Gaza to Jerusalem

[Gareth Davies]

I have had  couple of trips to Israel/Palestine this year to look at some of the actions of 1917 and because it is a path less well trodden I thought I might share some of my photos with you.  

 

First up, the Ottoman trenches south east of Beersheba.

[Gareth Davies]

Next, the area where Lafone and the men of the Middlesex Yeomanry held off a large Turkish attack. Lafone was killed; he was awarded the VC.

These photos are taken in the vicinity of Sheikh Abbas.  The memorial was built on the 50th anniversary.  The final photo shows the location of Tank Redoubt.

[Gareth Davies]

Muggar Ridge:

 

The photos don't do justice to the height of the ridge and thus the challenge that the Yeomanry faced.

 

 

[Bernard_Lewis]

Nice images. I was reading a book in bed last night that debunks Aussie great war myths. It was the Light Horse chapter so quite topical.

 

Bernard

[Gareth Davies]

The view from Nabi Samwil:

[Jrmh]

Hi Gareth,

 

May I add to this?

 

Jim

 

HUJ from the South East:

 

[Gareth Davies]

Please do Jim.  This is it from the north:

 

 

[Jrmh]

Looking east towards the hills to the west of Jerusalem:

 

 

[Guest]

Mate,

 

These photos shown the differences for the Great War period to now.

 

Most show a desert, now all appear so green?

 

S.B

[egbert]

Thank you for the informative images. Good impression about the terrain features-

[Sjack91]

Great photos. Thanks for sharing 

[Philip Wilson]

Splendid photos - thanks for sharing them especially the HUJ photos - the Centenary was Remembered with a special event in the Ballroom of The Court House, Warwick on the 8 November 2017.

 

Philip

 

Edited 24 November , 2017 by Philip Wilson

[michaeldr]

Gareth,

 

Further to your above No.5

 

Earlier this year when you and I visited Nebi Samuel with Eran, pressed as we were for time, we did not have a chance to go onto the roof, but that opportunity came my way yesterday when the Society for the Heritage of WWI in Israel visited the site, again guided by our chairman, Eran.

If there is not a moslem prayer service going on at that time, then one can usually gain access to the roof by entering the main hall and ascending the stairs immediately on the left.

 

 

The extra elevation is helpful

 

The two towers on the skyline below are (left) the Auguste Victoria and (right) the Russian Convent of the Ascension.

In 1917 the then city of Jerusalem would lie in the valley this side of the Russian tower

 

The view below is towards Ein Kerrem which lies the other side of the first ridge (below the Haddasa Hospital complex which can be seen in the centre)

 

Below is the view down to the coastal plain

 

Other views giving some idea of the rugged nature of this battle field include

 

In short, it is well worth the climb up to the roof if it can be fitted in to the itinerary's schedule

 

regards

Michael

Edited 25 November , 2017 by michaeldr

[Gareth Davies]

We went onto the roof but I was too busy explaining the battle(s) to take any photos. Thank you for sharing these.

[michaeldr]

8 hours ago, Gareth Davies said:

We went onto the roof 

 

Well done Gareth.

I enjoyed the write-up in the 'The Quickfirer!'

and note that your tour hopes to return to this battlefield

I hope to see you then

[emrezmen]

Fantastic photos. The advantage provided by cactus hedges to the defenders is evident from the photo in post #7.

 

Thanks for sharing.

Edited 3 December , 2017 by emrezmen

[nb2]

Just to add to this old thread, few meters west to the Nabi Samuel summit where the above pics here were taken, there is a small underground structure claimed to be turkish bunker.

 

Location:   31.835362 N 35.177445 E

In the pics are the entrance and ventilation holes.

 

Can anyone add something ? 

 

Edited 1 November , 2020 by nb2

[assafx]

this is not a turkish bunker,

the ottomans did not used concrete.

In my research, i proved that this is the cave that used the british as their headquarters.

The Jordanian army, much later, used it to his needs hence the guarding position near by, the walls inside the cave and the walls ouside.

 

Assaf

Edited 2 November , 2020 by assafx

[Roger H]

Some interesting photos.  Thanks for posting Gareth and others.  An area I know absolutely nothing about in terms of WWI