From Gaza to Jerusalem

Stuart’s presentation follows on from his previous talk at the Surrey branch entitled Pyramids and Fleshpots which provided an overview of the campaigns in and around Egypt between 1914 -16. In this second presentation Stuart discusses the Palestine campaign of 1917 which saw Britain’s armed forces rise from defeat to achieve stunning victory. After two failed attempts in the spring, at the end of the year they broke through the Ottoman line with an innovative mixture of old and new technology and tactics, and managed to advance over 50 miles, from Gaza to Jerusalem, in only two months.

As well as discussing military strategy, Stuart’s narrative of the campaign gives a broad account of the men on both sides who lived and fought in the harsh desert conditions of Palestine, facing not only brave and determined enemies, but also the environment itself: heat, disease and an ever-present thirst. Involving Ottoman, ANZAC, British and Arab forces, the campaign saw great empires manoeuvring for the coveted Holy Land. It was Britain’s victory in 1917, however, that redrew the maps of the Middle East and shaped the political climate for the century to come.

Stuart Hadaway is a professional military historian who has dedicated his career to exploring the experiences of military personnel during World War I and the Middle East. He has worked in military museums and has authored several books on military topics, including the title of this presentation. 

Members and non-members of The Western Front Association are equally welcome. Any new visitors are guaranteed a friendly atmosphere and a warm welcome from a group of like-minded enthusiasts.

Doors open at Cobham at 7:15pm and the meeting starts at 7:45pm. We ask for a modest £5 donation on the door, and this includes tea, coffee and biscuits at the break, plus free tickets for the book raffle. Attendees can use our cashless card system and use their credit card/phone with the reader that will be available at the signing-in desk.

To help make things easier and safer, we are asking those coming to Cobham to bring their own mug for coffee or tea.