Black and white photograph taken during James McBey's service as Official War Artist, which he begun on 26 May 1917. The photograph is kept within a hardback photograph album, with faux leather overlay, along with a series of other related images.

The photograph depicts troops spread throughout an area of Damascus and, based on similar photographs in the album, was likely taken during the capture of Damascus on 1 October 1918. This was when the Desert Mounted Corps and Prince Feisal's Sherifal Hejaz Army encircled the city, after a mounted pursuit along the two main roads to Damascus.