The palestine campaigns

A classic, old-school military history of the British Army's campaigns in Sinai, Palestine and Syria in the First World War. Wavell served on the staff of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force for a while - and of course rose to the highest possible rank in the Second World War - so he was familiar with the ground, organization, the enemy and the battles themselves. This was one of the last campaigns that saw the widespread use of horse cavalry, and the combination of modern weapons, great mobility on the part of the British and Biblical place names made this a campaign to remember. The Turks are never an easy enemy to beat - as the Brits found out at Gallipoli and Kut - and especially when commanded and "stiffened" by Germans, but Allenby made it look easy which, I suppose, is what a good commander is supposed to do. Personally, I became reacquainted with the small battle fought near my old kibbutz at Tel Gezer on November 15, 1917. The book reads like a staff study, but a really well-written one, and there are helpful fold-out maps at the back of the book to allow you to follow the movements and fighting while reading. With large pull out maps.