On 20 December, in response to reports that the Turks had evacuated El Arish, the regiment started moving overnight towards the village.
Advance patrols discovered that the Turks had withdrawn along the Wadi el Arish to Magdhaba.
By dawn 23 December the regiment reached the wadi and joined up with the rest of the division, now heading towards Magdhaba.

By 05:00 they could see the Turkish position; the brigade was ordered to move around and approach it from the north.
Five hours later the brigade had reached a position to start their attack, with the Canterbury regiment on the brigade's left.
Dismounted, the squadrons advanced in turn, covered by their machine-guns.
At 15:00, when they were within five hundred yards (460 m) of the Turkish lines, they were able to charge, with bayonets fixed, and captured the Turkish trench.
One by one the Turkish redoubts were captured, before nightfall.
The regiment's casualties were light, at two dead and eleven wounded.
On 20 December, in response to reports that the Turks had evacuated El Arish, the regiment started moving overnight towards the village. Advance patrols discovered that the Turks had withdrawn along the Wadi el Arish to Magdhaba. By dawn 23 December the regiment reached the wadi and joined up with the rest of the division, now heading towards Magdhaba.
By 05:00 they could see the Turkish position; the brigade was ordered to move around and approach it from the north. Five hours later the brigade had reached a position to start their attack, with the Canterbury regiment on the brigade's left. Dismounted, the squadrons advanced in turn, covered by their machine-guns. At 15:00, when they were within five hundred yards (460 m) of the Turkish lines, they were able to charge, with bayonets fixed, and captured the Turkish trench. One by one the Turkish redoubts were captured, before nightfall. The regiment's casualties were light, at two dead and eleven wounded.
Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment