Commitment cost money and lives

‘What right have our sons who went bravely to fight for their Country, having been taken from their studies, their homes, and everything that was dear to them, and suffered without complaint, be murdered now in such a cause, for this is murder and nothing else.’ 

Letter to Arthur Creech Jones, Colonial Secretary, from the mother of a British soldier, concerning British deaths from Palestine, 1 December 1946. The National Archives, London. Ref: CO 733/456/11 

Records from the King's Own Royal Regiment held at the Regiment Museum, Lancaster

The King’s Own Regiment was one of over 20 British regiments sent to Palestine in September 1938 to help put down the Arab Uprising.

‘After being told in London that we would certainly need the band instruments, the mess silver, the colours and all the other panoply of peace…..it was something of a shock when the Brigadier at Haifa’s first remarks were that the rebels held the initiative, that they did more or less as they pleased, and that in fact they virtually ran the country!’ ‘Palestine Retrospective’ by Sir N.M. Ritchie, King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum, Lancaster.

'To:- H.Q. 18th Infantry Brigade

On the completion of six months since first taking over operational control of the Jerusalem, Jericho, Ramallah, Bethlehem and Hebron districts the Divisional Commander would like to take the opportunity of congratulating all ranks of 18th Infantry Brigade on the excellent work done during that period.

The difference between the state of affairs in September and at the present time must be apparent to all. Six months ago rebel bands were moving about freely and control of the country was almost in the hands of the armed gangs. Now these gangs are few, must move frequentlyfrom place to place to avoid being rounded up, and are becoming increasingly unpopular with the villagers.

These results have been achieved by the hard work of all ranks in the Brigade during the past six months. The Dinisional Commander has been much impressed by the cheerfulness noticeable at all times and the keenness displayed in carrying out so many of the thankless tasks that have had to be performed.

Whatever may happen during the next six months the Divisional Commander feels confident that everyone in 18th Infantry Brigade will meet all troubles and difficulties in the same spirit of cheerfulness and confidence in their ability to deal with all situations.

(Sd) R.H. O'Connor'

Major-General,

Commander 7th Division.

Jerusalem.

16 Apr 39.'

The Palestine Police - Extract

1929 was a particularly tense year in Palestine, with feelings running high in the Arab and Jewish communities in defence of the Muslim and Jewish holy sites in Jerusalem. British Constable Percy Drew described having to confront an angry funeral procession for a Jewish boy who had been stabbed in a violent incident.

‘We prepared ourselves outside the Jaffa gate in Post Office Square with batons only. No shields but we did have steel helmets. When the procession arrived we could hear some Jewish leaders, or self appointed spokesmen, shouting in English as well as Hebrew to their supporters. They said such things as ‘They are British and will not harm you.’ They seemed to have no idea of the determination of our people although we were but a handful…. As they advanced they seemed equally determined to get through. I noticed lots of Arabs watching in silence, they seemed ready and anxious to join in if we lost control. Jim Munro was our senior officer present and I heard him say calmly ‘Chin straps down.’ Then after a moment he ordered ‘Draw batons’. He then called upon the procession to obey the law and turn about, which they refused to do. It was very hot in the sun and we were sweltering and although grimly determined, most of us dreaded our job at that moment and wished we were somewhere else. We could see it was going to be a hell of a battle and I felt sick. Yet not one of us hesitated to obey an order, so we advanced and pressed into the crowd firmly but with considerable restraint. Not one officer used his baton at that stage, just gently pushing, like dealing with a London crowd. But scuffles developed in which a lot of us got hurt, so Munro then ordered a vigorous charge and led the way forward. I broke my baton on the very first head I ever hit in my life and was left defenceless. I found afterwards that this occurred to other officers too. But the mob was successfully restrained from entering the Old City that day.’  

From a ‘A Job Well Done: a history of the Palestine Police Force 1920-1948’ by Edward Horne (The Book Guild, Lewes, 2002).

Sydney Moody

‘I spent 22 years in Palestine. I arrived there with Allenby’s army at the third Battle of Gaza in 1917 and I left on Christmas eve 1939. But my father-in-law who was a distinguished missionary of the Church of Scotland in Palestine and had an intimate knowledge of every aspect of life in that country, once said to me: “If you want to write a book about Palestine do it at the end of the first fortnight; because the longer you stay after that, the less you will feel you know about it.” ‘ Sydney Moody, District Officer for Safed and Ramleh, and official in the Secretariat, 1924 to 1939. Private collection.

Sydney Moody served in Palestine during the First World War in the Royal Fusiliers. When the war ended he was appointed as a military governor under the Occupied Enemy Territory Administration, and in 1920, with the change to the civil administration, he was posted to Safed as a Sub-District Governor. In 1921, while on leave in Edinburgh, Sydney Moody married Flora Ewing, the daughter of Reverend Dr William Ewing, who had been a missionary in northern Palestine. Flora returned with Sydney Moody to live in Palestine.

In 1923 Mr Moody served a few months in Ramleh, then in 1924 he was posted to the Secretariat in Jerusalem. By 1938 he had been promoted to Deputy Chief Secretary, and on three occasions he represented Britain to the Permanent Mandates Commission in Geneva. In 1939 he was posted to Mauritius as Colonial Secretary.

On the announcement he was leaving Palestine in 1939 Sydney Moody received a flood of letters from all sections of the Palestine community who genuinely felt his loss. The Jewish scholar I A Abbady wrote that Moody’s service in the Galilee, ‘..is still looked back by all sections of the Jewish population as their honeymoon with the British Administration,’ while Falastin newspaper of 1939 reported that with his departure, ‘The Arabs will lose a sincere friend and an honest advocate.’

‘So deeply have we always been impressed by your love and devotion to our city and to ourselves, that we shall never forget it.’ Letter from two citizens of Safed to Sydney Moody, District Officer for Safed and Ramleh, and official in the Secretariat, 1924 to 1939. Private collection.