Arab revolt (1916-18). During WW I, Britain and her Allies found allies against the Ottoman Turks from among Arab nationalists. The most famous of the many revolts against the Turks was that headed by Sharif Hussayn, ruler of the Holy Cities of the Hijaz, and his son Faisal. They received military support from the French as well as the British and had several advisers, the most famous of whom, Capt (later Col) Lawrence, became known as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. Although criticized then and now for headline grabbing, Lawrence is still regarded as an excellent guerrilla leader. He worked closely with Faisal, enabling Arab forces to maximize their military potential in support of the Allies and of their own aspirations.
Lawrence knew the region as a result of pre-war archaeological and spying activities, and also formed a crucial link to British higher command when supplies were needed. He helped plan the capture of Wejh on the Red Sea coast in January 1917, inspired and led the attacks on the Hijaz railway which cut off the Turkish troops in the southern part of the Arabian peninsula, and encouraged the attack on the vital port of Aqaba from the undefended landward side in July. This last achievement enabled the port to be used to supply Allenby during the Palestine campaign, not least by transporting the Sharifian Regular Army to the front. This force of some 8, 000 men was composed of ex-Ottoman Arab regulars, under the command of Jaʿafar al Askari, who had formerly led Senussi troops against the Italians in Libya. Many other Ottoman soldiers, including Syrians and Armenians, defected to join the Arabs, retaining their old uniform and equipment but adding a khaki keffiyeh (headcloth). By the summer of 1917, this army was strong enough to convince the Ottoman's German Gen Liman von Sanders that the Turks ought to abandon the Hijaz as indefensible, although giving up the Holy Cities proved politically unacceptable.
Lawrence and the Northern Army played a crucial role on Allenby's desert (right) flank. Generally lightly armed, its only heavy weapons were provided by the French contingent, comprising a six-gun artillery battery, another six mule-transported mountain guns, eight machine gun sections, and an engineer company; but these fought with the Arabs almost everywhere. In December 1917, Faisal's Northern Army took part in Allenby's victory parade in Jerusalem. In early 1918, it also seized Tafila after a hard fight lasting several days (21-7 January). This was the Arabs' most famous victory over regular troops, which assured their military reputation. Their extreme mobility became legendary. It is calculated that they fought over 994 rail miles (1, 600 km) and 2, 983 camel miles (4, 800 km) from Medina to Muslimyia Junction (the final engagement when they again defeated the Turks) in the course of the campaigns. During the final operation they seized Derʿaa (27 September) and then dashed the last 120 km (75 miles) (much of it desert) to reach Damascus (1 October), two days before Allenby's column.
Bibliography
- Nicolle, D., Lawrence and the Arab Revolts (London, 1989).
- Wavell, A. P., The Palestine Campaigns (London, 1928)
— Matthew Bennett
