This journey, and that which followed,
were the most tiring of these operations. It must be remembered that the
horses had not been watered nor the men's water-bottles filled, since the
previous morning. When the intense heat of the day is considered, not to
mention the dust, the hardships suffered can, perhaps, be imagined! The
G.O.C. (Brig.-Gen. J.T. Wigan, C.M.G., D.S.O.) went along the whole column
and handed his brandy-flask to those who seemed the most exhausted. Upon
arriving at Beersheba, the town was found to be swarming with more troops,
and it was with the greatest difficulty that any water was obtained at all.
Everyone had gone without just as long as we had done--at least, so they
said!
The next day (November 4th), was spent in watering and cleaning up. Towards
evening, "Saddle-up" was ordered; the Brigade moved at 16.00 and marched to
Karm, a distance of 15 miles--a journey which seemed interminable. The air
was so thick with dust that it was necessary to keep right on to the tail
of the horse in front, or you would have been lost in a second. "'Ware hole
on the right!" "Mind the wire!" and such like orders were passed down the
column from time to time. You had just to do what you were told, as it was
quite impossible to see even a yard ahead!
Arrived at Karm, at about 22.
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