The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
A section of the Barada Gorge, showing the road and railway route through the eastern mountains where fleeing Turkish troops and German machine-gunners were confronted by the 5th Australian Light Horse Brigade blocking the escape route. The 2nd New Zealand Machine Gun Squadron was also attached to the 5th Light Horse. Australian soldiers from the Light Horse are seen on the heights above the gorge. On 30 September 1918 the Allied forces were closing in on Damascus, capturing prisoners among the demoralised retreating Turkish armies. In the evening a column of Turkish troops and transports, endeavouring to flee from Damascus, were intercepted by men of the 3rd and 5th Light Horse Brigades. The 5th Light Horse Brigade fired until the road was littered with the bodies of men and animals and the wreckage of transport wagons. Other allied forces including British aircraft also assisted in the attack. The official war artist, George Lambert, visited this spot in mid June 1919 and made three preliminary oil studies. From these he later worked up this major painting which was began in London in 1921 and was completed in Lambert's Randwick studio in Sydney where it was purchased by the Memorial in 1927.
The main route from Damascus west to Beirut runs beside the Barada river through a steep gorge. On 30 September 1918 Australian troops had trapped and killed Turkish troops in Barada Gorge who were f
In June 1919 Lambert travelled to Barada Gorge north west of Damascus and where on 30 September 1918 a column of Turkish troops and transports, endeavouring to flee from Damascus, were intercepted by
West of the Barada Gorge with the road and railway on the route through the eastern mountains to Syria. In 1926, some years after painting this sketch, George Lambert wrote to Charles Bean: "The origi
In June 1919 Lambert travelled to Barada Gorge north west of Damascus and where on 30 September 1918 a column of Turkish troops and transports, endeavouring to flee from Damascus, were intercepted by
The main route from Damascus west to Beirut runs beside the Barada river through a steep gorge. On 30 September 1918 Australian troops had trapped and killed Turkish troops in Barada Gorge who were f
Barada Gorge, north west of Damascus. It was in this gorge that 20,000 Turks attempted to escape on the 30th September 1918, but the head of the column was annihilated by the 3rd and 5th Light Horse
Barada Gorge, north west of Damascus. It was in this gorge that 20,000 Turks attempted to escape on the 30th September 1918, but the head of the column was annihilated by the 3rd and 5th Light Horse
Barada Gorge, north west of Damascus. It was in this gorge that 20,000 Turks attempted to escape on the 30th September 1918, but the head of the column was annihilated by the 3rd and 5th Light Horse
The Barada Gorge. Damascus is about 4 miles further on in the valley. This was the scene where the 3rd and 5th Light Horse Brigades occupied the heights on the south side and their machine guns anni
