 The Battle of Romani took place near the Egyptian town of Romani , 23 miles ( 37 km ) east of the Suez Canal , on 3 – 5 August 1916 . The goal of the Turkish and German army was to control or destroy the Suez Canal , thereby denying the use of the waterway to the Allies and in doing so aiding the Central Powers . Both the Anzac Mounted Division , under Major General Harry Chauvel , and the 52nd ( Lowland ) Infantry Division saw action against the German and Turkish force . 
