Commander, Arab Legion (Transjordan)
"We are not fighting for territory. We are fighting to prevent the establishment of a Jewish state."
John Bagot Glubb — 'Glubb Pasha' — was one of the most remarkable figures in the 1948 war: a British officer who commanded the Arab side's best army. A veteran of World War I who served in Iraq and then Transjordan during the interwar period, Glubb had spent two decades building the Arab Legion into a professional military force. In 1948 he commanded it against Israel while Britain nominally maintained neutrality. Under his command, the Legion captured the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem, held Latrun against repeated Israeli assaults, and secured the West Bank for Jordan. Critics accused him of deliberately limiting Jordan's advance to avoid a full Arab victory that would destabilize British interests; his supporters say he simply had too few men and too little ammunition. He was dismissed by King Hussein in 1956 — a victim of Arab nationalism that resented British officers commanding Arab armies. He retired to England and wrote prolifically about the Arab world.
Did you know?
Glubb Pasha commanded the Arab Legion — the strongest Arab force in the war — as a British officer serving a Jordanian king. When he ordered a halt at the Latrun ridge rather than advancing on Tel Aviv, some colleagues believed he deliberately limited the Arab advance to prevent total war. He was abruptly dismissed by King Hussein in 1956 during an Arab nationalist wave.
April – July 1948 · 2,000 total casualties
Jerusalem's divided outcome shaped the entire region's future. The Old City — including the Western Wall — remained under Jordanian control until 1967. The cease-fire line through the city became the 'Green Line' that defines Israeli-Palestinian borders to this day.
May 25 – June 18, 1948 · 1,100 total casualties
Latrun was Israel's costliest defeat of the war and a rare Arab Legion success. Unable to take the fortress, Israel instead built the 'Burma Road' — a bypass through the hills — to break the Jerusalem siege. The fortress itself remained in Jordanian hands until 1967.
April 16, 1897
🌅 Birth
Born in Preston, Lancashire, England
1920s
milestone
Served as British administrator in Iraq after WWI
1939
milestone
Took command of Arab Legion in Transjordan
May 1948
⚔️ Battle
Arab Legion captures Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem under his command
May–June 1948
⚔️ Battle
Held Latrun fortress against three Israeli assaults
March 1956
milestone
Abruptly dismissed by King Hussein; returned to England
March 17, 1986
✝️ Death
Died in Mayfield, East Sussex, age 88