What’s it all about Alfie 1WW in 3 Minutes continued.

A.comparison between Henry Wade’s Surgical Car, it use by the Scottish Horse at Gallipoli, the development of the idea and use by the Australians in the Campaign in Palestine up to, and including, the capture of Jerusalem , with the then standard model of evacuation and surgical treatment of the wounded. The time period covered is the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, Murray’s and Allenby’s campaign from the Canal to Jerusalem in 1917. Wade’s Surgical Car was conceived in the South African Wars during the late 19th century, early 20th century. although it took the outbreak of the Great War to get one built by Wolseley the car makers.

This car was taken to Gallipoli by Wade and the Scottish Horse. following the evacuation from the peninsular the car was shipped to Cairo. Wade was promoted to Assistant Director of Medical Services Egyptian Expeditionary Force, and the car was given to the Australians. the Australians liked the idea of a mobile surgical unit, but preferred Ford vehicles to the Wolseley. The pneumatic tyres on Fords were better suited to driving in the desert than the solid tyres of the Wolseley. The Wolseley did however continue in service, and was last known to be still in service in 1919. The thesis may end at December 1917 as the ground can be traced and explored from Kantara, where the car was first based, in Egypt to Jerusalem where Allenby entered in December 1917.

The Campaign continued into Syria and onto Damascus, over ground not easily followed at the current time because of the political situation in Syria. Although I hope by this stage in the campaign sufficient comparisons can be drawn, and it would not be necessary to view the ground. The nature of the ground, is important in drawing fair comparison as to the operational capabilities of the various options and units available to Allenby. I have explored the area in modern day Israel. Yet to explore Sinai, but the area is easily accessible if required and the crossing between Egypt to Israel via Gaa is normally open.