The fighting around Jaffa and the El- 'Auja ( Yarkon ) River , November-December 1917 Eran Tearosh On November 16 lh 1917 , the New Zealand Brigade captured Jaffa and , apart from some sporadic sniping , encountered no resistance . While riding through Jaffa ' s orange groves , the mounted troops leant over to pick oranges from the trees without dismounting . The Wellington Regiment entered the town at 10 : 00 , and the official surrender took place the following day . The Canterbury Mounted Regiment had taken Sarona , the flourishing German-Templar colony near Jaffa , where they discovered good quality fodder for their horses . On November 24 th the New-Zealand Brigade was ordered to cross the Yarkon River ( Nahr el Auja ) as a diversion , providing support for the battle of Nebi Samuel , northwest of Jerusalem . The crossing took the Turks completely by surprise . The leading horsemen waded quickly across the ford at the river mouth . Some turned north to defend the crossing point at...
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