Battle of Haifa and Haifa Day

Haifa Battle and Haifa  Day : 23rd September (1918)

MYSORE I.S. LANCERS (INCLUDING TWO TROOPS BHAVNAGAR I.S.LANCERS AND ONE TROOP KASHMIR LANCERS).

S P E C I A L SERVICE OFFICERS. (SSO)
Major M . H . HENDERSON , 26th Light Cavalry.
Lieut. K . EVANS   GORDON , 39th Central India Horse.
Officer Commanding—Regimentdar B . CHAMRAJ   URS , BAHADAR .
Strength.
British officer 1†

Indian officers ...	32
Other ranks	487
Followers	181
Officers' chargers	9
Horses	561
Mules	74
Carts	10

Colonel J. DESARAJ   URS , Commander-in-Chief of the Mysore State Forces, accompanied the regiment in an unofficial capacity.

J O D H P U R    I.S. L A N C E R S .
S P E C I A L S E R V I C E OFFICERS.
Lieut.-Colonel H . N . HOLDEN , 5th Cavalry.
Major G. R. P. WHEATLEY , 27th Light Cavalry.
Major P. F. GELL , 14th Lancers.
Major A . J. REYNOLDS , 37th Lancers.
Captain H . F. P. HORNSBY , 5th Cavalry.
Lieut. A. B . KNIGHT , 4th Cavalry.
Veterinary Officer—Captain F. O. MAYNARD , R.A.V.C.
Officer Commanding—Colonel THAKUR   PRATAP   SINGH , SARDAR   BAHADUR .
Strength.
Indian Officers ... ... ... ... 28
Other Ranks 497
Followers ... ... ... ... 58
Riding horses ... 540
Draught horses 53
Mules 63
Wagons 19
Lt..-Gen. H.H  Maharajah Sir PRATAP  SINGH , BAHADUR , G.C.B., G.C.S.I., G.C.V.O., L L.D .D.C.L., etc., accompanied the   regiment.

On 23 September 1918 the 15th (Imperial Service) Cavalry Brigade was ordered to capture Haifa. What is not  mentioned elsewhere , is  to free the leader of Bahai Faith, Abdul Baha ,  who was  captured and controlled   by Ottomans in Haifa,  was the  primary objective  and  capturing Haifa, was  the other  part of the  the British Attack . The area between the Nahr al-Muqaṭṭaʿ, also known as the Kishon River, and the slopes of Mount Carmel was well defended by Ottoman gun emplacements and artillery. The brigade's Jodhpur Lancers were tasked to capture this position, while the Mysore Lancers moved around to attack the town from the east and north.
A squadron of the Mysore Lancers and a squadron of the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry , supported by B Battery, Honourable Artillery Company, attacked the Austrian battery of light field guns on the slopes of Mount Carmel at 14:00 hours. The squadron of Mysore Lancers had moved into position by climbing up a steep track to capture and silence the guns, while the Jodhpur Lancers launched the main mounted attack on the rearguard of German machine gunners, which blocked the road 2 miles (3.2 km) on from the redoubt captured the day before by the Light Car Patrol.
The Jodhpur Lancers charged the Ottoman position, crossing the Acre railway line, but came under machine gun and artillery fire. The charge was further obstructed by quicksand on the river banks, so they manoeuvred to the left onto the lower slopes of Mount Carmel. The regiment secured the position capturing thirty prisoners, two machine guns, two camel guns and opening up an access route into Haifa. Though they lost their leader Major Dalpat Singh MC, the Jodhpur Lancers continued their charge into the town, surprising the defenders. Those Mysore Lancers who had been giving fire support to the attacking regiment, mounted and followed them into the town.
. A detachment of Mysore Lancers rode immediately to secure the house of Abdul Baha and the Baha'i shrines were protected from destruction and today they remain the primary site of pilgrimage for the Baha'i community across the world. Gen. Allenby extended the utmost consideration to him and to the small band of his fellow-exiles in 'Akka and Haifa. General Allenby sent a cable to London: "Have today taken Palestine. Notify the world that Abdul Baha is safe."  In 1921  Abdul Baha  passed away, and was buried in a vault in the mausoleum erected on Mount Carmel.
 Together the two regiments captured 1,350 German and Ottoman prisoners, including two German officers, 35 Ottoman officers, 17 artillery guns including four 4.2 guns, eight 77mm guns and four camel guns as well as a 6-inch naval gun, and 11 machine guns. Their own casualties amounted to eight dead and 34 wounded. 60 horses were killed and another 83 injured.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Speech by Maharaja of Mysore, H.H. Nalvadi Krsihna Raja Wadiyar:

ADDRESS TO THE MYSORE IMPERIAL SERVICE LANCERS ON THEIR RETURN FROM WAR SERVICE ON 21st FEBRUARY 1920.

Colonel Chamaraj Urs, Officers and officers of the Mysore Imperial Service Lancers,-

It is with feelings of immense personal pleasure that I come amongst you today to address you a few words of welcome on your return after a prolonged absence from your homes, and to tell you how proud I am of your achievements in the field. Your discipline and spirit were throughout the campaign Excellent and I congratulate you on the splendid Manner in which you acquitted yourselves at the front, and upheld Mysore’s martial traditions. I feel sure that all your fellow-countrymen share my feelings on this occasion, and admire and appreciate the great sacrifices which you have made and the gallantry which you have displayed. You have returned with fresh laurels and with the proud consciousness of having discharged your duties to the entire satisfaction of the British military authorities, under whom it was your privilege to serve.

I wish you all many years of peace and happiness.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

 Lt.Col. B, Chamaraj Urs, who was the Commandant of Mysore Lancers in Palestine campaign, was awarded the "Gandabherunda" award by the Maharaja Krishna Raja Wodeyar IV.