Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

World War 1, South West Asia, Palestine, Gaza, 1917

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Overview

Australian Imperial Force soldiers with disabled British tank

Historical information

The coastal city of Gaza was the heart of the main Turkish defensive position in southern Palestine. Three major battles were launched in 1917 by British and dominion forces to capture Gaza - only the third succeeded in this object.

The first battle of Gaza took place on 26 March 1917. The attacking infantry made slow progress but the mounted troops succeeded in capturing high ground to the north of the city and advancing into it. Concerned by the lack of progress made by the infantry, and fearing the water supplies vital for the mounted troops would not be captured that night, Lieutenant General Dobell, the British officer commanding the operation, ordered a withdrawal at dusk.

The second battle of Gaza took place, beginning on 17 April 1917. In the interim the Turks had extended and improved their defences. A frontal assault was launched on the Turkish defences supported by six tanks and gas shells. The attacking forces made little headway against well-sited Turkish redoubts and after three days of fighting the attack was called off.

The third battle of Gaza was begun as a feint to divert enemy forces to Gaza to fool the Turks into believing that another frontal attack was imminent. The real effort was made at Beersheba, the eastern extremity of the Turkish defensive line which fell on 31 October 1917, This undermined the security of Gaza, which fell to the British on 7 November 1917 after little resistance from Turkish forces.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-P1900.888

Item type

Photographs

Themes

War and Conflict > World War 1

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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