New Delhi, 22 September (). The First World War, which lasted from 1914 to 1918, changed global history forever. When this great war had reached its final phase, an incident occurred which became immortal in modern war history. The Battle of Haifa fought on 23 September 1918 was not only an important part of the First World War, but also proved to be one of the decisive events that defeated the central powers, especially the Ottoman Empire.
The fight took place on the Middle Eastern Front between the forces of the British Empire, in which the Indian horsemen regiments played the lead role. It played a decisive role by the Indian horsemen regiments. The brave soldiers of the British Indian Army (mainly from Jat, Sikh and Gurjar Regiment) were mounted forces armed with spears and swords. It was the last major mounted attack of the modern era, which distinguished a strong defensive line of machine guns and cannons. As a result, Haifa port was freed from the control of the Ottoman Empire (Türkiye) and his German colleagues.
Indeed, the Haifa War was part of the Sinai and Palestine Abhiyan in the final round of World War I (1914–1918). It falls under the Battle of Megido (19–25 September 1918), in which the British Empire forces put the seventh and eighth army of the Ottoman army into siege. Haifa was an important port city, which was necessary for the British Army to strengthen the supply lines. The occupation of the city was mandatory due to roads deteriorating.
The Ottoman army strongly protected Haifa with artillery, machine guns and German-estrian cooperation. The 15th (Imperial Service) of the British Indian Army was assigned the responsibility to the cavalry Brigade, which included the cavalry of Indian princely states (Jodhpur, Mysore, Hyderabad).
On 21-22 September 1918, 18th King George on Lancers of the 13th Kavelri Brigade defeated the Ottoman Battalion near Haifa, with several prisoners. On 23 September 1918, Mysore Lancers and Sharwood Rangers Yomanry captured the Austrian artillery battery on Mount Carmel. Jodhpur Lancers charged the city under the leadership of Major Dalpat Singh Shekhawat.
Despite the firing of the machine guns and cannons, they proceeded despite QuickSand (sharp sand). Entering into the city, he shocked the enemy and captured Haifa with the support of Mysore Lancers. In this attack, Indian soldiers used swords and spears, which was rare in modern war. This charge was a miraculous success in the era of Maxim machine guns.
The role of the Indian Army’s Jodhpur, Mysore, and Hyderabad Lancers Regiment in the Haifa War was commendable, which ended the Ottoman rule of about 400 years old.
It is said that around 60 Indians were killed in this war, out of which the tombs of 44 Indian soldiers are present in Haifa. Apart from this, a large number of weapons were also seized. The Indian Army in India celebrates Haifa Day on 23 September every year, while in Israel also, Indian soldiers are paid tributes on this day.
In 2017, when Prime Minister Modi visited Israeli, he visited the place in Haifa city where Indian soldiers wrote the script at the end of the Ottoman Empire.
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FM/AS