Pages tagged with: palestine campaign

The British invasion of Ottoman-held Palestine in 1917-18 was the third - and last - campaign launched by the Allies against the Ottoman Turks in the Middle East during the First World War.

The Imperial Camel Corps, which included two New Zealand companies, played a vital role in the Sinai and Palestine campaigns during the First World War. Between 400 and 450 New Zealanders fought in the Corps, and 41 died before the two New Zealand companies were disbanded in mid-1918.

Victory in Sinai led to pressure from the British government, led by new Prime Minister Lloyd George, to invade Ottoman-controlled Palestine in 1917.

Information on the New Zealand Rarotongan Company, which served in the Sinai and Palestine campaigns 1916-18.

The commander of Eastern Force mistakenly thought that the Egyptian Expeditionary Force could capture Gaza in March 1917 by using essentially the same tactics as those employed at Rafa and Magdhaba during the Sinai campaign.

The Second Battle of Gaza three weeks after the First Battle, was an even bigger disaster – a frontal attack by British infantry divisions resulted in their suffering some 6000 casualties.

The third, successful attempt by the British to capture Gaza began in late October 1917.

Two raids east of the Jordan River cost 3000 casualties. They are the first real defeats suffered by the EEF since the Second Battle of Gaza.

The final battle of the Palestine campaign in September 1918 resulted in arguably the most decisive British victory of the war.

Ottoman light artillery in action at Harcira in Palestine, 1917.

Map showing the area of operations during the Sinai (1916-17) and Palestine (1917-18) campaigns

A German Rumpler C.I. reconnaissance biplane arrives in Jerusalem, 1917.

A column of Ottoman cavalry move along a road near Jerusalem, April 1917.

The Lewis Gun was an American-designed light automatic machine gun used by the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade in Sinai and Palestine, 1916-17.

The French designed Hotchkiss M1909 light machine gun was used by the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade from March 1917 through to the end of the First World War.

German made version of the Ottoman War Medal, often mistakenly referred to as the 'Gallipoli Star' by Anzac and British troops.

British infantry on the march, Palestine.

Arab soldiers of T.E. Lawrence's force enter Damascus, Syria, October 1918.