Capture of Wejh

The Arab Revolt began in June 1916 when disaffected Arab tribesmen unsuccessfully rose against the Ottoman garrisons at the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The tribesmen secured the surrender of the garrison at Mecca by means of a siege and blockade but were thwarted by Ottoman reinforcements rushed by rail to Medina. The Ottoman force began an advance towards Mecca, some to the south, the approaches to which were lightly defended. The British, through T. E. Lawrence, the British liaison officer with Arab leader Faisal, proposed an Arab force be moved behind the Ottoman lines to threaten the communications along the Hejaz Railway. == Action ==

Lawrence and the Arab tribesmen under Faisal were to march north, from the coastal town to Yanbu (Yenbo), along the Red Sea coast to the port of Wejh (now known as Al Wajh). Faisal led 10,000 men, around half mounted on camels, northwards from his camp near Yanbu on 4 January. The Royal Navy arrived at Wejh on 23 January but there was no sign of Faisal's Arabs. A party of these men, under Vickery, were landed on shore to secure a suitable landing site for the remainder. On 24 January the Arab force was put ashore and commenced an attack on the Ottoman forces, but there was still no sign of Faisal or Lawrence. ==Aftermath ==

The attack forced the Ottoman army marching on Mecca to return to Medina, as their right flank was threatened. At Medina around half the force was committed to the defence of the town while the remainder was distributed along the railway. This marked a switch in tactics for the Ottomans from offensive action against the Arab Revolt to a defence posture. The Ottomans refused to follow German advice to abandon Medina as strategically insignificant due to its prestige as a holy place. The garrison there required 14,000 troops plus around 11,000 on the railroad, which could otherwise have been deployed in offensive action against the Arabs. The capture of Wejh safeguarded Yanbu and Mecca as an Arab force at Wejh could threaten the flanks of any Ottoman advance upon them from Medina. The Arabs used Wejh and, after its July 1917 capture, Aqaba as sea ports to supply their operations up to into the interior. The capture of Wejh was a major achievement for the Arabs and demonstrated the potential for British-Arab co-operation on this front. The battle helped to demonstrate to the Arabs that the Ottoman forces could be defeated. After the battle British aid to the Arabs, sent from Egypt, markedly increased. This included aircraft and armoured cars delivered to Wejh in the weeks after its capture. == References ==