Extract from H.A. Adderley

At 4pm on 8 January 1917 the 5th Mounted Brigade marched eastward from El Arish with the Desert Mounted Column, including the Anzac Mounted Division and the Camel Corps to attack the entrenched position held by the enemy at a point west of Rafa (Rafah). The Brigade acted as advance guard and camped for the night at Sheik Zowaid.

The in half Squadrons extended, moved down the Rafa Road at the trot with the Gloucestershire Yeomanry on its left flank across 2.5 miles of open plain commanded by the Turkish redoubt, being forced to dismount for action within 2,000 yards of the foot of the redoubt. Meanwhile the New Zealand Mounted Division made an enveloping attack from the east, the Australians and Camel Corps from the Southeast and South. The Yeomanry were ordered to attack from the West. Large bodies of Light Horse and Yeomanry galloped into action supported by artillery.

At 1am on the 9 January the Warwickshire Yeomanry continued the advance towards the Turkish entrenchments as the enemy slept. At 10.30 the attack seemed to be developing and the Gloucesters with four machine guns advanced followed by the Warwicks all being mounted and ready to move within five minutes. The Regiment in column of half squadrons extended, moved down the Rafa Road at the trot with the Gloucesters on its left flank and thence over the bare stretch of open plain commanded for 2 miles by the main Turkish redoubt.

Owing to the open country west of the ridge occupied by the Turks the Regiment soon came under a heavy fire and the Warwickshire Yeomanry compelled to dismount for action. A line was taken up facing a downward slope of about 2,000 yards to the foot of the hill containing the front line of the enemy trenches. A steady shell fire caused some casualties among the led horses but owing to the sections being widely distributed there was no loss of men.

In the meantime the rest of the Brigade came into position and Headquarters were established in a small redoubt to the left rear which had been previously occupied by the enemy the day before showing how the attack had come as a complete surprise.

At 11.45 the Camel Corps on the extreme right were meeting with severe opposition in their encircling movement and C Squadron were ordered to support them on their left flank This advance was carried out under a heavy enfilading fire and the squadron suffered some casualties

The object of the frontal attack, which was now developing, was to hold the enemy in front while the enveloping movement to the SE of his position was being carried out by the New Zealanders and the Camel Corps. At 12.45 there was a pause to allow the Camel Corps to link up with the left flank of the 5th Mounted Brigade.

The Brigade were at this time disposed as follows: on the left the Gloucesters with one Squadron of Worcesters in the centre the Warwicks D Squadron, Capt Gooch and B Squadron Capt Valintine, C Squadron under Capt Pemberton was on the right front and his right flank.

A troop under Lieut King eventually gained its objective under cover of a small knoll. Although the enemy had withdrawn his field guns to the rear the advance was checked by severe traverse fire from machine guns and rifle fire and the Regiment had suffered many casualties though mostly in wounded. About 3 o clock the Warwicks machine gun section under Capt Coulston came into position and opened fire at 1,450 yards on the Turkish front line trenches under cover of which a concentrated attack was carried out. The Gloucesters with C Squadron of the Warwicks came in for heavy fire advancing over open ground and suffered severely.

About 4.30 the Camel Corps stormed at the point of the bayonet and were well supported by the Yeomanry machine guns Col Cheape with B and D Squadrons then advanced across the ploughed area on the enemy's central position but at 800 yards from their front trench he received orders to withdraw to his horses. It was then nearly dark but a successful and orderly retirement was carried out under effective covering fire.

It was left to the Anzacs to complete the victory The other two squadrons which had been sent to reinforce the Worcesters and Gloucesters rallied with the whole Brigade at Sheik Zowaiid at 1 am on the 10th and returned to El Arish arriving at 6 am having marched 60 miles in 36 hours and fought an infantry action from 8 am to 5 pm on the 9^th.

The net result of the operations was the capture of 2,000 prisoners and a large amount of stores and ammunition.

The Warwickshire Yeomanry War Diary records casualties for 9th January 1917 as follows: 2 Officers wounded, 3 ORS killed in action, 36 ORs wounded of which 2 subsequently died of their wounds, 6 horses killed, and 45 horses wounded.