1936-39



Palestine was ruled by Turkey for hundreds of years until 1917 when it was captured by the British. After the war Palestine was granted to Britain under a League of Nations Mandate. The Balfour Declaration of 1917 committed the British Government to the establishment of a Jewish homeland, although the population was predominantly Arab with a sizeable minority of Jews. The Jews considered Palestine as their rightful homeland stemming from biblical days and intended to create a Jewish State. Not unnaturally, the Arabs who had lived on the land for thousands of years were against the idea.
 
By 1936, relations between the two communities had deteriorated and the Arabs called a General Strike and launched an armed insurrection. Extra troops were dispatched from Egypt and Britain, and the 3rd Bn Coldstream Guards served there twice between 1936 and 1939.
 
Dispatched from the UK, the 3rd Battalion arrived in Haifa in October 1936 but by then the situation had calmed down considerably and the Battalion was able to return to Aldershot by New Years Eve. This tour is often referred to by veterans as ‘The Cook’s Tour’ as they spent much of their time visiting the Holy Places and sightseeing![1]
 
The Battalion was posted to Egypt in November 1937 as part of the Canal Brigade, and in October 1938 it was sent back to Palestine. By now the situation had deteriorated so much that the Arab population was in open rebellion. Internal Security duties consisted of many guardsand duties, cordon and search operations and patrolling large areas. In one of their earliest operations the Battalion played a prominent part in the reoccupation of the Old City of Jerusalem, where the whole city was cordoned off and troops entered and searched large areas. Many Arabs were detained, large quantities of arms and ammunition were recovered, and much valuable information was gained.
 
There were many sharp engagements with the enemy and several Coldstreamers were killed.
 
The Battalion returned to Egypt in April 1939, and they were not to return to the UK again until 1944 after much of the Battalion had spent seven years overseas.
 

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