This request was denied and when he prevaricated, asking for time to consider the order, Chetwode gave him the verbal order, believing the 53rd (Welsh) Division was moving its right back to gain touch with the 54th (East Anglian) Division near Mansura.
Denne anmodning blev afslået, og da han tøvede, og bad om tid til at overveje ordren, gav Chetwode ham den mundtlige ordre, i den tro, at 53. division var ved at trække dens højre fløj tilbage for at få forbindelse med 54. division nær Mansura.