merciless rifle and machine gun fire from the Scotsmen, suffered heavy
casualties. A similar reception was afforded him by the Welshmen of
158th Brigade further north towards Mahamadiyeh.

It was apparent, however, that the enemy's intention was to force his
way around the southern side and cut the railway and water pipe near
Pelusium behind Romani, and in this part of the battle the Australian
and New Zealand Light Horse, who had had to discard their horses and
fight as infantry, found it difficult to hold their own against repeated
assaults. More terrible than the Turk was the heat and the lack of
water.

Such is a rough outline of the situation when the 7th Manchesters along
with the remainder of the 127th Brigade were suddenly ordered to
concentrate at Pelusium. The morning of August 4th opened quietly for
us, although gunfire could be heard, and bursting shrapnel could be seen
in the direction of Duedar. We had settled down to ordinary routine, one
company setting out for a short march, and others preparing for kit
inspections and other camp duties, when suddenly, "B" Company received
orders to fall in and move off, and in a short space of time they were
entrained during the heat of the day for Pelusium. Before noon the whole
battalion was collected on what was supposed to be a bivouac area at the
new destination. But we had seen General Douglas going along the train
at Gilban and he said: "Well, good luck lads, make a good bag," so we
were not surprised when we found that settling down for bivouac was not
to be our fate.

The 5th Manchesters had arrived with us, and the 8th were following on,
while the 6th were already here, having been sent up the previous day.
Our task was to go to the assistance of the Colonials and attack the