Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Battle of Magdhaba Middle East 23 Dec 1916 - 5 January 1917

Magdhaba, a village located in the northern Sinai desert, was the scene of an action
fought on 23 December 1916 when Turkish forces blocking the route to Palestine were
attacked by Major General Harry Chauvel's ANZAC Mounted Division, which had the
Imperial Camel Corps attached.

Success in this hard fought action was secured through a resolute assault with the
bayonet by the 1st Light Horse Brigade, commanded by Brigadier Charles Cox, just
as Chauvel ordered his force to withdraw.

A mounted charge by the 10th Light Horse to secure vital water supplies nearby was
also a vital contributory factor in the victory.

This action, combined with the success at Rafa on 9 January 1917, opened the way
for the final expulsion of the Turks from Sinai.

Sourced by Julianne T Ryan, courtesy of AWM.  19/3/2015.  Lest we forget.