Finsbury Rifles: Away from the Western Front. 20th October – 24 October 1916

Out with the mobile column

The mobile columns of camels delivered supplies from the railhead at El Kubri to the outposts of the Suez Canal Defences. This also included small forward camps far out in the Sinai Desert that monitored enemy positions.  Although the food, water and equipment were vital, what soldiers really longed for was post from home.

Suez Canal Defences : Camel Transport Column  at El Kubri, 1916

©IWM (Q57845)    Byrne, Stanley Cesnola (Colonel) collection

 Location KUBRI EAST Date 20/10/16

Routines as usual. (Details only remained at KUBRI EAST). 1st Lieut RFM Rem Evans and 14 other ranks left as escort for convoy A.

Location ON COLUMN Date 20/10/16

ABC coy with proportion of 2D Coy to bring strength up to 600 rifles marched to KUBRI RAILHEAD to join mobile column under command 2^nd Lieut RC and  H Windsor CMG

Location KUBRI EAST Date 21/10/16

Routines as usual (Detach only remained at KUBRI EAST) Lieut HVL Latch and 14 other ranks left as escort for convoy B.

Location ON COLUMN   Date 21/10/16

Left KUBRI RAILHEAD at 6.30 marching to Camp Z (LITTLE BITTER LAKE 1:125000 TO 11-6-7) where column rested for the night, this company was used as an intermediate base for convoys. Signal communications was kept with KUBRI from point 888 (H10-1-1)

Location KUBRI EAST Date 22/10/16

Routine as usual. (Details only remained at KUBRI EAST)

Lieut LW Griffiths and 24 other ranks left as escort for convoy C2.

Location ON COLUMN Date 22/10/16

Left Camp Z at 0630 for Camp Y (just S.W of G 2 WADI EL GEBAB) moving by  WADI EL HAJ

Location KUBRI EAST Date 23/10/16

Routine as usual (Details only remained at KUBRI EAST) 2^nd Lieut CC Badgley and 14 other ranks left as escort for convoy C3.

Location ON COLUMN Date 23/10/16

Left Camp Y at 0630 to clear Cte Budgens and Ravenna [ transcript unclear ], running in a SE direction from 11.1.7 to where tracks join the MITLA PASS. NEKHL ROAD no enemy encountered. But evidence of recent ….  Troops then moved to Camp X (GIDDI 1:125 A11-6-3)

Location KUBRI EAST Date 24/10/16

Routine as usual (Details only remained at KUBRI EAST) Lieut H H A Goldsmith and 24 other ranks left as escort for Convoy D.

Location ON COLUMN Date 24/10/16

Column left camp at 0630 convoy and front line transport being sent back to Camp. Y Column moved by DARB-EL-HAJ to point 1961 (C11-1/2-71/2) the light Coy picquets throughout the march arriving at 1961. Camp A ABU-SUWAN. Column then returned to Camp Y, at about 2055 shots heard from direction of picquet SE of camp and from picquets and ridge 1100 towards SE of camp. The camp was at the same time sniped for about half an hour, troops stood to, but no attack made. Two small parties of enemy 3 men and 12 men made clear their intentions being to take new position on ridges around camp. This was prevented.