Charge at Khan Ayash

Part of the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I

Australian Light Horsemen at Khan Ayash

Date	2 October 1918
Location	Khan Ayash 17 miles (27 km) north of Damascus on the inland road to Rayak and Homs
Result	British Empire victory

Belligerents

British Empire

Australia

Ottoman Empire

German Empire

Commanders and leaders

Edmund Allenby

Harry Chauvel

Henry West Hodgson

Otto Liman von Sanders

Mustafa Kemal Pasha

Jevad Pasha

Units involved

3rd Light Horse Brigade
Australian Mounted Division
Desert Mounted Corps

146th Regiment Army Troops, Fourth Army and unidentified cavalry

Casualties and losses

2,000 prisoners

The Charge at Khan Ayash occurred on 2 October 1918 about 17 miles (27 km) north of Damascus after the pursuit to, and capture of Damascus, which followed the decisive Egyptian Expeditionary Force victory at the Battle of Megiddo on 25 September during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of World War I. After Damascus had been encircled by Desert Mounted Corps on 30 September, the 3rd Light Horse Brigade advanced through the city on 1 October to charge and capture remnants of the Ottoman Yildirim Army Group withdrawing along the road north to Rayak and Homs.

Following the victories at the Battle of Sharon and Battle of Nablus during the Battle of Megiddo, and the Capture of Damascus, remnants of the Seventh and Eighth Armies retreated in columns towards Damascus from the Judean Hills. Rearguards at Samakh, at Tiberias and at Jisr Benat Yakub were captured by the Australian Mounted Division. Remnants of the Fourth Army also retreated in columns towards Damascus along the Pilgrims' Road from Amman. The rearguard at Irbid was attacked by the 4th Cavalry Division and Deraa was captured by the Sherifial Army.

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