eliminary parades were, therefore, held, the
inspection ultimately taking place on March 15th. After the march-past the
Brigade was formed into a Square and H.R.H. expressed his high satisfaction
with its appearance, and congratulated all ranks on their work of the
previous year. After this speech he decorated the officers, N.C.O.'s and
men, who had won distinction during the operations.

[Illustration: At Belah.

Officers, Warrant Officer and Sergeants.]

The 7th Brigade races were held on the 21st, and provided a good day's
sport, but the engagement was rather spoiled by an almost continuous
downpour of rain. Towards the end of March the "O.C." stated that he would
shortly hold two test "turn-outs". At last, one morning, sub-sections were
suddenly ordered to parade at once, in _marching order_ by the troughs at
the Wadi Ghuzze a mile away. "D" Sub-section was the first to arrive there,
and the whole Squadron was at the rendezvous _within 55 minutes_--a most
creditable performance!

The next "turn-out" was a practice "Air alarm". Ten guns were mounted
outside the camp itself, all men took cover and the line-guards tripled in
1 minute 50 seconds!

A pleasant day's sport was provided by a friendly competition between the
Squadron and the Field Ambulance--races, mounted sports, jumping, driving,
etc.--and our Squadron proved successful in most of the events.

On April 1st, orders were received that the Brigade would move, the next
day, back to the area previously occupied at Belah! They duly arrived, and
the Machine-Gun Squadron took over identically the same camp as before,
except that the "lines" were 100 yards further south. A few days after
arriving here, rumours got around that several units _were to be
dismounted_! Up till this time it was thought that this was the last thing
that was likely to happen after their success in the last operations, and
the knowledge of the country and open warfare that the troops had thereby
gained. Unfortunately, the rumour proved to be only too true, and _two
regiments in each Brigade_ were ordered to hand over their horses and
proceed to the base. Here they underwent a course of training for the
Machine-Gun Corps, after which they embarked for France, formed into
Machine-Gun Battalions. The 7th Brigade having only two regiments, lost
only one--the South Notts Hussars, that being the junior. At least two
"graves" may be seen at Belah, each bearing an inscription headed by
"R.I.P