratina, and two Squadrons of the Gloucesters under Colonel YORKE at Romani. 

On the night of 22nd April, two Squadrons of the Warwicks (D & B) with one of the Worcesters under Major WIGGIN and three machine guns were detailed to surprise the Turks who were believed to be at Mageibra. General WIGGIN and Colonel COVENTRY accompanied the force, and on arrival at dawn they discovered that the Turks had attacked the Infantry at Dueidar and had been beaten off with heavy loss. They destroyed the camp at Mageibra and returned with six Turkish prisoners towards Hamisah. 

The following is an extract from ‘A Summary of the Strategy and Tactics of the Egypt and Palestine Campaigns’ by A. KEARSEY, DSO, OBE, psc, late Lt-Col , General Staff.

‘By the middle of April 1916 Kress von KRESSENSTEIN undertook an enterprise along the northern route. On 23 April his force estimated at 3,650 men, six guns, four machine guns, and six companies of camelry successfully attacked our advanced posts at Qatia, Oghratina and Hamisah.

Their attacks on our posts at Dueidar and Hill 70 were unsuccessful. In these engagements the 5th Mounted Brigade (Warwickshire Yeomanry, Gloucestershire Hussars and Worcestershire Yeomanry) was protecting the rail head five miles west of Romani with the following detachments: A squadron, a machine gun detachment and dismounted details at Qatia.  At Oghratina there were two squadrons of Worcestershire Yeomanry less one troop and an R.E. detachment. At Hamisah were three squadrons and one troop. The Headquarters and remainder of the 5th Mounted Brigade were at Romani.  Dueidar was occupied by 156 rifles and Hill 70 by one battalion. At 0415 hours the post at Oghratina was first attacked from three sides by the Turks, who were then not more than 50 yards from our forward defences*. The defenders after two and a half hours of stubborn resistance were forced to surrender. The Turks then attacked the Qatia force, which though reinforced by a squadron of Worcesters from Hamisah, was unable to hold out after 1500 hours. 

Early on the 23 April the Commander of the 5th Mounted Brigade with the Warwickshire Yeomanry had made a raid on the enemy’s camp at Mageibra. This he found empty, as the occupants of it had gone to raid our posts at Dueidar and Hill 70. The commander of the five troops left at Romani marched out to relieve the Qatia Garrison, but there was little co-operation with the Brigade Commander’s force, and little could be affected. Our troops at Dueidar successfully maintained their position.’

For a more detailed account of what transpired on 23 April then please read ‘Blood on the Sand – The Affair at Qatia, Sinai Desert 23 April 1916‘by Stuart HADAWAY. 

COMMENT 

*KRESS’S raiding force, after a night march on 22/23rd fell on the detachment at Oghratina at 0415hrs on the 23rd.  A morning fog had hindered reconnaissance, and the Yeomanry were surprised and overwhelmed after a gallant resistance. The Turks then pressed on to Qatia and at 8am attacked the squadron of Gloucesters which were presently joined by the squadron of Worcesters (QOWH) from Bir el Hamisah when they too were overwhelmed by sheer weight of numbers. See enclosed maps from Stuart’s book – Qatia is also known as Katia.