Battle of Hijla facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Hijla
Part of the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I
Date 21 March 1918 Location Southern Jordan Valley, near the Dead Sea
Belligerents
British Empire	Ottoman Empire

Transjordan theatre of operations. The Hijla Ford ("Mak[hade]t Hijla") is marked east of Jericho, at the confluence of "Wadi el-Kelt" and the River Jordan.

The Battle of Hijla was a fight that happened on March 21, 1918, during World War I. It took place near the River Jordan in what was then the Ottoman Empire. This battle was part of a bigger plan by the British Empire to push back the Ottoman forces in the Middle East.

Where Was the Battle of Hijla?

The battle happened at a place called Hijla, which is now known as Makhadet Hijla. This spot is a ford, meaning a shallow place where people and animals can cross a river. It's located on the River Jordan, not far from the Dead Sea.

In 1918, this area was part of the Ottoman Empire. Today, the River Jordan forms the border between Jordan and the "West Bank" region.

Why Did This Battle Happen?

By late 1917, the British army had successfully captured Jerusalem. Their next goal was to weaken the Ottoman Empire's control in the region.

British General Edmund Allenby planned a "raid" across the Jordan River. His aim was to reach Amman and cut the railway line there. This railway was very important for the Ottomans to move troops and supplies.

The British needed to cross the Jordan River. They found two main places to do this: Hijla and another spot further north called Ghoraniyeh. Both of these places had fords that allowed for a crossing.

The Fight to Cross the River

The Ottoman soldiers were ready and waiting to stop the British from crossing the river at both Hijla and Ghoraniyeh.

At Hijla, the 2/19th Battalion (St. Pancras) London Regiment, which was part of the 60th Division, tried to get across. They sent swimmers into the river many times. These brave soldiers tried to carry ropes across the strong current. Their goal was to build a floating bridge, called a pontoon bridge, so more troops could cross.

Major Vivian Gilbert later wrote about how difficult and dangerous it was. Many British soldiers were shot while they were in the Jordan River, trying to get the ropes across.

What Was the Outcome?

Even though it was very tough, the British soldiers eventually managed to set up a small area on the other side of the river, known as a bridgehead. They held onto these bridgeheads against the Ottoman attacks.

However, the larger plan to raid Amman and cut the railway mostly failed. The British faced strong resistance and could not achieve their main goal for this raid.

The Battle of Hijla was an important early part of the British efforts in this area. It happened before a much bigger battle called the Battle of Megiddo, which took place further north in what is now Israel.