Jerusalem at war

While much media attention recently has focused on Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, this week also marks the centenary of the allied forces under General Allenby marching into that city after overthrowing the Ottoman Empire. By doing this Allenby became the first Christian to control the Holy City in 730 years.

It should be noted that thousands of Scottish soldiers played a key role in the push across the territory then known as Palestine towards Jerusalem, which is held holy by three major religions.

Britain’s fight against the Turks at the beginning of the final year of World War One is not a well-known story. It’s called the ‘forgotten war’ and doesn’t feature in our typical view of soldiers on the Western Front stuck in sodden trenches.

The Ottomans had controlled the region for more than 400 years in a brutal and repressive regime and the military success in overthrowing them came at a price. Overall, the British Empire troop death toll was about 28,000.

The 52nd Lowland Division – whose soldiers were mainly drawn from central and southern Scotland – was among the Scots units who played a key role in the battles that led to Jerusalem. Of the 11,000-strong division, 920 were killed, 304 reported missing and 4,306 were wounded.

It should be noted that this was a Territorial Army unit – the men in it were not career soldiers.

St Andrew’s Church and Hospice, built as a congregation of the Church of Scotland, was opened in 1930 to remember the Scottish soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. One of the main campaigners for the memorial church was Ninian Hill, an Edinburgh ship owner.

The Scottish soldiers helped General Allenby in his aim of securing Jerusalem – but his ultimate hope of peaceful coexistence is a distant dream for many – unrealistic and perhaps even unwanted for others.

ALEX ORR Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh