To mark the Centenary of the First Battle of Gaza, 26 March 1917, five of us decided to refight the northern part of the battle. This involved the attack by three brigades of the Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division against the dug in and reinforced Ottoman 125th Infantry Regiment.
We used the Too Fat Lardies "If The Lord Spares Us" rules with Pierre the Shy's Divisional HQ house rules.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2303_zpsjxddvasf.jpg)
The Ottomans are deployed in trenches running from Clay Hill, east of Gaza, around the north of the city. And also in trenches running west from El Meshahera towards the Mediterranean. Two dug in batteries west of Gaza provide artillery support.
22nd Mounted Brigade, advancing from the east occupied the Wadi el Mukaddeme as ordered. It was not clear if the trenches on Clay Hill were occupied.
The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade advanced south down the eastern side of the Es Sire Ridge while the Brigade and Divisional HQs deployed to better control the battle.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2304_zpsr3vulma3.jpg)
The 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade deployed north of Gaza and El Meshahera between Sheikh Radwan and Jebaliye. 5th Regiment Light Horse, on the right came under immediate accurate artillery fire. It was not clear if the trenches running west from El Meshahera were occupied.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2305_zpsqhjvhorp.jpg)
In the second turn the 1/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry of 22nd Mounted Brigade came under fire from one of the batteries west of Gaza (2/6th Artillery).
The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade continued to advance south down the eastern side of the Es Sire Ridge.
Ayrshire Battery, Royal Horse Artillery unlimbered north of Sheikh Radwan and opened fire on the Ottoman battery firing on 5th Regiment Light Horse. Rifle fire from El Meshahera and the trenches to the west revealed the presence of an Ottoman Battalion (III/125th) and added to the discomfort of 5th Regiment Light Horse.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2309_zpsvhojigbe.jpg)
In the third turn the 1/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry of 22nd Mounted Brigade continued to be shelled from west of Gaza.
The Auckland and Wellington Mounted Rifle Regiments approached Clay Hill and were meet by heavy fire from Ottoman MG Company 267 and a company of I/125th. Meanwhile an artillery spotter climbed to the high point of the Es Sire ridge and the Leicester Battery, Royal Horse Artillery deployed.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2311_zpsihbejern.jpg)
The MG Squadron of 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade, which had deployed unnoticed in the fields south of Sheikh Radwan, opened up at short range on the Ottomans in the trenches west of El Meshahera causing many casualties and forcing many more Ottomans from the trenches. The Ottoman battery that had been shelling 5th Regiment Light Horse urgently shifted fire onto this new threat.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2312_zpsxrdduriw.jpg)
In the fourth turn the artillery fire that had been falling on the 1/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry of 22nd Mounted Brigade lifted onto the advancing Canterbury Mounted Rifles.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2313_zpswxu36ffn.jpg)
The Canterbury Mounted Rifles moved through the Aucklanders and Wellingtonians but suffered heavily as all four companies of I/125th combined with MG Company 267 and artillery. The right hand squadron suffered particularly heavy casualties and the attached MG section was destroyed. Supporting fire from the Leicester Battery, Royal Horse Artillery seemed to have limited effect on the Ottoman machine gunners.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2315_zpsjtmupmkr.jpg)
Ayrshire Battery, Royal Horse Artillery continued to fire on the Ottomans battery that was now firing on the MG Squadron of 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade but was having little effect. The Ottoman gunners were also having little effect on the Australian machine gunners who continued to cause casualties in the trenches west of El Meshahera.
We had managed to develop our plans and complete 4 turns in about three hours so were pleased with our progress. The game will continue next Saturday night and probably the following Saturday as well.
Looks great.
Let us know how it progresses. :)
Cheers - Phil
Good looking game and easy to follow with the unit names tagged to the photographs. I also like the use of 'blinds' to make your opponent guess what units are real and what are not - the actual blinds are very good, too. :-bd
Great looking game!
This has been a very interesting game so far.....I am running the "Imperial" Divisional HQ and the NZMB and next turn the assault goes in.......hope my plan works (I'm sure you all know know the saying about plans not surviving contact with the enemy ;) ).
A certain weight of responsibility/expectation on the NZMB to do OK since they are from this part of the world?
Hopefully the cards allow me to use the Divisional HQ change orders for the 22nd Mounted Brigade to support the NZMB before the second Tea Break card appears.....if not I suppose I will be hoisted by by own petard since I came up with the Divisional command house rules.
The Leicester Battery appears the have been suffering from the same recent slump in form as their Premier League namesakes :( ....while the Ottoman artillery has been pounding us quite heavily the Leicester Battery has so far only caused a single surpression. Though its not all one sided since a couple of Ottoman companies have also rolled snake eyes on three firing dice.
Very evenly poised currently, but that's sure not to last. You'll have to wait till next weekend to see what happens next.....same bat time, same bat channel as they used to say.
I suspect the yeoman of 22nd Mounted Brigade are quite comfortable in the Wadi. Particularly now the artillery has lifted and they can see what the New Zealanders are walking into ;)
Division HQ can take as long as it likes to change their orders ;)
Looks like a nice table!
another rowdy session last night but with a lot of assaults we only managed 4 turns all evening.
I'll leave it to Paul to report in detail, but the Wellington Mounted Rifles did superbly while the Canterbury Regiment made it into the trenches but were cut up badly by a counterattack by the Ottoman reserves in the town.
the Yeomanry and Aussies are advancing in support so we may conclude the game next week.
The Leicester battery continues to have mixed fortunes, though they did a great job of surpressing a Ottoman MG company that could have made things very nasty for the NZMB. Gnr Vardy was on target when it really counted ;)
Part 2
Our second evening of this game saw dramatic developments north and east of Gaza.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2320_zpsh38a9onn.jpg)
The yeomanry of 22nd Mounted Brigade continued to hold the Wadi el Mukaddeme while the NZ Mounted Rifles Brigade applied pressure on the Ottoman defenders of Clay Hill.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2319_zpscqmeaqqy.jpg)
To the north of Gaza the fire from the MG Squadron of 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade was getting less effective as the range to occupied trenches near El Meshahera increased and the accuracy of the Ottoman artillery improved causing casualties. The fire was still too much for the company of II/125th that remained in the trenches and they withdrew towards the second line. The company in El Meshahera joined them.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2321_zps5i6jj8rj.jpg)
A rather agitated colonial staff officer arrived at HQ 22nd Mounted Brigade with a message from HQ ANZ Mounted Division requesting the brigade to attack Gaza in support of NZ Mounted Rifles Brigade. Colonel (temp. Brig.-General) F. A. B. Fryer set the Brigade in motion towards Clay Hill.
On the right the Australians, seeing the Turks withdrawing, moved forward on their own initiative to occupy El Meshahera and the recently vacated trenches. 5th Regiment Light Horse, on the left of the Brigade took heavy fire from MG Company 125 in the second line trenches and its left most squadron was unable to advance.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2327_zpsjxdiytmx.jpg)
On the left the Wellington Mounted Rifles assaulted the Ottoman trenches north of Clay Hill. Two squadrons forced the Ottomans from the trenches with some fleeing into Gaza itself, the third squadron was repulsed.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2330_zpswnw2klk6.jpg)
The 22nd Mounted Brigade closed up in support of the NZ Mounted Rifles Brigade.
On the right the 5th Regiment Light Horse neared the trenches just west of El Meshahera under heavy fire from MG Company 125 and the survivors of II/125th. 6th and 7th Regiments Light Horse moved up unopposed as the Ottoman artillery continued to fire on the MG Squadron.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2332_zpsyclnuqbz.jpg)
On the left the Auckland Mounted Rifles captured the trenches on Clay Hill forcing out two companies of I/125th Regiment and MG Company 267.
Major Tiller, the German officer in command of the defence of Gaza, committed some of his reserve and I/79th Regiment advanced from Gaza and attacked the Wellington Mounted Rifles in the recently occupied trenches. The heavily outnumbered Wellingtons were forced back and three companies of I/79th Regiment reoccupied the trenches.
ANZ Mounted Division is making progress but casualties are mounting, particularly in the NZ Mounted Rifles Brigade. The game will continue next Saturday.
It is an interesting game, gentlemen. I have only a vauge idea about the time and place from the movie "the Lighthorsemen" and the great aerial shots of the attack on Aqaba(?) from LofA (which your game reminds me of). I take it that the large flag tokens indicate as yet uncovered units/positions?
Awesomeness abounds .
Quote from: d_Guy on 06 April 2017, 12:57:05 AM
It is an interesting game, gentlemen. I have only a vauge idea about the time and place from the movie "the Lighthorsemen" and the great aerial shots of the attack on Aqaba(?) from LofA (which your game reminds me of). I take it that the large flag tokens indicate as yet uncovered units/positions?
The charge shown in "The Lighthorsemen" was at Bersheeba during the 3rd and final Battle of Gaza in late 1917 some miles to the East of Gaza itself. I know those scenes from LofA you mean......just hope our attack is as successful.
Yes the large flag tokens are "blinds" which represent as yet unspotted units. Some of them may be false.
One the Ottoman players reckoned that I sounded exactly like his idea of a typical British staff officer of the period which made me laugh since one of my Grandfathers was commissioned in the Royal Artillery in 1916 and ended up retiring as a Brigadier in the early 50's.
Very enjoyable read, I hardly hear of those rules being played, so good to see them here.
Pierre,
I have long been impressed with the family histories of many on this board and what additional interest that brings to the battles and campaigns being portrayed. I can say without reservation, however, that none of my forebearers where British officers. :D
uauuuuuuuuuuuu;!!!!!!!!
Part 3
Our third evening brought this game to a conclusion.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2333_zps92pthkoy.jpg)
On the right the 5th Regiment Light Horse occupied El Meshahera and 6th Regiment Light Horse occupied the trenches to the west. One section of Ayrshire Battery, Royal Horse Artillery shifted fire onto MG Company 125 to give some support to the hard pressed 5th Regiment Light Horse while the remaining section continued to fire on the Ottoman artillery.
MG Company 125 and the survivors of III/125th concentrated their fire on El Meshahera and caused significant casualties to 5th Regiment Light Horse. The Ottoman artillery fired on the reserve squadron of 6th Regiment Light Horse that was still in the open.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2335_zps1ihrj0b8.jpg)
On the left the NZ Mounted Rifles Brigade, despite extremely heavy casualties, continued to try and follow their orders to attack Gazza. The Wellington Mounted Rifles regrouped on Es Sire Ridge, Canterbury Mounted Rifles managed to eject one company of the Ottoman I/79th Regiment from the trenches after they had repulsed some Yeomanry. The Auckland Mounted Rifles pressed forward against two companies of I/125th Regiment in the open on Clay Hill. The Leicester Battery, Royal Horse Artillery caught MG Company 267 as they withdrew towards Gaza causing major casualties.
One squadron of 1/1st Staffordshire Yeomanry managed to retake some of the trenches from I/79th Regiment while another squadron was repulsed. The remainder of 22nd Mounted Brigade closed up on the trench line heading for Gaza.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2337_zpsqoytp6b9.jpg)
On the right the 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade consolidated its hold on El Meshahera and the trenches to the west against increasing Ottoman fire. On the left the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade and 22nd Mounted Brigade cleared the trenches on Clay Hill and pressed on towards the outskirts of Gaza.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2338_zpswba0pxyu.jpg)
On the right the Ottoman MG Company 125 and the survivors of III/125th continued to inflict casualties on 5th Regiment Light Horse in El Meshahera. II/125th opened fire on 6th Regiment Light Horse supported by Ottoman artillery, while the recently occupied Ottoman trenches provided some cover casualties mounted particular on 2nd squadron in the centre.
The MG Squadron of 2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade moved up to occupy the trenches on the right of the brigade with the intention of firing on the Ottoman artillery. They were briefly caught in the open by one section of Ottoman artillery.
(http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t197/paulreynolds999/ITLSU%20First%20Gaza/IMG_2340_zpsvspkzge1.jpg)
On the left 1/1st Staffordshire Yeomanry, Canterbury Mounted Rifles and 1/1st East Riding Yeomanry cleared the trenches on Clay Hill while 1/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry and the depleted Wellington Mounted Rifles moved up in support. The much depleted Auckland Mounted Rifles pressed on towards Gaza forcing the Turks back at bayonet point.
Major Tiller and the commander of 125th Infantry Regiment conferred. While the situation in the north was debatable the situation in the east was desperate. Both battalions on this flank were in disarray and the MG Company had been destroyed. The NZ Brigade was still fighting despite horrific casualties and the Yeomanry Brigade was still full of fight. With only a squadron of cavalry and a Camel company in reserve the Ottomans conceded.
Historically, due to the threat from Ottoman forces advancing to relieve Gaza from the east Dobell, the commander of Eastern Force, after talking with Chetwode, the commander of Desert Column, decided that unless Gaza was captured by nightfall, the fighting must stop and the mounted force be withdrawn. By dusk, some of the strong Ottoman trenches and redoubts defending the south east of Gaza, had not been reported as captured. The British infantry casualties were substantial and there was concern about the state of the mounted units horses that hadn't been watered since the previous night.
Therefore, with the approval of Dobell, just after sunset Chetwode commanding Desert Column, ordered Chauvel to withdraw the mounted force and retire across the Wadi Ghuzzeh.
The Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division "saw victory snatched away from them by the order to withdraw." The Australian official history claims Chauvel protested strongly, while the British official history notes there is no written record of Chauvel's protest."
This was a very close fought, but most enjoyable game which showed that the ITLSU rules work really well even at divisional level.
The attack plan actually worked quite well :o :o, though NZMB took a lot of casualties in its initial attack on the Clay Hill trenches, but we were able to get the supporting units of 22nd Mounted Brigade into action to ensure the trenchline was eventually secured after an epic defence.
Thanks to Paul for putting together the troops and scenario and the Saturday night regulars for adopting ITLSU over the past couple of years.
On to second Gaza at some stage in the near future.....bring on those tanks!! ;)
Cheers
Peter
Great stuff !
Cheers - Phil
Quote from: pierre the shy on 14 April 2017, 05:52:14 AM
On to second Gaza at some stage in the near future.....bring on those tanks!! ;)
I have a scenario in mind :-\
It won't be staged as soon after the first battle as in history but then we aren't under the same political pressure as General Archibald Murray was ;)
Great looking game and I enjoyed the report. :-bd
Great pt3!
Inspiring game and reports!