Action of Tell 'Asur
Encyclopedia
The Action of Tell 'Asur, also known as the Battle of Turmus 'Aya, took place between 8 and 12 March 1918, during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign
of World War I
. Fighting took place over an area which extended from the Mediterranean Sea
to Abu Tellul and Mussalabeh on the edge of the Jordan Valley.
After the Capture of Jericho by British Empire forces in February 1918 the occupation of the Jordan Valley began but the captured territory was not sufficiently broad to provide a base for the planned Transjordan operations. During the attacks by the XX and XXI Corps
against the Ottoman 7th
and 8th Armies
, the Egyptian Expeditionary Force
's front line was successfully pushed northwards and was followed at the end of March by the First Transjordan attack on Amman (1918)
.
's right flank was secure but was not sufficiently broad to support the planned operations across the Jordan to the Hedjaz railway. During these operations a general advance on a front of 14–26 mi (22.5–41.8 km) and up to a maximum of 5–7 mi (8–11.3 km) in depth by both the XX and XXI Corps pushed Ottoman
forces north from the River Auja on the Mediterranean coast, from Abu Tellul and Mussallabeh on the edge of the Jordan Valley and up the Jerusalem to Nablus
road capturing Ras el Ain.
The objectives of the XX Corps were Kh. el Beiyudat and Abu Telul in the Jordan Valley north of the Wadi el Auja and to the west astride the Jerusalem to Nablus road, the road running from Mughaiyrir through Sinjil and Jiljliya (Gilgal) to Abwein. The XXI Corps' right was to advance to Deir Ballut and Majdal Yaba 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north of its present position at Et Tire.
, the 74th Division and the 10th Division. On the right flank the 181st Brigade, 60th Division
(which took part on the first day only) was to secure the line of the Wadi el Auja in and just above the Jordan Valley and guard it and the open right flank of the 53rd Division against an attack. The 60th (London) Infantry Division pushed Ottoman units back from high ground on the north bank of the Wadi Auja, well beyond the valuable water supply in the river. The XX Corps began its advance during the night of 8 March at the same time as the Ottoman XX Corps began to arrive on the Auja. The wadi was 20 yards (18.3 m) across but only 3 foot (0.9144 m) deep and the 2/22nd and 2/21st London crossed the wadi in the plain without incident before 05:00. The 2/24th and the 2/23rd London in the hills had difficulties and a gap of 5 miles (8 km) developed where an Ottoman division had given the defences an unexpected strength.
Meanwhile the 53rd, 74th and 10th Infantry Divisions advanced north up both sides of the Jerusalem to Nablus road from Kefr Malik to Nebi Saleh cutting off all tracks and roads leading to the lower Jordan Valley. The 53rd Division's objective; the capture of Tell 'Asur, was assigned to the 158th Brigade. The Tell was a very valuable observation post with views extending north to the hills of Galilee
with Mount Hermon
in the background 90 miles (144.8 km) away, in the east and southeast to Gilead, Moab and most of the Dead Sea
, in the south over the Mount of Olives to the heights of Hebron and west to the Mediterranean from south of Jaffa to north of Caesarea. It was captured by the 5th Regiment, Welch Fusiliers about 09:30 after a heavy bombardment by the 91st Heavy Battery but the position was far from secure being subjected to a successful counterattack shortly after, but the 6th Regiment, Welch Fusiliers drove them off. Four unsuccessful attempts by Ottoman forces were made to regain this hill.
The 74th Division's attack was made astride the Jerusalem to Nablus road; the 231st Brigade on the right moving towards Mezra esh Sherqiye a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north north west of Tell 'Asur. But the difficult night advance was further complicated by the terrain and Ottoman machine guns and despite reinforcements being brought forward, the infantry were held up later in the day by the cavernous gorge of the Wadi el Jib.
Operating in two groups; the 10th Division's right attacked Atara and Ajul and the left attacked from Deir es Sudan to Nabi Salih. After a late start due to fog rapid advances were made and during the following night the advance continued on most of the front. The bridge over the Wadi el Jib was found to be intact and the top of the cliff was won just before dawn. Daylight found them on the lower slopes of the hills while Ottoman machine gun defenders made determined stands.
During these operations the infantry advanced up and down precipitous cliffs and through deep gorges with every Ottoman machine gun carefully placed in strong defensive positions. These had to be located by careful reconnaissance on foot as the country was very rough and due to the low cloud and mist aerial reconnaissance could not be used. Artillery was also severely hampered by the rough terrain making it virtually impossible to produce effective artillery fire support.
Their final objective was a line north of the Wadi Deir Ballut (which becomes the Wadi el Jib) and the Wadi Abu Lejja where it enters the Nahr el Auja north of Mulebbis an advance of 4.5 miles (7.2 km). After the passage of the Nahr el Auja an advance had reached El Haram near ancient Arsuf making it possible to take the Ottoman positions in enfilade. The attack was carried out by the 232nd and 234th Brigades of the 75th Division and the 162nd Brigade of the 54th Division closely supported by artillery in a creeping barrage.This creeping barrage was again successfully used on the maritime plain during the morning attack of 19 September 1918. One section followed close behind the infantry leaving the rest of the battery in action and as soon as the leading section was able to open fire the four other guns moved forward to joined it. Deir el Ballut was taken about at 14:00 on 10 March and by 11:00 on 11 March all the ground to the south of the Wadi had been evacuated by the Ottoman forces leaving behind 112 prisoners and about 40 dead at a cost to the two infantry divisions of 104 casualties.
The new line established by these infantry corps remained almost the same for six months; until the general advance in September 1918. The success of these infantry operations provided a sufficiently large base to support the Transjordan operations which began at the end of the month with the first Transjordan attack on Amman
.
Sinai and Palestine Campaign
The Sinai and Palestine Campaigns took place in the Middle Eastern Theatre of World War I. A series of battles were fought between British Empire, German Empire and Ottoman Empire forces from 26 January 1915 to 31 October 1918, when the Armistice of Mudros was signed between the Ottoman Empire and...
of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Fighting took place over an area which extended from the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
to Abu Tellul and Mussalabeh on the edge of the Jordan Valley.
After the Capture of Jericho by British Empire forces in February 1918 the occupation of the Jordan Valley began but the captured territory was not sufficiently broad to provide a base for the planned Transjordan operations. During the attacks by the XX and XXI Corps
XXI Corps (United Kingdom)
The XXI Corps was a Army Corps of the British Army during World War I.-First World War:The Corps was formed in Egypt in June 1917 under the command of Lieutenant General Edward Bulfin...
against the Ottoman 7th
Seventh Army (Ottoman Empire)
The Ottoman Seventh Army was a large military formation of Ottoman Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although designated as an army, at least by 1918, it was only of corps strength....
and 8th Armies
Eighth Army (Ottoman Empire)
The Eighth Army of the Ottoman Empire was one of the field armies of the Ottoman Army. It was formed during the World War I.- Order of Battle, January 1918 :In January 1918, the army was structured as follows:...
, the Egyptian Expeditionary Force
Egyptian Expeditionary Force
The Egyptian Expeditionary Force was formed in March 1916 to command the British and British Empire military forces in Egypt during World War I. Originally known as the 'Force in Egypt' it had been commanded by General Maxwell who was recalled to England...
's front line was successfully pushed northwards and was followed at the end of March by the First Transjordan attack on Amman (1918)
First Transjordan attack on Amman (1918)
The First Transjordan attack on Amman was part of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of World War I. Between 21 and 30 March 1918, three separate engagements occurred which together form the First Transjordan attack...
.
Background
General Edmund AllenbyEdmund Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby
Field Marshal Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby GCB, GCMG, GCVO was a British soldier and administrator most famous for his role during the First World War, in which he led the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the conquest of Palestine and Syria in 1917 and 1918.Allenby, nicknamed...
's right flank was secure but was not sufficiently broad to support the planned operations across the Jordan to the Hedjaz railway. During these operations a general advance on a front of 14–26 mi (22.5–41.8 km) and up to a maximum of 5–7 mi (8–11.3 km) in depth by both the XX and XXI Corps pushed Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
forces north from the River Auja on the Mediterranean coast, from Abu Tellul and Mussallabeh on the edge of the Jordan Valley and up the Jerusalem to Nablus
Nablus
Nablus is a Palestinian city in the northern West Bank, approximately north of Jerusalem, with a population of 126,132. Located in a strategic position between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, it is the capital of the Nablus Governorate and a Palestinian commercial and cultural center.Founded by the...
road capturing Ras el Ain.
The objectives of the XX Corps were Kh. el Beiyudat and Abu Telul in the Jordan Valley north of the Wadi el Auja and to the west astride the Jerusalem to Nablus road, the road running from Mughaiyrir through Sinjil and Jiljliya (Gilgal) to Abwein. The XXI Corps' right was to advance to Deir Ballut and Majdal Yaba 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north of its present position at Et Tire.
Prelude
Some preliminary operations mainly to gain better gun positions commenced on the night of 2 March when the 53rd Division advanced west of the Nablus road on a 3 miles (4.8 km) front from northwest of Rammun to southwest of Bir ez Zeit and the 10th Division advanced to Beit Ello 5 miles (8 km) west of Bir ez Zeit. On the night of 6 March 53rd Division occupied the village of Taiyibe and the artillery was then brought up.Against the Ottoman 7th Army
The main advance of XX Corps began during the night of 8 March by the 53rd Division with the 1st Light Horse Brigade1st Light Horse Brigade
The 1st Light Horse Brigade was a mounted infantry brigade of the First Australian Imperial Force which served in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I. The brigade first saw action during the Dardanelles Campaign in the Battle of Gallipoli. After being withdrawn to Egypt in February 1916 they...
, the 74th Division and the 10th Division. On the right flank the 181st Brigade, 60th Division
60th (2/2nd London) Division
The British 60th Division was the second of two second-line Territorial Force divisions formed from the surplus of London recruits in 1914. Originally the division merely supplied the first-line Territorial divisions with drafts to replace losses through casualties...
(which took part on the first day only) was to secure the line of the Wadi el Auja in and just above the Jordan Valley and guard it and the open right flank of the 53rd Division against an attack. The 60th (London) Infantry Division pushed Ottoman units back from high ground on the north bank of the Wadi Auja, well beyond the valuable water supply in the river. The XX Corps began its advance during the night of 8 March at the same time as the Ottoman XX Corps began to arrive on the Auja. The wadi was 20 yards (18.3 m) across but only 3 foot (0.9144 m) deep and the 2/22nd and 2/21st London crossed the wadi in the plain without incident before 05:00. The 2/24th and the 2/23rd London in the hills had difficulties and a gap of 5 miles (8 km) developed where an Ottoman division had given the defences an unexpected strength.
Meanwhile the 53rd, 74th and 10th Infantry Divisions advanced north up both sides of the Jerusalem to Nablus road from Kefr Malik to Nebi Saleh cutting off all tracks and roads leading to the lower Jordan Valley. The 53rd Division's objective; the capture of Tell 'Asur, was assigned to the 158th Brigade. The Tell was a very valuable observation post with views extending north to the hills of Galilee
Galilee
Galilee , is a large region in northern Israel which overlaps with much of the administrative North District of the country. Traditionally divided into Upper Galilee , Lower Galilee , and Western Galilee , extending from Dan to the north, at the base of Mount Hermon, along Mount Lebanon to the...
with Mount Hermon
Mount Hermon
Mount Hermon is a mountain cluster in the Anti-Lebanon mountain range. Its summit straddles the border between Syria and Lebanon and, at 2,814 m above sea level, is the highest point in Syria. On the top there is “Hermon Hotel”, in the buffer zone between Syria and Israeli-occupied...
in the background 90 miles (144.8 km) away, in the east and southeast to Gilead, Moab and most of the Dead Sea
Dead Sea
The Dead Sea , also called the Salt Sea, is a salt lake bordering Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. Its surface and shores are below sea level, the lowest elevation on the Earth's surface. The Dead Sea is deep, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world...
, in the south over the Mount of Olives to the heights of Hebron and west to the Mediterranean from south of Jaffa to north of Caesarea. It was captured by the 5th Regiment, Welch Fusiliers about 09:30 after a heavy bombardment by the 91st Heavy Battery but the position was far from secure being subjected to a successful counterattack shortly after, but the 6th Regiment, Welch Fusiliers drove them off. Four unsuccessful attempts by Ottoman forces were made to regain this hill.
The 74th Division's attack was made astride the Jerusalem to Nablus road; the 231st Brigade on the right moving towards Mezra esh Sherqiye a 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north north west of Tell 'Asur. But the difficult night advance was further complicated by the terrain and Ottoman machine guns and despite reinforcements being brought forward, the infantry were held up later in the day by the cavernous gorge of the Wadi el Jib.
Operating in two groups; the 10th Division's right attacked Atara and Ajul and the left attacked from Deir es Sudan to Nabi Salih. After a late start due to fog rapid advances were made and during the following night the advance continued on most of the front. The bridge over the Wadi el Jib was found to be intact and the top of the cliff was won just before dawn. Daylight found them on the lower slopes of the hills while Ottoman machine gun defenders made determined stands.
During these operations the infantry advanced up and down precipitous cliffs and through deep gorges with every Ottoman machine gun carefully placed in strong defensive positions. These had to be located by careful reconnaissance on foot as the country was very rough and due to the low cloud and mist aerial reconnaissance could not be used. Artillery was also severely hampered by the rough terrain making it virtually impossible to produce effective artillery fire support.
Against the Ottoman 8th Army
On the plain the operations of the XXI Corps were carried out without any of the difficulties suffered by the XX Corps. The XXI Corps moved its right forward from the Wadi Deir Ballut to Ras el Ain and secured a commanding position near Abu Tellul and Musallabeh which overlooks the Jordan Valley and the Beisan to Jericho road.Their final objective was a line north of the Wadi Deir Ballut (which becomes the Wadi el Jib) and the Wadi Abu Lejja where it enters the Nahr el Auja north of Mulebbis an advance of 4.5 miles (7.2 km). After the passage of the Nahr el Auja an advance had reached El Haram near ancient Arsuf making it possible to take the Ottoman positions in enfilade. The attack was carried out by the 232nd and 234th Brigades of the 75th Division and the 162nd Brigade of the 54th Division closely supported by artillery in a creeping barrage.This creeping barrage was again successfully used on the maritime plain during the morning attack of 19 September 1918. One section followed close behind the infantry leaving the rest of the battery in action and as soon as the leading section was able to open fire the four other guns moved forward to joined it. Deir el Ballut was taken about at 14:00 on 10 March and by 11:00 on 11 March all the ground to the south of the Wadi had been evacuated by the Ottoman forces leaving behind 112 prisoners and about 40 dead at a cost to the two infantry divisions of 104 casualties.
Aftermath
The final line captured was found to be overlooked on all sides so a slight retirement to the heights just to the south was made and the positions consolidated. Elsewhere objectives had not all been gained but the depth of the advance in the centre was 5 miles (8 km) over a 14 miles (22.5 km) front at a cost of over 1,300 casualties; only 169 prisoners had been captured.The new line established by these infantry corps remained almost the same for six months; until the general advance in September 1918. The success of these infantry operations provided a sufficiently large base to support the Transjordan operations which began at the end of the month with the first Transjordan attack on Amman
First Transjordan attack on Amman (1918)
The First Transjordan attack on Amman was part of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of World War I. Between 21 and 30 March 1918, three separate engagements occurred which together form the First Transjordan attack...
.