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Allenby's advance was lightning quick and by December 1917 the British army was on the outskirts of the holy city of Jerusalem.
The ancient city had remained in Muslim hands since the withdrawal of the Crusading knights some 700 years earlier. The Turks abandoned the city in haste and Allenby occupied it without incident.
In the crowd was T.E. Lawrence, there by personal invitation, who would not have missed this ceremony for the world.
He had left his Arab companions in the desert and abandoned his robes for the day to soak up the atmosphere and witness first-hand the changing face of the Middle East.
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Europe | Ottoman
Empire | Egypt | Mecca
| Arab Revolt | Palestine
| Syria | Modern
Middle East
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In deference to
history the British commander chose to dismount and enter
Jeruselum on foot before addressing the newly-liberated
population.
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