Megiddo 1918: Lawrence, Allenby, and the March on Damascus (Praeger Illustrated Military History)

By Bryan Perrett

Book Overview

As depicted in the great film Lawrence of Arabia, General Allenby planned a swift campaign that would knock Turkey out of World War I. His Desert Mounted Corps succeeded in sweeping through the Turkish lines in an action which was to take them all the way to Damascus, supported on their right flank by Lawrence and his Arab irregulars. The lasting legacy of the battle of Megiddo was that it revealed the potential of a modern war of movement, producing a profound change in military thought and tactics. As depicted in the great film Lawrence of Arabia, General Allenby planned a swift campaign that would knock Turkey out of World War I. His Desert Mounted Corps succeeded in sweeping through the Turkish lines in an action which was to take them all the way to Damascus, supported on their right flank by Lawrence and his Arab irregulars. The lasting legacy of the battle of Megiddo was that it revealed the potential of a modern war of movement, producing a profound change in military thought and tactics. As depicted in the great film Lawrence of Arabia, General Allenby planned a swift campaign that would knock Turkey out of World War I. His Desert Mounted Corps succeeded in sweeping through the Turkish lines in an action which was to take them all the way to Damascus, supported on their right flank by Lawrence and his Arab irregulars. Allenby's Egyptian Expeditionary Force had achieved the breakthrough in Palestine that commanders on the Western Front had only dreamed of. Turkey's war was over, and the days of the tottering Ottoman Empire were numbered. The lasting legacy of the battle of Megiddo was that it revealed the potential of a modern war of movement, producing a profound change in military thought and tactics. Here, Bryan Perrett examines this campaign, possibly the most successful of World War I, in detail. The important roles of the RAF, irregular Arab forces, armored cars and cavalry are all explained, and the impressive effects of their co-operation analyzed. Bryan Perrett's readable style, his close attention to detail and his obvious familiarity with the period make this a truly fascinating book.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0275982920
• ISBN13: 9780275982928
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Praeger Pub Text
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.8" x 0.5" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

Good book on a forgotten subject

Most people familiar with the First World War are not overly familiar with the battles fought in the Middle East (or else think Lawrence of Arabia fought them single-handedly). This book corrects that deficit, providing photos, maps, and text about the campaign that effectively knocked Turkey out of the War (until Ataturk came along, anyway). The book discusses the campaign as a predecessor to Blitzkrieg (and makes a convincing argument) but tends to repeat itself in some passages. Still, a highly-recommended book.