***Lawrence of Arabia (Colonel TE Lawrence) War Theatre***

John Henry James PTE. 33361. 1/5 BN Devons - Battle of Magdhaba Casualty.

A Death Plaque for a very brave man RIP.

John Henry James

Son of Annie James of Carzise, Leedstown, Hayle, Cornwall.

Died 23 November 1917

Age 25 years old

Jerusalem War Cemetary D.5

A soldier that fought and died in the Sinai and Palestine Campaigns lasting from 28th January 1915 to 30th October 1918. Although elements of the Ottoman Army took time to mop up, their ability to continue the war was ended with the decisive Allied victory in the Battle ofMegiddo fought from 19 to 25 September 1918. Major battles took place at Gaza before Jerusalem was captured by British and Allied forces under the command of General Sir Edmund (later 1st Viscount) Allenby in December 1917. The remaining area was occupied by the British by October 1918. The EEF finally reached eastern Sinai in December 1916. On 23 December, it defeated the Turks at the Battle of Magdhaba, forcing them from their forward base of El Arish.

Allenby brought a greater vigour to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. More importantly, he brought reinforcements at a time when Turkish strength was being whittled away by the Arab Revolt. This had started the previous June and was helping to undermine Turkish strength, partly through the efforts of Colonel TE Lawrence - now better known as Lawrence of Arabia.