Through Palestine with the Twentieth Machine Gun Squadron

In Short

This record chronicles the movements and experiences of the 20th Machine Gun Squadron during the Egyptian Expeditionary Force’s campaign through Palestine in the final years of the First World War. It captures the transition from desert patrol to high-speed maneuvers and eventual occupation duty in Syria. By detailing the daily lives, equipment challenges, and tactical engagements of the soldiers, the book serves as a poignant monument to the men who served, ensuring their sacrifices and the complexities of their service remain remembered by their families and posterity.

The Story

The narrative begins in October 1917, as the 20th Machine Gun Squadron prepares for the operational push against the Ottoman Empire. The early days are marked by the harsh realities of desert warfare: long, exhausting marches across waterless terrain, the struggle to keep pack animals fit, and the constant, often futile, search for "targets" during reconnaissance. The squadron, initially formed from a draft of men who quickly rose to command various units, faces the immediate test of expanding its strength while managing heavy equipment under intense heat.

As the campaign progresses, the squadron moves into the coastal sector and participates in the operations near Beersheba and Tel Khuweilfeh. Here, the narrative shifts from the monotony of the march to the sharp, sudden violence of the front. The soldiers endure the chaos of artillery duels and the psychological pressure of holding positions against superior numbers. The reality of the war is stripped of glory; the text highlights the difficulty of communication, the logistical nightmares of moving supplies through rugged, mountainous country, and the visceral, exhausting combat that characterizes the push toward Jerusalem.

The movement north brings the squadron through lands steeped in ancient history, which the authors contrast with the soldiers' immediate, often miserable, circumstances. They traverse regions like Zernuka and the Jordan Valley, where the environment—steep ridges, deep dust, and pitiless sun—proves as dangerous as the enemy. A significant, somber chapter details the burial ceremony at Tahta, where the men, amidst the thunder of artillery and the crack of bullets, pause to lay their comrades to rest. It is a moment of profound gravity that underscores the "supreme sacrifice" made by the unit.

Following the major offensives, the story moves into a phase of occupation and long-term stationing. The squadron participates in the advance into Syria, entering Rayak and Aleppo. The tone shifts here to one of enforced exile; the men engage in race meetings and concert parties to combat the monotony of their service. The narrative concludes with the post-war period, moving from the excitement of the final push to the slow, lingering process of demobilization and the long-distance reflections of those who returned home. The final pages shift from active history to a permanent archive—a comprehensive roll of the members and a solemn "Roll of Honour"—marking the end of the unit’s existence and the legacy of those who did not survive to see the peace.

How It Unfolds

The mobilization The squadron forms in Egypt, quickly adapting to the demands of the E.E.F. while managing the sudden influx of new equipment and the responsibility of independent command.

The desert advance The unit undertakes grueling patrols and rehearsals, learning the physical limits of their horses and transport before participating in the pivotal push to capture Beersheba.

The fire of combat Engagements at Tel Khuweilfeh and the Tahta operations thrust the soldiers into intense frontline fighting, forcing them to hold ground against counter-attacks under heavy fire.

The northern march The squadron moves toward the Jordan Valley and eventually into Syria, experiencing the contrasts between historic sites and the harsh, dusty reality of the march.

The occupation After the hostilities cease, the unit settles into the monotony of garrison life in Aleppo, filling the time with inspections, racing, and waiting for the eventual return to Britain.

The People

Major L.F. St. John Davies, M.C., serves as the commanding officer, steering the squadron through both the intensity of the Palestine offensive and the later, more sedentary period of occupation. His leadership provides the backbone for the squadron’s organizational structure, though the narrative frequently highlights the initiative of his subordinates. Lieut. Raynor stands out for his remarkable ability to organize "D" Sub-section from scratch; his injury and subsequent retirement serve as a reminder of the personal cost of the war, even for those who survived the front.

Sergt. Fleet emerges as a figure of quiet courage, assuming command of "D" Sub-section after his superior is wounded and earning the Military Medal for his actions at Hudeiwe. His transition from a sergeant to a decorated leader represents the resilience of the men who filled the gaps during the campaign's most desperate hours. Other figures, like Lieut. Kindell, represent the improvisational spirit of the squadron, particularly during the light-hearted yet dangerous mission where he and his men repurposed a captured enemy motor car. These men, along with the many privates named in the final rolls, are defined by their adaptability—moving from the terror of the frontline to the dusty, aimless days of the occupation, yet remaining bound by the collective identity of their squadron.

In Its Own Voice

"To feel clean once more and to be able to have a sleep in the heat of the day, which at this time was intense (in spite of the cold nights), was a treat enjoyed by all."

The authors describe the simple, rare pleasures of soldiers in the desert after finding a momentary respite from the march.

"During the deep roar and vivid flashes of our guns, just to the rear, and the sharp crack of bullets striking the rocks just above, the solemn and earnest words of our Chaplain could be heard."

This passage captures the stark, jarring reality of holding a burial ceremony in a gully while active combat continued only yards away.

What It's Really About

At its core, this is a study of endurance under extreme conditions. The narrative argues that the true history of a military unit is found not just in the strategic maps of generals, but in the logistical, physical, and psychological stamina of the individual soldier. It explores the tension between the romantic, historical image of Palestine and the reality of a modern war fought in a harsh, unforgiving landscape. The question underlying the text is how a group of men sustains its identity—through competitions, ceremonies, and shared hardship—when stripped of home and placed into a long, monotonous exile that continues long after the final shot is fired.

Why Read It Today

Readers with an interest in the granular, day-to-day realities of World War I, particularly in the often-overlooked Middle Eastern theater, will find this a fascinating document. It is not a polished, retrospective memoir, but an immediate, almost scrapbook-like account that captures the exhaustion, the boredom, and the camaraderie of the 20th Machine Gun Squadron. It feels authentic because it does not attempt to moralize; it simply presents the facts—the mud, the shell splinters, the race meetings, and the loss.

Modern readers should be prepared for the book’s period-specific style. The language is functional and sometimes dry, reflecting its nature as a historical record intended for private circulation. The text also includes various footnotes and references to biblical geography, which reflect the sensibilities of the time but may require patience from a general reader. However, its greatest strength is its unvarnished honesty. The long lists of names at the end—the men who returned and those who made the "supreme sacrifice"—provide a poignant, human anchor to the historical events. It is a quiet, steady read that leaves you with a profound sense of the thousands of individual, lived experiences that collectively constitute the history of the "Great War."