After breaking through the Gaza positions, the EEF pressed on to Jerusalem in appalling weather. The city was to be captured by XX Corps after a rapid advance by a flying column known as 'Mott's Detachment' that included 53rd (W) Division. The batteries of CCLXV and CCLXVI Bdes moved up in bounds, covering the flanks of the advance. At 07.00 on 7 December, as the preliminary attacks began, a few ranging shots by C Bty of CCLXV Bde scattered a body of enemy cavalry at Sherife, a position that would have been troublesome if the Turks had held it. Jerusalem fell the following day, but there was still heavy fighting to the end of the year as the Turks threw in counter-attacks. On 21 December 160th Bde put in a full-scale attack on El Zamby and White Hill to improve its position, advancing behind a lifting barrage put down by CCVXV and CCLXVI Bdes from 05.15. When the attack was held up the fireplan was rearranged with an 18-pounder concentration on El Zamby from 07.20 to 07.40, when &lt;a href="4th%20Battalion%2C%20Queen%27s%20Royal%20Regiment%20%28West%20Surrey%29"&gt;2/4th Battalion Queen's Regiment&lt;/a&gt; assaulted again. The position was held against several Turkish counter-attacks, with heavy ammunition expenditure by the gunners.