Spanish Flu and Malaria Capture of Damascus (1918)

studio portrait of driver joseph albert murphy 1030 4th light horse regiment embarked sydney on 25 june 1915 died of malaria in damascus on 17 october 1918

during pursuit, desert mounted corps had travelled around malarial shores of sea of galilee , fought on malarial banks of jordan between jisr benat yakub , lake huleh. within few days of operations in damascus area finishing, malaria , pneumonic influenza, sweeping through near east, spread infecting regiments.

the epidemic spread quickly, assuming startling proportions in damascus, along lines of communication south of city, , north. virtually sick in stages serious cases. medical supplies became short, while supplies of suitable food light diet inadequate , blankets , mattresses ran short there no facilities disinfect them had destroyed in many instances.

the australian medical corps, commanded colonel rupert downes, became responsible care of sick in damascus. major w. evans, dadms of australian mounted division, appointed principal medical officer of damascus , became responsible reorganising hospital system.

cases of malignant malaria contracted in jordan valley south of jisr ed damieh before offensive, increased contracted in jordan valley north of jisr ed damieh , around beisan. in week ending 5 october more 1,246 troopers of desert mounted corps had reported sick hospital , 3,109 cases reported following week. many had contracted suffered malaria in jordan valley in different climate, tired , worn out 2 weeks of constant operations, , relapsed , or contracted spanish flu, worldwide influenza epidemic.

it recalled during first week in damascus heavy outbreak of serious febrile disease occurred. exact nature of not @ time clear, , has indeed in measure remained matter of debate. damascus in grip of pneumonic influenza, , suspected – in cases not without cause – of dysentery, typhus, cholera, phlebotomus , other fevers. in circumstances existed, may believed close clinical observation not easy. of pyrexia called influenza, dysentery, or cholera. outbreak of cerebro-spinal fever suspected. arrival of malaria diagnosis station on october 12 in measure cleared situation. supposed cholera , cerebral cases, , large proportion of of dysentery, found malarial. of cases diagnosed influenza , blood examined, large proportion found harbour malarial parasite , presumed cases of same disease. therefore clear that, simultaneously outbreak of pneumonic influenza, huge rise took place @ moment in incidence of malignant malaria both in desert mounted corps , in chaytor s force. ... 3 intramuscular injections of twelve grains of quinine bihydrochloride found sufficient cause, @ least temporarily, complete disappearance of parasites blood ... in pyrexial period.

due breakdown in evacuations on 10 october, divisional receiving station in damascus, 5th cavalry division receiving station, had on 11 october between 800 , 900 ill patients suffering broncho-pneumonia , malignant malaria. deaths numerous. cases of malarial diarrhoea diagnosed cholera; malarial diagnosis station arrived next day. staff exhausted , severely reduced; medical supplies , blankets ran low. 1 hundred australian light horsemen reassigned medical orderly duties, large convoy of sick evacuated motor lorries next day , arrival of supplies of milk relieved situation. australian mounted division receiving station arrived , relieved 5th cavalry division receiving station had admitted 1,560 british , australian sick out of total of 3,150 admitted medical units week. @ babtuma hospital ottoman sick rose 900 2,000. sick prisoners of war retained in damascus due lack of accommodation in egypt.

original graveyard @ damascus includes grave of trooper raymond talbot cowan 10th light horse regiment died of malaria on 24 october 1918

medical service personnel became ill @ higher rate cases combat units , no reinforcements arriving. loss of administrative officers crippling. 4th cavalry division receiving station unable move 8 days owing illness; 2 motor ambulances had drivers. many doctors became ill during period including corps staff members; ddms colonel rupert downes, included. of 99 medical officers in 3 mounted divisions of desert mounted corps, 23 sick , ddms of corps ill 6 october; dms, eef had no officer available replace him. he, along adms , dadms australian mounted division, did beds; adms 5th cavalry division remained division advancing towards aleppo.

by 14 october position in damascus becoming normal , 16 october evacuation satisfactory. dms, eef @ ramleh following visit adms on 11 october damascus sent 100 ramc privates on way france infantrymen arrive in damascus on 18 october followed next day 18 cars of motor ambulance convoy , 25th casualty clearing station took on australian mounted division receiving station cases. desert mounted corps handed on administration of sick in damascus lines of communication headquarters in november, after fighting ottoman empire had finished.

three weeks after damascus occupied allenby reported war office:

sickness troubling us. had mosquitos in hand; , jordan valley had become summer health resort. m in turkish territory, , malignant malaria laying lot of people heels. ve acting dms now; 1 luce, , doing can, beds full. want send thousands of sick malta; salonika appears have filled of beds there. turkish prisoners improving in health, extent, , death–rate diminishing. thousands still @ damascus, awaiting removal egypt, transport not sufficient.

of total of 330,000 members of australian imperial force (aif) left australia during 4 years of war, 58,961 died, 166,811 had been wounded , 87,865 sick. more cases of malaria suffered following advance damascus has ever been suffered australian forces.

12th light horse regiment

the men of 12th light horse regiment reported in war diary of 8 october, far , require rest otherwise ranks depleted. 12 october ...in poor way, more , more going sick daily. on 14 october, troops ...still having bad time fever. 50 prisoners daily...[were]...employed after horses , clean lines sufficient men...[could]...be made available furnish usual [guard] posts. 17 october, regiment understrength 1 officer , 144 other ranks, 8 reinforcements arrived next day , 19 october worst over, after reported troops ...improving daily.