'Military Lessons of the Arab Rebellion in Palestine 1936' [‎69r] (142/294)

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HORSED CAVALRY
On the 21st September f 1936, the G.O.C, asked for reinforcement by
a horsed cavalry regiment. It was, however, found impossible to accede
to this request. The operations were of a type which gave many
opportunities for the use of mounted troops against an opponent who has
always had a wholesome dread of cold steel and a very high respect for
a mounted man. Though much of the country was difficult for cavalry -
and some of it almost impossible - there were wide areas where the
horseman alone could hope to outstrip the enemy, and where the rebels
themselves maintained mounted contingents. Whether the British Cavalry
troop horse would have been able to stand up well enough to the continual
stones and rocks of the Palestine hillsides may be open to question;
and it would certainly have taken several months to obtain Arab horses
of suitable type, even by drawing on all the neighbouring countries.
As it was, horsed cavalry in Palestine was represented only by two
squadrons of the T.J.P.P. based on their Jordan Valley peace stations.
They were organized in half squadrons, each of some 80 strong, compris
ing two sabre troops and a Hotchkiss gun section. Each squadron had
one Commer supply tender, and a W/l tender was allotted as required.
Their organization was well suited to the country, where the men were
accustomed to living hard and cooking for themselves; but the need of
a pack -wireless set per squadron was very keenly felt.
The T.J.F.E. Cavalry, like the mechanised units, worked most of
t*he time in the Jordan Valley guarding against incursions from over the
border. The cavalry concentrated chiefly on the northern half of the
Jordan, where tracks were rougher and less frequent. Liuch effective
patrolling was carried out at night, and patrols were used to remaining
out for three or four days away from their base. It was found that
squadrons coiild carry out average daily marches of 25-30 miles without
undue strain or loss of fighting power, and on one occasion a squadron
marched 22 miles in six hours over rock-strewn hills without casualty.
Movement was sometimes handicapped by shortage of facilities for water
ing in the hills - particularly towards the end of summer - but if nec
essary the Frontier Force troop horse could go long distances without
water. On a peace march just after the end of the rebellion a half-
squadron covered 60 miles in one day across waterless country: though
horses were watered only a.t the start and end of the march there were
no casualties. On some occasions, notably in tne difficult country^ ^
adjoining the Syrian frontier, cavalry were used^ successfully to ’’drive
rebels on to waiting infantry. Other duties which fell to them were
the patrolling of the oil pipe-line and protection of Jewish colonies
in the Jordan Valley: neither task was well suited to mounted troops,
since they gave little opportunity of making use of mobility, but were
forced upon them by a shortage of infantry and the very bad climatic
conditions of the Valley.
Cavalry had the one supreme advantage in Palestine of being the^
only arm which could move quickly and silently off roads and traces in
the hills. This they owed in great measure to the special characteris
tics of the local Arab horse: on the worst rock mountain path it
proved wonderfully agile and sure-footed, and though a number of sprung
and loose shoes might result good feet and sturdy limos made ameness
almost unknown.
INFANTRY 24
24 Battalions in all saw service in Palestine during tne recellion.
All were organized on the old establishment of three r i 6 compani
and one support company, all had a proportion of M.^. ^ ^o e >
with four exceptions (Camerons, Loyals, Seaforth and r. Sco o ^,j