"In early 1917, the British Egyptian Expeditionary Force attempted to break out of the Sinai Desert into southern Palestine. This attempt resulted in two bloody repulses at Gaza in March and April, after which the EEF settled down to static warfare while gathering strength for their next effort. Meanwhile, across the lines the Ottomans not only strengthened their defences but also gathered their own forces for an attempt to retake the Sinai Desert and cut the Suez Canal. Their next clash began in October, and would see the EEF conduct a lightning advance in arguably the most successful British offensive of the war so far, capturing Jerusalem by Christmas.
Speaker this month is Stuart Hadaway
Stuart Hadaway is a professional history who has written several books on the First World War in Egypt and Palestine, and runs the online group 'Egyptian Expeditionary Force in WW1', which hosts monthly talks on the campaigns."
