Battle of Buqqar Ridge The Battle of el Buqqar Ridge took place on 27 October 1917 , when one infantry regiment and cavalry troops of the Yildirim Army Group , attacked the 8th Mounted Brigade of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force ( EEF ) in the last days of the stalemate in Southern Palestine during the Sinai and Palestine campaign of World War I . The commander of the Yildirim Army Group ordered the reconnaissance in force , which greatly outnumbered the Yeomanry in the mounted brigade , holding the outpost line . Despite a large number of casualties , one group made a slight withdrawal to subsequently hold their ground , until reinforcements arrived and the attackers withdrew . However another group of Yeomanry was overwhelmed and killed . Four days later , two infantry and two mounted divisions launched the EEF ' s Southern Palestine Offensive , with the Battle of Beersheba on 31 October 1917 . Background . During the six months stalemate following the Second Battle of Gaza , the el Buqqar ridge had been the objective of Desert Column / Desert Mounted Corps strategic marches on 5 – 7 , 10 May and 2 – 3 , 6 – 7 , 14 and 24 – 5 June . On 19 July , the Anzac Mounted Division with the Australian Mounted Division advanced towards el Buqqar to engage an Ottoman force of two regiments of cavalry supported by infantry and four light guns , occupying the area . The 1st Light Horse Brigade attacked the force capturing 11 prisoners before the Ottoman force withdrew behind entrenchments . One of the prisoner described the attacking force as part of the Ottoman 16th Division which had been protecting a new corps commander while he made a personal reconnaissance . By the next morning the area was clear of Ottoman troops . Ottoman patrols were dispersed from el Buqqar ridge on 21 and 29 September , and on 12 – 14 October . The 3rd Light Horse Brigade took over from the 5th Mounted Brigade , duties of Outpost Brigade on 16 October when it was noted dawn occurred at 05 : 00 and dusk at 17 : 30 . On 18 October the day posts of 3rd Light Horse Brigade were relieved by the 5th Mounted Brigade at 09 : 00 . The Australian Mounted Division with the 7th Mounted Brigade attached was to cover a reconnaissance by officers of the XXI Corps . By 11 : 50 the 7th Mounted Brigade was holding a line east of Khalasa to Ibn Saiid , the 4th Light Horse Brigade was holding Points 840 , 820 , 810 , 790 and 770 while the 5th Mounted Brigade held points 730 , 630 , 550 and 300 , with the Australian Mounted Divisional headquarters at Khor el Asram and the 3rd Light Horse Brigade in reserve . There was no opposition during the establishment of this line , and indeed Ottoman units " were very quiet all day more so than on any other reconnaissance . " At 14 : 10 Ottoman infantry and cavalry were sighted at Abu Irgeig and Notts battery went into action against them , when two bell tents at Irgeig railway station and station buildings were hit . The outpost line was withdrawn at 17 : 30 without incident . Prelude . While the XXI Corps continued to hold the front line south of Gaza , extending eastwards from the Mediterranean Sea , the XX Corps and Desert Mounted Corps held the Wadi Ghazzeh and eastwards . On 21 October the XX Corps ' 60th ( London ) Division defended the Shellal to Karm area with the 53rd ( Welsh ) Division on their left , while the front line extending into No Man ' s Land was defended by the Australian Mounted Division based at Tel el Fara with the Anzac Mounted Division in reserve at Abasan el Kebir . During the evening of 21 October , the 179th Brigade ( 60th Division ) and the 2nd Light Horse Brigade ( Anzac Mounted Division ) moved down the Wadi Ghazzeh to Esani , to develop the water supply in preparation for the advance to Beersheba . 23 October Ottoman attacks . At 05 : 00 a squadron of the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars ( RGH ) , 5th Mounted Brigade , advanced to reoccupy the el Buqqar , Point 720 to Kh Imleih and Point 630 line , when they encountered a squadron of Ottoman soldiers holding el Buqqar , with a second squadron supported by machine guns holding Point 720 . Between 05 : 30 and 06 : 00 six motor cars , one with eight enemy occupants were seen at Point 720 , which retired eastwards when the yeomanry appeared . The leading troop of RGH was charged from the flank , by three Ottoman troops as they approached Point 720 . During the attack one man was captured when his horse fell . The Ottoman soldiers withdrew from el Buqqar at 06 : 00 , when threatened by a yeomanry flanking movement , and machine gun fire . By 07 : 00 the Ottoman squadron holding Point 720 and rifle pits , was also forced to retreat by a " well executed " converging attack made by two squadrons of Gloucester and Warwickshire Yeomanry , covered by one section of Royal Horse Artillery ( RHA ) . The leading yeomanry troop reached Point 630 , just before a squadron of Ottoman soldiers attacked . The Ottoman attackers were driven back from close quarters by yeomanry rifle and Hotchkiss machine gun fire . At the same time as these Ottoman attackers were retiring , one yeomanry troop captured Imleih ridge , but were immediately attacked by three Ottoman troops from the Wadi Hanafish . This Ottoman attack was also stopped , at " short range " by yeomanry rifle and Hotchkiss fire . Both these attacks had been covered by Ottoman high explosive and shrapnel fire , from the direction of Abu Irgeig and north of Bir Ifteis . The Ottoman units suffered at least 17 killed and wounded , while the yeomanry suffered six wounded and one missing . Two more Ottoman squadrons were seen moving south east of el Buqqar towards Khor el Asram also at 05 : 00 , and a 2nd Light Horse Brigade patrol from Khor el Asram , was fired on by Ottoman soldiers occupying a ridge north of Point 680 . During these operations Ottoman soldiers continued holding a line from Point 820 to Bir Ifteis , while the left of the sector of the Australian Mounted Division ' s front line remained quiet . 23 / 4 October permanent outpost line . By late October 1917 the EEF outpost line had been pushed forward to an outpost line of low hills / ridge overlooking the Wadi Hanafish . Instead of being held only during the day , this line became permanent from 17 : 00 on 24 October , when it was to be held day and night to cover the construction of the railway to Karm as it approached Imara . This forward line , established to prevent Ottoman field artillery firing on the railway construction crews , stretched from el Buqqar through Points 720 and 630 to Point 550 . It was noted that attack was most likely to occur about dawn , when the el Buqqar line was to form a pivot . If such an attack was successful the Ottoman force was to be " driven off " by an immediate counter - attack , and if the counter - attack was unsuccessful , then all available units were to contribute to a " deliberate and carefully arranged attack " by mounted units , supported by infantry and artillery from el Imara and Esani . 24 to 26 October . On 24 October the 53rd ( Welsh ) Division ( XX Corps ) concentrated between Hisea and Shellal on the Wadi Ghazzeh in the center of the line . The following night the 158th Brigade ( 53rd Division ) crossed the Wadi Ghazzeh , to arrive at El Imara when it extended its right to the Tel el Fara to Beersheba road , covering the railway extension work to Karm . On 25 October , the 4th Light Horse Brigade relieved the 3rd Light Horse Brigade on the outpost line , with the 11th Light Horse Regiment holding el Buqqar to Point 600 inclusive . During the evening the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade left El Fukhari on a night march to Esani away . The brigade remained in the area for three days supporting the yeomanry and providing escorts for camel trains . During the evening of 26 October , the Australian Mounted Division was at Tel el Fara holding the front line from Shellal to Gamli with the Anzac Mounted Division in reserve at Abasan el Kebir . The Imperial Camel Brigade was at Shellal , the XX Corps concentrated near Shellal , while the Yeomanry Mounted Division was concentrated near Hiseia and Shellal . Attackers . General Erich von Falkenhayn , the Commander of the Yildirim Army Group , planned a two phase attack beginning with a reconnaissance in force from Beersheba on 27 October . This was to be followed by an attack on the morning of 31 October 1917 , by the Eighth Army from Hareira . The reconnaissance in force was made by 3 , 000 Ottoman infantry , 1 , 200 cavalry , and twelve guns , which advanced from the Kauwukah defences in front of Tel el Sheria , to attack the EEF outpost line . These troops were organised in six infantry battalions , two cavalry squadrons and two artillery batteries . They were the 125th Infantry Regiment ( 16th Division ) from Tel esh Sheria and troops of the 3rd Cavalry Division from Beersheba , commanded by Ismet Bey and included an infantry regiment from the 27th Division and the 125th Field Artillery Battery . Armed with lances , the 3rd Cavalry Division , had served in the Caucasus campaign before transferring to Palestine . Defenders . The 8th Mounted Brigade ( Yeomanry Mounted Division ) , temporarily attached to the 53rd ( Welsh ) Division , relieved the 4th Light Horse Brigade at 17 : 25 on 26 October , when they took over the - long outpost line covering the railway construction to Karm . This line ran from el Buqqar , to Hill 720 and on to Hill 630 , stretching along the Wadi Hanafish and the Wadi esh Sheria to a point south of El Mendur . Most of the left section stretching north , was lightly held by standing patrols strongly supported in the rear , by an entrenched infantry brigade of the 53rd ( Welsh ) Division . However , the - long section on the right , stretching from el Buqqar to the west of Bir Ifteis " was to be held at all costs , " supported only by the Hants Battery RHA . By the morning of 27 October this outpost line on the long ridge from el Buqqar to Hill 630 , was held by the 1st County of London Yeomanry on the right , supported by the 21st Machine Gun Squadron , the 3rd County of London Yeomanry on the left with the City of London Yeomanry ( Rough Riders ) in reserve north west of Kh . Khasif . One dismounted squadron of the regiment held Hill 630 , three troops held Hill 720 , and the post on el Buqqar was also garrisoned . They would be reinforced during the day by the 3rd Light Horse Brigade from the Australian Mounted Division with the 12th Light Armoured Motor Battery , the 158th ( North Wales ) Brigade and 160th ( Wales ) Brigade from the 53rd ( Welsh ) Division , the 229th Brigade from the 74th ( Yeomanry ) Division , accompanied by the 96th Horse Artillery group ( less 4 batteries ) and the British " A " Battery from the 117th Field Artillery Brigade Battle . Point 630 . At 04 : 10 on Saturday 27 October a post held by the 1st County of London Yeomanry to the west of Bir el Girheir on Point 630 was attacked by an Ottoman cavalry patrol " in great strength . " About 05 : 30 the infantry and cavalry , estimated by a Royal Flying Corps reconnaissance aircraft to be a force of 2 , 000 , attacked the outpost line , becoming heavily engaged on Hill 630 , where the attack on both flanks was supported by heavy machine gun and artillery fire . At 06 : 48 , the 8th Mounted Brigade reported Ottoman units attacking Point 630 and a hill to the south east , with an infantry battalion of the 158th Brigade ( 53rd Division ) advancing towards Point 630 , with one battalion and one battery at Sebil / Point 550 . Two troops of 1st County of London Yeomanry ordered forward to the right of the post , advanced through heavy fire to find the post almost surrounded . A squadron of the City of London Yeomanry in reserve advanced , also under heavy fire , to occupy a position south of the threatened post and stopped the Ottoman forces from completely surrounding it . By 07 : 55 two , or more camel guns were seen approaching Point 630 from Bir Ifteis while the yeomanry garrisons on Point 630 continued to hold their ground . However , as reinforcements including infantry were fighting their way forward to relieve Point 630 they were heavily fired on about 10 : 30 , causing the reinforcements to fall back . However , by 10 : 55 the infantry attack began to develop , moving up the slope of Point 630 . Although the defending garrison was driven off Hill 630 , the squadron withdrew to " a cruciform trench just below the top of the hill , " built by the Australian Mounted Division . The squadron managed to hold out there , during the day against odds of 20 to one when the attackers closed to within causing four deaths and wounding 14 yeomanry . Fighting continued until late in the afternoon when the 159th Brigade of the 53rd ( Welsh ) Division was deployed against Point 630 and Kh . Imeih , forcing the Ottoman attackers to withdraw . Point 720 . Also at about 04 : 00 the two troops manning the right hand post north of el Buqqar half way to Kh Imleih , was attacked by several Ottoman squadrons , " sweeping round its right , " which forced the Hants Battery near Kh . Khasif to withdraw . Heavy rifle and machine gun fire with occasional artillery shells was reported at 06 : 55 being targeted on the yeomanry garrison on el Buqqar ridge , and at 07 : 55 were continuing to hold their ground on Point 720 . The 3rd Light Horse Brigade ( Australian Mounted Division ) was ordered at 08 : 20 to move to the east side of the Wadi Ghuzzee at Gamli at once , coming under orders of the 53rd ( Welsh ) Division , when the light horsemen were to assist the 8th Mounted Brigade to hold Point 720 until infantry reinforcements arrived at about 13 : 00 . Two hours later , as one infantry brigade , two squadrons of cavalry and two batteries were attacking Ottoman forces as they moved towards Points 720 and 630 they were heavily shelled at 10 : 30 causing the reinforcements to fall back . However , the original garrison on Point 720 which had not been in communication since 06 : 00 , continued holding their position , although by then almost surrounded . The attack on Hill 720 by 1 , 200 Ottoman cavalry was supported by machine - gun and artillery fire . After six hours and two unsuccessful mounted charges , a third combined charge and infantry attack , captured the hill . All the defenders were killed or wounded except three . By As the 9th Light Horse Regiment ( 3rd Light Horse Brigade ) was fighting their way towards el Buqqar and Point 720 , at 11 : 35 , the 8th Mounted Brigade reported by phone to the Australian Mounted Divisional headquarters , that the advance by the infantry brigade towards Point 720 was proceeding , but that the garrison on Point 720 had been " presumably wiped out , " as Ottoman soldiers were seen riding over the top of the hill . The 12th Light Armoured Motor Battery was ordered to support the 3rd Light Horse Brigade advance against Point 720 . By 14 : 10 the 9th Light Horse Regiment was reported to be advancing with its right on the cross roads at Taweil el Habari and its left on El Buqqar , with two squadrons of the 10th Light Horse Regiment on their right , facing east within sight . When the 9th Light Horse Regiment had been held up at 13 : 45 by machine gun fire from Point 820 , the 1st Nottinghamshire Battery Royal Horse Artillery came into action , against the Ottoman fire . The 3rd Light Horse Brigade reported to the Australian Mounted Division at 14 : 37 that Ottoman forces were holding Point 720 on a front long , " in strength . " By 15 : 05 the 9th Light Horse Regiment , conforming to infantry moves , had advanced to within of Point 720 . At 08 : 35 further infantry reinforcements had been expected to arrive at about 13 : 00 , however they didn ' t arrive until 16 : 35 when the 229th Brigade ( 74th Division ) was reported advancing on the left flank of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade , causing considerable Ottoman movements on Point 820 . By 17 : 10 an Ottoman position defended by four machine guns and 400 infantry defending Point 820 , was reconnoitred by the armoured cars attached to the light horsemen , which drove to just east of the cross roads east of el Buggar , reporting the 53rd ( Welsh ) Division deployments of the 159th Brigade against Point 630 and Kh . Imleih , the 160th Brigade opposing Point 720 and the 229th Brigade opposing el Buqqar ridge . At 18 : 00 the 8th Mounted Brigade ' s reserve regiment was still holding the line when the 3rd Light Horse Brigade supported by 1st Nottinghamshire Battery Royal Horse Artillery counter - attacked along with two infantry brigades of the 53rd ( Welsh ) Division and the Ottoman forces retired during the evening . The yeomanry lost 24 killed and 53 wounded with 10 missing . At 18 : 50 the 9th Light Horse Regiment reported their patrol reached Point 720 to find 14 dead yeomanry , that the Ottoman forces had dug substantial trenches in the area , and that the 53rd Division had not yet reached them . An officer ' s patrol from the 9th Light Horse Regiment at 18 : 00 established that the Ottoman forces had withdrawn from their positions on Point 720 which allowed the Allied forces to re - occupy El Buggar Ridge without further casualties . That night 229th Brigade relieved the 3rd Light Horse Brigade at 20 : 10 . Aftermath . The 8th Mounted Brigade rejoined the Yeomanry Mounted Division on 28 October , the 3rd Light Horse Brigade arriving back in camp at 24 : 00 . Units of the Egyptian Labour Corps moved forward from Shellal to complete the water pipeline to Karm , and to uncovered their camouflaged work on the railway east of the Wadi Ghuzzee . They completed the railway to Karm on 28 October when the station was opened , two days ahead of schedule . By 30 October the concentration of the EEF force was complete for the attack on Beersheba the next day . Von Falkenhayn ordered the Eighth Army to launch an attack from Hareira " southwards " on 31 October . The size of the force , and its objectives are unknown , nor does the commander of the Eighth Army , Kress von Kressenstein mention the order to attack .