The decision to retreat and the second cease-fire comes into force
The Company C.O. came to the conclusion that remaining in the field could endanger the Company unnecessarily and unreasonably. He therefore decided to retreat.
At dawn the situation was as follows:
§ The Legion still held the position which dominated the area captured by the Company and constituted a threat towards it during the day.
§ With no walkie-talkie it was impossible to receive information from the Company H.Q. on the whereabouts of others.
§ The other two Companies, which were meant to capture additional positions, were nowhere to be seen. The perception was that the Company was alone in the region.
The Company C.O. was apprehensive that the position would be cut off during the day with no means of obtaining assistance. There were no heavy and anti-tank weapons to hand and it was clear that the enemy was well equipped and had the advantage in numbers of soldiers and weapons.
Since the Company’s operation was intended as part of a general plan, and there was no sign that other elements were taking part in the operation, the Company C.O. came to the conclusion that remaining in the field could endanger the Company unnecessarily and unreasonably. He therefore decided to retreat.
Walking wounded or wounded who could be carried were attached to each platoon and it was given instructions as to which line of retreat to follow (at first towards Position 58 and from there towards Positions 7 and 8).
The paramedic David Miller, with exceptional bravery, declared that he would stay with a number of badly wounded who could not have survived being carried. At about 0700 hours the retreat of the various units was completed.
18 soldiers were killed during this operation, their bodies were left in the field, and 15 were wounded.
All of the wounded and the paramedic were murdered by the Legionnaires.
When the second cease-fire came into force communications were established and negotiations were held between the British officer Lockett, one of the Legion’s commanders, and the Battalion C.O. Zvi Zamir on a number of issues:
It was agreed that the Arab farmers could reap their fields.
Representatives of both sides could enter the field of battle to recover bodies. This is how the fallen in the attack on ‘Cannon Ridge’ were found by Rabbi Shlomo Goren and taken to Israel to be buried.
The agreement permitted mine laying operations to be carried out on the roads and in the area of the positions.
§ The Legion still held the position which dominated the area captured by the Company and constituted a threat towards it during the day.
§ With no walkie-talkie it was impossible to receive information from the Company H.Q. on the whereabouts of others.
§ The other two Companies, which were meant to capture additional positions, were nowhere to be seen. The perception was that the Company was alone in the region.
The Company C.O. was apprehensive that the position would be cut off during the day with no means of obtaining assistance. There were no heavy and anti-tank weapons to hand and it was clear that the enemy was well equipped and had the advantage in numbers of soldiers and weapons.
Since the Company’s operation was intended as part of a general plan, and there was no sign that other elements were taking part in the operation, the Company C.O. came to the conclusion that remaining in the field could endanger the Company unnecessarily and unreasonably. He therefore decided to retreat.
Walking wounded or wounded who could be carried were attached to each platoon and it was given instructions as to which line of retreat to follow (at first towards Position 58 and from there towards Positions 7 and 8).
The paramedic David Miller, with exceptional bravery, declared that he would stay with a number of badly wounded who could not have survived being carried. At about 0700 hours the retreat of the various units was completed.
18 soldiers were killed during this operation, their bodies were left in the field, and 15 were wounded.
All of the wounded and the paramedic were murdered by the Legionnaires.
When the second cease-fire came into force communications were established and negotiations were held between the British officer Lockett, one of the Legion’s commanders, and the Battalion C.O. Zvi Zamir on a number of issues:
It was agreed that the Arab farmers could reap their fields.
Representatives of both sides could enter the field of battle to recover bodies. This is how the fallen in the attack on ‘Cannon Ridge’ were found by Rabbi Shlomo Goren and taken to Israel to be buried.
The agreement permitted mine laying operations to be carried out on the roads and in the area of the positions.