On August 8th, Capt. E. Davies (previously with the 7th Brigade in Egypt)
arrived from "leave" in the United Kingdom, and was posted to the Squadron
as "second in command". Orders were received on August 10th that the
Brigade would move to the Palestine front on the 12th--within a month of
the M.G. Squadron being formed!


OUR TREK TO AMR, THROUGH THE DESERT OF THE SINAI PENINSULA.

The forthcoming continuous trek (which lasted 18 days) through the desert
at the hottest time of the year was no light task for a new unit to
contemplate, and the two days in which to make all the preparations were
none too many; yet, everything _was_ ready by the time ordered for parade,
and from that moment the "20TH M.G. SQUADRON" became a fighting force!
There was, however, a lot of training still to be done, before it could
hope to play its proper part in active operations.

The organisation of the transport for the unit was one of the greatest
difficulties to be overcome. No one, unless he has actually seen it, would
believe the energy required to pull even a lightly loaded wheeled vehicle
through the desert sand, which, in places, is of the soft "silver" variety
found at many English seaside resorts.

Each "G.S." (general service) limbered wagon is designed to carry about a
ton, and is drawn by 4 mules. On this occasion, however, 4 cwts. was the
maximum load, and for this 6 mules were required in every case. In spite of
such a team, the going was hard enough, in very truth, and sore shoulders
were not uncommon, owing to the mules being so "soft," and the new
breast-collars so hard!