Page 3178 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 17 October 2006
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Syrian Embassy and will meet tonight. I congratulate the Ambassador, His Excellency Tammam Sulaiman, who attempts to raise the profile of Syria and build bridges with the Australian people. Mr Speaker has attended; Mr Pratt has, on occasions, attended; Ms Porter has attended; and Mr Mulcahy and I have attended.
I was pleased to bring to the ambassador’s attention the fact that, not once but twice, the Australians were largely responsible for the liberation of Damascus from occupying forces. It is interesting that 1 October 1918—and we have just passed the anniversary—saw the liberation of Damascus. It was surrendered by Turkish forces to troops from the Australian Light Horse, a fact that is not known by many. Indeed, in David Lean’s film Lawrence of Arabia you would think that Lawrence and the Arab forces had liberated Damascus on their own. I want to read some extracts from the official history, the volume that concerns the Australians in the desert in World War I. The chapter entitled “The Capture of Damascus” says:
The only alternative route was through Damascus itself. So far as Wilson knew, the city was still strongly held; but he correctly sensed the chaotic state of the enemy, and boldly decided that, as soon as his brigade was concentrated, he would take the risk of a short cut through the crowded streets of the enemy’s stronghold …
During the night Wilson had assembled his brigade—
this was on the night of 30 September, and the next day was 1 October—
on the high ground above the village of Dumar, at the western entrance to the Barada Gorge. At 5 a.m. he began his hazardous move through the heart of the city to reach the position he was ordered to occupy on the road to Homs. At that time he knew nothing of the action … but believed that Damascus was still in the hands of the Turks. He was aware that some thousands of enemy troops must be concentrated in the town, and in the circumstances his decision to attempt the passage of the narrow, crowded streets was a daring one: but he very properly staked success on the moral effect to be produced by his galloping horsemen upon the overmarched and beaten foe. A handful of the brigade scouts under Faulkes-Taylor … probed out the way, closely followed by Todd’s 10th Regiment, with Major Timperley’s squadron leading.
It goes on:
Their way was along a narrow dusty road on the north bank of the swirling main stream of the Barrada, now contained between straight banks as it leads into the city; on their left was a dingy mud wall, and then sharply rising gardens enclosing the richest homes of Damascus. As Timperley and Major Olden (second in command of the 10th Regiment) rode forward behind the scouts, their appearance was the signal for an outburst of scattered rifle-fire. A few scattered shots came from Turkish snipers, but most of the rifles were discharged into the air as an exuberant greeting from the Arabs.
It continues:
Riding up to the bridge beside the Victoria Hotel, Olden and Timperley were attracted by a great throng of people outside the Serai on the other side of the water. Sword in hand, the Australians clattered over the bridge, charged through the crowd, and pulled up in front of the building. Scores of eager hands seized their reins, and
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