Book Description

The seventh volume in Bean's history gives coverage to the fighting against the Turks following the Turkish invasion of Egypt, and its various operations including the Gaza engagement, the advance to and capture of Damascus, Aleppo and the Armistice. It comprehensively deals with the Light Horse and also with the foundation of the new Australian Flying Corps. The Turks Invade Egypt. After Gallipoli. The Light Horseman and his Horse. Sinai. Anzac Mounted Division. The Arabs. The Advance to Romani. The Desert Ordeal. Awaiting the Enemy. The Turkish Advance. Gaza Engagement. Katia and Bir el Abd. The Advance to El Arish. Magdhaba. Rafa. Towards Gaza. First Gaza Engagement. Second Gaza Engagement. Second Gaza Engagement (continued). Chetwode's Plan. Allenby and his Task. The Eve of Beersheba. Battle of Beersheba. Tel el Khuweilfe. Breaking Through. The Great Drive. Clearing the Maritime Plain. Towards Jerusalem. Nahr Auja and El Burj. The Capture of Jerusalem. The Seasoned Light Horsemen. The Advance to Jericho. The Raid to Amman. Ghoraniye and Musallabeh. The Es Salt Raid. The Es Salt Raid (continued). Summer in the Jordan Valley. Re-organisation and Preparation. Abu Tellul. Allenby's Great Scheme. Sharon and Samaria. East of Jordan. The Advance to Damascus. The Capture of Damascus. Aleppo and the Armistice. The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-1918 is a 12-volume series covering Australian involvement in the First World War. The series was edited by C.E.W. Bean, who also wrote six of the volumes, and was published between 1920 and 1942. The first seven volumes deal with the Australian Imperial Force while other volumes cover the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force at Rabaul, the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Flying Corps and the home front; the final volume is a photographic record. Unlike other official histories that have been aimed at military staff, Bean intended the Australian history to be accessible to a non-military audience. The relatively small size of the Australian forces enabled the history to be presented in great detail, giving accounts of individual actions that would not have been possible when covering a larger force.