At length, on October 25th, definite orders were
received for the first phase of the projected operations against Beersheba
to be undertaken, and, the next day, Sec.-Lieut. Kindell and three O.R.'s
(Ptes. Carr, Ineson and Marshall), with representatives from other units of
the Brigade, proceeded with the Staff Captain and Brigade Intelligence
Officer, to Esani, in order to "take-over" the camping area and reconnoitre
the outpost-line there.
Lieut. Macmillan and five O.R.'s (Ptes. J. Howlett, A. Jacques, S. Morris,
A. Tivey and E.A. Riley), who were chosen as stout-hearted men, reported to
Col. Newcombe, R.E., D.S.O., at Gamli, for special duty. Bad luck attended
them, however! The whole party was captured a few days later.[1]
The following is the official account of this adventure:--
"To assist in completing the rout of the Turkish troops retiring
from Beersheba, a small mobile force on camels, consisting of Lewis
gunners, machine gunners, and a few Sudanese Arab scouts, under
Lieut.-Col. S.F. Newcombe, R.E., D.S.O., left Asluj on October 30.
It had a number of machine guns and Lewis guns, a large quantity of
small-arms ammunition, and carried three days' rations.
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