This engagement secured the Jordan River crossing at Daughters of Jacob Bridge, enabling Allied pursuit of Ottoman forces toward Damascus.
Key Facts
- Date
- 27 September 1918
- Key objective
- Daughters of Jacob Bridge over the Jordan River
- Attacker
- Australian Mounted Division
- Defenders
- German and Ottoman Tiberias Group rearguard
- Campaign
- Sinai and Palestine campaign, Battle of Megiddo
- Retreating armies
- Ottoman Seventh and Eighth Armies toward Damascus
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the decisive Allied victory at the Battle of Sharon during the Battle of Megiddo, remnants of the Ottoman Seventh and Eighth Armies began retreating toward Damascus. Survivors of the garrisons at Samakh and Tiberias formed rearguard positions on the eastern bank of the Jordan River to cover the withdrawal of the Yildirim Army Group.
On 27 September 1918, the Australian Mounted Division attacked a series of rearguard positions held by German and Ottoman soldiers at Daughters of Jacob Bridge and nearby fords at El Min and north toward Lake Huleh. The assault successfully overran these defensive positions, capturing survivors who had not managed to withdraw, and secured the eastern bank of the Jordan River.
With the Jordan River crossing secured, the Australian Mounted Division and the 5th Cavalry Division continued their advance toward Damascus later the same day, maintaining pressure on the disintegrating Ottoman forces. This pursuit, alongside the 4th Cavalry Division's drive along the Pilgrims' Road, accelerated the collapse of the Yildirim Army Group in the region.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
2 belligerents
Side B
2 belligerents