Sunday, July 9, 2017

The Explorers' Club, № DLVII

Operation AXIOM: The World War—The Arab Revolt, Part II
6 July 1917: The Battle of Aqaba—With Emir Faisal's Hashemite Arab forces unable to seize Medina, still fiercely defended by the Ottomans, Lawrence convinced the Arabs to assault Aqaba, the Turks' last port on the Red Sea, both relieving a threat to the flank of the Desert Column besieging Gaza & allowing the British to supply & equip the Arabs as the latter advanced northward toward Damascus.





Lest we forget.

Commentary: Like so much else in the acclaimed film Lawrence of Arabia, the depiction of the assault on Aqaba is essentially inaccurate, though undeniably entertaining.

No comments: