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Lesson 6: El Shimla, War Camel a Camel Taking Tourists to See the Pyramids Reminisces Reprovingly on Her Experiences During the War

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Lesson 6: El Shimla, War Camel a Camel Taking Tourists to See the Pyramids Reminisces Reprovingly on Her Experiences During the War 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 the war effort. The British government independence from the Ottoman Empire sent the Officer Thomas Edward Lawrence in the Arab peninsula. The Arabs were – “Lawrence of Arabia” – to support the not a unified nation but instead were Arab Revolt. Lawrence brought much made up of different groups, each fiercely needed resources with him – guns, gold guarding their independence. United in and a thorough knowledge of military their determination to rid the region of the tactics. Lawrence also brought the Ottomans, a coalition of tribes was formed message and hope that military success under the leadership of Prince Feisal, in the region would lead to post-war self- Grand Sharif of governance for the Arabs.2 Mecca The Arabs who took up arms in this and campaign were largely Bedouins who ruler of had lived as desert nomads for thousands the Hejaz of years. The name ‘Bedouin’ means Arabs.1 ‘desert dweller’ in Arabic and the hardy The British camel was absolutely central to their way were attracted of life in these harsh climates. Together to the idea with Lawrence, they used guerrilla tactics of a rebellion to make a series of strikes at Turkish because it would transportation lines across the Arab divert Ottoman peninsula.3 This gave British troops resources and the advantage on the Palestine Front - attention away from Jerusalem fell in December 1917 followed Registered charity no 1107809 www.storymuseum.org.uk 1 by Damascus.4 One of the secrets to truly international, consisting of troops the success of this campaign was the from Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Bedouins’ ability to survive in the desert Hong Kong and Singapore.8 while remaining almost invisible to the Camels were also used in these campaigns Turks.5 The battle of Aqaba represented in the same way as they had been for the pinnacle of the campaign where a thousands of years – as beasts of burden. fierce Arab guerrilla army successfully A camel could trot in the hot desert terrain charged the Turkish enemy on camelback.6 carrying a soldier, his equipment, his After the fall of Damascus in October 1918, supplies and, importantly, his water9 at Lawrence lobbied for Arab independence. rates of 29 miles (47 kilometers) a day and However, before the negotiations could 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) an hour. even begin, the British and French had Feeding a camel was no simple feat. agreed on the future of the Ottoman’s Camels can travel up to 100 miles (161 former Arab territories7 and the promise of kilometres) without water – their bodies self-rule ended. are able to retain moisture. But they cannot function completely without water Camels in the First and a thirsty camel can drink as much as 30 gallons (135 liters) in one sitting.10 World War If camels stood in lakes or rivers they Riding a camel was second nature to the developed foot problems so watering Arab Bedouins. For the Allied soldiers of places with troughs had to be set up the Imperial Camel Corps, however, this which were large enough to water a was an entirely new experience. hundred camels at a time. Formed in 1916, the Imperial Camel Despite being known as ‘ships of the Corps was a camel-mounted infantry desert,’ camels were not always the force operating in the Middle Eastern graceful beasts of films such as Lawrence and African deserts. The Corps played of Arabia. They could be stubborn and an integral role in several First World War grumpy and suffered from mange, saddle desert campaigns, including Palestine, sores and many other discomforts caused Sinai and the Arab Revolt. The Corps was 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. Registered charity no 1107809 2 www.storymuseum.org.uk Key Questions: Key Words: • How and why were camels used Story Words Storytelling Words during the First World War? • Bravery • Breaking the fourth wall • What is the message of El Shimla’s • Legacy • Climax story? • Loyalty • First person narrative • What is bravery and loyalty? • Respect • Flashback • What are the effects of storytelling • Theatre of War • Foreshadowing devices? • Welcome • Humour Bedouins of Arakat Tribe, 1910 Egyptian camel transport 1918 Courtesy of The Library of Congress Courtesy of The Library of Congress Egyptian camel transport 1918 Courtesy of The Library of Congress Right: T.E. Lawrence © Getty Images Registered charity no 1107809 www.storymuseum.org.uk 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. Registered charity no 1107809 4 www.storymuseum.org.uk 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? Registered charity no 1107809 www.storymuseum.org.uk 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 Herit- age) 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 Herit- age) 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.
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