Sept 1917 On the 9th September 1917, the Dublin Fusiliers left Salonika bound for Alexandria. They arrived via Egypt in Ismalia on 12 September. What was left of the Irish Division went to Palestine to assist General Allenby remove the Turks from the Holy Land. It joined General Chetwode's XX Corps and fought in the Third Battle of Gaza which succeeded in breaking the resistance of the Turkish defenders in southern Palestine. The Division was later ‘Indianised’ with Indian regiments of the British Army. The campaign was a much more successful one than the previous two campaigns that the Regiment had experienced and the Dublins took part in the Third Battle of Gaza ( 27th October - 7th November ). The Dublins also took part in the capture of Jerusalem and inits subsequent defence from Ottoman counter- attack.
October 1917 was spent training after a redress, before entering the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.
After the Battle of Gaza and the Turkish withdrawal early November, the 10th Division was refitted and returned to the line at the end of November. It encountered considerable sniper fire on the way to the capture of Jerusalem, which was entered unopposed on 9. December. With relatively low losses the Division had taken what was asked of it. After so many defeats since Gallipoli, they at last tasted victory.
Into 1918 was spent on reconstruction work.
March 1918 Fighting flared up again in March which required an advance towards Nablis. This enemy engagement was to be the last action in Palestine.
May 1918 Heavy losses encountered on the Western Front after the great German March offensive, resulted in the transfer of 60,000 men from Palestine to France, including ten battalions of the 10th Division. On the 23rd of May 1918, the 6th and 7th Dublins left Alexandria on board the P & O ship Kaiser-I-Hind bound for Marseilles in France and disbandment. They embarked at Alexandria arriving Marseilles on 2. June 1918. Their men, many of whom carried the Malaria bug, were distributed amongst the 1st and 2nd Dublins on the Western Front.
28 Oct -7 Nov 1917 Palastine |
29th Infantry Brigade in action 3rd battle of Gaza. |
8 December 1917 Egypt |
Alfred posted to No.2 Filters Kantara (W.bank Suez Canal) |
7 May 1918 Kantara |
29th Infantry Brigade arrive Kantara from the lines. |
Palestine