May 30, 1948 Withdrawal of British Officers from Arab Legion

On May 30^th orders were received from the British Army, seconded officers (e.g. to the Arab Legion) were immediately to leave their commands and withdraw from battle. The reason for this order was that the Security Council, at a meeting o May 29^th, had adopted a British resolution calling for a four weeks’ truce in Palestine …

The withdrawal of the British officers was a shattering blow. They included all operational staff officers, both the brigade commanders, and the commanding officers of three out of the four infantry regiments, and all the trained artillery officers. The artillery having only been raised three month before, none of the Jordanian officers were yet really competent to direct the fire of the guns … the British regular officers were therefore the keystone to the whole edifice in 1948.

Although the Arabs were favorably placed at the end of the first month of fighting, we knew that they had in reality shot their bolt.  If on May 15^th they had rapidly brought their full forces to bear, and had then advanced energetically, they might have succeeded in over-running the new Jewish State. But they were far from doing this. Most of them completely underestimated the task, despatched quite inadequate forces, and came to a halt as soon as they met resolute opposition.  Transjordan alone had thrown all her available forces into the struggle on the first day.”

Source: Memoirs of Lieutenant General John Glubb (British Army and Commander of Arab Legion)