WAGGA FORT
Wagga Fort from the south. The deep rail cutting was defended by a network of stone defensive positions and military encampments on both sides of the track - collectively described as a 'fort'
The rail cutting at Wagga from the north. The high ground on either side of the track made the site extremely vulnerable to attack during the Arab Revolt.
Wagga Fort was a defence outpost made up of an extensive system of stone fortifications on high ground both to the east and west of the line. It was constructed to protect a long, strategically vulnerable rail cutting, leading through a ridge of volcanic rock. Known by the Ottomans simply as 'Al Tranji' - 'The Cutting' - the strength of the defence system shows how seriously the threat of attack was taken, particularly during the Arab Revolt.
Wagga Fort was located in an extremely arid region, with no water sources available locally. Water had to be transported by train in metal tanks from Hedia Station to the north, or Abu Na'am Station, two stops to the south, where supplies were plentiful.
A look-out post - defence fortification and military encampment - was situated on a hill 1.2 km. south-east of the southern entrance to provide protection for the high embankment that carried the track up to the cutting.
Wagga Fort rail cutting shows up like a raw scar on the terrain of this Google Earth image (© 2023 CNES/Airbus). A clear strategic weak point, extensive stone defensive positions were built on the rocky high ground on both sides of the track
A defence post and military encampment were positioned on a hilltop vantage point to the south-east of Wagga Fort to protect the high embankment bringing the track up to the cutting
Remains of the large military encampment behind the defensive positions on the hill to the south-east of Wagga
Stone defence posts on the hill to the south of Wagga had a commanding view over the long approach to the cutting
All that is left of the rectangular stone fortified posts on the hilltop vantage point overlooking the line south of Wagga
The construction teams had laid the track on a high, solidly built embankment on the approach to the southern entrance of the Wagga cutting
Wagga Fort - West Side of the Line:
Extensive network of stone defensive positions connected by passageways. The longest of these passageways leads to a hilltop fortified outpost, guarding the western and southern approaches to the rail cutting.
A large military encampment of bell tents located to the north of the main cluster of defensive positions commanded the northern approaches to the cutting.
A rectangular stone defence post was constructed directly above the cutting.
A large round metal water tank with bullet holes has now disappeared from the site.
A stone defensive position on a hilltop vantage point to the west of the railway protected the south-western approaches
The fortified positions on the west side of the Wagga rail cutting were connected by a network of stone passageways, protecting the garrison as they moved between the defences
Stone sangar constructed on the high ground dominating the west side of the Wagga rail cutting
Remains of a small stone defence post strategically positioned on the slope to the west of the Wagga cutting
Strongly constructed stone passageways running between the defensive positions provided cover for the Ottoman garrison force on the west side of the Wagga cutting
Aerial view of the extensive network of defences which made up the western section of Wagga Fort
Another view of the network of defences protecting the railway cutting on the western side of the track
Rocky passageway linking two small sangars (stone-built defensive positions) on the high ground to the west of the railway cutting at Wagga. These passageways would enable the Ottoman garrison force to move safely between defence posts if they were under attack from raiders.
A strong fortified outpost on a hill to the southwest of the Wagga rail cutting was constructed with a stone passageway covering the open ground to its point of ascent
A military encampment to the north of the defences on the west side of Wagga guarded the northern approaches
Scattered bell tents on the west side of Wagga were connected by a network of stone pathways
A defence post to the west side of the track was situated directly above the railway cutting to take advantage of its strategic position
Another view showing the position of the stone fortification directly above the rail cutting at Wagga. The Ottomans clearly recognised the strategic vulnerability of this section of the railway and the disruption that would be caused by any attack on the track or the sides of the cutting.
Wagga rail cutting was built through a long stony ridge running from east to west. Its construction in 1908 required a huge amount of rock excavation
Wagga Fort - East Side of the Line:
To the east side of the Wagga cutting, the ground rose to a high plateau, with views commanding the approaches both to the north and south.
Stone defensive positions were constructed on the southern tip of the high ground.
A large military encampment with 2 lines of bell tents was situated alongside the cutting.
A rectangular stone defence post was built to the east of the military encampment.
A large circular defence structure with three bell tents in the centre and one on the northern side.
Smaller circular fortified positions scattered over the site.
View from a vantage point on the west side of Wagga looking over the rail cutting to the high plateau on the east
Southern defences on the east side of the Wagga cutting
Another view of the southern defences on the east side
A network of defensive posts on the east side of the Wagga was situated around a large military encampment of bell tents
Circular defence structure on the east side of the cutting
Owing to its isolated position, the harsh waterless terrain and the strength of its defences, raids in the vicinity of Wagga Fort were rare. The largest scale and most successful operation was carried out by Sherif Abdullah's forces on 20 January 1918. Having destroyed over 8 kilometres of track and 19 culverts, the Arab force fought a fierce battle with one of the Turkish defensive posts. By the evening they were forced to retreat. 'A field gun fired on them from Hediyah, and two mountain guns arrived from that direction, while from the south came 400 infantry, 60 Camel Corps, four mountain guns and some machine guns.' Ten days later the track still hadn't been repaired and raiding parties moved into position on both sides of break, waiting for the repair teams to be sent from nearby stations. On 31 January, a French party mined a train carrying spare rails and wood between Abu Na'am and Istabl Antar. Two engines, a tender and three wagons were completely destroyed in the attack.
Stone defence post on the east side of the cutting
The southern entrance to the Wagga cutting
Another view of the Wagga cutting
The hilltop defensive position to the south-west of the rail cutting, showing the commanding view it gave the Wagga garrison force over the southern approaches
Fortified position with a strongly built rock corridor, allowing the safe movement of garrison troops across the exposed ground between sangars (stone defence posts)
Prince Abdullah's army was based in the southern region of the Hejaz
Threats from raiding parties approaching the Wagga Fort defence system from the south could be seen from a lookout post situated on a hill to the west of Jeda'a Station. An alarm would immediately be telegraphed up the line by wireless. Despite the formidable defences in the area, at the beginning of April 1918, an Arab force from Prince Abdullah's army demolished 100 rails of the track south of Wagga Fort. In the same month another Arab force under Abdullah ibn Thawab (described by the British Major William Davenport as 'the best of the Bedouin commanders') ambushed two Turkish patrols, one coming south from the Wagga Fort defences and the other northwards from Jeda'a Station, at the point where they met, killing ten men and taking five prisoners.
Major Davenport was active with Prince Abdullah's forces on the southern section of the railway throughout the Arab Revolt
View from the east side of Wagga looking out over the railway line as it disappears through the mountains on its route to Hedia Station, eleven kilometres to the north