Pollock, Lawrence (Oral history)

Australian trooper served with 9th Australian Light Horse Regt, 3rd Light Horse Bde in Egypt and Palestine, 1916-1918

REEL 1 Recollections of operations as trooper with 9th Australian Light Horse Regt, 3rd Australian Light Horse Bde in Egypt and Palestine, 1916-1918: nature of fighting in desert terrain during Battle of Romani, 4/8/1916; outflanking manoeuvre to hold off Turkish reinforcements and subsequent retreat to British lines during First Battle of Gaza, 25/3/1917-26/3/1917; digging water tanks; nature of Second Battle of Gaza, 19/4/1917; sight of cavalry charge by Australian Light Horse on Turkish positions at Beersheba during Third Battle of Gaza, 31/10/1917; bomb casualties; Turkish retreat from Gaza, 11/1917; charge of Australian Light Horse on Turkish trenches; Turkish troops' attitude towards bayonet fighting; problems with lice; conditions on desert patrols; question of lack of medical treatment during evacuation on being wounded at Gaza; capture and subsequent retreat from Es Salt, Palestine, 3/1918; state of morale and effect of arrival of General Edmund Allenby, 27/6/1917; reiteration of sight of cavalry charge by Australian Light Horse on Turkish positions at Beersheba during Third Battle of Gaza, 31/10/1917; reiteration of bomb casualties; reiteration of Turkish retreat from Gaza, 11/1917; living conditions in desert including question of boredom, water shortage, use of horses for shade and problem with lice.