Field Marshal Edmund Henry Hynman Allenby, 1st Viscount Allenby (April 23rd 1861 - May 14th 1936) was a British general known for his command in World War I.

Early years

Born in Brackenhurst, England, he was educated at Haileybury College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. In 1882 he was commissioned into the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons.

Active service

He entered active service in 1884 on the Bechuanaland Expedition, and later in Zululand, 1888. He returned to Britain with his unit in 1890 and in 1896-97 completed the course at the Staff College, Camberley. He was promoted to Major in 1897 and in 1898 joined the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, then serving in Ireland. He returned to South Africa to fight in the Second Boer War from 1899. He finished the war as a Colonel and returned to Britain in 1902 to command the 5th Royal Irish Lancers until 1905 and then the 4th Cavalry Brigade until 1910. His extensive cavalry experience led to him being made Inspector of Cavalry.

World War I

Western Front

During World War I he initially served on the Western Front. At the outbreak of war he was made commander of a cavalry division and distinguished himself when his unit covered the retreat after the Battle of Mons. He was rewarded by being made commander of the BEF Cavalry Corps. In 1915 he commanded V Corps during the Second Battle of Ypres and in October he took charge of the British Third Army. However at the Battle of Arras, his forces failed to exploit a breakthrough and he was replaced by Julian Byng on June 9.

Egypt and Palestine

Allenby was sent to Egypt to be made commander-in-chief of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) on June 27 1917, replacing Sir Archibald Murray. One of Allenby's first moves was to support the efforts of T. E. Lawrence amongst the Arabs with £200,000 a month. Having reorganised his regular forces Allenby won the Third Battle of Gaza (October 31 - November 7, 1917) by surprising the defenders with an attack at Beersheba.

The victorious General Allenby dismounted, enters Jerusalem on foot out of respect for the Holy City, December 11, 1917

His force pushed on towards Jerusalem, the Ottomans were beaten at Junction Station (November 13-15) and Jerusalem was captured on December 11 1917.

Honouring Jerusalem on foot

Although he was a supreme master of cavalry horse warfare, before entering Jerusalem, Allenby dismounted and together with his officers, entered the city on foot through the Jaffa Gate out of his great respect for the status of Jerusalem as the Holy City important to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (see his proclamation of martial law below). He subsequently stated in his official report:

• "...I entered the city officially at noon, December 11th, with a few of my staff, the commanders of the French and Italian detachments, the heads of the political missions, and the Military Attaches of France, Italy, and America.
• The procession was all afoot, and at Jaffa gate I was received by the guards representing England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, India, France, and Italy. The population received me well..." (Source Records of the Great War, Vol. V, ed. Charles F. Horne, National Alumni 1923)

Middle East victory

The German offensive on the Western Front meant that Allenby was without reinforcements and after his forces failed to capture Amman in March and April 1918 he halted the offensive. New troops from the Empire (specifically Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa) led to the resumption of operations in August 1918. Following an extended series of deceptive moves the Ottoman line was broken at the Battle of Megiddo (September 19-21, 1918) and the Allied cavalry passed through and blocked the Turkish retreat. The EEF then advanced at an enormous rate, encountering minimal resistance, Damascus fell on October 1st, Homs on October 16, and Aleppo on October 25. Turkey capitulated on October 30 1918.

Promotions

Allenby was made a Field Marshal in 1919 and on August 6 of that year was created Viscount Allenby of Megiddo. He remained in the Middle East as High Commissioner for Egypt and the Sudan until 1925 and he was instrumental in the creation of sovereign Egypt.

He retired in 1925 and died in London.

Jerusalem proclamation

Sir Edmund Allenby's official proclamation of martial law following the fall of Jerusalem, December 9 1917:

• "To the Inhabitants of Jerusalem the Blessed and the People Dwelling in Its Vicinity:
• The defeat inflicted upon the Turks by the troops under my command has resulted in the occupation of your city by my forces. I, therefore, here now proclaim it to be under martial law, under which form of administration it will remain so long as military considerations make necessary.
• However, lest any of you be alarmed by reason of your experience at the hands of the enemy who has retired, I hereby inform you that it is my desire that every person pursue his lawful business without fear of interruption.
• Furthermore, since your city is regarded with affection by the adherents of three of the great religions of mankind and its soil has been consecrated by the prayers and pilgrimages of multitudes of devout people of these three religions for many centuries, therefore, do I make it known to you that every sacred building, monument, holy spot, shrine, traditional site, endowment, pious bequest, or customary place of prayer of whatsoever form of the three religions will be maintained and protected according to the existing customs and beliefs of those to whose faith they are sacred.
• Guardians have been established at Bethlehem and on Rachel's Tomb. The tomb at Hebron has been placed under exclusive Moslem control.
• The hereditary custodians at the gates of the Holy Sepulchre have been requested to take up their accustomed duties in remembrance of the magnanimous act of the Caliph Omar, who protected that church."

(Source: Source Records of the Great War, Vol. V, ed. Charles F. Horne, National Alumni 1923)

See also

• First World War
• Middle East conflict
• British Mandate of Palestine