Goatherds with Guns.

Rolls Royce Armoured Car, Palestine, 1936.

In November 1937, the 2nd Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers was engaged on operations during the Arab Revolt in the area of Tarshiha in Palestine.

On 25 November, a foot column under Major Tolputt was searching neighbouring villages and wadis when the troops came across three apparent goatherds. Noticing that one made a suspicious movement and that he was also carrying a weapon, Lieutenant Morris opened fire with a Bren gun. Fifteen more armed Arabs broke cover and Morris's men promptly pursued them.

A cut-off group caused a few of the gang to change direction and they were intercepted and engaged in close-quarter fighting. Fusilier Coleman, who later received a Military Medal for his part in the action, broke his rifle butt during the hand-to-hand fighting. Lieutenant Morris was awarded a Military Cross. The Faughs accounted for ten of this armed gang.