Nazareth 20 September 1918

[michaeldr]

Last week the local WWI history society made a visit to Nazareth (guided by Eran of this forum) and this has prompted my reading around Lt-Col (temp Brig-Gen.) P J V Kelly CMG DSO and the events of September 1918

[contrary to info currently on Wiki, Kelly was not knighted in the Birthday Honours 1917; that award was his CMG]

 

In his chapter 'Destabilizing The Enemy' (Palestine and World War I – Grand strategy, military tactics and culture in war, I. B. Tauris, 2014) Prof Yigal Sheffy's conclusion regarding Nazareth 19-20^th September 1918 and the 13^th Cavalry Brigade, refers to

“...a vague operation order, significantly defective intelligence, minimal time for preparation, an over-optimistic timetable, unnecessary reducing of the brigade's strength and preclusion of vital assets, such as qualified guides.”

 

In his book Desert Mounted Corps, Lt-Col Preston confirms the vague nature of the intelligence available before the initial attack on Nazareth

“The only information we had as to the exact location of G.H.Q. was that it was near a big motor-lorry park.”

Anglesey in Vol.5 of his History of the British Cavalry agrees, noting that Brig-Gen P J V Kelly “had not been provided by General Staff (Intelligence) with native guides or with a plan, an aerial photograph or an adequate map of Nazareth”

Prof Sheffy deduces that “The conduct of senior officers in the corps and the divisional levels testified to their view that the planned raid was a uncomplicated minor operation with minimal hazards, which they apparently ignored.”

 

Force Order No.68, of 9^th September 1918 makes no mention at all of Nazareth. The first reference seems to be in DMC Operation Order No.21 of 12^th September 1918 (issued at 11.30pm)

“In advancing on the El 'Affule road the Haifa railway should be cut and dispositions should ensure a detachment visiting Nazareth, with a view to capturing influential prisoners and important documents.”

It is probable that Kelly himself got only 36 hours notice of his task in 'Special instructions to GOC Thirteenth Cavalry Brigade: NAZARETH' 18^th September 1918 (issued by Lt-Col Hodgson, GS, 5^th Cav Div.) which includes

“It is of the utmost importance that Nazareth is surrounded before daybreak. All roads will be barricaded so as to make it impossible for a car, by rushing the posts, to enter or leave Nazareth. All individuals moving to or from Nazareth are to be made prisoner................Hostile GHQ is situated in the town and all commanders, staffs and documents are to be seized and taken care of.”

 

The lorry park mentioned by Preston was opposite the Hotel Germania and this building (large and imposing by comparison to others nearby) was presumed to be the sought after 'hostile GHQ'. There, resistance to the British advance was formed by various clerks, drivers, cooks, orderlies etc and firing soon alerted the German C-in-C, Liman von Sanders. Alas, the hotel was not the GHQ, but only an accommodation for officers and officials. Liman was in fact about 400 meters further into the town at the Casa Nova.

 

While the fighting around the Hotel Germania was taking place, Liman drove, or rode, up to the French orphanage and ordered Major Würth von Würthenau and his depot regiment to repulse the attackers. Preston refers to “Several machine guns, mounted in a big convent which overlooked the centre of the town from the northern slope, made things very unpleasant...”

Soon after 10:00 hrs the 13^th Cavalry Brigade retired and Liman returned to his GHQ at the Casa Nova, where he found some of his men still firing from the widows. Some of his papers had already been burned, others were packed into motor transport and sent off with the rest of the men to Tiberias. Liman himself left Nazareth with General Kaizim, Major Prigge and Captain Hecker at 13:15 hrs ('Five Years in Turkey')

 

Kelly was removed by Allenby, but not right away. It was in fact almost a month later and followed another less than successful episode close to Damascus. It seems that Kelly's removal was not just on account of any perceived failure at Nazareth, but more likely it was an accumulation of events, perhaps even beginning as far back as the second raid across the Jordan in May 1918.

 

 

The above aerial photograph is credited to the Steiner collection and appears in 'The Changing Land Between the Jordan and the Sea' by Benjamin Z. Kedar. It shows the western half of the city of Nazareth. The Hotel Germania is indicated on the left, while the Casa Nova is indicated more or less in the centre. The large building in the top RH corner is the French Orphanage from where Würthenau and his depot regiment fired on the attackers. Below is an enlarged crop showing the Hotel Germania (L) and the Casa Nova (R)

 

 

This is how the Hotel Germania had appeared only nine years earlier (1909)

Immediately following the allied victory, the hotel changed its name and became the Hotel Galilee. The same site is still occupied by a hotel of that name today.

 

Below is the Casa Nova as it appeared just after the Great War

 

The Casa Nova has long since reverted to a religious function and today operates as a hostel for Christian pilgrims. Their website can be seen here  https://www.custodia.org/en/where-to-stay/casa-nova-nazareth and a video allows you to view the interior

 

 

[Any mistakes are mine]

Edited 10 February , 2020 by michaeldr

[Guest]

Mate,

 

I show these;

 

Würthenau Robert Würth von    Capt to Maj    12th Infantry depot Regt Filistin'de Depo alaylari komutani (Warehouse (depot) regiments in Palestine commander)
 

The 12th Depot Regt is shown as;

 

Training and replacment Regt (depo alay) - shown March 1917 Allied reports at Jerusalem - 4xBn's (2400 men) - shown July 1917 Allied reports (2000 men) 4th Army GHQ - shown Sept 1917 Turkish reports (3397 men) shown Oct- Nov 1917 Allied reports - 2xBn's (700 men) under Maj Meyer support fighting around Beersheba reported each Corps had a depot Regt - shown BOWH Oct 1917 (2336 men) 

 

I have no idea how many men were with him that day, as documents don't show this unit in 1918. These men would have been poorly trained and feed soldiers with possibly little reason to stay and fight?
 

Others shown;

 

Hecker     Capt Cav (Maj)     Filistin'de (staff to) General Liman von Sanders'in emir subayi (In Palestine (staff to) General Liman von Sanders' order subcontractor) Yildirim ordusunda emir subayi (Commander of orders at Yildirim)
 

Prigge Erich    Capt Cav (Maj)    ADC to Von Sanders 5th Army 1915 - Süvari Subay okulunda Komutan Askeri Heyet Baskaninin emir subayi (Commander Military Board at Cavalry Officer's School)    1914-16    from Rittmister Ulan Regt No 4 (not identified)?
 

General Kaizim

 

He has me possibly

 

Kazim (Inanc)    Intell officer 1st Army & CofS 5th Army & deputy 19th Corps     Maj to LtCol        (1880- 1938) graduated 1900 1315-P. Infantry 29 to Maj 1909 to Turco-Italian War of 1911-12 & Balkan Wars to LtCol 1915 to Col 1915 to Maj Gen 1918 & War of Independence Secretariat of Commander-in-chief & 6th Corps to Lt Gen 1924 Retired: Oct.21st 1928
 

Known staff officers Yildirim (Lighting) Army Group 1918

 

CofS Wilhelm von Dommes (G) A/CofS Maj Ludlof (G)

 

A/CofS - Capt Ali Haydar (Germeyanoglu) Ops officers - Maj Hüseyin Hüsnü Emir (Erkilet) (wrote book "Yilderim" 1922)  & Capt Tevfik (Biyiklioglu) staff officers - Maj Nihat - Lt Sahap (Gürler) (info officer)  & Capt Celal (personal officer) & Capt Hayrettin Fuat Guard Company Head of the Administration - Ömer Lütfi (Yasan) ADC - to Von Sanders Lt Ekrem Rüstü (Akömer) 

 

German Officers at HQ of Yildirim - Maj von Papen Lt Count von Pohler Lt Count von Kanik Lt Vedenayer Railway officers Capt Gronevalt & Capt Fots - Sig officers Capt Schmit & Lt Wolf - Air officer Capt von Homskerk - map officer Capt Andre - HQ Co Maj von Falkenhayn - Supply officer Dr. Yakops - Medical Brigadier Dr Steuber - translater Maj Kenan & Lt Ritter

 

Cheers

 

S.B

Edited 9 February , 2020 by stevebecker

[michaeldr]

Würthenau Robert Würth von    Capt to Maj    12th Infantry depot Regt Filistin'de Depo alaylari komutani (Warehouse (depot) regiments in Palestine commander)
The 12th Depot Regt is shown as;

Training and replacment Regt (depo alay) - shown March 1917 Allied reports at Jerusalem - 4xBn's (2400 men) - shown July 1917 Allied reports (2000 men) 4th Army GHQ - shown Sept 1917 Turkish reports (3397 men) shown Oct- Nov 1917 Allied reports - 2xBn's (700 men) under Maj Meyer support fighting around Beersheba reported each Corps had a depot Regt - shown BOWH Oct 1917 (2336 men) 

I have no idea how many men were with him that day, as documents don't show this unit in 1918. These men would have been poorly trained and feed soldiers with possibly little reason to stay and fight?

 

Steve,

The British OH has this unit as the 13th Depot Regiment - see Note on p.527

..............................................................................................................................

 

 

On 09/02/2020 at 14:15, michaeldr said:

Soon after 10:00 hrs the 13^th Cavalry Brigade retired and Liman returned to his GHQ at the Casa Nova, where he found some of his men still firing from the widows. Some of his papers had already been burned, others were packed into motor transport and sent off with the rest of the men to Tiberias. Liman himself

left Nazareth with General Kaizim, Major Prigge and Captain Hecker at 13:15 hrs ('Five Years in Turkey')

 

Liman goes on to say (in his Five Years in Turkey) that he reached Tiberias at 15.30hrs on the 20th; a reasonable time given the poor state of the road in those days and its congestion due to the retreat. 

The British OH in the note on p.534 has

“The Commander-in-Chief drove first to Tiberias, then down to Semakh. He hoped to reach Beisan, but finding that it was in British hands, left at midnight on the 20^th for Der'a.”

 

In contrast however, the usually very reliable Prof Erickson, in his Palestine – the Ottoman Campaigns of 1914-1918, gives on p.167

“After escaping to Nablus, Liman von Sanders ordered the.....”

 

That seems to me to be highly unlikely when, after the earlier skirmish beneath his GHQ in Nazareth, it must have been quite clear to Liman that his whole force was now very seriously threatened. [Indeed, Erickson has Mustafa Kemal begining his withdrawal of the Seventh Army HQ from Nablus at 18.00hrs that day (p.168)]

 

Surely having Liman go from Nazareth to Nablus is a slip of the pen? Is a move to Nablus by Liman on the 20^th September 1918, mentioned anywhere else?

 

 

 

Edited 10 February , 2020 by michaeldr

[Guest]

Mate,

 

Interesting

 

the 13th Depot Regt is shown as

 

Maj Frey (G)    depo alay shown Feb 1918 Allied reports 15th Corps 1918 - shown June 1918 Allied reports at Baalbek - shown July 1918 Allied reports at Baalbek shown 11th Corps (possibly 22nd Corps) - 3xBns + 137th MG Co - shown Aug 1918 Allied reports moved to Nazareth July 1918 - shown 1918 Allied reports Yilderim Army Group (500 men) reported a battalion was routed by a British force of cavalry (2nd Indian Lancers) and armoured cars (11 LAMB) where 46 were speared and virtually all the rest numbering 470 were taken prisoners at Birket El Fuleh 20 Sept 1918
 

Maj Frey is shown during 1917 while unknown if still there in 1918?

 

I shown two other officers by that name in Palestine

 

Frey    Col Engineers    Mühendis Yildirim ordusu Istihkam müfettisi (Engineer Yildirim army Investigator)    1917-18

Frey    Lt    Filistin'de 706. Ve 709. Tasit birligi (konvoyu) komutani (In Palestine 706th MT Co and 709th MT Co Transport Unit Consolidate (convoy) commander) (MT Co) (Kraftwagenpark) Armee-Kraftwagen-Kolonne 709    1917-18

 

I should say that the MT Companies 706 and 709 were stationed at Basan part of the 8th Army MT group based at Nablus.

 

The 702 and 705 MT Companies were at Nablus

The 704 and 711 MT Co's at Nazareth, and so forth
 

S.B

Edited 10 February , 2020 by stevebecker

[michaeldr]

 

17 hours ago, stevebecker said:

Maj Frey is shown during 1917 while unknown if still there in 1918?

This may possibly be the Maj. Frey who is mentioned in the British OH in the Note on p.494/5;

referring to The Action of the Enemy on the 19^th September, the note includes

“At 12:30pm he (Liman) directed Major Frey, Inspector General of Pioneers, to occupy the mouth of the Musmus Pass at El Lajjun, putting at his disposal all the best of the 13^th Depot Regiment at Nazareth and the Military Police on whom he could lay his hands – a total of six companies and twelve machine guns.”

 

17 hours ago, stevebecker said:

a battalion was routed by a British force of cavalry (2nd Indian Lancers) and armoured cars (11 LAMB) where 46 were speared and virtually all the rest numbering 470 were taken prisoners at Birket El Fuleh 20 Sept 1918

This was part of the 10th Cavalry Brigade which was at Lejjun at 03:30 on 20th September 1918, and which then (after breakfast and watering) moved on towards El Afule. 

"The Advance of the EEF..." has

'On debouching from the (Musmus) Pass the Turks were encountered in strength astride the road. One squadron and the cars held the enemy in front while the remainder of the regiment (2nd Lancers [Gardner's Horse]) charged their left flank....'

This is the sketch map from Anglesey's Vol.5, covering that action

The Turks opened fire first from Pt.193 at 05:30hrs. C Squadron dismounted one troop plus their Hotchkiss troop and engaged at 800yds range while the 11th LAM Battery were in action 300 yards further on. D Squadron were ordered to attack the enemy's left flank. B Squadron were to guard the right, but became involved in the charge; Capt D E Whitworth - "The men saw the enemy at the same moment, and I was just able to direct the leading troops on the rear of the enemy before all saw red and broke into a hell for leather gallop."

 

Anglesey refers to the 13th Depot Regiment and "its three machine guns" - the difference between this figure and the twelve mentioned earlier, may account for the machine guns available to Major Würth von Würthenau for his action in defence of the Casa Nova in Nazareth, described by Preston as making things there very unpleasant. 

Describing Kelly's 13th Cavalry Brigade action at Nazareth, Anglesey refers to "...Turks strongly posted and well supplied with machine guns..."  

He also mentions Kelly's request to 5th Cav Div commander Maj-Gen Macandrew at 06:50hrs, for assistance from 14th Cav Brigade. Macandrew replied that 14th Brigade's horses were too exhausted and he ordered Kelly to withdraw.

 

  

 

Edited 11 February , 2020 by michaeldr