Caption: 9th Hodson’s Horse, Damascus, 2 October 1918
About the Talk: The Egyptian Expeditionary Force swept through Palestine in 1918 under Sir Edmund Allenby with a string of victories. What makes this success all the more astounding is that it was achieved with mostly inexperienced Indian troops. This talk charts how the EEF became ‘Indianised’ in 1918 after large numbers of British troops were diverted from the EEF to the Western Front to repulse the German Spring Offensive. The Indian troops that came to replace them had fighting spirit in abundance but were inadequately prepared and inexperienced. This obliged Allenby to focus on training and preparation, while working against the clock. This strategy paid off, with the resounding victory at Megiddo in September 1918 ultimately knocking the Ottoman Empire completely out of the war.
About the Speaker: Adam Prime is a popular and engaging speaker. He shines light on the fascinating but little known aspect of the Great War, which is his speciality. He has researched the work and achievements of the Indian Army officer corps, for which he holds a PhD from the University of Leicester. He currently sits on the WFA national Executive Committee.
This online talk: opens at 19:20 for a 19:30 start, ending at about 20:35. Participating is quick and easy. The only equipment you need is a computer, or a tablet, or a smart phone. Simply email lukegodber2020@gmail.com for your link and the passcode. We'll also automatically add you to the mailing list to keep you updated with future events.