'Military Lessons of the Arab Rebellion in Palestine 1936' [‎130r] (266/294)

APPENDIX XV
44816-1
193
(HOTS:- This report is included solely as an illustration of a
tanK sic-cion and for this purpose the place-names bear
lit ule significance. Only KAFR SUR therefore has been
marked on Map No. 2.).
REPORT BY LIEUTENANT W, M. HUTTON. R.T.C. ON
ARAB BAUD NEAR KAFR SUR ON 8/9th OGTOSEIA
TANK ENGAGEMENT AGAINST
195 6.
OBJECT To^reconnoitre the three v/adis leading from the AT TAIYIBA -
QAL^ILiA Road into the hills to the East and to see if it is
possible to reach the villages of KAFR SUR and KUR.
CO.tIPOSITION O F FORC E. T.1060 - Lieut, W. M. Hutton.
Private G. Woodfin.
T.1058 - Corporal V/. Prosser.
Private J. Thorrpson.
T.1165 - Corporal E. Lewis.
L/Cpl. E. Fry.
NARRATIVE. We left TULKARM at 0930 hours on 8/10/36 and reached the
entrance to the wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. at 1005 hours without mishap. We proceeded up the
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. to a point where T.1058 stuck and had to be towed out. The party
then continued for another 400 yards when the same tank ripped a track
off. This was replaced. (it was now about 1045 hours). Half a mile
more was completed when T.1163 shed a track. This took nearly an hour
to replace. The party moved on at approximately 1200 hours, and arrived
at 1245 hours at a point close to KAFR SUR. T.1163 had a second track
off here, and T.1058 also ripped off a track in turning round to go to
the assistance of T.1163.
My intention had been to proceed up the wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. over the saddle between
ER RAS and KAFR SUR, thence S.E. to return by the wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. HAWWATAT, but
after these last two breakages, I decided to return by the same wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. .
At approximately 1400 hours, when the track was practically finished one
rifle shot rang out, and was followed by sniping from the hills on three
sides.
Under cover of machine gun fire, the drivers completed the job, and
the party turned and proceeded "westward. We had only completed aoout
500 yards when T.1060, which was bringing up the rear, shed a track in
the wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. bed. The other two tanks were recalled by Verey light, after
a little difficulty, and the track was repaired. Sniping was still
continuing, and the drivers did good work in repairing the breakdown.
During this period I noticed 10 to 15 Armed Arabs^ running over the hills
to the N.V., with the obvious intention of ambushing us further west.
It was about 1520 hours when the section moved on again. Re had only
gone another 200 yards when T.1163 shed a track, badly, with four smashed
track plates* I concentrated the tanks, one on either side of tne
broken-down tank, and the drivers commenced to repair the tank under
cover of our M.G. fire. It was very difficult to locate tne enemy,
especially on the SOUTH side, where an olive grove came up to within 15
to X 20 yards of the tanks: therefore, our fire was not very effective.
At 1535 hours I reported the situation to Company H.Q., at 'TULKARM,
as follows:-
"To - CATO t x
From - CATO 6 (Lieut. M. Hutton;