First Battle of Gaza

The First Battle of Gaza was fought on 26 March 1917 during the first attempt by the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) to invade the southern region of the Ottoman Empire territory of Palestine during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of the First World War. Fighting took place in and around the town of Gaza on the Mediterranean coast when Desert Column part of the EEF, attacked the town. Late in the afternoon, on the point of capturing Gaza, Desert Column was withdrawn amid concerned for approaching large Ottoman reinforcements. This British Empire defeat was followed a few weeks later by the even more emphatic defeat of Eastern Force, also part of the EEF, at the Second Battle of Gaza in April 1917.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First Battle of Gaza