Home > Battle of Magdhaba
The Battle of Magdhaba took place near the tiny Egyptian outpost of Magdhaba in the Sinai desert, some 22 miles from El Arish on the Mediterranean coast. In late 1916 the Turkish forces in the Sinai that had been menacing the British-controlled Suez CanalThe Suez Canal ( Arabic, Qan al-Suways , west of the Sinai Peninsula, forms a 163 km (101 mile) ship canal in Egypt between Port Said Bur Sa'id on the Mediterranean and Suez al-Suways on the Red Sea. The canal allows water transport from Europe to Asia wi had retreated to the PalestineFor varying definitions, see definitions of Palestine. Palestine ( Latin: Syria Palaestina Hebrew: Palestina Eretz Yisrael Arabic: Filasin , is a region in the Middle East extending inland from the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Its political sta border, leaving garrisons at Magdhaba and RafaRafah (Arabic: Hebrew: ) is a town in the Gaza Strip, on the Egyptian border, and a nearby town on the Egyptian side of the border, on the Sinai Peninsula. Over the ages is has been known as Robihwa by Egyptians, Rafihu by Assyrians, Raphia by Greeks and. The Allied forces under General Sir Archibald Murray needed to clear these outposts before they could contemplate advancing into Palestine.
1 Prelude
In October 1916 Lieutenant GeneralLieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. A Lieutenant General ranks immediately below a General and above a Major General. In the US Army, US Marine Corps and US Air Force a Lieutenant General is a three-star general. In the British A Sir Charles Dobell was appointed to the command of the "Eastern Force", responsible for all British operations in the Sinai. General Sir Philip Chetwode was made commander of the "Desert Column" which contained all mounted (horse and camel) brigades.
The pursuit of the retreating Turks after the Battle of RomaniThe Battle of Romani took place near the Egyptian town of Romani which lies 23 miles east of the Suez Canal near the Mediterranean shore of the Sinai peninsula. On the night of August 3, 1916, the Turkish army, having advanced from southern Palestine, att had seen raids on Turkish outposts at Mazar ( September 17September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). There are 105 days remaining. Events 1176 Battle of Myriokephalon 1394 King Charles VI of France orders all Jews expelled from France 1462 Battle of Swiecin, called also Battle of Zarnowiec,) and Maghara ( October 15October 15 is the 288th day of the year (289th in Leap years). There are 77 days remaining. Events 533 Byzantine general Belisarius makes his formal entry into Carthage, having conquered it from the Vandals. 1552 Khanate of Kazan is conquered by troops of) but both positions were eventually evacuated by the Turks without a fight. The main offensive was planned as the building of the military railway from the canal began to approach El Arish which marked the first significant water supply on the eastern side of the Sinai.
The Australian light horse advanced to El Arish on December 21 but found it abandoned by the Turks who had retreated along the coast to Rafa and inland up the Wadi El Arish to Magdhaba. As the 52nd Division advanced to occupy El Arish, the Anzac Mounted Division, commanded by General Chauvel, moved on Magdhaba on the night of December 22.
