The battle of Yad-Mordechay
Mothers and children were evacuated at the last minute from the Kibbutz located on the invading army axis north. During a week of heavy fighting, the remaining Kibbutz and Palmach members prevented the Egyptian army from advancing towards the center of the country, thus enabling the young state enough time to reorganize.
The Egyptians had to occupy the Kibbutz located on the coastal highway in order to advance north. The Kibbutz comprised of 320 men, women and children. 113 fighters including 92 Kibbutz members and 21 Palmach members were divided into 2 companies and a youth Company was designated to fight with antitank weapons, Molotov bottles and bags of explosives. The force included 60 riflemen, 5 sub machine gunners , 2 no.2 mortar detachments, a MMG team, 2 'Fiat' and light machine-guns teams, a fire fighters squad, 20 stretcher bearers and 5 runners\wireless operators. A doctor and 5 nurses were divided between the sectors. The Kibbutz was surrounded by 2 fences, a regular one and a double gradient one with a 'Spider' fence in between, in addition to 10 dirt posts holding 3-4 men each, controlling the fire along the fence while covering each other and connected by communication trenches. Five shelters were dug in the Kibbutz itself- 3 for non-fighting members, one for the medical team and one for the H.Q., each containing up to 20 people. A concrete pillbox, surrounded by a 1.8 m high dirt battery and a double fence was built on a dominating hill located 300 m south of the Kibbutz, containing 8 fighters including munitions, food and water supplies. The pillbox was covered by the 2 southern army posts.
On the night of the 16th of May, a Palmach Company arrived with 300 shoe mines; only 50 were laid prior to the Egyptian attack and the rest exploded in the arsenal during the attack itself.
On the 18th of May, at 03:00 am, 112 children, 45 mothers and wet nurses were evacuated to Ruhama. The 70 remaining women included 15 fighters and the rest helped maintain the Kibbutz.
Two Egyptian craft bombarded the Kibbutz at 17:00 pm while an Egyptian infantry force reinforced by armored companies, 2 גונדות, 25 pound field cannons (8 chambers), 2 MMG squads (4 Wikers machine-guns).
The first day of the attack- May19th, 1948:
The Egyptian attack began on the 19th of May with an air raid and 25 pound no.3 mortars, enabling the deployment of the enemy force- an infantry Company deployed in a Wadi south of the pillbox, 2 infantry companies and a small half-track Company deployed with a 'Bren' launcher one km north-west, in the orchards west of the Kibbutz.
Armored vehicles positioned beyond the railway tracks, along the ridge east of the Kibbutz opened fire aiming at the pillbox and the Water Tower. Two fighters were wounded, while the rest were forced to vacate the pillbox to nearby trenches and communications with H.Q. was disconnected. At 10:00 am an Egyptian infantry Company attacked the pillbox from the south and the south west; at 10:15 am communications between Yad-Mordechay and Nir-AM was cut off and restored at 15:00 pm. The pillbox suffered heavy losses during the attack, but managed to drive the enemy away near the fence, aided by no.2 mortar fire from the no.1 and 10 posts covering the pillbox flanks. While the pillbox attack was approaching its end, the Egyptians attacked the no.1 and 2 posts. By 17:00 pm, the Egyptians had attacked 3 times, the defenders counterattacked, causing the enemy heavy losses.
The Pillbox cCommander decided to evacuate while the enemy was attacking no.1 and 2 posts; the fighters retreated and joined post no.1 at 13:00 pm. Fire from the No.10 post prevented the enemy from capturing the abandoned pillbox until 17:00 pm after which the enemy bombarded the Kibbutz with MMG fire throughout the night.
Six fighters were killed and 11 wounded during the first day. Most of the posts weren’t fit for fighting, the trenches clogged, the fence was breached in several places, and the Kibbutz was attacked by MMG fired from the captured pillbox. At 22:00 pm Yad- Mordechay lacking the necessary forces requested the 2nd Battalion to send forces in order to reoccupy the pillbox, but the 'Negev' Brigade had no forces to spare.
The second day of the attack- 20th of May:
The Egyptians renewed the bombardment at 10:00 am, at 11:00 am they attacked posts no.1 and 2 covered by MMG fire and armored tanks positioned in the pillbox. They arrived at the fence only to be driven away by hand grenade fire, while suffering heavy losses. The only MMG aiding the 1st post was hit. The Kibbutz was attacked 5 times during the day and the last attack was driven away at 18:30 pm. The enemy used the same methods in all 5 attacks- an infantry Company, small half-tracks and 'Bren' carriers advanced under the cover of a smoke screen, attempting to break through the fence located near the no. 1 post. The number of casualties rose towards the end of the day to 13 Kibbutz and 5 Palmach members that were buried in a demolished shelter.
The Company that sent from Gevar-Am arrived on foot at 03:00 am, raised the fighters moral, some replaced the fighters in the southern posts and others repaired damaged posts, communication trenches and gathered the loot.
A respite between the 21st and the 22nd of May, 1948
On the 21st of May, the 2nd Egyptian infantry Battalion replaced the 1st Battalion, during which heavy artillery continued to fire from the pillbox and the eastern hills, but no direct attacks were made against Yad-Mordechay. Egyptian fire kept demolishing the restored posts and trenches, there was a shortage in blood units and 2 wounded eventually died due to the severe conditions. The exhausted doctor requested the Red Cross evacuate the wounded. The defenders moral was low and regional command demanded reinforcements; or els the Kibbutz would have to be evacuated that same night. Yad- Mordechay members could think of no other options.
The last day of the attack- the 23rd of May, 1948
The Brigade organized a Mobil force in Gevar- Am, including 2 platoons and 6 armored vehicles. The force was scheduled to penetrate Yad-Mordechay on the night of the 22nd of May, one platoon was supposed to reinforce the fighters and the other secure the evacuation of the wounded , but the attack was delayed due to heavy fog.
On the noon of the 23rd of May, an Egyptian tank managed to penetrate the Kibbutz, between the no.1 and 10 posts, covered by heavy bombardment. A 'fiat' launcher returned fire and missed, while 2 fighters attacked the tank with hand grenades, causing it to stop, 2 of its members managed to escape while the third was killed. Meanwhile riflemen, armored vehicles, small half-tracks, 'Bren' launchers and MMG's pinned down the posts flanking the no.1 post, covering the infantry's attack. The fighters retreated as the Egyptians broke through the fences. A force attacked the post using guns and hand grenades and reoccupied it after finding it deserted. Infantry attacks ceased towards sundown, the Egyptians managed to recover a damaged tank and 2 armored vehicles under cover of darkness and a heavy smoke screen.
Six men were killed and others were wounded during the day's fighting. The overall number of wounded rose to 40, defense layout disrupted, most of the posts demolished, the fences were breached in several places, the men were physically and mentally exhausted, and the members wanted to evacuate the Kibbutz.
The retreat - 24th of May, 1948-
On the 23rd of May, at sundown, a convoy of 8 vehicles (armored and trucks), 2 Palmach platoons, including 'The desert animals' under the command of Gershon Dubembaum ('Dembem') and Simcha Shiloni, left Gevar-Am on its way to Yad-Mordechay. The convoy encountered an Egyptian ambush by an abandoned British camp, 3 armored vehicles carrying the cCommanders and 'The desert animals' managed to overcome the ambush, one armored vehicle was damaged and forced to return to Gevar-Am and the rest of the vehicles stayed behind while Dembem and Shiloni thought all the vehicles had to managed to reach Yad-Mordechay.
Dembem and Shiloni entered the Kibbutz on foot during the night, ordering the rest of the force to continue fighting even though only one platoon was available to evacuate the wounded, which were loaded on the armored vehicles. 'The desert animals' attacked the Egyptian blockade, protecting the vehicles on their way to Gevar-Am.
At 03:00 am, Kibbutz and Palmach members left for Gevar-Am in groups of 8-10 people each. There was a full moon, the evacuation was well organized, the members carrying as many weapons as possible and 2 wounded on stretchers under the protktion of 'The desert animals'. The convoy including 180 people- 100 fighters and several walking wounded arrived safely at Gevar-Am in broad day light.
One wounded Palmach member, a Kibbutz member and a medical assistant were left behind and murdered by the Egyptians. During the battle 26 men were killed - 18 Kibbutz members, 8 Palmach members and 40 wounded. On the 29th of May, The Egyptians left Majdal on their way north. Even though Yad-Mordechay was occupied, it contributed significantly to the detaining of the Egyptian force and allowed the southern force enough time to organize. Yad-Mordechay was reoccupied during Operation 'Yoav'; the Kibbutz was rehabilitated and continued as an outpost settlement.
On the night of the 16th of May, a Palmach Company arrived with 300 shoe mines; only 50 were laid prior to the Egyptian attack and the rest exploded in the arsenal during the attack itself.
On the 18th of May, at 03:00 am, 112 children, 45 mothers and wet nurses were evacuated to Ruhama. The 70 remaining women included 15 fighters and the rest helped maintain the Kibbutz.
Two Egyptian craft bombarded the Kibbutz at 17:00 pm while an Egyptian infantry force reinforced by armored companies, 2 גונדות, 25 pound field cannons (8 chambers), 2 MMG squads (4 Wikers machine-guns).
The first day of the attack- May19th, 1948:
The Egyptian attack began on the 19th of May with an air raid and 25 pound no.3 mortars, enabling the deployment of the enemy force- an infantry Company deployed in a Wadi south of the pillbox, 2 infantry companies and a small half-track Company deployed with a 'Bren' launcher one km north-west, in the orchards west of the Kibbutz.
Armored vehicles positioned beyond the railway tracks, along the ridge east of the Kibbutz opened fire aiming at the pillbox and the Water Tower. Two fighters were wounded, while the rest were forced to vacate the pillbox to nearby trenches and communications with H.Q. was disconnected. At 10:00 am an Egyptian infantry Company attacked the pillbox from the south and the south west; at 10:15 am communications between Yad-Mordechay and Nir-AM was cut off and restored at 15:00 pm. The pillbox suffered heavy losses during the attack, but managed to drive the enemy away near the fence, aided by no.2 mortar fire from the no.1 and 10 posts covering the pillbox flanks. While the pillbox attack was approaching its end, the Egyptians attacked the no.1 and 2 posts. By 17:00 pm, the Egyptians had attacked 3 times, the defenders counterattacked, causing the enemy heavy losses.
The Pillbox cCommander decided to evacuate while the enemy was attacking no.1 and 2 posts; the fighters retreated and joined post no.1 at 13:00 pm. Fire from the No.10 post prevented the enemy from capturing the abandoned pillbox until 17:00 pm after which the enemy bombarded the Kibbutz with MMG fire throughout the night.
Six fighters were killed and 11 wounded during the first day. Most of the posts weren’t fit for fighting, the trenches clogged, the fence was breached in several places, and the Kibbutz was attacked by MMG fired from the captured pillbox. At 22:00 pm Yad- Mordechay lacking the necessary forces requested the 2nd Battalion to send forces in order to reoccupy the pillbox, but the 'Negev' Brigade had no forces to spare.
The second day of the attack- 20th of May:
The Egyptians renewed the bombardment at 10:00 am, at 11:00 am they attacked posts no.1 and 2 covered by MMG fire and armored tanks positioned in the pillbox. They arrived at the fence only to be driven away by hand grenade fire, while suffering heavy losses. The only MMG aiding the 1st post was hit. The Kibbutz was attacked 5 times during the day and the last attack was driven away at 18:30 pm. The enemy used the same methods in all 5 attacks- an infantry Company, small half-tracks and 'Bren' carriers advanced under the cover of a smoke screen, attempting to break through the fence located near the no. 1 post. The number of casualties rose towards the end of the day to 13 Kibbutz and 5 Palmach members that were buried in a demolished shelter.
The Company that sent from Gevar-Am arrived on foot at 03:00 am, raised the fighters moral, some replaced the fighters in the southern posts and others repaired damaged posts, communication trenches and gathered the loot.
A respite between the 21st and the 22nd of May, 1948
On the 21st of May, the 2nd Egyptian infantry Battalion replaced the 1st Battalion, during which heavy artillery continued to fire from the pillbox and the eastern hills, but no direct attacks were made against Yad-Mordechay. Egyptian fire kept demolishing the restored posts and trenches, there was a shortage in blood units and 2 wounded eventually died due to the severe conditions. The exhausted doctor requested the Red Cross evacuate the wounded. The defenders moral was low and regional command demanded reinforcements; or els the Kibbutz would have to be evacuated that same night. Yad- Mordechay members could think of no other options.
The last day of the attack- the 23rd of May, 1948
The Brigade organized a Mobil force in Gevar- Am, including 2 platoons and 6 armored vehicles. The force was scheduled to penetrate Yad-Mordechay on the night of the 22nd of May, one platoon was supposed to reinforce the fighters and the other secure the evacuation of the wounded , but the attack was delayed due to heavy fog.
On the noon of the 23rd of May, an Egyptian tank managed to penetrate the Kibbutz, between the no.1 and 10 posts, covered by heavy bombardment. A 'fiat' launcher returned fire and missed, while 2 fighters attacked the tank with hand grenades, causing it to stop, 2 of its members managed to escape while the third was killed. Meanwhile riflemen, armored vehicles, small half-tracks, 'Bren' launchers and MMG's pinned down the posts flanking the no.1 post, covering the infantry's attack. The fighters retreated as the Egyptians broke through the fences. A force attacked the post using guns and hand grenades and reoccupied it after finding it deserted. Infantry attacks ceased towards sundown, the Egyptians managed to recover a damaged tank and 2 armored vehicles under cover of darkness and a heavy smoke screen.
Six men were killed and others were wounded during the day's fighting. The overall number of wounded rose to 40, defense layout disrupted, most of the posts demolished, the fences were breached in several places, the men were physically and mentally exhausted, and the members wanted to evacuate the Kibbutz.
The retreat - 24th of May, 1948-
On the 23rd of May, at sundown, a convoy of 8 vehicles (armored and trucks), 2 Palmach platoons, including 'The desert animals' under the command of Gershon Dubembaum ('Dembem') and Simcha Shiloni, left Gevar-Am on its way to Yad-Mordechay. The convoy encountered an Egyptian ambush by an abandoned British camp, 3 armored vehicles carrying the cCommanders and 'The desert animals' managed to overcome the ambush, one armored vehicle was damaged and forced to return to Gevar-Am and the rest of the vehicles stayed behind while Dembem and Shiloni thought all the vehicles had to managed to reach Yad-Mordechay.
Dembem and Shiloni entered the Kibbutz on foot during the night, ordering the rest of the force to continue fighting even though only one platoon was available to evacuate the wounded, which were loaded on the armored vehicles. 'The desert animals' attacked the Egyptian blockade, protecting the vehicles on their way to Gevar-Am.
At 03:00 am, Kibbutz and Palmach members left for Gevar-Am in groups of 8-10 people each. There was a full moon, the evacuation was well organized, the members carrying as many weapons as possible and 2 wounded on stretchers under the protktion of 'The desert animals'. The convoy including 180 people- 100 fighters and several walking wounded arrived safely at Gevar-Am in broad day light.
One wounded Palmach member, a Kibbutz member and a medical assistant were left behind and murdered by the Egyptians. During the battle 26 men were killed - 18 Kibbutz members, 8 Palmach members and 40 wounded. On the 29th of May, The Egyptians left Majdal on their way north. Even though Yad-Mordechay was occupied, it contributed significantly to the detaining of the Egyptian force and allowed the southern force enough time to organize. Yad-Mordechay was reoccupied during Operation 'Yoav'; the Kibbutz was rehabilitated and continued as an outpost settlement.