The Last Crusade: The Palestine Campaign in the First World War

By Anthony Bruce

World War I in Palestine was a tough and fast-moving campaign, fought against a formidable enemy in harsh terrain and incredible heat…

Its highpoints for the British – T E Lawrence’s capture of Aqaba with a charge of Arab horsemen, and Allenby’s victory march through the walled city of Jerusalem with fighters overhead and volleys of machine-gun fire in the streets – are classic moments in the history of warfare. However, there is more to the conflict that is less well-known but equally gripping; the battles of Gaza were among the most hard-fought, and the battle of Megiddo among the most brilliant and decisive victories of the entire war.

Hostilities began with the defence of the Suez Canal, Britain’s jugular, against the Ottoman Turks and their German allies. The Allies’ thrust into Palestine when Allenby took over from the less aggressive Murray, and the harnessing of the irregular forces of Arab nationalism by Lawrence, were much needed victories.

In contrast to the failures at Gallipoli and in Mesopotamia, or the inconclusive battles on the Western Front, Palestine offered sweeping movement and dramatic success which made an essential contribution to the Allies’ triumph in the war. 

Anthony Bruce has produced a comprehensive military history of the campaign, drawing on the full range of sources including the experiences of those who took part.