The British Imperial Army in the Middle East: Morale and Military Identity in the Sinai and Palestine Campaigns, 1916–18

Description

The First World War has often been understood in terms of the combat experiences of soldiers on the Western Front; those combatants who served in the other theatres of the war have been neglected. Using personal testimonies, official documentation and detailed research from a diverse range of archives, The British Imperial Army in the Middle East explores the combat experiences of these soldiers. The army that fought the Ottoman Empire was a multinational and multi-ethnic force, drawing personnel from across Britain’s empire, including Australia, New Zealand, and India. By taking a transnational and imperial perspective on the First World War, this book ensures that the campaigns in Egypt and Palestine are considered in the wider context of an empire mobilised to fight a total and global war. Cover HalfTitle Series Title Copyright Contents List of Illustrations List of Figures List of Maps Acknowledgements List of Abbreviations Maps Introduction 1 The Nature of War in Sinai and Palestine The war against the environment The reality of combat Technological warfare comes to the Middle East The intensity of combat The greater enemy: Disease A modern military campaign? 2 A Twentieth-Century Crusade? The post-war construction of a crusading army The wartime construction of a crusading army The wartime quest for moderation The army’s religious fringe The army’s religious infrastructure: Chaplains and the YMCA Anti-religious and anti-crusading rhetoric Orientalist tourists 3 Command, Control and Morale Allenby in the words of his contemporaries Allenby according to historians Morale crisis in the Middle East Allenby as a leader Murray as a commander Allenby as a commander 4 Citizen Soldiers at War The Territorial Force at war in the Middle East Citizen soldiers Territorials as soldiers Territorial morale in the Middle Eastern campaign 5 The Anzac Legend, Mateship and Morale The Australian Light Horse and New Zealand Mounted Rifles in the Middle East The Anzac legend in Sinai and Palestine Anzac troopers as citizen soldiers Mateship and the regiment Training and leadership A valid legend? 6 The Indian Army Fighting for Empire The Indian Army in the First World War The policy and practice of Indianization The difficulties of Indianization Indianization in practice: 10th Division Training for war Training through combat The Indianized EEF in battle Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index