War's end in Palestine.

Event
Thu, 10/31/1918
Battle of Megiddo.

The final Allied offensive of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign was during September 1918 and was somewhat portentously known as the Battle of Megiddo - the modern name for Armageddon - and heralded the end of the war between the Turks and the Allies. Daraa was captured on 27 September, Damascus on 1 October and operations north of Aleppo were in progress when the Armistice of Mudros was signed ending hostilities between the Allies and the Turks. It agreed the cessation of hostilities at noon the following day.

The 2nd Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers had spent October camped just outside Nablus and then moved to camp at Masudiye. There they enjoyed a respite from operations with parades, route marches and football. The Battalion diary entry for 31 October somewhat understated the day's momentous event:

Bn. running Parade. At 1200 hrs Hostilities ceased between Turkey and the Allies.

TH PALESTINE

The Theatre Honour PALESTINE 1917-18 was awarded to our antecedent regiments, The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, The Royal Irish Rifles, and The Royal Irish Fusiliers for their service during the campaign in Palestine. The First World War distinction is therefore emblazoned on The Queen's Colours of The Royal Irish Regiment.