When ill-equipped
but predominantly Australian Allied forces rolled across the Syrian border
in 1941, the British High Command confidently believed that the Vichy
French occupying forces would offer only token resistance, and their defence
would collapse like an eggshell. In fact the Vichy French, including the
famed French Foreign Legion, fought like ‘tigers’.
In 1941, the British
were concerned that enemy occupation of Syria was endangering the surrounding
countries and oil supplies from Iraq. Consequently, General Sir Archibald
Wavell, Commander-in-Chief Middle East, was directed to gather the largest
possible force to occupy Syria at the earliest date. It was wrongly
assumed by the British High Command that the Vichy French would offer
only token resistance to the Allies.
In fact, the
Vichy forces, mainly composed of professional soldiers, including the
tough Foreign Legion, as well as Algerians and Moroccons, demonstrated
great bitterness towards the Free French cause and had been ordered
to resolutely oppose any Allied invasion. In almost all areas they had
a large military advantage over the attacking forces - greater numbers,
more and heavier armour, a more formidable air force, ample time to
prepare their defences and rugged terrain that would support the defence.
British General
Henry Maitland (‘Jumbo’) Wilson, who had recently commanded the disastrous
campaign in Greece, was appointed to command the Allied forces. He planned
three separate thrusts, one each for (from west to east) Beirut (capital
of Lebanon and the main thrust), Rayak, and Damascus (capital of Syria).
His main force was the 7th Australian Division, minus the 18th
Brigade, which was attached to the 9th Division for the defence
of Tobruk. Despite the Beirut thrust being identified as the most important,
Wilson distributed his forces fairly evenly, allocating a brigade group
to each of the left and central advances (Australian 21st
and 25th Brigades respectively), and the 5th Indian Brigade
Group and a Free French force of infantry, guns and cavalry to the right
or eastern column. Major-General J D Lavarack, commander of the 7th
Australian Division, urged changes to the plan, but to no avail. Planning
was rushed, and characterised by an air of unreality – it had been suggested
that the Vichy French could be won over with wine and coffee, or the
displaying of the Australian slouch hat. Instead of using the Australian
I Corps Headquarters which was available, Wilson chose to exercise command
himself from the King David Hotel Hotel in Jerusalem. However, he intended
to hand over command to Lavarack for the second and final phase. In
other words, the Australian Corps would have to take over command in
the middle of a campaign.
Outnumbered
in the air and on the ground, with little chance of the various forces
offering mutual support, with inadequate maps and no effective anti-tank
measures against the Vichy tanks, the Allies crossed the border into
Syria early in the morning of 8th June, 1941.
The western
column ran into enemy fire almost immediately. The higher commands’
prediction that the Vichy defence would be like an eggshell – once the
perimeter collapsed and honour had been satisfied the Vichy forces would
capitulate - was not realised. The advances along the coast and in the
centre became difficult slogging matches. Roads and bridges were blown,
and the enemy was well armed with machine guns, mortars, artillery and
aircraft. They had had time to train, establish range markers, dig in
and hide their positions well. In the absence of armour and air support,
the Australians had to rely on taking positions by infantry assault
and hard fighting, supported whenever possible by their 25-pdr batteries.
Slow progress
was however made by all three columns, until a successful Vichy counter-attack
took ground behind the eastern and central thrusts, stopping the advance
and upsetting Allied plans. As reports of these reverses reached Jerusalem,
Wilson decided to hand over command to Lavarack. Fortunately, much of
the inevitable confusion of such a decision was avoided, by the Australian
Corps Headquarters having had the foresight to place liaison officers
with the attacking troops at the start of the campaign.
On 18th
June, Lavarack took command of all the Allied troops scattered throughout
Syria and immediately established a better command structure. Major-General
J S Evetts of the 6th British Division (now arriving) was appointed
to command all troops east of the Litani River and Major-General A.
S. Allen, commanding the 7th Australian Division, would concentrate
on the western advance to Beirut. Lavarack used his last reserves to
hold the Vichy counter-attack, and decided to exploit any successes
that may develop. Believing the capture of Damascus would do much to
break the Vichy defence and morale, he diverted troops to the eastern
sector. After heavy and confused fighting, Damascus surrendered on 21
June.
Lavarack could
then focus his attention on the western sector. Moreover, as operations
around Tobruk subsided, additional forces were sent to Syria. The advance
continued towards Damour, on the road to Beirut, but the Vichy forces
continued to fight hard. At this stage Indian Bde HQ received a message
from Captain PK Parbury of the Australian 2/3rd Battalion.
Parbury’s diminished company was astride the Beirut-Damascus road as
he wrote ‘Water, rations and ammo almost depleted and troops becoming
exhausted. Enemy on high ground dominate this position from both sides
of the road and at dawn position will become untenable. I intend to
attack.’ He left a section to guard the company’s roadblock, which had
already provided the Australians with many prisoners and vehicles. This
section was attacked by tanks and two were men killed, whereupon CPL
Copeman took on the tanks with hand grenades, hand-thrown 2" mortar
bombs and eventually an enemy pistol. He appears to have killed the
gunner in one of the tanks, which withdrew.
In the fighting
between 19 June and 6 July, LT Roden Cutler of the 7th Division’s
2/5th Field Regiment, repeatedly did great service by engaging enemy
tanks, infantry, anti-tank and machine posts with 25pdr field gun, Boyes
anti-tank rifle, Bren gun or .303 rifle. He lost his leg in the process
but was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions. Cutler is the only
Australian artilleryman to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
Western Australian,
Private Gordon of the 2/31st Battalion was also awarded the
Victoria Cross whilst fighting in Syria. When his company suffered casualties
from intense machine gun fire, Gordon took it on himself to crawl forward
and neutralise the enemy post with rifle and bayonet.
Parbury’s
message and Cutler, Gordon and Copeman’s exploits perhaps typify the
AIF’s fighting and the spirit in which it was conducted in the Syrian
Campaign.
Under pressure
from constant allied attacks and with reserves exhausted, the Vichy
French signed an armistice at Acre on 13 July. The Vichy French forces
were to be granted full honours of war, including the keeping of their
individual arms. Later they were given the option of joining the Free
French – most preferred to remain loyal to Petain and return to France.
The Syrian
campaign was won by hard fighting in heat and difficult terrain, against
a well-trained and tenacious enemy. The lack of adequate support for
the attacking forces undoubtedly prolonged the campaign to ‘five bloody
weeks’ and resulted in the loss of more ‘good men’ than necessary.
Casualties
in Syria (killed and wounded) were: Australian 1600 (including 416 killed)
out of 18000 taking part; British and Indian 1200 out of 9000 and 2000
respectively; Free French 1100 out of 5000. The campaign is noteworthy
as being the first occasion the 7th Division was committed to action.
In early 1942 the Australian CGS, LTGEN Vernon Sturdee, threatened to
resign if the 7th Division, which he considered an elite
unit, was not returned for the defence of Australia. His demand was
granted and the 7th went on to serve in the Owen Stanley
Campaign. Lavarack continued to command I Australian Corps until 1942,
but did not receive another fighting command after this. He commanded
forces in Australia for the rest of the war, retired from the Army in
1946 and served as Governor of Queensland. British General HM Wilson
later became Field Marshall Lord Wilson.
Top