The Taking Of Jerusalem, Part One

On December 11th, 1917, British forces, led by General Edmund Allenby, captured Jerusalem from the Ottoman empire, crowning a foray into Middle East politics featuring, amongst others, T E Lawrence, the so-called Lawrence of Arabia.

Turkey had made an alliance with Germany during the First World War and so the capture of Jerusalem was a significant waypoint in the ending of that conflict. Allenby’s victory would begin more than thirty years of British involvement with Palestine which would end with the establishment of the Israeli state.

Five days shy of exactly a century later, Donald Trump is today recognising Jerusalem as the official capital of Israel.

British forces parade at the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem in anticipation of greeting their victorious General, Edmund Allenby as he made his official entrance to the captured city.

British troops corral Palestinians in Jerusalem