大象传媒

The plan to move the water was based on the use of ancient birs as reservoirs. These caverns, hollowed out of the rock, were known in Roman times but their antiquity is uncertain. They had been constructed at regular intervals along the desert, a few miles inland from the coast road. Over the centuries, the desert had reclaimed them and they were now full of sand. The intention was to provide a facility to pump water from 'bir' to 'bir'. This would provide a reserve along the way to allow for the inevitable interruptions caused by breakdown, supply problems or enemy action.

A 4 inch pipe would be laid between Maghliya and the Bir at Habata, a distance of 20 miles. A 4 inch and a 3 inch main would connect the Bir at Dignash to Habata a further 12 1/2 miles away. The schedule required them to lay and connect 2.6 miles each day.

This story was submitted to the people鈥檚 War site by a volunteer from CSV Oxford on behalf of Alan Jones, the late Bill Harvey and Bob Borthwick. It is a transcript of his own diary and several interviews. He gave written permission for the material to be edited and published.

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.