To What Extent was the British Conquest of Jerusalem a Success?

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To What Extent was the British Conquest of Jerusalem a Success?

First Battle of Gaza

British forces commanded by Sir Archibald Murray had forced Turkish forces from the Sinai Peninsula in January 1917 and were now considering an assault into Palestine.

British War Office put pressure that the British should first dislodge Turkish forces from commanding positions between Gaza and Beersheba in order to enter Palestine. The Turkish forces were of 18,000 men commanded by German General Kress von Kressenstein.

Sir Charles Dobell was Murray’s subordinate and commander of Eastern Forces. His forced outnumbered the Turks by two to one.

With his force at 8km from Gaza and protected by a dense sea fog, Dobell’s cavalry reached Gaza on 26th March and deployed (spread out) to prevent supply reinforcements to the town. The central infantry (soldiers on foot) advance, which was to cross difficult terrains, was assisted by the encircling cavalry.

Dobell was with victory in sight, but ordered Sir Philip Chetwode to withdraw his cavalry, thinking that the infantry advance was a failure.

Coincidentally, Kressenstein thought the opposite and reinforced the town’s permanent garrison (fort, military post) of 4,000. Turkish counterattacks, a lack of water supplies persuaded Dobell to cancel the attack the following day.

British casualties: 4,000

Turkish casualties: 2,400

Murray wrote to the War Office affirming that Turkish losses were three times their figure and implied the Battle was a British victory. (It was a draw). This convinced London that operations on Palestine had potential success, and consequently ordered Murray to launch another assault at first opportunity, with Jerusalem as the target. But on the second time, the Turkish forces would be ready and waiting.

Second Battle of Gaza

After failing his first attempt to conquer Gaza on 26/27March 1917, Murray was obliged to consider another attack due to his report to the British war Office: he had conveyed to them an impression of British victory with lesser casualties, which was not the case. London thought that he was on the verge of a successful breakthrough (advance) ordered him to re-engage his forces, Jerusalem the final aim this time.

General Kressenstein was alerted to the intentions of the British. They had nearly caught his forces at their first encounter due to the heavy fog, but Dobell’s misjudgment saved them from defeat.

On 17 April 1917 the battle was renewed. The Turks had then extended their defenses south east to Beersheba, blocking entrances to Gaza.

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Dobell decided upon a frontal attack. Kressenstein’s force of 18,000 was against three infantry divisions, eight Mark I tanks and 4,000 gas shells. Dobell retreated on an unsuccessful attack on the third day (even with manpower advantage) due to defensive Turkish lines.

British Casualties: 6,444

Turkish Casualties: less than a third of British.

Kressenstein favoured a counter-attack against Murray, but his cautious commander Diemal Pasha did not approve of it.

Murray, worried about London’s reaction to the failure relieved Dobell of command and put General Chetwode in his place. Nevertheless, officials recalled Murray to London and in his stead was ...

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