"The Mad Mile" Djezzine-Kafr Houn Road

This sketch comes from a series completed by VX18229, Sergeant Francis George (Frank) Hodgkinson, HQ 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.

To enter Jezzine, the gateway to Damour – the last Vichy French stronghold before Beirut – allied soldiers had the choice of two roads: the “Mad Mile” or “Hell’s Hundred Metre.” Vichy French General Henri Dentz had both of these areas ranged by a large portion of his artillery to enable a rapid fortification attempt at Damour in an effort to halt the rapidly advancing Allied soldiers. As such, Allied soldiers were regularly under attack when passing through this mile-long section of road.
Jezzine had changed hands four times during the conflict, with this image likely painted in the last advance towards Damour in the days leading up to the Battle or Damour (5-9 July 1941).

Hodgkinson likely sketched this image en plein air, with watercolour added later. Gouache has then been used to represent the smoke emerging from areas recently shelled and other key focal points within the composition. This image is an excellent depiction of the rough, dry, and hilly terrain that Allied soldiers readily encountered during Operation Exporter.

Official War Artist Captain Sir William Dargie would later depict this stretch of road from a different angle in his ‘'The Mad Mile', Jezzine, Lebanon 1941’ (ART27683).