Just before midnight on 3/4 August, three columns of the German Pasha I and the 4th Ottoman Army, consisting of about 8,000 men, began their attack on an outpost line held by the 1st Light Horse Brigade three and a half hours after the return of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade from their regular daytime patrol.
Lige før midnat mellem den 3. og 4. august begyndte tre kolonner af den tyske Pasha I og den 4. osmanniske armé, bestående af omkring 8.000 mand deres angreb på en forpostlinje, som bestod af 1. lette beredne brigade 3½ time efter at 2. lette beredne brigade var vendt tilbage fra deres daglige patrulje.