Anzac Day from a Jewish Australian perspective

ANZAC Day that falls this Shabbat marks 111 years since the fateful unsuccessful attack on Gallipoli remembered as the event that forged a uniquely Australian psyche in which mateship predominated even under fire.

The attack – albeit doomed – was part of the British strategy that would in the end lead to the downfall of the Ottoman Empire. Sadly, the terrain at the shores of Gallipoli was such that after significant casualties were incurred the initiative was abandoned and the troops were withdrawn back to base in Egypt.

But the following year 1916 – 110 years ago – was to see the unfolding of events culminating in the Allied success in the capture of what would initially  become Palestine – and thus the events leading to establishment of our State of Israel.

Because of the significance of the Suez Canal to communication between Britain and the Mediterranean with India, Australasia and the Far East, Egypt had become the initial destination for forces from those locations, especially the Anzacs destined to participate in the war effort generally. Egypt now served as the point to which those who survived the initial battles with Ottoman troops were sent. From there many were sent to the Western Front in Europe where sadly casualties abounded and only John Monash’s strategy changed the tide of war. However others remained – and then became a key to renewed fighting with the Ottomans. They now approached Ottoman territory from Egypt – located below its southernmost extent.

Having spent the first half of 1916 on the defensive to ensure the Turks could not advance to and capture the Suez, August saw the first successes of northwards movement with the battles at the decrepit oasis villages of Romani (August 4) and Katia (August 9) – some 35km East of the Suez. Approaching the northern limit of Sinai, El Arish was taken on December 21 and Rafah – the southern extremity of what we now know as the Gaza Strip and famously now the crossing point between the Strip and Egypt  – was taken on January 8. Egyptian territory was now free of Turkish forces as troops advanced away from the desert sands.