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Syria |
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The Syrian campaign started on 8 June 1941 when the 7th Division, Australian Imperial Force along with British, Indian and Free French forces advanced into Syria and Lebanon, controlled by the Vichy French (pro-German). The premise for the campaign had been that the Vichy French would not resist strongly, however it turned out that this was one of the hardest campaigns endured by Australian troops in World War II. The advance was slower than anticipated and casualties much higher than expected. The 7th Division was by far the major element of the attacking force. However, it was not a complete division at this time because one of its three infantry brigades, the 18th Brigade, was serving at Tobruk with the 9th Division. The 7th Division therefore went into action with its 21st and 25th Brigades, with a third scratch brigade formed from the 2/3rd and 2/5th Infantry Battalions, part of the 6th Division, which had served in North Africa and Greece, together with the 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion. The RAAF also was represented in the Syria campaign. 3 Squadron RAAF, equipped with Curtiss Tomahawk fighters, was sent into the campaign to provide air cover and some close air support. Its Tomahawk fighters generally were superior to Vichy French aircraft, however some fierce aerial combats ensured. The Australian pilots scored a number of victories during the campaign. In addition, other RAAF personnel served in British squadrons that took part in the campaign, for instance 211 Squadron RAF which flew Blenheim bombers and included some Australian pilots and observers. Australian warships also served in the campaign with bombardments of Vichy French positions. Several took part, including the light cruisers HMAS Hobart and HMAS Perth, the destroyer HMAS Stuart, and others. Most bombarded enemy shore positions. For example, Perth shelled a French gun battery at Khalde late in June and in early July bombarded Damour, wrecking four French gun batteries. Vichy French destroyers also took part in the campaign, shelling Australian positions on several occasions, especially in the Litani River area. In the land advance, the 21st Brigade advanced along the coast while the 25th Brigade advanced further inland. British, Indian and Free French forces advanced even further inland. The fighting was much harder than had been anticipated, with the advance slowed by tough French resistance and also by the difficult terrain encountered, particuarly in mountainous areas where road transport was slowed down and the French were able to defend bridge crossings and cuttings with relative ease. When the third scratch brigade was brought in, it advanced between the 21st and 25th Brigades. The summer heat and mountainous country made service in Syria and Lebanon even more unpleasant. Some of the troops had fought in the mountains of Greece but for most the difficulties were new. It tested the troops more physically than they had been tested before; remembering also that this was the 7th Division's first campaign. The ferocity of the fighting at times is shown by the fact that two Victoria Crosses were awarded to Australians in this campaign; whereas none had been awarded to Australians in Greece and Crete. Lieutenant Roden Cutler, 2/5th Field Regiment, won his Victoria Cross in hard fighting in the Merdjayoun area on 19 and 23-24 June. During an attack and facing counter-attacks, he contributed to holding a key pass with strong artillery fire and, under heavy fire, ensured that communications were maintained between the infantry and artillery, until he was seriously wounded. Private Jim Gordon, 2/31st Battalion, won the VC in an attack on 'Greenhill', north of Jezzine, on the night of 10 July 1941. His company was held up by intense machine-gun fire but Gordon crept forward and then overcame, with his gun, grenades and bayonet the machine-gun posts holding up his comrades. On all fronts in Syria and Lebanon, the Australian and Allied forces pressed ahead with their advance. Such was the Vichy French resistance, that setbacks were suffered on some occasions and a number of Australians became prisoners of war. They were mostly well treated, with wounds cared for in hospitals, and others held in POW compounds in Syria and Lebanon until the Vichy French surrendered. However, several dozen officers, including some Australians, were sent to France as POWs but strong negotiations by senior British officers during the armistice talks resulted in them being returned some weeks later. The Australians pressed forward, taking Damour on 9 July 1941. This was the main Vichy French military base and administrative centre, and its capture was an important turning point in the campaign for the Australians. As well as a blow to the Vichy French, it opened up the way for the advance to Beirut. Two days later, as the advance continued, the Vichy French signed an armistice. The timing of the surrender was indeed fortuitous because it came only a few weeks ahead of the main malaria season in the area, and had fighting continued into this period the casualties from sickness would have been much higher. The campaign had been much harder than expected. Of the 34,000 Allied troops who took part, some 3900 had become casualties. Most of the Australian troops who took part in the Syrian campaign later went on to serve in Papua, particularly on the Kokoda Track. It could be said that the mountain warfare they endured in Syria stood them in good stead later. |
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