World War I: Allies Win at Rafa

January 9, 1917 - Allied troops win a victory at the Battle of Rafa. Slowly advancing across the Sinai in late 1915, British Commonwealth forces led by Gen. Sir Archibald Murray sought to drive the Turks from the peninsula. Following the capture of a Turkish garrison at Magdhaba in late December, Murray ordered the Anzac Mounted Division to take Rafa. Moving forward, they commenced their assault on January 9, 1916, under the supervision of Lt. Gen. Philip Chetwode. The attack soon bogged down and Chetwode, learning of an approaching Turkish relief column, began making plans to fall back to El Arish. As plans for the retreat were being made, his men launched a final assault which carried the enemy fortifications and led to the capture of the bulk of the garrison. The town secured, Chetwode withdrew before the Turkish reinforcements could arrive.