Lesson 6: El Shimla, War Camel A camel taking tourists to see the pyramids reminisces reprovingly on her experiences during the war. Background Context The Arab Revolt The Arab Revolt aimed at securing independence from the Ottoman Empire in the Arab peninsula. The Arabs were not a unified nation but instead were made up of different groups, each fiercely guarding their independence. United in their determination to rid the region of the Ottomans, a coalition of tribes was formed under the leadership of Prince Feisal, Grand Sharif of Mecca and ruler of the Hejaz Arabs.1 The British were attracted to the idea of a rebellion because it would divert Ottoman resources and attention away from the war effort. The British government sent the Officer Thomas Edward Lawrence Lawrence of Arabia to support the Arab Revolt. Lawrence brought much needed resources with him guns, gold and a thorough knowledge of military tactics. Lawrence also brought the message and hope that military success in the region would lead to post-war selfgovernance for the Arabs.2 The Arabs who took up arms in this campaign were largely Bedouins who had lived as desert nomads for thousands of years. The name Bedouin means desert dweller in Arabic and the hardy camel was absolutely central to their way of life in these harsh climates. Together with Lawrence, they used guerrilla tactics to make a series of strikes at Turkish transportation lines across the Arab peninsula.3 This gave British troops the advantage on the Palestine Front Jerusalem fell in December 1917 followed 1
by Damascus. 4 One of the secrets to the success of this campaign was the Bedouins ability to survive in the desert while remaining almost invisible to the Turks. 5 The battle of Aqaba represented the pinnacle of the campaign where a fierce Arab guerrilla army successfully charged the Turkish enemy on camelback. 6 After the fall of Damascus in October 1918, Lawrence lobbied for Arab independence. However, before the negotiations could even begin, the British and French had agreed on the future of the Ottoman s former Arab territories 7 and the promise of self-rule ended. Camels in the First World War Riding a camel was second nature to the Arab Bedouins. For the Allied soldiers of the Imperial Camel Corps, however, this was an entirely new experience. Formed in 1916, the Imperial Camel Corps was a camel-mounted infantry force operating in the Middle Eastern and African deserts. The Corps played an integral role in several First World War desert campaigns, including Palestine, Sinai and the Arab Revolt. The Corps was truly international, consisting of troops from Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Hong Kong and Singapore. 8 Camels were also used in these campaigns in the same way as they had been for thousands of years as beasts of burden. A camel could trot in the hot desert terrain carrying a soldier, his equipment, his supplies and, importantly, his water 9 at rates of 29 miles (47 kilometers) a day and 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) an hour. Feeding a camel was no simple feat. Camels can travel up to 100 miles (161 kilometres) without water their bodies are able to retain moisture. But they cannot function completely without water and a thirsty camel can drink as much as 30 gallons (135 liters) in one sitting. 10 If camels stood in lakes or rivers they developed foot problems so watering places with troughs had to be set up which were large enough to water a hundred camels at a time. Despite being known as ships of the desert, camels were not always the graceful beasts of films such as Lawrence of Arabia. They could be stubborn and grumpy and suffered from mange, saddle sores and many other discomforts caused by long desert journeys. 11 Story Frame: The story is told using first person narrative and uses a flashback as a framing device, beginning with the present day and going back into memories of the past, before returning to the present day at the end. The ghost of the camel s sister Naama enters the story early on, foreshadowing the climax of the story. Although many of the characters in the other stories in this collection speak directly to the audience, this is one of only two stories in which the main character breaks the fourth wall so that the audience become characters in El Shimla s world, as tourists waiting for a ride to see the pyramids. 2
Key Questions: Key Words: How and why were camels used during the First World War? What is the message of El Shimla s story? What is bravery and loyalty? What are the effects of storytelling devices? Bedouins of Arakat Tribe, 1910 Courtesy of The Library of Congress Story Words Bravery Legacy Loyalty Respect Theatre of War Welcome Storytelling Words Breaking the fourth wall Climax First person narrative Flashback Foreshadowing Humour Egyptian camel transport 1918 Courtesy of The Library of Congress Egyptian camel transport 1918 Courtesy of The Library of Congress Right: T.E. Lawrence Getty Images 3
Attention Map It! Locate Cairo on a map, and trace the journeys of El Shimla and/or TE Lawrence. Discuss It! What words can we use to describe El Shimla? Use evidence from the story. Describe the mood of the story in 3 words. These words may be contrasting. Prepare to Advance Discuss It! Recount the main elements of the story in groups. What are El Shimla s dreams, fears, hopes and needs? Which part of the story seems to be the most important, memorable, or heartfelt for El Shimla? What was life like in the desert before the war? Compare this to how El Shimla describes life during the war. For example, how does the wind feel different? Write It! As a class, study photographs of camels from the First World War. Make a mind map of words and phrases to describe the atmosphere and emotion. Use these words for a short description of life on the desert before the war, from the point of view of a camel. Make It! Imagine your group are going to buy a present for El Shimla. What would you give her and why? Write a label for the present, explaining why you have bought this gift for her and what you would like her to gain from it. Ground your ideas with evidence from the story. 4
Debate It! Discuss the end of the story. Do you think El Shimla was right to pretend to be mad in order to avoid carrying Lawrence of Arabia? If you were in El Shimla s position, what would you have done? Forward March Act It! In pairs, role play a conversation between El Shimla and a tourist wanting to go on a ride to the pyramids. What 3 questions would the tourist ask El-Shimla? How does El Shimla respond? Will you include a flashback so as to ask questions to Naama? Debate It! Hold a court case for El Shimla. El Shimla states: The choice I made that day resulted in the death of my sister. Is El Shimla to blame for the death of Naama? Put El Shimla on trial. Different students can take the roles of Judge, Jury, Prosecutor and El Shimla s Lawyer. Witnesses can be brought in to give statements, such as other camels and soldiers there at the time, Lawrence of Arabia and the Ghost of Naama. Will El Shimla be innocent or guilty? If the latter, what will her sentence be? Or will some one else be guilty instead? Debate as a class, giving your opinions to the jury to decide. Will you put Lawrence of Arabia on trial instead? Can you try to empathise with his position that led to the accidental killing? What must it have been like going into battle with guns, swords and cutlasses on camelback? 5
Write It! Write an obituary for Naama to commemorate her life and legacy, using these notes as a framework: - a headline - a by-line - a photo - an explanation of how Naama passed away; - a description of Naama s days before the war; - a description of Naama s personality and character; - an interview with her sister El Shimla; - a conclusion as to what Naama will be remembered for, and any lessons we can learn from her life. 1 The Arab Revolt, 1916-18, www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/ottoman-empire/arab-revolt (Ministry for Culture and Heritage) updated 30 July 2014 2 The Middle East During World War One, Professor David R. Woodward, BBC History 3.10.2011 www.bbc,co.uk/ history/worldwars/wwone/middle_east_01.shtml 3 T.E. Lawrence (1888-1935), BBC History www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/lawrence_te.shtml 4 Creating Chaos, Lawrence of Arabia and the Arab Revolt, O Brien Brown 8.10.2010 History Net www.historynet. com/creating-chaos-lawrence-of-arabia-and-the-1916-arab-revolt.htm 5 Lawrence of Arabia, Learning Pack, PBS www.pbs.org/lawrenceofarabia/features/index.html 6 The Arab Revolt, 1916-18, www.nzhistory.net.nz/war/ottoman-empire/arab-revolt (Ministry for Culture and Heritage) updated 30 July 2014 7 T.E. Lawrence (1888-1935), BBC History www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/lawrence_te.shtml 8 10 Incredible Photos of the Imperial Camel Corps, Jesse Alter, IWM Collections www.iwm.org.uk/history/10- incredible-photos-of-the-imperial-camel-corps 9 Animals in the First World War, Neil Storey, Shire Library 2014 10 Camel Fact, The Weeping Camel, National Geographic www.nationalgeographic.com/weepingcamel/thecamels. html 11 Animals in the First World War, Neil Storey, Shire Library 2014 Illustrations by Sheena Dempsey Text The Story Museum 42 Pembroke Street, Oxford OX1 1BP 6