This iconic photograph of the surrender of Palestine to the British forces is somewhat fortunate to grace this extract. The original negatives of the photograph were ordered to be destroyed by Commander in Chief General John Shea shortly after the event. Measures were even taken to ensure an officer was sent to confirm the orders were concluded as to guarantee any remnants did not endure. So why did the British brass get so angry?

On the morning of December 9, 1917, shortly before 9am, two British scouts from General Allenby’s main force, Sergeants James Sedgewick and Frederick Hurcomb of 2/19th Battalion, London Regiment, were met by a delegation of dignitaries on the western approaches of Jerusalem. Walking underneath a white flag-of-truce were the mayor of Jerusalem, Dr Hussein Salim al-Husseini, Habj Abd al-Kadir, Chief of Jerusalem, several police officers and a handful of associates. They bore a letter of surrender from…