Chapter I: Front Matter

With the British Army in the Holy Land

BY

MAJOR H. O. LOCK

THE DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT

WITH MAPS

LONDON: ROBERT SCOTT ROXBURGHE HOUSE PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C. 1919

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I PAGE EGYPT AND THE SUEZ CANAL 1

Modern Egypt--Military Geography of Egypt--The Eastern Boundary--Outbreak of War, 1914--Invasion of Egypt by the Turks--The Dardanelles--Defence Problem at the Opening of 1916.

CHAPTER II

THE DESERT OF SINAI 10

Across the Canal--The Military Railway--The Pipe-line--Kantara--Oghratina, Katia and Dueidar--Romani--Bir-el-Abd--El Arish--Maghdaba--Magruntein and Rafa--Sea-borne Supplies--Khan Yunus--The Land of Promise--Personnel.

CHAPTER III

MESOPOTAMIA, THE CAUCASUS, AND THE HEJAZ 21

Landing in Mesopotamia--1915 Operations--Kut--Baghdad--Consolidation--Interdependence of Mesopotamia and Palestine--Caucasus--Collapse of Russia--The Yemen--Revolt of the Hejaz--Mecca--Medina--Maan--Arab Co-operation in Eastern Palestine.

CHAPTER IV

PALESTINE 28

General Idea--A Comprehensive View--The Sea--Sand Dunes--Coastal Plain--Judæan Hills--Jordan Valley--Eastern Palestine--Armageddon--Climate--Railways--Population.

CHAPTER V

GAZA 37

History--Importance of Situation--Topography--First Battle of Gaza--Second Battle of Gaza--Reorganization of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.

CHAPTER VI

TRENCH WARFARE 43

Fresh Arrivals--Journey to Railhead--Acclimatization--The Turkish Line--The British Line--Campaigning Conditions--Flies and Dust--Morale--Humorous Incidents--Spies--Raiding and Shelling--Defences at the Apex--Preparations for the Offensive.

CHAPTER VII

GAZA AND BEERSHEBA 51

General Plan of the Battle--Reasons--Water--Transport--Bombardment of Gaza--Capture of Beersheba--Infantry Attack on Gaza--Counter-attack at Khuweilfeh--Attack on Sheria--Evacuation of Gaza--Retreat of the Enemy--The Apex--Shelling and Raids.

CHAPTER VIII

FULL CRY 62

Flight of the Enemy--Cavalry Pursuit--Crossing No Man's Land--Infantry Pursuit--Water--Arak-el-Menshiyeh Demonstration--Mesmiyeh Engagement--Junction Station Captured--Naaneh--Gezer--Jaffa--Summary of the Situation.

CHAPTER IX

NEBY SAMWIL 71

Routes into the Hills--Bireh--Scheme of Operations--The Saris Pass--Contrast with Hill Fighting in India--Enab--Neby Samwil--The Key to Jerusalem--Consolidation and Reliefs.

CHAPTER X

JERUSALEM 79

The 20th Corps Movements--The New Line--Counter-attacks--Final Advance--Fighting round Jerusalem--The Enemy Outmanoeuvred--Surrender of the City--General Allenby's Entry and Proclamation.

CHAPTER XI

THE HOLY CITY 86

Sacred to the Jew, the Christian and the Moslem--The Kings--Nebuchadnezzar--Nehemiah--Alexander--Ptolemy I--Antiochus--The Maccabees--Pompey--Herod--Christ--Titus--Hadrian--Constantine--Chosroes-- Islam--The Crusaders--Saladin--Richard--The Kharezmians--Expulsion of the Crusaders--Tamerlane--The Ottomans--Napoleon--Mohammed Ali--Routes taken by the several Invaders.

CHAPTER XII

JUNCTION STATION AND LUDD 101

Chaos--Looting--Turkish Hospital--Prisoners of War--Vale of Sorek--Town Planning--Movements of Troops--Railway Development--Bridges--Armoured Train--Junction Station Superseded by Ludd--Development of Ludd--St. George.

CHAPTER XIII

THE JORDAN 109

Attempt to Retake Jerusalem--Winter in Palestine--Jericho--Advancing the Line--Crossing the Jordan--Raid on Amman--Raid on Shunat Nimrin.

CHAPTER XIV

THE WADI DEIR BALLUT 116

Crossing the Auja--Front Line Life in March--Musketry--Aircraft--Flowers--Wadi Deir Ballut--Capture of Deir Ballut Ridge.

CHAPTER XV

THE MOUNTAINS OF EPHRAIM 124

The New Line--Turkish Reinforcements--Method of Holding the Line--A Patrol Incident--Capture of Ikba.

CHAPTER XVI

RAFAT 130

Arara--Rafat--Three Bushes Hill--Collapse in France--Reorganization.

CHAPTER XVII

THE CROWNING VICTORY 135

Situation in September, 1918--The Terrain--Preparations--Mugheir--The Sweep from Rafat to the Sea--Cavalry--Deraa--The Turkish Rout--Eastern Palestine--Sea of Galilee--Damascus--Summary of Results.

CHAPTER XVIII

CONCLUSION 143

Pursuit--Beyrout--Aleppo--Armistices--Close of the War--Cross and Crescent--Résumé.

SKETCH MAPS PAGE

I RAILWAYS IN 1914 1

II GAZA AND BEERSHEBA 51

III COUNTRY ROUND JERUSALEM 79

IV RAILWAYS IN 1918 101

V COUNTRY ROUND RAFAT 117

NOTE

My aim in compiling this little book has been to provide a short account of the Palestine campaign, illustrated from the experiences of one who was present.

The manuscript was written on active service, soon after the occurrence of the events recorded. It may, on this account, be sketchy, but, it is hoped, not the less interesting.

My acknowledgments are due to the Official Despatches and publications, and also to the writings of Mr. W.T. Massey, Official Correspondent with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.

H. O. L.

IN THE FIELD, 1918.

WITH THE BRITISH ARMY IN THE HOLY LAND