The Australian Army in Lebanon 1939

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Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

http://static.awm.gov.au/images/coll...EEN/128435.JPG

LEBANON. 1941-06. THE BRIDGE BUILT BY AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERS OVER THE LITANI NEAR MERDJAYOUN, WITH A VIEW OF THE DEMOLISHED BRIDGE IN THE BACKGROUND.

This is known as Khardale bridge, on top of this ridge is the Beaufort crusader castle. The area didn't change a lot from this picture because of recent conflicts, it was always a demarcation line. 33°20'32.08"N 35°32'35.35"E


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LEBANON, 1941-07. SHELLFIRE COVERING THE ADVANCE OF AUSTRALIAN TROOPS TOWARDS THE WIRELESS MAST AT KHALDE. (PHOTOGRAPHER: G. SILK).

I am not sure of the wireless mast, this could have been the Antenna of Radio Orient (Vichy Radio station). The region is south of Beirut International Airport 33°47'17.78"N 35°28'51.11"E

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1941-07. AN AUSTRALIAN BATTERY SHELLS A VICHY POSITION DURING THE CAMPAIGN IN LEBANON (ATTACK ON WADI DAMOUR) (NEGATIVE BY SILK).

Wadi Damour is 10 Km south of the first picture, this is a natural barrier consisting of a river blocking the coastal road. once passed the road to Beirut is clear via the large plain of Damour. 33°42'17.05"N 35°26'39.91"E

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THE LEBANON. 1942-12-19. THE BRIDGE AT NAHR- EL- FIDAR BUILT BY THE AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE GROUP WHEN CONSTRUCTING THE RAILWAY LINE BETWEEN BEIRUT AND TRIPOLI.

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This bridge still exists like all railway bridges, it is situated 3 Km South of Byblos city. I will try to post a picture of it soon. 34° 6'8.05"N 35°39'8.27"E

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Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/

THE LEBANON. 1942-12-19. THE BRIDGE (NEAREST CAMERA) AT BYBLOS BUILT BY THE AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE GROUP WHEN CONSTRUCTING THE RAILWAY LINE FROM BEIRUT TO TRIPOLI.

This bridge is also still standing, it is 1km North of Byblos city (Jbeil), I will post a picture of it. 34° 7'57.19"N 35°38'41.65"E

http://static.awm.gov.au/images/coll...EEN/008679.JPG

BEIRUT, LEBANON, 1941-07. AN AIF BAND MARCHING THROUGH THE STREETS. (PHOTOGRAPHER: G. SILK).

No landmark on this picture to try to locate it.

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LEBANON, 1941-06. ADLOUN. THE RESTING PLACE OF AIF MEMBERS WHO FELL DURING THE FIGHTING THAT TOOK PLACE IN THE ADLOUN AREA DURING THE ADVANCE INTO LEBANON. (PHOTOGRAPHER: F. HURLEY).

Adloun is at mid-range between Tyr and Sidon. Again this is a large coastal plain. 33°24'12.90"N 35°16'20.99"E

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1941-07-20. BEIRUT, LEBANON AUSTRALIANS LOOK OVER COASTAL DEFENCE GUNS USED AGAINST THEM DURING THE FINAL ASSAULT ON BEIRUT, LEBANON (NEGATIVE BY G. SILK).

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Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

http://static.awm.gov.au/images/coll...EEN/042175.JPG

NEAR KHALDE, LEBANON, 1941-07-11. TROOPS OF THE 2/5TH AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BATTALION, WATCHING THE EFFECT OF ENEMY SHELLING ON OUR FORWARD POSITIONS

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BEYROUTH, LEBANON, 1942. TWO HAWKER HURRICANE AIRCRAFT OF 451 SQUADRON RAAF ON THE TARMAC AT BEYROUTH AIRPORT. (DONOR J.S. ARCHBOLD)

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BAALBEK, SYRIA. 1941-12. THE LABOUE ROAD OVER THE ANTI/LEBANON RANGE. THIS ROAD WAS REBUILT BY AUSTRALIAN FORCES AS PART OF THE BAALBEK VALLEY DEFENCE SCHEME.

The Laboue -Aarsal area has seen intense fighting last week between the Lebanese army and thousands of ISIS fighters who invaded the area using most probably this same road to get in and flee back. This road was always used for smuggling between both countries. 34°11'25.62"N 36°22'41.45"E

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THE LEBANON. 1942-12-19. THE BRIDGE AT NAHR- EL- IBRAHIM BUILT BY THE AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE GROUP WHEN CONSTRUCTING THE RAILWAY LINE BETWEEN BEIRUT AND TRIPOLI.

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Another bridge on the railway north to Beirut, still intact. 34° 3'55.57"N 35°38'37.37"E

The Syrian campaign


Syrian Campaign | Australian War Memorial


Khirbe, Lebanon


Khirbe | Australian War Memorial


2/25 Battalion
2/25th Battalion


2/31st Battalion
2/31st Battalion


2/ 27 Battalion
2/27th Battalion


2/ 33 Battalion
2/33rd Battalion


2/15 Battalion
2/15th Battalion


2/16 Battalion
2/16th Battalion


2/11 field Regiment
2/11th Field Regiment


2/3 Battalion
2/3rd Battalion


2/43 Battalion
2/43rd Battalion


2/28 Battalion
2/28th Battalion

we do good work!
pic from 2010
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...014/08/941.jpg

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Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

we do good work!
pic from 2010
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/im...014/08/941.jpg

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This is the same bridge

http://static.awm.gov.au/images/coll...EEN/050099.JPG

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THE LEBANON. 1942-12-19. THE BRIDGE (NEAREST CAMERA) AT BYBLOS BUILT BY THE AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE GROUP WHEN CONSTRUCTING THE RAILWAY LINE FROM BEIRUT TO TRIPOLI.

This bridge is also standing it is 1km North of Byblos city (Jbeil), I will post a picture of it. 34° 7'57.19"N 35°38'41.65"E

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Lebanon

If you are interested, you can search images online from the Australian War Memorial. There are hundreds of thousands of images and thousands just on Australian participation in Lebanon during WWII (more on WWI and the UN Peace Keeping operations).

Search collection | Australian War Memorial

or the search with some filters: Search collection | Australian War Memorial

Let us know if you find more of interest with current updates. :)

My Uncle Stan was there. He was a sergeant in the 2nd. AIF. Served in North Africa, Lebanon, Syria, New Guinea. He was a 1911 model and is no longer with us so I can't ask him for his memories. I remember him talking about municipal hygiene or lack thereof in Arab towns and villages. He reckoned Cairo was the filthiest place he had ever seen and in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria one didn't have to see the occupants to determine whether they were passing through a Christian, Jewish, or Arab settlement. He said the Arab one were filthy ****-holes.

Lot-A-Landies this s a mine of information. Thank you for sharing.

I still have a couple of hundred photos to check. I have noticed some errors in the information given with some pictures, some are factual errors while others are spelling mistakes.

Do you think that AWM will be interested in correcting these errors?

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Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Lebanon

If you are interested, you can search images online from the Australian War Memorial. There are hundreds of thousands of images and thousands just on Australian participation in Lebanon during WWII (more on WWI and the UN Peace Keeping operations).

Search collection | Australian War Memorial

or the search with some filters: Search collection | Australian War Memorial

Let us know if you find more of interest with current updates. :)

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Originally Posted by lebanon

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Do you think that AWM will be interested in correcting these errors?

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Short answer, yes. I would be very surprised if they did not welcome any additional information. However, they may not have the staff to deal with corrections immediately.

John