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
| PAGE | |
| [CHAPTER I] | |
| Egypt and the Suez Canal | [1] |
| Modern Egypt—Military Geography of Egypt—The EasternBoundary—Outbreak of War, 1914—Invasion of Egypt bythe 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—Magrunteinand 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—Interdependenceof Mesopotamia and Palestine—Caucasus—Collapseof Russia—The Yemen—Revolt of the Hejaz—Mecca—Medina—Maan—ArabCo-operation in Eastern Palestine. | |
| [CHAPTER IV] | |
| Palestine | [28] |
| General Idea—A Comprehensive View—The Sea—Sand Dunes—CoastalPlain—Judæan Hills—Jordan Valley—Eastern Palestine—Armageddon—Climate—Railways—Population. | |
| [CHAPTER V] | |
| Gaza | [37] |
| History—Importance of Situation—Topography—First Battle ofGaza—Second Battle of Gaza—Reorganization of the EgyptianExpeditionary Force. | |
| [CHAPTER VI] | |
| Trench Warfare | [43] |
| Fresh Arrivals—Journey to Railhead—Acclimatization—TheTurkish Line—The British Line—Campaigning Conditions—Fliesand Dust—Morale—Humorous Incidents—Spies—Raiding andShelling—Defences at the Apex—Preparations for the Offensive. | |
| [CHAPTER VII] | |
| Gaza and Beersheba | [51] |
| General Plan of the Battle—Reasons—Water—Transport—Bombardmentof Gaza—Capture of Beersheba—Infantry Attack onGaza—Counter-attack at Khuweilfeh—Attack on Sheria—Evacuationof 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—InfantryPursuit—Water—Arak-el-Menshiyeh Demonstration—MesmiyehEngagement—Junction Station Captured—Naaneh—Gezer—Jaffa—Summary of the Situation. | |
| [CHAPTER IX] | |
| Neby Samwil | [71] |
| Routes into the Hills—Bireh—Scheme of Operations—The SarisPass—Contrast with Hill Fighting in India—Enab—Neby Samwil—TheKey to Jerusalem—Consolidation and Reliefs. | |
| [CHAPTER X] | |
| Jerusalem | [79] |
| The 20th Corps Movements—The New Line—Counter-attacks—FinalAdvance—Fighting round Jerusalem—The Enemy Outmanœuvred—Surrenderof 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—PtolemyI—Antiochus—The Maccabees—Pompey—Herod—Christ—Titus—Hadrian—Constantine—Chosroes—Islam—TheCrusaders—Saladin—Richard—TheKharezmians—Expulsion of the Crusaders—Tamerlane—TheOttomans—Napoleon—Mohammed Ali—Routes taken by the several Invaders. | |
| [CHAPTER XII] | |
| Junction Station and Ludd | [101] |
| Chaos—Looting—Turkish Hospital—Prisoners of War—Vale ofSorek—Town Planning—Movements of Troops—Railway Development—Bridges—ArmouredTrain—Junction Station Superseded by Ludd—Development of Ludd—St. George. | |
| [CHAPTER XIII] | |
| The Jordan | [109] |
| Attempt to Retake Jerusalem—Winter in Palestine—Jericho—Advancingthe 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—WadiDeir Ballut—Capture of Deir Ballut Ridge. | |
| [CHAPTER XV] | |
| The Mountains of Ephraim | [124] |
| The New Line—Turkish Reinforcements—Method of Holding theLine—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—TheSweep from Rafat to the Sea—Cavalry—Deraa—TheTurkish Rout—Eastern Palestine—Sea of Galilee—Damascus—Summary of Results. | |
| [CHAPTER XVIII] | |
| Conclusion | [143] |
| Pursuit—Beyrout—Aleppo—Armistices—Close of the War—Crossand Crescent—Résumé. |