A failed British crossing of the Jordan River in 1918 that exposed the difficulty of raiding toward Amman and preceded the later decisive Battle of Megiddo.
Key Facts
- Date
- 21 March 1918
- British unit
- 2/19th Battalion (St. Pancras) London Regiment, 60th Division
- Objective
- Cross the Jordan River and raid Amman to sever the railroad
- Method attempted
- Swimmers carrying ropes to construct a pontoon bridge
- Outcome
- Bridgehead established but raids on Amman failed
- Campaign
- Sinai and Palestine Campaign, First World War
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the British capture of Jerusalem in late 1917, General Edmund Allenby planned a raid eastward across the Jordan River toward Amman with the aim of cutting the Ottoman railway line and disrupting Turkish supply and communication routes in the region.
On 21 March 1918, the 2/19th Battalion of the London Regiment attempted to ford the Jordan at Hijla under Turkish fire. Swimmers repeatedly crossed with ropes to build a pontoon bridge; many British soldiers were shot in the river before a bridgehead was finally established and held against Turkish counterattacks.
Although the British secured bridgeheads at both Hijla and the nearby ford at Ghoraniyeh, the broader raid on Amman failed to achieve its objectives. The engagement served as a prelude to the larger and ultimately successful British offensive at the Battle of Megiddo later in 1918.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Edmund Allenby, Vivian Gilbert (Major, reporter).
Side B
1 belligerent