Fort Khiam Syria 1941

This sketch comes from a series completed by VX18229, Sergeant Francis George (Frank) Hodgkinson, 7th Australian Division, completed during his time in Syria and modern-day Lebanon as part of Operation Exporter, an Allied action against Vichy French forces in 1941. The sketches in these series were completed in a private capacity before Hodgkinson was appointed an official war artist in 1944 as a Lieutenant. These significant works are some of the very few contemporary depictions Operation Exporter, with other war artists such as Harold Herbert only approaching these subjects at the cessation of hostilities in Syria.

This image depicts part of Fort Khiam (Al Khaim), located near Merdjayoun in Syria (today part of Lebanon). The fort has been the site of so many occupying armies in the past that its name translates to ‘tents’ in Arabic. During the Second World War, the fort was originally occupied by Vichy French soldiers.

This image depicts the partially demolished fortifications on an ancient fort in Syria can be seen in the background, contrasted with modern, hastily assembled barbed wire fortifications in the foreground. The image is completed with a charcoal base sketch, with a yellow watercolour wash over the majority of the image, with sporadic flecks of cream gouache. Unusually, it is signed twice by the artist with the date ’41, both in the bottom right-hand corner, one above the other. It also includes the titles in the bottom left-hand corner.

The damage to the fort depicted in this image was likely caused by soldiers under the command Captain G B Connor (NX34870) of the Australian 2/33rd Division in the afternoon of 8 June – one of the first actions of Operation Exporter.

The French-used entrance to the fort can be seen in Harold Herbert’s ‘Entrance to Fort Khiam’ (ART30091).