Battle of Buqqar Ridge

Battle of El Buqqar Ridge
Part of the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I
El Buqqar Ridge
El Buqqar Ridge.
Date27 October 1917
Location
Result British victory
Belligerents
 British Empire  Ottoman Empire
 German Empire
Commanders and leaders
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Philip Chetwode
Australia Henry Chauvel
Ottoman Empire İsmet Bey
German Empire Erich von Falkenhayn
Units involved

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Egyptian Expeditionary Force

Ottoman Empire Yildirim Army Group

  • 125th Regiment (16th Division)
  • Troops (3rd Cavalry Division)
Strength
3 infantry brigades
2 mounted brigades
2 infantry regiments
1 mounted division
Casualties and losses
24 killed
53 wounded
10 missing
10 killed
40 wounded

The Battle of el Buqqar Ridge took place on 27 October 1917, when one infantry regiment and cavalry troops of the Yildirim Army Group, attacked the 8th Mounted Brigade of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) in the last days of the stalemate in Southern Palestine during the Sinai and Palestine campaign of World War I.

The commander of the Yildirim Army Group ordered the reconnaissance in force, which greatly outnumbered the Yeomanry in the mounted brigade, holding the outpost line. Despite a large number of casualties, one group made a slight withdrawal to subsequently hold their ground, until reinforcements arrived and the attackers withdrew. However another group of Yeomanry was overwhelmed and killed.

Four days later, two infantry and two mounted divisions launched the EEF's Southern Palestine Offensive, with the Battle of Beersheba on 31 October 1917.