Editing First Battle of Gaza (section)

==Prelude==

===Defending force===
[[File:Kress&GottHuj00098v.jpg|thumb|Kress Von Kressenstein and Colonel Gott at Huj in 1916]]
British estimates of the defenders facing the EEF in the region at the beginning of 1917 were no more than 12,000, with the possibility of receiving at most one division as reinforcements.<ref name="Falls273"/>

In early March, Gaza was garrisoned by two battalions, supported by two batteries of Ottoman field artillery. The "Group Tiller" garrison from the [[Fourth Army (Ottoman Empire)|Ottoman Fourth Army]] was later increased to seven battalions.<ref name="Falls321n1">Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 321 note 1</ref><ref name="Erickson2007_99–100">Erickson 2007 pp. 99–100</ref> The Group consisted of the Ottoman 79th and 125th Infantry Regiments, the 2nd Battalion of the 81st Infantry Regiment, one squadron of cavalry and one company of camelry.<ref name="Falls321n1"/><ref name="Erickson2007_99–100"/>

Further reinforcements of between 10,000 and 12,000 soldiers were ordered by Kress von Kressenstein as a result of the 300th Flight Detachment's reports of the EEF's advances towards Gaza. Arriving before Eastern Force made its attack, these reinforcements consisted of the 3rd Infantry Division (31st and 32nd Infantry Regiments) from [[Jemmame]], and the 16th Infantry Division (47th and 48th Infantry Regiments) from Tel esh Sheria.<ref name="Falls321n1"/><ref name="Erickson2007_99–100"/> They were supported by 12 heavy mountain howitzers in two Austrian batteries, two 10-cm long guns in a German battery (from [[Battle of Romani#German and Ottoman force|Pasha I]]) and two Ottoman field artillery batteries.<ref name="Falls321n1"/><ref name="Erickson2007_99–100"/>

[[File:Turkish Gun nrGaza00034v.jpg|thumb|Ottoman gun among the hedges near Gaza]]

Further, the Ottoman 53rd Infantry Division, which had been garrisoned at [[Jaffa]], was ordered to march south to Gaza, but was not expected before the morning of 27 March. Kress von Kressenstein, the commander of the Ottoman defences, moved his headquarters from Beersheba to Tel esh Sheria where it remained until June.<ref name="Falls321n1"/><ref name="Erickson2007_99–100"/><ref name="Cutlack57n">Cutlack 1941 p. 57 note</ref>

However, by 20 March the British considered the [[Ottoman Army]] defending Gaza and dominating the coastal route from Egypt to [[Jaffa]], to be "steadily deteriorating."<ref name="Woodward68–9"/> Indeed it had been reported that Kress von Kressenstein complained of "heavy losses" caused by deserters, and between the EEF victory at Rafa in early January and the end of February, 70 deserters had arrived in the EEF lines. These were thought to be a "very small proportion" of the majority of Arabs and Syrians in particular, who disappeared from the Ottoman army, "into the towns and villages of Palestine and [[Transjordan (region)|Trans-Jordan]]."<ref>Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 277 and note</ref> The EEF were unaware of the recent Ottoman reinforcements and thought the garrison at Gaza was 2,000 strong.<ref name="Falls285">Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 285</ref> However, by the eve of battle there were probably almost 4,000 rifles defending the town, with up to 50 guns in the surrounding area, while a force of 2,000 rifles garrisoned Beersheba.<ref>Bruce 2002, p. 93</ref><ref>Gullett 1941, pp. 253–254</ref><ref name=Keogh84>Keogh 1955, p. 84</ref>

====Ottoman Army defences====
[[File:Anzac Mounted Division War Diary AWM4-16-13 Appendix 54 Sketch Map.jpg|thumb|Sketch map of Gaza defences (shown in green) at 09:30 on 25 March 1917]]
Between Rafa and Gaza, to the east of the coastal sand dunes, a gently rolling plateau of light, firm soil rose slowly inland, crossed by several dry wadis, which became torrential flows in the rainy season. In the spring, after the winter rains, the area was covered by young crops or fresh grass.<ref>Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 281–2</ref> For [[millennia]], Gaza had been the gateway for invading armies travelling the coastal route, to and from Egypt and [[the Levant]].<ref name="Falls281">Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 281</ref> The town and the fertile surrounding areas strongly favoured defence; Gaza being located on a plateau {{convert|200|ft|m}} high which is separated from the Mediterranean Sea by about {{convert|2|mi|km}} of sand hills to the west. To the north, west, and south, orchards surrounded by impenetrable prickly pear hedges extended out for some {{convert|3|–|4|mi|km}} from the town. With the exception of the ridge extending southwards, which culminated in the dominating {{convert|300|ft|m}} high Ali Muntar, the area of orchards stretched from the high plateau down into a hollow.<ref name="Downes618">Downes 1938, p. 618</ref><ref name="Powles91">Powles 1922, p. 91</ref>

In addition to these natural defences, the Ottoman Army constructed trenches and [[redoubt]]s that extended from the south west of the town virtually all the way round the town, except for a gap to the north east. In the process they incorporated Ali Muntar into the town entrenchments by building additional defences on the ridge to the south of the town.<ref>Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 Appendix No. 54 Sketch Map showing position of attacking infantry and mounted divisions at about 09:30 on 25 March 1917.</ref> Although the trenches were only lightly strengthened with barbed wire, those to the south of Gaza commanded bare slopes which were completely devoid of any cover whatsoever.<ref name="Falls283"/>

====Plan of defence====
[[File:Huj AEG 00101v.jpg|thumb|Felmy in his Albatros at Huj]]
As a result of the EEF advance to Rafa and their lengthening of their lines of communication along the coast, flank attacks became a threat. This was because the Ottoman lines of communication further inland overlapped the EEF advance on the coast, and it became important to garrison the region strongly.<ref name="Falls280">Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 280</ref> The EEF right flank would not be in prepared defences, and was potentially vulnerable to an [[envelopment]] assault.<ref name="Erickson7p100"/>

Kress von Kressenstein, therefore, deployed most of his defending army away from Gaza to attack the EEF's supply lines. British intelligence thought the defenders would not fight hard for Gaza, because Kress von Kressenstein's plan was to use the 3rd and the 16th Infantry Divisions and the 3rd Cavalry Division to encircle the attacking force and cut the Sinai railway and water pipeline, in the rear of the EEF. A total of 12,000 of the available 16,000 Ottoman soldiers were moving west, to be in position to launch an attack by nightfall on the day of battle.<ref name="Erickson7p100">Erickson 2007, p. 100</ref>

The main Ottoman force of between two and a half and three divisions, estimated between 6,000 and 16,000 rifles, were deployed at Tel el Negile and [[Huj, Gaza|Huj]] with detachments at Tel esh Sheria, [[al-Jammama|Jemmameh]], Hareira, Beersheba, and Gaza, to prevent the EEF from [[Flanking maneuver|out-flanking]] Gaza.<ref name="Falls281"/><ref name=Keogh83>Keogh 1955, p. 83</ref><ref name=Bruce92>Bruce 2002, p. 92</ref> The rear of the EEF was to be attacked by the Ottoman 16th Division, at a point where the road from Khan Yunis to Gaza crossed the Wadi Ghuzze, and by the Beersheba Group which was to advance via Shellal, to attack Khan Yunis.<ref name="Falls321n1"/>

===Attacking force===
{{main|Egyptian Expeditionary Force#Order of Battle March}}
The 22,000-strong attack force consisted of 12,000 infantry and 11,000 mounted troops, supported by between 36 and 96 field guns and 16 howitzers. The mounted units were to stop the Ottoman reinforcements from Tel el Sheria, Jemmameh, Hareira, Negile, Huj, and Beersheba, from reinforcing the Gaza garrison while the infantry captured the town.<ref name=Downes618/><ref>Gullett 1941 p. 265</ref><ref group="Note">The numbers of British troops involved are approximate only. One instance of a report telegraphed to Britain stated a division's strength at about 9,000 "when its battalions were only 400 strong in action." [Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. ix]</ref>
[[File:Sir Charles Macpherson Dobell.jpg|thumb|[[John Singer Sargent]]'s 1919 portrait of Sir Charles Macpherson Dobell]]
For the attack Dobell deployed Eastern Force as follows:

Desert Column was commanded by Chetwode
:53rd (Welsh) Division (Major General [[Alister Dallas|Alister Grant Dallas]])<ref name = Becke53>Becke, pp. 117–23.</ref>
::[[158th (North Wales) Brigade]]
::[[159th (Cheshire) Brigade]]
::[[160th (Welsh) Brigade|160th Brigade]]<ref group="Note">The 160th had originally been the Welsh Border Brigade, but had been broken up in 1914 and reconstituted with battalions from [[Home Counties]] regiments.[Becke; Dudley Ward, pp. 12–4.]</ref> – less one battalion; plus one section (2 × [[BL 60-pounder gun|60-pounder guns]]), 10th Heavy Battery, [[Royal Garrison Artillery]] (RGA)<ref>MacMunn & Falls, p. 286.</ref>
::53rd Divisional Artillery: 2 Brigades [[Royal Field Artillery]] (RFA) (4 batteries each of 4 × [[Ordnance QF 18-pounder|18-pounder guns]]; 2 batteries each of 4 × [[QF 4.5-inch howitzer|4.5-inch howitzers]])<ref group="Note">One RFA brigade was absent from each of 53rd and 54th Divisions, and the 18-pdr batteries only had four of their six guns. [MacMunn & Falls, pp. 285, 304.]</ref>

:Anzac Mounted Division (Major General [[Harry Chauvel]]) (less 1st Light Horse Brigade)
::[[2nd Light Horse Brigade]]
::[[New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade]]
::22nd Mounted Brigade
::Anzac Mounted Divisional Artillery: 4 Batteries [[Royal Horse Artillery]] (RHA) (each of 4 × 18–pdrs = 16 guns)

:Imperial Mounted Division (Major General [[Henry West Hodgson]]) (4th Light Horse Brigade not yet formed)
::[[3rd Light Horse Brigade]]
::5th Mounted Brigade
::6th Mounted Brigade
::Imperial Mounted Divisional Artillery: 4 Batteries RHA (each of 4 × 18–pdrs = 16 guns)<ref name="Wavell92–4">Wavell 1968, pp. 92–4</ref><ref name="Powles84,278–9">Powles 1922, pp. 84, 278–9</ref><ref name="Preston331–3">Preston 1921, p.&nbsp;331–3</ref>

:No. 7 Light Car Patrol
:Nos. 11 and 12 Armoured Motor Batteries.<ref>Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 301</ref><ref group="Note">Although listed under Dobell's direct command, [Wavell 1968, pp. 92–4, Powles 1922, pp. 84, 278–9, Preston 1921, p.&nbsp;331–3] these cars assisted Desert Column hold off the approaching Ottoman reinforcements. [Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 301]</ref>

:Money's Detachment (Lieutenant Colonel N. Money)
::2/4th Battalion, [[Royal West Kent Regiment]] (160th Brigade, 53rd Division)
::[[Royal Gloucestershire Hussars|Gloucester Hussars]] (5th Mounted Brigade, Imperial Mounted Division)
::One section (2 × 60-pdrs), 15th Heavy Battery, RGA.<ref>Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 285 note3</ref>

Eastern Force units under the direct command of Dobell which remained at Rafa, were to protect the lines of communication, the Wadi el Arish crossing, and Khan Yunis, from an attack on the right flank. This force consisted of 8,000 men in the
:52nd (Lowland) Division (Major General [[Wilfrid Smith (British Army officer)|Wilfrid E.B. Smith]])<ref name = Becke52>Becke, pp. 109–15.</ref>
::[[155th (South Scottish) Brigade]]
::[[156th (Scottish Rifles) Brigade]]
::[[157th (Highland Light Infantry) Brigade]]<ref name=Keogh83/><ref>Bruce 2002, pp. 93, 95</ref><ref name=Blenkinsop185>Blenkinsop 1925 p. 185</ref>

Also under the direct command of Dobell were the
:54th (East Anglian) Division (Major General [[Steuart Hare]])<ref name = Becke54>Becke, pp. 125–31.</ref> (less one brigade in the Suez Canal Defences)
::[[Essex Brigade|161st (Essex) Brigade]]
::[[162nd (East Midland) Brigade]]
::[[163rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|163rd (Norfolk & Suffolk) Brigade]]
::54th Divisional Artillery: 2 Brigades RFA (4 batteries each of 4 × 18–pdrs; 2 batteries each of 4 × 4.5-inch howitzers)<ref group="Note">See 53rd Divisional Artillery</ref>

:74th (Yeomanry) Division
::[[229th Brigade (United Kingdom)|229th Brigade]]

::[[Imperial Camel Corps Brigade]] (Brigadier General S. Smith)
:::1st (Australian) Battalion
:::2nd (British) Battalion
:::3rd (Australian) Battalion
:::4th (Australian and New Zealand) Battalion<ref name="Falls283">Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 283</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=10 December 2011|publisher=Australian War Memorial|title=Imperial Camel Corps|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_13624.asp}}</ref><ref group="Note">The ICB battalions have also been described in an April 1917 Order of Battle as the 1st (Australian and New Zealand), the 2nd (Imperial) and the 3rd (Australian and New Zealand) battalions. [Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 397]</ref>
:::Imperial Camel Brigade's 1 Camel Pack Battery of 6 × 2.75-inch = 6 guns<ref name="Powles84">Powles 1922, p. 84</ref><ref>Wavell 1968, pp. 92–3</ref>

:[[5th Wing Royal Flying Corps]]
::[[No. 14 Squadron Royal Flying Corps]]
::[[No. 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps]]

:Army Troops: One 2-gun section from each of 3 RGA Batteries, two of which were detached ''see above'').<ref name="Wavell92–4"/><ref name="Powles84,278–9"/><ref name="Preston331–3"/><ref>MacMunn & Falls, pp. 285–8, 304.</ref>

The chain of command during the first Battle of Gaza was:
#Murray's Advanced GHQ EEF at El Arish, without reserves; its role was to advise only,
#Dobell's Eastern Force headquarters near In Seirat commanded three infantry divisions, two mounted divisions and a brigade of camels. This force was equivalent to an army of two corps, but only had a staff which was smaller than an army corps serving on the western front,
#Chetwode's Desert Column headquarters also near In Seirat, commanded the equivalent of a corps, with a staff the size of an infantry division.<ref name="Falls289"/>

====Lines of communication====
[[File:British infantry march through the desert 1917 IWM photoQ 057764.jpg|thumb|British infantry marching on the wire road across the desert between Bir el Mazar and Bardawil in February 1917]]
The Ottoman withdrawal back from Khan Yunis and Shellal, put enough distance between the two forces to require a pause in the advance, while the railway was laid to Rafa.<ref>Falls 1930 Vol. 1 278</ref> By the end of February 1917, {{convert|388|mi|km}} of railway had been laid (at a rate of 1 kilometre a day), {{convert|203|mi|km}} of metalled road, {{convert|86|mi|km}} of wire and brushwood roads, and {{convert|300|mi|km}} of water pipeline had been constructed.<ref>Gullett 1941, pp. 337–8, 347</ref> And the [[Royal Navy]] undertook to land stores on the beach at [[Deir el Belah]] as soon as required and until the railway approached the Wadi Ghazzee.<ref name="Falls284">Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 284</ref>

By 1 March the railhead had reached Sheikh Zowaiid {{convert|30|mi|km}} from Gaza, and by the middle of March the railway had reached Rafa, {{convert|12|mi|km}} from Deir el Belah. Although the Rafa railway station opened on 21 March, it "was not ready for unloading supplies" until after the battle. The railhead was to eventually reached Khan Yunis.<ref name="Falls279"/><ref name="Falls280"/> However, with the arrival of the railway at Rafa, Gaza came within range of an EEF attack by mounted troops and infantry.<ref name="Blenkinsop184"/>

====Transport====
[[File:AWMA01616ECTCElArish.jpg|thumb|Stores being unloaded and carried to a dump being constructed behind the tent at El Arish. A caravan of loaded camels is in the foreground]]

With firmer ground the [[pedrail]]s came off the guns and their teams of eight and ten horses were reduced to six. It also became possible to use wheeled vehicles, and in January the War Office agreed to the infantry divisions being re-equipped with wheeled transport trains. These were to replace camel transport, on the condition that drivers would be found locally, as no transfers from other campaigns were possible. Although camel trains remained important throughout the war, together with pack mules and donkeys, where roads were bad and in hilly trackless terrain, where the horse-drawn and mule-drawn wagons, motor lorries and tractors could not go, they began to be replaced. General service and limber wagons drawn by horses or mules were grouped in supply columns, with the transport wagons of the regiments, the machine–gun squadrons, and the field ambulances, to travel on easier but less direct routes. However, all these animals required vast quantities of food and water, which greatly increased pressure on the lines of communication. During the advance across the Sinai, although it was established that horses did better with two drinks a day instead of three, the volume remained the same.<ref name="Falls273"/><ref>Preston 1921, p. 315</ref><ref>Gullett 1941, pp. 244–5</ref><ref>Downes 1938, p. 615</ref><ref>Moore 1920, p. 82</ref><ref>Lindsay 1992, pp. 346, 379</ref>

Supplying the infantry and mounted divisions was a vast undertaking, as one brigade (and there were six involved in the attack on Gaza) of light horse, mounted rifles, and yeomanry at war establishment consisted of approximately 2,000 soldiers as well as the division of infantry; all requiring food and drink, clothing, ammunition and tools, etc.<ref>Mounted Service Manual 1902, p. 10</ref>

Transport was organised, combining the horse-drawn and mule-drawn supply columns with the camel trains, to support Eastern Force operating beyond railhead for about 24 hours.<ref>Hill 1978, pp. 99–100</ref><ref group="Note">Falls notes there was insufficient transport to support operations at any considerable distance from railhead and while the infantry had wheeled transport the mounted divisions still had camel transport. [Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 280]</ref> "The wagons [of the Anzac Mounted Division] with their teams of mules, two in the pole and three in the lead, [were] driven by one man from the box." These wagons and mules were so successful that the five-mule team was "laid down for the Egyptian Expeditionary Force&nbsp;... ultimately almost supersed[ing] the British four or six horse ride-and-drive team."<ref>Powles 1922 p. 23</ref>

====Plan of attack====
[[File:The incident for which Lieutenant F.H. McNamara was awarded the VC.JPG|thumb|Painting by [[Harold Septimus Power|Septimus Power]] of Lieutenant [[Frank McNamara (VC)|Frank McNamara]] and Captain David Rutherford No. 67 Squadron, [[5th Wing Royal Flying Corps]], returning from aerial bombing near Gaza on 20 March 1917]]
Although Murray delegated the responsibility for the battle to Dobell, he set three objectives. These were to capture a line along the Wadi Ghuzzee in order to cover the laying of the railway line, to prevent the defenders withdrawing before they were attacked, and to "capture Gaza and its garrison by a ''coup de main.''"<ref name="Falls281"/> The plan of attack produced by Dobell and his staff, was similar to those successfully implemented at Magdhaba by Chauvel and at Rafa by Chetwode, except that the EEF infantry were to have a prominent role. On a larger scale than the previous battles, the garrison at Gaza, established in fortified entrenchments and redoubts, was to be surrounded and captured, before Ottoman reinforcements could arrive.<ref name=Bruce92/><ref name=Cutlack59>Cutlack 1941 p. 59</ref><ref name="Moore65"/>

The main attack on the town and Ali Muntar hill would come from the south, by the Desert Column's 53rd (Welsh) Division commanded by Dallas, supported by one infantry brigade of Eastern Force's 54th (East Anglian) Division, commanded by Hare. The Anzac and Imperial Mounted Divisions, commanded by Chauvel and Hodgson respectively, were to establish a screen or cordon around Gaza to the north and east to isolate the garrison, cutting the main roads and preventing an incursion by Ottoman reinforcements reaching the town from their garrisons at Hareira, Beersheba, and Huj. If necessary, the mounted divisions were to be ready to reinforce the infantry attack, while the remaining infantry brigades of the 54th (East Anglian) Division extended the mounted screen to the southeast, just across the Wadi Ghuzzee.<ref name="Bruce92–3"/><ref name="Moore65">Moore 1920 p. 65</ref><ref>Powles 1922 p. 87</ref>

On 5 March, Murray agreed to Dobell's plan for the attack, which was to be launched at the end of March.<ref name="Downes616"/> On 20 March Dobell moved his headquarters from El Arish to Rafa.<ref name="Blenkinsop184"/><ref name="Downes618"/> The next day, the Rafa Race Meeting took place, complete with trophies ordered from Cairo, and a printed programme. These races, complete with an enclosed paddock, totalizator, jumps, and a marked course, were contested by Yeomanry, Australian and New Zealand horses and riders.<ref name="Powles84"/><ref>Hill 1978 pp. 100–1</ref> On 22 March, all roads and tracks were reconnoitred as far as Deir el Belah and allotted to the different formations, and preliminary moves towards Gaza were begun.<ref name="Powles84"/>

Dallas' orders were handed to the Anzac, Imperial Mounted, and the 54th (East Anglian) Divisions' commanders at 17:00 on 25 March. The 53rd (Welsh) Division's 158th (North Wales) and 160th Brigades were to begin crossing the Wadi Ghuzzeh at 03:30 and advance up the Burjabye and Es Sire ridges, while the 159th (Cheshire) Brigade which followed the 158th (North Wales) across the wadi, was to remain close to the wadi until further orders were received. Money's Detachment was to cross the wadi mouth and hold a position in the sand dunes between the Rafa-Gaza road and the sea to divert the Ottoman defenders' attention, and cover a section of the 15th Heavy Battery. A section of 91st Heavy Battery was to move into the wadi, while a section the 10th Heavy Battery of 60-pdrs was attached to the 160th Brigade Group. However, artillery ammunition was limited and was to mainly target the Labyrinth group of Ottoman defences. The mounted divisions were to isolate Gaza by stopping the Gaza garrison retiring, or any reinforcements from Huj and Hareira areas, attempting to reinforce Gaza. They were to pursue any hostile force that showed signs of retiring, and if necessary, support the main assault on Gaza, which was to be carried out by the 53rd (Welsh) Division. This division was to be reinforced if necessary by the 161st (Essex) Brigade of the 54th (East Anglian) Division.<ref>Anzac Mounted Division War Diary AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 pp. 1–2</ref><ref>Keogh 1955, pp. 85–6</ref><ref>Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 285–6</ref> At 18:00 Murray, the commander in chief of the EEF, established his headquarters in the carriage of a railway train at El Arish.<ref name="Falls289">Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 289</ref>

====Preliminary moves====
On 25 March, the Anzac Mounted Division moved out of their bivouacs in two columns. The first column, consisting of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles and the 22nd Mounted Yeomanry Brigades, marched up the beach from Bir Abu Shunnar at 02:30, to establish a line just south of the Wadi Ghuzzeh. This advance was to cover reconnaissances of the Wadi Ghuzzeh, which would search for the best places to cross this deep, dry, and formidable obstacle, for both infantry and mounted troops as they advanced towards Gaza.<ref>Powles 1922 pp. 84–5</ref><ref name="Pugsley 2004 p. 138">Pugsley 2004 p. 138</ref> The second column, consisting of Anzac Mounted Division's divisional headquarters, Signal Squadron, Field Artillery, and the 2nd Light Horse Brigade (forming divisional reserve), arrived {{convert|.75|mi|km}} southwest of Deir el Belah. Here the 2nd Light Horse Brigade and the artillery were ordered to water and bivouac at Deir el Belah. By 10:00, Chauvel's Anzac Mounted Division's headquarters and Chetwode's Desert Column headquarters had been established on Hill 310.<ref>Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 1 10:00</ref>

While the Ottoman army positions at Gaza had been reconnoitred and photographed from the air, it was still necessary for the staff of the Anzac and Imperial Mounted Divisions, along with the Commander of the Royal Artillery (CRA), to carry out personal reconnaissances of the Wadi Ghuzzeh.<ref name="Falls284"/> By the afternoon all likely crossings had been carefully reconnoitred, and the chosen crossing near the Wadi Sharta, which was to be used the next day, marked.<ref>Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 1 14:40</ref>

At 15:30 the Imperial Mounted Division, led by the 3rd Light Horse Brigade, marched out of camp at Marakeb, heading for Deir el Belah about six hours or {{convert|18|mi|km}} away. The division's three brigades and their machine gun [[squadron (army)|squadrons]] were accompanied by their mobile veterinary sections and the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance. The troopers carried their day's rations, while rations for 26 and 27 March were to be transported forward during the night of 25/26 March, by the first line transport of camels and wagons. As it had been expected the division would be away five days, additional rations were carried on improvised packs, which accompanied the division as far as Deir el Belah.<ref name=Powles84/><ref>3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade War Diary AWM4-10-3-26 Order No. 15</ref>

====Approach marches 26 March====
On the day of battle, the 53rd (Welsh) Division, moved out from Deir el Belah at 01:00 in four columns towards El Breij, followed by the artillery. At 02:30 the Anzac Mounted Division left Deir el Belah with the Imperial Mounted Division following at 03:00, heading for the Um Jerrar crossing of the Wadi Ghazze {{convert|4.5|mi|km}} east of Deir el Belah.<ref>Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 287–8</ref> Dallas commanding the infantry established his battle headquarters near El Breij at 03:45, while Chetwode arrived at Desert Column headquarters at In Seirat at 06:37, although he intended to continue moving on to Sheikh Abbas. Dobell commanding Eastern Force arrived from Rafa, at his battle headquarters just north of In Seirat at 06:45.<ref name="Falls289"/>

Fog had begun to develop and from about 03:50 became very thick. It remained for about four hours, then began to lift. Just before dawn at 05:00, it was so dense that objects could not be seen {{convert|20|yd|m}} away, but by this time most of the infantry had crossed the wadi. However, the fog made it impossible for Dallas to reconnoitre the proposed battleground, and he waited at El Breij for it to lift while his two leading brigades moved slowly forward. Visibility was improving about 07:30,<ref>Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 289–90</ref><ref group="Note">There are varying accounts of exactly when the fog lifted from 07:00 to 11:00. [Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 290 note]</ref> and by 07:55 the fog had lifted sufficiently for [[heliograph]]s to be used.<ref name="AnzacMDwdAWM4-1-60-13A54p2">Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 2</ref> However, all aircraft in No. 1 Squadron had to return to their new landing ground at Rafa, as nothing of the ground could be seen from the air.<ref name=Cutlack59/> Dallas' 53rd (Welsh) Division was moving forward, despite the fog to make a direct assault on Gaza.<ref name=Bruce92/><ref name=Dennis407>Dennis et al 2008, p. 407</ref><ref name=Downes619>Downes 1938, p. 619</ref> At 05:20, the division's 158th (North Wales) and the 160th infantry brigades were crossing the Wadi Ghuzze while the 159th (Cheshire) Brigade was in reserve. By 06:50 the 160th Brigade had moved towards Shaluf and the 158th (North Wales) Brigade was moving towards Mansura, but they were ordered to slow down because artillery support may not be available, if the fog were to suddenly lift.<ref name=Desert1-1>Desert Column War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-64-3 Part 1-1</ref> By 07:50, the leading battalions were approaching Sheikh Seehan without having encountered any Ottoman defenders. Between 08:15 and 08:55 hostile planes flew over the advancing infantry, firing their machine guns into the columns. At 08:30 the 160th (Welsh) Brigade was about {{convert|2400|yd|m}} from Gaza, with their leading battalion {{convert|2|mi|km}} southwest of the commanding heights of their main objective, Ali Muntar. The 158th (North Wales) Brigade had reached Mansura,<ref name="AnzacMDwdAWM4-1-60-13A54p2"/><ref name=Hill103-4>Hill 1978, pp. 103–4</ref> and by 09:30 they were three quarters of a mile (1.2&nbsp;km) north of the 53rd (Welsh) Division's headquarters at Mansura.<ref name=Desert1-1/>

Meanwhile, the 54th (East Anglian) Division (less 161st Essex Brigade in Eastern Force reserve) was ordered to cross the Wadi Ghuzzeh immediately after the mounted troops, and take up a position at Sheikh Abbas to cover the rear of the 53rd (Welsh) Division, and keep the corridor open along which it was to attack.<ref name="Falls285"/> The division took up position on Sheikh Abbas Ridge and began digging [[Trench warfare|trenches]] facing east. The 161st (Essex) Brigade moved to El Burjabye, where it would be able to support either the 53rd (Welsh) Division, or the 54th (East Anglian) Division covering the right rear of the attack, at Sheikh Abbas.<ref>Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 293</ref>

Money's Detachment moved towards the wadi in preparation for crossing at dawn, while the 91st Heavy Battery was covered by the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry and the divisional cavalry squadron, moved to a position on the Rafa-Gaza road.<ref name="Falls288">Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 288</ref>

====Encirclement====
[[File:AnzacMDwd AWM4-60-13.A54.36.tiff|thumb|Position of the Anzac Mounted Division at about 09:30 (not labelled) with the Imperial Mounted Division, two columns of the 53rd (Welsh) Division and one column of the 54th (East Anglian) Division. Ottoman defences shown in green]]
While the fog made navigation difficult, it also shielded the movement of large bodies of troopers, so the two mounted divisions with the Imperial Camel Brigade attached, rapidly cut the roads leading to Gaza from the north and east, isolating the Ottoman garrison, in a {{convert|15|mi|km}} long cavalry screen.<ref name="Erickson2001_161"/><ref name=Bruce92/><ref name=Blenkinsop185/>

The leading division, the Anzac Mounted Division, first encountered hostile forces at 08:00. At that time the [[7th Light Horse Regiment]] (2nd Light Horse Brigade) was attacked near Sheikh Abbas. Shortly afterwards, hostile aircraft fired machine guns on these leading Desert Column mounted troops. As the mounted screen crossed the Gaza to Beersheba road, they cut the telegraph lines, and a patrol captured ten wagons, while other units captured 30 [[Assault pioneer|German pioneers]] and their pack-horses.<ref name="Falls291">Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 291</ref> At this time, the German commander at Tel esh Sheria, Kress von Kressenstein, received an aerial report describing the advance of two enemy infantry divisions towards Gaza, and about three enemy cavalry divisions and armoured cars, had advanced north between Gaza and Tel esh Sheria. Major Tiller, commanding the Gaza garrison, reported later being attacked from the south, east, and northeast "in great strength." He was ordered to hold Gaza "to the last man."<ref name="Falls321n1"/>

Soon after 09:00 the 2nd Light Horse Brigade reached Beit Durdis, closely followed by the remainder of their Anzac Mounted Division.<ref name="Falls291"/> At 09:30 four "Officers Patrols" were sent forward towards Huj, Najd {{convert|3|mi|km}} north northeast of Huj, Hareira, Tel el Sheria and towards the Ottoman railway line. The headquarters of the Anzac Mounted Division was established at Beit Durdis, and by 10:10 communications by cable with Desert Column, the Imperial Mounted Division, and the 2nd Light Horse Brigade were established. Heliograph stations were also set up and wireless communications established, but the wireless was blocked by a more powerful Ottoman transmitter at Gaza.<ref name="AnzacMDwdAWM4-1-60-13A54p2"/><ref name="Falls292">Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 292</ref> By 10:30, the 2nd Light Horse Brigade had taken up a position (known as Australia Hill) overlooking Gaza from the northeast, and had occupied the village of Jebaliye {{convert|2|mi|km}} northeast of Gaza. Half an hour later, the 7th Light Horse Regiment (2nd Light Horse Brigade) was pushing westwards and by 11:30 had reached the Mediterranean coast, to complete the [[encirclement]] of Gaza. In the process, this regiment captured the commander of the Ottoman 53rd Division (not to be confused with the 53rd Welsh Division) and his staff, who had been on their way to strengthen the Gaza garrison. At this time, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade was concentrated near Beit Durdis, while the 22nd Mounted Brigade formed up south of them. Two squadrons of the [[8th Light Horse Regiment]] (3rd Light Horse Brigade) moved towards Deir Sneid {{convert|7|mi|km}} northeast of Gaza, to watch and wait for the expected approach of reinforcements moving to strengthen Gaza.<ref name="AnzacMDwdAWM4-1-60-13A54p3">Anzac Mounted Division War Diary March 1917 AWM4-1-60-13 Appendix 54 p. 3</ref><ref>Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 291–2</ref>

The Imperial Mounted Division sent patrols towards Hareira, Tel esh Sheria, Kh. Zuheilika and Huj, during their advance to Kh er Reseim where they arrived at 10:00, to connect with the Anzac Mounted Division. Meanwhile, at 09:45, a squadron from the Queen's Own Worcestershire Hussars (5th Mounted Brigade) had encountered hostile units northwest of Kh. el Baha which they charged, capturing 60 prisoners. A further two squadrons of the 5th Mounted Brigade pushed forward towards Kh. el Baha south east of Kh er Reseim, {{convert|1|mi|km}} north of the Gaza to Beersheba road, where they remained in support.<ref name="Falls292"/>

The two mounted divisions were now in position, watching for the expected Ottoman reinforcements. By between 11:00 and 11:35, more or less all mounted troops were under fire. This fire came from shells launched from Gaza, or from German or Ottoman planes flying over Beit Durdis, as well as a long range gun, while another gun also fired on the mounted units. The battery of the 5th Mounted Brigade fired on some small groups of Ottoman infantry, but the hostile long range gun accurately returned fire, causing this battery to change position. Very little fighting had yet taken place, so far as the mounted units were concerned, and the infantry attack had not made much progress. However, news was beginning to come in from the [[overwatch (military tactic)|overwatching]] Desert Column patrols, reporting movements from the direction of Huj and the Beersheba railway line, and columns of dust in the direction of Tel esh Sharia, all indicating large scale Ottoman Army movements in progress.<ref name="AnzacMDwdAWM4-1-60-13A54p3"/><ref name=Powles90>Powles 1922, p. 90</ref> However, by 12:00 Chetwode commanding Desert Column, had not yet received any reports of Ottoman reinforcements moving towards Gaza, and he sent a message to Chauvel commanding the Anzac Mounted Division and Hodgson commanding the Imperial Mounted Division, to prepare to send a brigade each to assist the infantry attack on Gaza.<ref>Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 297</ref>

The Imperial Camel Brigade crossed the Wadi Ghuzzeh at Tel el Jemmi south of the crossings at Um Jerrar, to reach El Mendur on the bank of the Wadi esh Sheria. Here they established an outpost line between the right of the 5th Mounted Brigade and the Wadi Ghuzzeh.<ref>Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 292–3</ref> The mobile sections of the field ambulances, followed by their immobile sections and ambulance camel transport, moved towards their outpost positions northeast and east of Gaza.<ref>Hill 1978, p. 101</ref><ref>Downes 1938, pp. 618–9</ref> With the wadi crossed and strongly defended by the EEF, divisional engineers quickly began to pump water from below the dry bed of the Wadi Ghuzzeh, which was eventually sufficient for all troops engaged. Water was pumped into long rows of temporary canvas troughs for the horses.<ref name="Falls288"/>