22nd April 1918

[Julian Dawson]

Easter 90 years ago was much later than that of 2008. This report from the Times describes how British soldiers in Jerusalem respected all faiths in their own celebrations.

On This Day - The Times 22nd April 2008

[michaeldr]

Julian,

Thanks for that reminder of Easter in Jerusalem 1918

The att. photographs may also be of interest

[they are from a collection at the Library of Congress (USA)]

quote: 'King George’s men communicated, and sang the Easter hymns, in their own church of St. George outside the Damascus Gate of Jerusalem'

a pre-war (?) photograph of the interior of St. George's

quote: 'or attended the splendid Latin ceremonial of Pontifical High Mass under the great dome of the Cathedral of the Holy Sepulchre, within the walls of the city'

a pre-war photograph of the Easter crowds at the entrance to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

[michaeldr]

Item 3 of Allenby's cable to Robertson on 11th December 1917 reads "The Holy Places have had guards placed over them"

To satisfy national pride in its various forms, the allies took it in turns at this job

An example of the British guard at the Holy Sepulchre

and an example of the Italian guard there

A month before Easter 1918, the EEF was visited by HRH The Duke of Connaught and Allenby took time to show him some of the sights in Jerusalem, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

The royal party is seen here descending some steps, having come through the old city from the direction of the Jaffa Gate, and at the corner column they will turn to their left to enter the courtyard before the great door of the church

regards

Michael

[squirrel]

Thanks for posting these superb pictures.

[Julian Dawson]

Those wonderful photographs bring the original Times article vividly to life.

[michaeldr]

Driver T4/143045 Jack Tait, Army Service Corps (Later service no. ET/50689) served with the Desert Mounted Corps in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force

Three of his letters home may be seen here http://www.oucs.ox.ac.uk/ww1lit/db/results...X1=Tait%2C+Jack

That of 5th April 1918 describes his visit to the old city of Jerusalem on Easter Monday [1st April 1918] and it includes the following:

quote:

"The Mosque of Amar (usually given as 'Omar' or the 'Dome of the Rock') is built on the site of the Temple and is the loveliest building I ever saw. It is all mosaic work, the chief colours being blue and white while the inside is beyond description.

We had to remove our boots before going in so as not to damage the floor and had to do the same when going into the Holy Sepulchre. When we first took the city, we had to hire a pair of slippers at 2½d. [aprox. 1.04p] per time so the slipper lenders made some piastres but the Military Governor stopped them at that game and only the officers now get them."

As you have already seen above, also at about this time, the king's uncle, the Duke of Connaught, was visiting Allenby and the EEF in Jerusalem. Like Jack Tait, his visit included the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock. Look carefully at the pictures below and I wonder if you can see the slippers referred to by Jack?