1945-48



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 population was predominantly Arab but 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. Britain agreed to restrict Jewish immigration and an uneasy truce was observed during the Second World War.
 
During the war, Nazi oppression of Jews in Europe led to continued immigration into Palestine. The pre-war agreement had restricted Jewish immigration to 75,000 over the next five years and by 1945, this quota was almost reached. Conditions in Europe meant that many thousands of Jews wished to settle in Palestine, but to keep their word to the Arabs the British limited immigration. This infuriated the Jews and illegal immigration was attempted in massive numbers which the army and navy tried desperately to halt.
 
The Jews had by now formed a secret underground Jewish National Army – the Hagganah. They were relatively moderate but from within their ranks immerged the extremist Stern Gang and the Irgun. Both the Arabs and Jews blamed the British for the problems and the British army was very much stuck in the middle between the two communities.
 
Eventually a UN Special Committee looked at the problem. It reported in September 1947 and recommended that the British should leave Palestine in May 1948, and that the country should be divided into two states; one Arab and the other Jewish. The Jews were pleased but the Arabs were dismayed.
 
The 3rd Bn Coldstream Guards arrived in October 1945 and, along with 1st Bn Welsh Guards, formed part of 1st Guards Brigade. The next two and a half years were a mixture of cordon and search operations, road blocks, checking railway lines for mines, foot patrols, guarding key points etc. Much of their time was dull, routine and monotonous. Many searches revealed finds of arms, ammunition, equipment and documents. Many patrols were attacked or ambushed. Several times their camps came under heavy terrorist attack. Several men were killed and wounded.
 
Between October 1947 and February 1948, the 1st Battalion took over from the 3rd Battalion a company at a time, and they assumed operational control on 1st March, 1948. The 1st Battalion’s tour followed a similar pattern to that of the 3rd Battalion’s. Towards the end of April they were partly responsible for guarding Haifa Docks which was being used for loading stores and men for the withdrawl of British Forces.
 
On the last day of the Mandate, 30th June, 1948, the Battalion embarked with the other covering troops and left for Tripoli.

The following images were received with thanks by Mr R H Bedale - Norton Canes. The images are of the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards in Palestine / Trans - Jordon 1947/48

The images are over 57 years old, so please bear with the quality



(below) Hold mouse over images for more information



(below) En-route to Trans-Jordan to dispose of surplus ammunition and explosives (Platoon Sgt and Company Commander shown in first image)



(below) Hold mouse over images for more information





A Different Time - A Different Place

(below) The Final Parade 4th Battalion Coldstream Guards at Eckenforde - Germany 1946.  The Battalion actually disbanded at Pribright the same year



(below) Mr R.H Bedale's Training Squad at Caterham 1945