First Transjordan attack on Amman (1918)

First Transjordan attack/First Battle of the Jordan
Part of the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I
Ottoman prisoners on their way to Jericho from Es Salt
Date 21 March – 2 April 1918 Location From the Jordan River to Es Salt and Amman Result Ottoman victory
Belligerents
British Empire  Great Britain  Australia  New Zealand Arab insurgents	German Empire  Ottoman Empire
Commanders and leaders
E. Allenby P. Chetwode J. Shea E. W. C. Chaytor	Enver Pasha Liman von Sanders Jemal Pasha Asim
Units involved
Shea Group 60th (London) Division Anzac Mounted Division Imperial Camel Corps Brigade	Fourth Army 3rd and 46th Assault Companies 48th Infantry Division 145th and part 150th Regiments German 703rd Infantry Battalion
Strength
	6,000 troops with 15 guns
Casualties and losses
215 dead 1,010 wounded 123 missing	1,000 prisoners of war 1,700 dead and wounded (estimate)

Coordinates: 31°56′N 35°56′E / 31.933°N 35.933°E / 31.933; 35.933

 British Empire

Shea Group

The First Transjordan attack on Amman (known to the British as the First Attack on Amman) and to their enemy as the First Battle of the Jordan took place between 21 March and 2 April 1918, as a consequence of the successful Battle of Tell 'Asur which occurred after the Capture of Jericho in February and the Occupation of the Jordan Valley began, during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of World War I. During the First Transjordan attack large incursions into Ottoman territory occurred. Firstly the Passage of the Jordan River, was successfully captured between 21 and 23 March, followed by the first occupation of Es Salt in the hills of Moab between 24 and 25 March. The First Battle of Amman took place between 27 and 31 March when the Anzac Mounted Division and the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade (fighting dismounted as infantry) were reinforced by two battalions of 181st Brigade followed by a second two battalions from the 180th Brigade (60th London Division) and artillery. The Fourth Army headquarters located in Amman was strongly garrisoned and during the battle received reinforcements on the Hejaz railway, the strength of which eventually forced the attacking force to retire back to the Jordan Valley between 31 March and 2 April. The Jordan Valley would continue to be occupied by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) through the summer until the middle of September 1918 when the Battle of Megiddo began.

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