First to Damascus: The Story of the Australian Light Horse and Lawrence of Arabia by Jill, Duchess of Hamilton

Book Description

Secondhand. Very good condition. Minor wear to book corners and edges. Pages have started to sun.

In 1918, 12,000 Australian Light Horsemen advanced across the Middle East, covering nearly 450 miles of desert and mountains. After 12 days, the Great Ride culminated in the taking of Damascus.

Few people today are aware of the Great Ride. Most remember Lawrence of Arabia's romanticised version of events.

Jill Hamilton presents a different story to Lawrence of Arabia. She tells how Damascus was defended by the same Turkish general who had defeated the ANZACs at Gallipoli in 1915. For many of the Light Horseman, taking Damascus was part of "getting even" for the Gallipoli defeat.