Sandbag - Wincanton RBL Newsletter November 2013
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Summary
Remembrance 2013
We had a beautiful autumn day again this year for our Remembrance Sunday parade on 10th November. The Wincanton Silver Band led the parade from the Memorial Hall with the usual stirring marches.
What was very good this year was the large number of youngsters taking part; our affiliated cadet unit, 2277 Squadron Air Training Corps provided the standard bearer for our Union Flag, along with several cadets and large numbers of Scouts, Guides and students from King Arthur's School.
Again this year, youngsters from the Scouts, Guides and Brownies placed crosses around the War Memorial for each of our War Dead of both World Wars and also placed crosses for the crew of USAAF Flying Fortress "Old Faithful".
Along with our own branch standard, our sub-branch from Castle Cary also paraded their standard too, which highlighted the bond we now have with them.
The Battle of El Mughar Ridge
The following story took place 96 years ago. Most people think of the Great War as the fighting on the Western Front against Germany. But a no less important area of conflict was against the Turks of the Ottoman Empire, fought mainly in Palestine, protecting the Suez Canal.
In that area cavalry were still being used as it was a war of movement, and a battle very significant to our area took place on 17th November 1917, involving amongst others the 1st/1st Dorset Yeomanry. A soldier named on our Roll of Honour took part, along with Captain Harry Hoare (the sole and last heir of Stourhead). That soldier was Pte William Ernest Hannam.
William Hannam was born in Everton, Lancashire on 11th October 1883, the son of John and Alice Hannam.. William's sister Marion married Frederick Hutchings, who ran a florist shop at 21 High Street Wincanton. Frederick was a son of the prominent Hutchings family in Wincanton who owned the premises which is now Wincanton Post Office. Marion Hutchings was an active member of the congregation of St. Peter & St. Paul Church and was involved with the erection of the memorial in the church.
The Cavalry Charge at El Mughar Ridge
The 1st/1st Dorset Yeomanry were deployed overseas in 1915. From 1915 to 1917 they were involved in many gallant battles in Egypt, the Dardanelles, Gallipoli and Gaza.
At the beginning of November 1917 Turkish positions fell as General Allenby (the commander in chief) worked towards his aim to take Gaza, but still the Turks managed to hold the high controlling ridge from Katrah to El Mughar.
On 13th November orders were received for the 6th Mounted Brigade, of which the Queen's Own Dorset Yeomanry was a part, to capture this ridge. On the ridge were two prominent spurs; the Bucks Yeomanry were to attack the right-hand spur and the Dorset Yeomanry the left-hand spur. The Dorset Yeomanry took their spur, captured eight machine guns and many prisoners.
The Regiment won two Distinguished Service Orders, one Military Cross, three Distinguished Conduct Medals and seven Military Medals and gave the County of Dorset a legendary action fought by their sons.
Pte. William Hannam was one of nine killed in the epic cavalry charge; he was 33 years old. Along with the soldiers who were killed 80 of their horses also died. After the battle over 400 Turks lay dead on the hill top.
Next branch meeting Monday 20th January 2014, 7.00pm at the Wincanton Memorial Hall.
Editor Tony Goddard
01963-824193
Secretary Arthur Pickup
01963-32952
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