Battle of Jezzine (1941)

Battle of Jezzine (1941)
Part of the Syria-Lebanon Campaign of World War II
Date13 June 1941
LocationJezzine, French Lebanon
Result Australian victory
Belligerents
 Australia

France Vichy France

The Battle of Jezzine (13 June 1941) was part of the Australian 7th Division's advance on Beirut during the five-week-long Syria-Lebanon campaign by the Allies against Vichy French forces in Syria and Lebanon. Jezzine, Lebanon, is about halfway between the Lebanese border with Palestine and Beirut.[1][2]

This battle was one of several hard fought actions during the Australian advance on Beirut.[3][4] When his company suffered casualties from intense machine gun fire, Private Jim Gordon, 2/31st Battalion, took it upon himself to crawl forward and neutralise the enemy post with rifle and bayonet. Gordon, originally from Rockingham, Western Australia, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions near Jezzine.[5] Jezzine Barracks in Townsville, Queensland, is named after this battle.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.army.gov.au/ahu/docs/BattleHonours_WWII_Syria.pdf
  2. ↑ "Jezzine". Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  3. ↑ http://researchonline.nd.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1012&context=arts_article
  4. ↑ "2/31st Battalion". Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  5. ↑ "Road to Damascus". Retrieved 3 December 2014.

Coordinates: 33°19′N 35°21′E / 33.32°N 35.35°E