Egyptian Expeditionary Force























Egyptian Expeditionary Force
Active 1916–19
Country
 British Empire
 French Republic
 Kingdom of Italy
Engagements
First World War

  • Senussi Campaign

  • Sinai and Palestine Campaign


Commanders
Notable
commanders

Archibald Murray (1916–17)
Edmund Allenby (1917–19)



A mint stamp of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force available at EEF post offices in Lebanon.


The Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) was a British Empire military formation, formed on 10 March 1916 under the command of General Archibald Murray from the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and the Force in Egypt (1914–15), at the beginning of the Sinai and Palestine Campaign of the First World War.




1920 EEF laissez passer, travel document, issued at Jerusalem, British Mandate.




Contents






  • 1 History


  • 2 1916


    • 2.1 General organisation in April 1916


    • 2.2 Order of battle April


    • 2.3 Distribution, 27 July


    • 2.4 No. 3 Section Canal Defences August


    • 2.5 Eastern Frontier Force


    • 2.6 Western Frontier Force


    • 2.7 Order of battle 23 December


    • 2.8 Desert Column December




  • 3 1917


    • 3.1 Order of Battle 9 January


    • 3.2 Order of Battle March


    • 3.3 Organization in April 1917


    • 3.4 Order of Battle April


    • 3.5 Expansion of Desert Column June 1917


    • 3.6 Order of Battle October




  • 4 1918


    • 4.1 Deployment, 9 February


    • 4.2 Shea's Force March


    • 4.3 Order of Battle April


    • 4.4 Order of Battle 19 September




  • 5 See also


  • 6 Notes


  • 7 References


  • 8 Bibliography





History


Formed in the British protectorate of the Sultanate of Egypt, the initially small force was raised to guard the Suez Canal and Egypt. After the withdrawal from the Gallipoli Campaign the force grew into a large reserve force designed to provide reinforcements for the Western Front, while the Western Frontier Force fought in the Senussi Campaign from 1915 to 1917, and the Eastern Frontier Force defended the canal at the Battle of Romani in August 1916.[1][2][3][4] Following the victory at Romani, part of Eastern Force pursued the Ottoman Empire invading force back to Palestine after the victories at the Battle of Magdhaba in December 1916 and the Battle of Rafa in January 1917, by which time Desert Column had been formed within Eastern Force. These victories which resulted in the recapture of substantial Egyptian territory were followed in March and April, by two EEF defeats on Ottoman Turkish Empire territory, at the First and Second Battles of Gaza in southern Palestine.[5]


During the Stalemate in Southern Palestine from April to October 1917, Murray consolidated the EEF's position and in June General Edmund Allenby took command and began preparations to take the offensive, employing maneuver warfare He reorganised the force into the XX Corps, XXI Corps and Desert Mounted Corps formerly Desert Column.[6] On 31 October two corps captured Beersheba defended by the Turkish III Corps (which had fought at Gallipoli), which weakened their defences stretching almost continually from Gaza to Beersheba. Subsequently the Battle of Tel el Khuweilfe, the Third Battle of Gaza and the Battle of Hareira and Sheria forced the withdrawal from Gaza on the night of 6/7 November at the beginning of the pursuit to Jerusalem. During the subsequent operations, about fifty miles (80 km) of formerly Turkish territory, was captured as a result of the EEF victories at the Battle of Mughar Ridge, fought between 10 and 14 November, and the Battle of Jerusalem fought between 17 November and 30 December. Serious losses on the Western Front in March 1918 during the German Spring Offensive, forced the British Empire to send reinforcements from the EEF. During this time, two unsuccessful attacks were made to capture Amman and to capture Es Salt in March and April 1918, before Allenby's force resumed the offensive, again employing manoeuvre warfare at the Battle of Megiddo. The successful infantry battles at the Battle of Tulkarm and the Battle of Tabsor, created gaps in the Ottoman front line, enabling the pursuit by the Desert Mounted Corps to encircle the infantry fighting in the Judean Hills when fighting occurred during the Battle of Nazareth, the Afulah, Beisan, the Jenin, the Battle of Samakh, and the capture of Tiberias. In the process the EEF destroyed three Turkish Armies during the Battle of Sharon, the Battle of Nablus and the Third Transjordan attack, capturing thousands of prisoners and large quantities of equipment. Subsequently the EEF pursued the surviving German and Turkish forces to Damascus, and Aleppo, before the Ottoman Turkish Empire agreed to the Armistice of Mudros on 30 October 1918, ending the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. The British Mandate of Palestine, and the French Mandate for Syria and Lebanon were created to administer the captured territories.[7]



1916


Canal Defences (General Murray)


No.1 Section, Headquarters Suez – IX Corps (January to March)


No.2 Section, Headquarters Ismailia – I Anzac Corps (January to March)



Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade

Jodhpur Lancers

Mysore Lancers

Hyderabad Lancers




11th Light Horse Regiment

12th Light Horse Regiment


(incomplete)


No.3 Section, Headquarters Port Said – (Major General H.A. Lawrence)



42nd (East Lancashire) Division

125th (Lancashire Fusiliers) Brigade

126th (East Lancashire) Brigade

127th (Manchester) Brigade




52nd (Lowland) Division (Major General W.E.B. Smith)

155th (South Scottish) Brigade

156th (Scottish Rifles) Brigade


157th (Highland Light Infantry) Brigade[Note 1]



Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division (Anzac Mounted Division) (Major General Sir H.G. Chauvel)


1st Australian Light Horse Brigade

1st Light Horse Regiment

2nd Light Horse Regiment

3rd Light Horse Regiment

Leicestershire Royal Horse Artillery




2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade

5th Light Horse Regiment

6th Light Horse Regiment

7th Light Horse Regiment

Ayrshire Royal Horse Artillery







3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade

8th Light Horse Regiment

9th Light Horse Regiment

10th Light Horse Regiment

Inverness-shire Royal Horse Artillery




New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade (Brigadier General E. W. C. Chaytor)


Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment (Lieutenant Colonel C. E. R. Mackesy)


Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment (Lieutenant Colonel J. Findlay)


Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment (Lieutenant Colonel W. Meldrum)


Somerset Royal Horse Artillery[8][9][10][11][12]




5th Mounted Brigade (Brigadier General E. A. Wiggin)

Royal Gloucestershire Hussars

Warwickshire Yeomanry

Worcestershire Yeomanry




Imperial Camel Corps Brigade (Brigadier General C. L. Smith VC)

1st (Australian) Battalion

2nd (British) Battalion

3rd (Australian) Battalion

4th (ANZAC) Battalion[8][9][10][11][13][14]




No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps (Lieutenant Colonel E. H. Reynold)

A Flight (Captain W. Sheldon – four machines later expanded to six)

B Flight (Lieutenant Manwell – four machines later expanded to six)

C Flight (Captain Williams – four machines later expanded to six)



Until almost the end of 1917, No. l Squadron, A.F.C., and No. 14 Squadron, R.F.C., were the sole flying units east of the Suez Canal.[15]



General organisation in April 1916


General Headquarters



General Headquarters Troops

No. 1 Section (IX Corps)

No. 2 Section (II ANZAC)

No. 3 Section (Anzac Mounted Division)

Western Frontier Force

Northwestern Section

Southwestern Section



L. of C. Defence Troops

Inspector-General of Communications

Alexandria District

Cyprus Garrison

Lines of Communication Units[16]





Order of battle April


General Headquarters



  • Commander in Chief – Lieutenant General (temp. General) A. J. Murray

  • Chief of General Staff – Major General A. L. Lynden-Bell


Headquarters of Administrative services and departments
Army Signals, Work, Supplies and Transport, Railways, Ordnance, Remounts, Veterinary Services, Medical Services, Army Postal Services, Paymaster
Inspector General of Communication and Levant Base



Anzac Mounted Division GOC Colonel (temp. Major General) H.G. Chauvel

1st Light Horse Brigade (Western Force) GOC Lieutenant Colonel C. F. Cox (acting)

1st Light Horse Regiment

2nd Light Horse Regiment

3rd Light Horse Regiment

4th Light Horse Regiment (attached)



2nd Light Horse Brigade GOC Colonel (temp. Brigadier General G. de L. Ryrie

5th Light Horse Regiment

6th Light Horse Regiment

7th Light Horse Regiment

12th Light Horse Regiment (attached)



3rd Light Horse Brigade GOC Brevet Lieutenant Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) J. M Antill

8th Light Horse Regiment

9th Light Horse Regiment

10th Light Horse Regiment

11th Light Horse Regiment (attached)



New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade GOC Brigadier General E. W. C. Chaytor)

Auckland Mounted Rifle Regiment

Canterbury Mounted Rifle Regiment

Wellington Mounted Rifle Regiment

Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment (attached)





Divisional Troops



Artillery


III Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery (T.F.) Leicestershire and Somerset Batteries


IV Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery (T.F.) Inverness-shire and Ayrshire Batteries



Engineers
1st Australian Field Squadron


Signal Service
1st Anzac Signal Squadron


Army Service Corps (ASC)

HQ, Light Horse Divisional ASC

Light Horse Supply Column (M.T.)



Medical Units

1st, 2nd and 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulances

NZ Mounted Brigade Ambulance




IX Corps
GOC Major General (temp. Lieutenant General) F. J. Davies



Corps Troops

Mounted Troops


8th Mounted Brigade

1/1st City of London Yeomanry

1/1st County of London Yeomanry

1/3rd County of London Yeomanry

1/1st London Signal Troop



"B" Battery, Honourable Artillery Company (H.A.C.)

No. 9 Field Troop

1/1st London Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance



Signal Service

HH and KK Cable Section

London Pack Wireless Section

Northern Wagon Wireless Section




42nd (East Lancashire) Division
GOC Major General W. Douglas




125th (Lancashire Fusiliers) Brigade GOC Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) H. C. Frith

1/5th Lancashire Fusiliers

1/6th Lancashire Fusiliers

1/7th Lancashire Fusiliers

1/8th Lancashire Fusiliers

125th Brigade Machine Gun Company




126th (East Lancashire) Brigade GOC Major (temp. Brigadier General) A. W. Tufnell

1/4th East Lancashire Regiment

1/5th East Lancashire Regiment

1/9th Manchester Regiment

1/10th Manchester Regiment

126th Brigade Machine Gun Company




127th (Manchester) Brigade GOC Lieutenant Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) V. A. Ormsby

1/5th Manchester Regiment

1/6th Manchester Regiment

1/7th Manchester Regiment

1/8th Manchester Regiment

127th Brigade Machine Gun Company




Divisional Troops



Mounted Troops

1 Squadron Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry

13th Cyclist Company



Artillery

1/1st East Lancashire Brigade RFA

1/2nd East Lancashire Brigade RFA

1/3rd East Lancashire Brigade RFA

1/4th East Lancashire (Howitzer) Brigade RFA

42nd Divisional Ammunition Column



Engineers

1/1st East Lancashire Field Company RE

1/2nd East Lancashire Field Company RE

1/2nd West Lancashire Field Company RE



Signal Service
42nd Divisional Signal Company


ASC
42nd Divisional Train


Medical Units
1/1st, 1/2nd and 1/3rd East Lancashire Field Ambulances



3rd Dismounted Brigade (attached)
GOC Lieutenant Colonel Lord Kensington (Acting)



1/1st Royal East Kent Yeomanry

1/1st Queen's Own West Kent Yeomanry

1/1st Sussex Yeomanry

1/1st Welsh Horse

1/1st Norfolk Yeomanry

1/1st Suffolk Yeomanry

Machine Gun Company

3rd Dismounted Brigade Signal Troop

1/1st Eastern and 1/1st South Eastern Mounted Brigade Field Ambulances


54th (East Anglian) Division
GOC Colonel (temp. Major General) S. W. Hare




161st (Essex) Brigade

1/4th Essex Regiment

1/5th Essex Regiment

1/6th Essex Regiment

1/7th Essex Regiment

161st Machine Gun Company




162nd (East Midland) Brigade

1/5th Bedfordshire Regiment

1/4th Northamptonshire Regiment

1/10th London Regiment

1/11th London Regiment

162nd Machine Gun Company




163rd (Norfolk and Suffolk) Brigade

1/4th Norfolk Regiment

1/5th Norfolk Regiment

1/8th Hampshire Regiment

163rd Machine Gun Company




Divisional Troops



Mounted Troops
1 Squadron 1/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry (with HQ and Machine Gun Section)


Artillery

1/1st East Anglian Brigade RFA

1/2nd East Anglian Brigade RFA

1/3rd East Anglian Brigade RFA

1/4th East Anglian Brigade RFA

54th Divisional Ammunition Column (one officer and 35 other ranks)



Engineers

2/1st East Anglian Field Company RE

1/2nd East Anglian Field Company RE

1/1st Kent Field Company RE



Signal Service
54th Divisional Signal Company


ASC
54th Divisional Train (Supply details only)


Medical Units
2/1st, 1/2nd and 1/3rd East Anglian Field Ambulances



20th Indian Brigade (attached)
GOC Brigadier General H. D. Watson



2/3rd Gurkhas

58th Rifles

Alwar Infantry (I.S.)

Gwalior Infantry (I.S.)


29th Indian Brigade
GOC Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) P. C. Palin



23rd Pioneers

57th Rifles

Patiala Infantry (I.S.)

No. 10 Co. King's Own Sappers and Miners

110, 121, 135 Indian Field Ambulances

7th and 26th Mule Corps


II Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (II ANZAC)
GOC Major General (temp. LIeutenant General) A. J. Godley


Corps Troops
Signal Service

No. 24 Airline Section

FF and NN Cable Sections

1st Australian Ammunition Park

1st Australian Supply Column

Royal Australian Navy Bridging Train

14th Fortress Company RE




4th Australian Division
GOC Major General H. V. Cox


4th Australian Infantry Brigade

GOC Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) J. Monash




13th Battalion

14th Battalion

15th Battalion

16th Battalion

4th Machine Gun Company


12th Australian Infantry Brigade

45th Battalion

46th Battalion

47th Battalion

48th Battalion

12th Machine Gun Company



13th Australian Infantry Brigade

49th Battalion

50th Battalion

51st Battalion

52nd Battalion

13th Machine Gun Company




Divisional Troops



Mounted Troops

"B" Squadron 13th Light Horse Regiment

4th Divisional Cyclist Company



Artillery

X Field Artillery Brigade

XI Field Artillery Brigade

XII Field Artillery Brigade

XXIV Howitzer Brigade

4th Divisional Ammunition Column



Engineers

4th Field Company

12th Field Company

13th Field Company



Signal Service
4th Divisional Signal Company


Pioneers
4th Pioneer Battalion


ASC
7th, 14th, 26th and 27th Coys, AASC


Medical Units
4th, 12th, 13th Field Ambulances



5th Australian Division
GOC Colonel (temp Major General) J. W. McCay



8th Australian Infantry Brigade

29th Battalion

30th Battalion

31st Battalion

32nd Battalion

8th Machine Gun Company



14th Australian Infantry Brigade

53rd Battalion

54th Battalion

55th Battalion

56th Battalion

14th Machine Gun Company



15th Australian Infantry Brigade

57th Battalion

58th Battalion

59th Battalion

60th Battalion

15th Machine Gun Company




Divisional Troops



Mounted Troops

"C" Squadron 13th Light Horse Regiment

5th Divisional Cyclist Company



Artillery

XIII Field Artillery Brigade

XIV Field Artillery Brigade

XV Field Artillery Brigade

XXV Howitzer Brigade

5th Divisional Ammunition Column



Engineers

8th Field Company

14th Field Company

15th Field Company



Signal Service
5th Divisional Signal Company


Pioneers
5th Pioneer Battalion


ASC
10th, 18th, 28th and 29th Coys, AASC


Medical Units
8th, 14th, 15th Field Ambulances



11th (Northern) Division
GOC Major General E. A. Fanshawe




32nd Brigade

9th West Yorkshire Regiment

6th Yorkshire Regiment

8th West Riding Regiment

6th York and Lancaster Regiment

32nd Brigade Machine Gun Company




33rd Brigade

6th Lincolnshire Regiment

6th Border Regiment

7th South Staffordshire Regiment

9th Sherwood Foresters

33rd Brigade Machine Gun Company




34th Brigade

8th Northumberland Fusiliers

9th Lancashire Fusiliers

5th Dorsetshire Regiment



11th Manchester Regiment
34th Brigade Machine Gun Company



Divisional Troops



Mounted Troops

1 Squadron 1/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry

11th Cyclist Company



Artillery

LVIII Brigade RFA

LIX Brigade RFA

LX Brigade RFA

CXXXIII Brigade RFA



Engineers

67th Field Company RE

68th Field Company RE

86th Field Company RE



Signal Service
11th Divisional Signal Company


Pioneers
6th East Yorkshire Regiment


ASC
11th Divisional Train (Supply details only)


Medical Units
33rd, 34th, 35th Field Ambulances



No. 3 Section Canal Defences
GOC etc Headquarters 52nd Division



Corps Troops

Mounted Troops

5th Mounted Brigade

1/1st Warwick Yeomanry

1/1st Gloucester Yeomanry

1/1st Worcester Yeomanry

1/1st South Midland Signal Troop



"A" Battery, H.A.C.

No. 7 Field Troop

1/1st South Midland Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance



Engineers
220th Army Troops Company RE


Signal Service

No. 21 Airline Section

WW Cable Section




52nd (Lowland) Division
GOC Major General H. A. Lawrence




155th (South Scottish) Brigade

1/4th Royal Scots Fusiliers

1/5th Royal Scots Fusiliers

1/4th King's Own Scottish Borderers

1/5th King's Own Scottish Borderers

155th Brigade Machine Gun Company




156th (Scottish Rifles) Brigade

1/4th (Queen's Edinburgh Rifles) Royal Scots

1/7th Royal Scots

1/7th Scottish Rifles

1/8th Scottish Rifles

156th Brigade Machine Gun Company




157th (Highland Light Infantry) Brigade

1/5th Highland Light Infantry

1/6th Highland Light Infantry


1/7th (Blythswood) Bn, Highland Light Infantry

1/5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

157th Brigade Machine Gun Company




Divisional Troops



Mounted Troops

HQ and "C" Squadron Royal Glasgow Yeomanry

52nd Cyclist Company



Artillery

1/2nd Lowland Brigade RFA

1/3rd Lowland Brigade RFA

1/4th Lowland Brigade RFA

1/5th Lowland Brigade RFA

52nd Divisional Ammunition Column (one officer and 35 other ranks)



Engineers

2/1st Lowland Field Company RE

2/2nd Lowland Field Company RE

1/2nd Lowland Field Company RE



Signal Service
52nd Divisional Signal Company


ASC
52nd Divisional Train


Medical Units
1/1st, 1/2nd and 1/3rd Lowland Field Ambulances



1st Dismounted Brigade (attached)
GOC Temp Brigadier General Marquess of Tullibardine



1/1st Scottish Horse

1/2nd Scottish Horse

1/3rd Scottish Horse

1/1st Ayr Yeomanry

1/1st Lanark Yeomanry

Machine Gun Company

1st Dismounted Brigade Signal Troop

1/1st Scottish and 1/1st Lowland Mounted Brigade Field Ambulances


Western Frontier Force
GOC Major General W. E. Peyton



Force Troops

Mounted Troops


6th Mounted Brigade

1/1st Buckinghamshire Yeomanry

1/1st Berkshire Yeomanry

1/1st Dorsetshire Yeomanry

1/2nd South Midland Field Troop Signal [sic]



No. 6 Field Troop

1/2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance




1/2nd County of London Yeomanry (attached)

Royal Flying Corps
No. 17 Squadron


Artillery

1/1st Berkshire Battery RHA

1/1st Nottinghamshire Battery RHA



Infantry

1st Battalion British West Indies Regiment

2nd Battalion British West Indies Regiment

3rd Battalion British West Indies Regiment



Signal Service

2nd Mounted Divisional Signal Squadron

No. 42 Airline Section

UU Cable Section

No. 6 Pack Wireless Section




North Western Section
GOC etc Headquarters 53rd Division


53rd (Welsh) Division
GOC Colonel (temp. Major General) A. G. Dallas




158th (North Wales) Brigade

1/5th Royal Welch Fusiliers

1/6th Royal Welch Fusiliers

1/7th Royal Welch Fusiliers

1/1st Herefordshire Regiment

158th Brigade Machine Gun Company




159th (Cheshire) Brigade

1/4th Cheshire Regiment

1/7th Cheshire Regiment

1/4th Welch Regiment

1/5th Welch Regiment

159th Brigade Machine Gun Company




160th (Welsh Border) Brigade

1/4th Royal Sussex Regiment

2/4th Royal West Surrey Regiment

2/4th Royal West Kent Regiment

2/10th Middlesex Regiment

160th Brigade Machine Gun Company




Divisional Troops



Mounted Troops

1 Squadron 1/1st Hertfordshire Yeomanry

53rd Divisional Cyclist Company



Artillery

1/1st Cheshire Brigade RFA

1/1st Welsh Brigade RFA

1/2nd Welsh Brigade RFA

1/4th Welsh Brigade RFA

53rd Divisional Ammunition Column (one officer and 35 other ranks)



Engineers

1/1st Welsh Field Company RE

2/1st Welsh Field Company RE

2/1st Cheshire Field Company RE



Signal Service
53rd Divisional Signal Company


ASC
53rd Divisional Train


Medical Units
1/1st, 1/2nd and 1/3rd Welsh Field Ambulances



4th Dismounted Brigade (attached)
GOC Temp Brigadier General John Stewart-Murray, Marquess of Tullibardine



1/1st Shropshire Yeomanry

1/1st Denbighshire Yeomanry

1/1st Cheshire Yeomanry

1/1st Glamorgan Yeomanry

1/1st Montgomeryshire Yeomanry

1/1st Pembrokeshire Yeomanry

Machine Gun Company

4th Dismounted Brigade Signal Troop

1/1st Welsh Border and 1/1st South Wales Mounted Brigade Field Ambulances


22nd Mounted Brigade



1/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry

1/1st Staffordshire Yeomanry

1/1st East Riding Yeomanry

Signal Troop

Mounted Brigade, ASC

Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance


Provisional Infantry Brigade (less Headquarters)



1/6th Royal Scots

2/5th Devonshire Regiment

2/7th Middlesex Regiment

2/8th Middlesex Regiment

2nd Garrison battalion, Liverpool Regiment

2 Naval 4-inch guns

1/2nd Kent Field Company RE


17th Motor Machine Gun Battery
No. 1 Armoured Train


South Western Section
GOC Colonel (temp Brigadier General) H. W. Hodgson



Mounted Troops

1st Australian Light Horse Brigade (see above)

1 squadron Egyptian Army Cavalry



Infantry

2nd Garrison Battalion Cheshire Regiment

1 Company and Machine Gun Section Egyptian Army



Signal Service

Detachment 2nd Mounted Divisional Signal Squadron

Emergency Squadron, Royal Naval Armoured Car Division

H.Q. and Nos. 1, 2, 3 Light Armoured Motor Batteries

No. 2 Armoured Train




General Headquarters Troops



Mounted Troops

Imperial Camel Corps

Birkanir Camel Corps



Royal Flying Corps
5th Wing Royal Flying Corps

No. 14 Squadron RFC


No. 17 Squadron RFC (with Western Force)

2 Kite Balloon Sections (Naval)





Artillery



Heavy Artillery
XX Brigade Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA)

10th, 15th 91st Heavy Batteries RGA

1 Heavy Battery and 1 Section Heavy Battery, Royal Marine Artillery




Stokes Gun Batteries
125th, 126th, 161st, 162nd Brigade Batteries


Anti-Aircraft Artillery
Nos. 30 and 38 Anti-Aircraft Sections


Mountain Artillery
4th Highland Mountain Battery RGA


Armoured Cars
Nos 11 and 12 Armoured Motor Batteries



Engineers


11th, 116, 276th Railway Companies RE

Signal Service



GHQ Signal Company

Nos 14 and 15 Airline Sections,

NA, NB and VV Cable Sections
Unallotted

Southern Motor, W/T Station

No. 5 Pack Wireless Section





ASC


338th, 493rd, 619th Mechanical Transport Companies ASC

Transport



Camel Transport Corps

59th, 62nd, 70th, 191st Camel Corps


Lines of Communication Defence Troops



Mounted Troops
Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade

Mysore Lancers

1st Hyderabad Lancers

Kathiwar Signal Troop

124th Indian Cavalry Field Ambulance




Infantry

1st Garrison Battalion, Essex Regiment

2nd Garrison Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers

1st Garrison Battalion, Devonshire Regiment

1st Garrison Battalion, Royal Scots (less two companies)

1st Garrison Battalion, Liverpool Regiment

1st Garrison Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment

19th Garrison Battalion, Rifle Brigade

20th Garrison Battalion, Rifle Brigade

21st Garrison Battalion, Rifle Brigade

22nd Garrison Battalion, Rifle Brigade

1st Garrison Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment (Khartoum)




Alexandria District


Coast Defence Artillery

84th Siege Battery RGA

92nd Company RGA, Mex Battery

Ras el Tin Battery

Silsileh Battery

"Y" Battery Royal Malta Artillery



and Lines of Communications units of Infantry, Signal Service, Engineers, ASC, Medical Units, Ordnance Units, Veterinary Units and Postal Units.[17]



Distribution, 27 July


Eastern Frontier
No. 1 Section



8th Mounted Brigade

54th (East Anglian) Division (less 163rd Brigade)

20th Indian Brigade

29th Indian Brigade


No. 2 Section



3rd Light Horse Brigade

160th (Welsh Border) Brigade (53rd Division)

163rd (Norfolk and Suffolk) Brigade (54th Division)

British West Indies Brigade


No. 2a Section


42nd (East Lancashire) Division

No. 3 Section



Anzac Mounted Division

5th Mounted Brigade

52nd (Lowland) Division

158th Brigade (53rd Division)

1st Dismounted Brigade


Western Frontier



6th Mounted Brigade

22nd Mounted Brigade

Part 53rd Division

2nd Dismounted Brigade

4th Dismounted Brigade[18]



No. 3 Section Canal Defences August



Canal Defences No. 3 Section Headquarters Kantara (included Romani) (Major General H.A. Lawrence)


Force Defending Romani on 4 August



52nd (Lowland) Division (Major General W.E.B. Smith)

155th (South Scottish) Brigade

156th (Scottish Rifles) Brigade

157th (Highland Light Infantry) Brigade



Anzac Mounted Division (Major General Sir H.G. Chauvel)

1st Australian Light Horse Brigade (Brigadier General J. B. H. Meredith)

1st Light Horse Regiment

2nd Light Horse Regiment

3rd Light Horse Regiment



2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade (Brigadier General J. R. Royston)

Wellington Mounted Rifle Regiment (Lieutenant Colonel W. Meldrum) detached from New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade

6th Light Horse Regiment

7th Light Horse Regiment

(5th Light Horse Regiment at Duidar)






Force moved to Romani during 4 August and took part in the battle



5th Mounted Brigade (Brigadier General E.A. Wiggin)

Gloucestershire Hussars

Warwickshire Yeomanry

Worcestershire Yeomanry



New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade (Brigadier General E. W. C. Chaytor)

Auckland Mounted Rifle Regiment (Lieutenant Colonel C. E. R. Mackesy)

Canterbury Mounted Rifle Regiment (Lieutenant Colonel J. Findlay)




Force moved to Romani during 4 August and took part in the battle on 5 August


42nd (East Lancashire) Division

125th (Lancashire Fusiliers) Brigade

126th (East Lancashire) Brigade

127th (Manchester) Brigade



3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade

8th Light Horse Regiment

9th Light Horse Regiment

10th Light Horse Regiment[19][20]




Eastern Frontier Force


October 1916

Eastern Frontier Force, also known as Eastern Force, was formed in Cairo on 18 October 1916 with headquarters at Ismailia. The force was commanded by Lieutenant General C. M. Dobell, who had previously commanded Western Frontier Force.[21]
Eastern Force consisted of



52nd (Lowland) Division

155th (South Scottish) Brigade

156th (Scottish Rifles) Brigade

157th (Highland Light Infantry) Brigade




53rd (Welsh) Division

158th (North Wales) Brigade

159th (Cheshire) Brigade

160th (Welsh Border) Brigade




54th (East Anglian) Division

161st (Essex) Brigade

162nd (East Midland) Brigade

163rd (Norfolk and Suffolk) Brigade




Anzac Mounted Division

1st Australian Light Horse Brigade

1st Light Horse Regiment

2nd Light Horse Regiment

3rd Light Horse Regiment

4th Light Horse Regiment (attached)



2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade

5th Light Horse Regiment

6th Light Horse Regiment

7th Light Horse Regiment

12th Light Horse Regiment (attached)



3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade (commander Brevet Lieutenant Colonel J. M. Antill)

8th Light Horse Regiment

9th Light Horse Regiment

10th Light Horse Regiment

11th Light Horse Regiment (attached)



New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade

Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment

Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment

Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment

Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment (less one squadron attached)



4 Territorial Royal Horse Artillery Batteries 2 Scottish and 2 English (Ayrshire, Inverness-shire, Somerset and Leicestershire Batteries)



5th Mounted Brigade

Gloucestershire Hussars

Warwickshire Yeomanry

Worcestershire Yeomanry



Imperial Camel Corps Brigade

2 Light Car Patrols


No. 1 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps[22][23][24]



Western Frontier Force



October 1916 to February 1917

Western Desert Force (Major General William Watson)


Egyptian Army troops Darfur

Sollum Recapture (Major General W. E. Peyton)

Siwa Raid (General H. W. Hodgson)

1st Light Horse Brigade

Imperial Camel Corps

Bikanir Camel Corps

Armoured Car Brigade (11 Rolls–Royces)

6 Light Car Patrols (Model T Fords armed with Lewis guns)[25][26][27]






Order of battle 23 December




Anzac Mounted Division (Major General Chauvel)

1st Light Horse Brigade

1st Light Horse Regiment

2nd Light Horse Regiment

3rd Light Horse Regiment



3rd Light Horse Brigade

8th Light Horse Regiment

9th Light Horse Regiment

10th Light Horse Regiment



New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade (Brigadier General E. W. C. Chaytor)

Auckland Mounted Rifle Regiment (Lieutenant Colonel C. E. R. Mackesy)

Canterbury Mounted Rifle Regiment (Lieutenant Colonel J. Findlay)

Wellington Mounted Rifle Regiment (Lieutenant Colonel W. Meldrum)





Imperial Camel Corps Brigade

Hong Kong & Singapore Mountain Battery,

Inverness-shire and Somerset Batteries Royal Horse Artillery

No. 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps

No. 14 Squadron Royal Flying Corps[28][29][30]



Desert Column December


Desert Column Headquarters El Arish (Lieutenant General Sir Philip Chetwode)



42nd (East Lancashire) Division

125th (Lancashire Fusiliers) Brigade

126th (East Lancashire) Brigade

127th (Manchester) Brigade




52nd (Lowland) Division (Major General W. E. B. Smith)

155th (South Scottish) Brigade

156th (Scottish Rifles) Brigade

157th (Highland Light Infantry) Brigade



Anzac Mounted Division (Major General H. G. Chauvel)

1st Light Horse Brigade

2nd Light Horse Brigade

3rd Light Horse Brigade

New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade



Imperial Camel Corps Brigade


[31][32][33][34][35]


Royal Flying Corps 5th Wing stationed at Mustabig (Lieutenant Colonel W. G. H. Salmond)

No. 14 (British) Squadron

(No. 17 Squadron)

No. 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps / No. 67 (Australian) Squadron[29]




1917


Royal Flying Corps in Egypt in January 1917



Headquarters Middle East Brigade

5th Wing

No. 14 Squadron Royal Flying Corps

No. 67 Squadron Royal Flying Corps



20th Reserve Wing
Nos. 21, 22, 23, 57 and 58 Reserve Squadrons


No. 3 School of Military Aeronautics.[36]


By January 1917 there were three smaller commands directly under GHQ EEF.


Western Force



Bikanir Camel Corps

230th Brigade

231st Brigade

Detachments R.A., dismounted (seven 15-pdr. guns, two 9-pdr. Krupp guns, two Naval 4-in. guns)

5 Armoured Motor Batteries

6 Light Car Patrols (Ford)

Motor Machine Gun Battery

1 Garrison Battalion


Alexandria District



103rd Local Company RGA

5th Battalion British West Indies Regiment[37][Note 2]


2 Garrison Battalions

Delta District



2nd Battalion North Lancs Regiment (from East Africa)

1/4th Battalion Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (from Aden)

5 Garrison Battalions


With the front line approaching Gaza, the defence of the Suez Canal was still part of Eastern Force but had been reduced to:


Northern Section Suez Canal



20th Indian Brigade

1st Battalion British West Indies Regiment

2nd Battalion British West Indies Regiment

3 Garrison Battalions


Southern Section Suez Canal



Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade

2 Companies Imperial Camel Corps

267th Brigade RFA (53rd Division)

272nd Brigade RFA (54th Division)

229th Brigade (to form part of the 74th Division).[37]



Order of Battle 9 January



Desert Column (Lieutenant General Philip Chetwode)



Anzac Mounted Division (Major General Harry Chauvel)

1st Light Horse Brigade (Brigadier General Charles Frederick Cox)

3rd Light Horse Brigade (Brigadier General John Royston)

New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade (Brigadier General Edward Chaytor)

Inverness-shire, Leicestershire and Somerset Territorial Royal Horse Artillery batteries



Imperial Camel Corps Brigade

1st (Australian) Battalion

2nd (British) Battalion

3rd (Australian) Battalion

4th (Australian and New Zealand) Battalion

Hong Kong and Singapore Mountain Battery



5th Mounted Brigade
Honourable Artillery Company (18–pounder) Battery


No. 7 Light Car Patrol (six Ford cars equipped with machine guns)

No. 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps

No. 14 Squadron Royal Flying Corps[38][39][40][41][42][43]



Order of Battle March



Eastern Force (Lieutenant General Sir C. M. Dobell)



Imperial Camel Corps Brigade (Brigadier General S. Smith)

1st (Australian) Battalion

2nd (British) Battalion

3rd (Australian) Battalion

4th (Anzac) Battalion[44]




52nd (Lowland) Division (Major General W. E. B. Smith)

155th (South Scottish) Brigade

1/4th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers

1/5th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers

1/4th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers

1/5th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers



156th (Scottish Rifles) Brigade

1/7th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

1/8th Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)

1/4th Battalion, Royal Scots

1/7th Battalion, Royal Scots



157th (Highland Light Infantry) Brigade

1/5th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry

1/6th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry

1/7th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry

1/5th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders[45]






54th (East Anglian) Division (Major General S. W. Hare)


161st (Essex) Brigade

1/4th Battalion, Essex Regiment

1/5th Battalion, Essex Regiment

1/6th Battalion, Essex Regiment

1/7th Battalion, Essex Regiment




162nd (East Midland) Brigade

1/5th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment

1/4th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment

1/10th Battalion, London Regiment (Hackney)

1/11th Battalion, London Regiment (Finsbury Rifles)




163rd (Norfolk and Suffolk) Brigade

1/4th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment

1/5th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment

1/5th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment

1/8th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment[46]







74th (Yeomanry) Division (Major General E. S. Girdwood)

229th Brigade

16th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment

12th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry

12th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers

14th Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)[47]




No. 7 Light Car Patrol

Nos. 11 and 12 Armoured Motor Batteries

5th Wing Royal Flying Corps

No. 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps

No. 14 Squadron Royal Flying Corps




Desert Column (Lieutenant General P. Chetwode)



53rd (Welsh) Division (Major General A. G. Dallas)

158th (North Wales) Brigade (Brigadier General H. A. Vernon)

1/5th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers

1/6th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers

1/7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers

1/1st Battalion, Herefordshire Regiment

158th Brigade Machine Gun Company



159th (Cheshire) Brigade (Brigadier General N. Money)

1/4th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment

1/7th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment

1/4th Battalion, Welch Regiment

1/5th Battalion Welch Regiment

159th Brigade Machine Gun Company



160th (Welsh Border) Brigade (Brigadier General V. L. N. Pearson)

2/4th Battalion Royal West Surrey Regiment

1/4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment

2/4th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment

2/10th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment

160th Brigade Machine Gun Company[48][49]





Anzac Mounted Division (Major General H. G. Chauvel)


2nd Light Horse Brigade (Brigadier General Granville Ryrie)

5th Light Horse Regiment

6th Light Horse Regiment

7th Light Horse Regiment




New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade (Brigadier General Edward Chaytor)

Auckland Mounted Rifle Regiment

Canterbury Mounted Rifle Regiment

Wellington Mounted Rifle Regiment



22nd Mounted Yeomanry Brigade (Brigadier General Fryer)

1/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry

1/1st Staffordshire Yeomanry

1/1st East Riding Yeomanry





Imperial Mounted Division (less 4th Light Horse Brigade) (Major General Henry West Hodgson)


3rd Light Horse Brigade (Brigadier General Royston/L. C. Wilson)

8th Light Horse Regiment

9th Light Horse Regiment

10th Light Horse Regiment



5th Mounted Brigade (Brigadier General Percy Desmond FitzGerald)

Royal Gloucestershire Hussars

Warwickshire Yeomanry

Worcestershire Hussars



6th Mounted Yeomanry Brigade (Lieutenant Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) T. M. S. Pitt/Brigadier General C. A. C. Godwin)

Dorset Yeomanry

Berkshire Yeomanry

Royal Buckinghamshire Yeomanry





Artillery



  • 53rd (Welsh) Division (3 Brigades RFA 12 18–pdrs=24 guns) 4 of each battery only = 16 guns; 4 4.5-inch howitzers = 8 howitzer

  • 54th (East Anglian) Division (3 Brigades RFA 12 18–pdrs=24 guns) 4 of each battery only = 16 guns; 4 4.5-inch howitzers = 8 howitzer

  • Anzac Mounted Division 4 Batteries RHA of 4 18–pdrs = 16 guns

  • Imperial Mounted Division 4 Batteries RHA of 4 18–pdrs = 16 guns

  • Imperial Camel Brigade 1 Camel Pack Battery of 6 2.75-inch = 6 guns

  • Army Troops (3 Batteries of 4 60–pdrs=12 guns) one section only = 6 guns[50][51][52][53][Note 3]



Organization in April 1917


General Headquarters



General Headquarters Troops
Southern Canal Section
Cyprus Detachment



Eastern Force

Force Troops

Desert Column

Northern Canal Section



Delta and Western Force

Alexandria District


1st Garrison Battalion, Essex Regiment at Khartoum[54]



Order of Battle April



General Headquarters
Commander in Chief Lieutenant General (temp. General) A. J. Murray


Eastern Force
GOC Major General (temp. Lieutenant General) C. M. Dobell
Brigadier General General Staff Brevet Lieutenant Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) G. P. Dawnay


Force Troops

Mounted Troops

Imperial Camel Brigade GOC Major (temp. Brigadier General) C. L. Smith

1st (Australian and New Zealand) Battalion

2nd (Imperial) Battalion

3rd (Australian and New Zealand) Battalion

Hong Kong and Singapore Camel Battery

Brigade Signal Section

Brigade Field Troop

Brigade Machine Gun Company

1/1st Scottish Horse Field Ambulance



Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade GOC Major (temp. Brigadier General) M. H. Henderson

Mysore Lancers

1st Hyderabad Lancers

Kathiwar Signal Troop

124th Indian Cavalry Field Ambulance





Artillery

XCVI Heavy Artillery Group (four 4-gun 60-pdr, one siege battery)

Nos. 30, 38, 55, 85, 96 Anti-Aircraft Sections



Machine Gune Corps

"E" Company, Heavy Section (Tanks)

Nos. 11 and 12 Light Armoured Car Batteries

17th Motor Machine Gun Battery

Nos. 1 and 3 Armoured Trains



Engineers

220th and 555th Army Troops Companies

No. 10 Company (Kings's Own) Sappers and Miners

1/23rd and 2/23rd Sikh Pioneers

360th Company, RE (water unit)



Signal Service

GHQ Signal Company

Pigeon Section

N 14, N 15, N 23, N 24, No. 61 Airline Sections

BR, NA, NB, NN Cable Sections

No. 9 Wagon and London Pack W/T Sections





52nd (Lowland) Division
GOC Brevet Colonel (temp. Major General) W. E. B. Smith



155th (South Scottish) Brigade

156th (Scottish Rifles) Brigade

157th (Highland Light Infantry) Brigade

Artillery

261st Brigade RFA

262nd Brigade RFA

263rd Brigade RFA (troops same as April 1916 oob less cyclist company)




53rd (Welsh) Division
GOC Major General S. F. Mott



158th (North Wales) Brigade

159th (Cheshire) Brigade

160th (Welsh Border) Brigade

Artillery

265th Brigade RFA

266th Brigade RFA

267th Brigade RFA




(troops same as April 1916 oob)


54th (East Anglian) Division
GOC Colonel (temp. Major General) S. W. Hare



161st (Essex) Brigade

162nd (East Midland) Brigade

163rd (Norfolk and Suffolk) Brigade

Artillery

270th Brigade RFA

271st Brigade RFA

272nd Brigade RFA




(troops same as April 1916 oob)


74th (Yeomanry) Division
GOC Brevet Lieutenant Colonel (temp. Major General) E. S. Girdwood




229th Brigade

16th (R. 1st Devon and R. N. Devon Yeo Bn) Devonshire Regiment

12th (W. Somerset Yeo. Bn) Somerset Light Infantry

14th (Fife and Forfar Yeo. Bn) Royal Highlanders

12th (Ayr and Lanark Yeo Bn) Royal Scots Fusiliers

4th Machine Gun Company




230th Brigade

10th (Royal East Kent and West Kent Yeomanry) Battalion, Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)

16th (Sussex Yeo. Bn) Sussex Regiment

15th (Suffolk Yeo. Bn) Suffolk Regiment

12th (Norfolk Yeo. Bn) Norfolk Regiment

209th Machine Gun Company




231st Brigade

10th (Shrop. and Chester Yeo. Bn) Shropshire Light Infantry

24th (Denbigh Yeo. Bn) Royal Welch Fusiliers

24th (Pemb. and Glam. Yeo. Bn) Welch Regiment

25th (Montgomery and Welsh Horse Yeo. Bn) Royal Welch Fusiliers

210th Machine Gun Company



Divisional Troops

Mounted Troops
1 Squadron 1/2nd County of London Yeomanry


Engineers

5th Royal Monmouth Field Company RE

5th Royal Anglesey Field Company RE



Signal Service
74th Divisional Signal Company


ASC
74th Divisional Train


Medical Units
229th, 230th, 231st Field Ambulances





Desert Column
GOC Major General (temp. Lieutenant General) P. W. Chetwode


Anzac Mounted Division GOC Colonel (temp. Major General) H. G. Chauvel

1st Australian Light Horse Brigade [Anzac Mounted Division] GOC Lieutenant Colonel C. F. Cox

1st Light Horse Regiment

2nd Light Horse Regiment

3rd Light Horse Regiment

1st Australian Light Horse Signal Troop

1st Australian Machine Gun Squadron



2nd Australian Light Horse Brigade GOC Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) G. de L. Ryrie

5th Light Horse Regiment

6th Light Horse Regiment

7th Light Horse Regiment

2nd Australian Light Horse Signal Troop

2nd Australian Machine Gun Squadron



New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade GOC Brigadier General E. W. C. Chaytor

Auckland Mounted Rifle Regiment

Canterbury Mounted Rifle Regiment

Wellington Mounted Rifle Regiment

New Zealand Mounted Rifles Signal Troop

New Zealand Machine Gun Squadron



22nd Mounted Brigade GOC Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) F. A. B. Fryer

1/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry

1/1st Staffordshire Yeomanry

1/1st East Riding Yeomanry

22nd Mounted Brigade Signal Troop

18th Machine Gun Squadron





Divisional Troops



Artillery

III (T.F.) Brigade RHA Leicester and Somerset Batteries

IV (T.F.) Brigade RHA Inverness-shire and Ayrshire Batteries – no longer brigaded

Mounted Divisional Ammunition Column



Engineers
1st Australian Field Squadron


Signal Service
1st Anzac Signal Squadron


Army Service Corps (ASC)

HQ, Light Horse Divisional ASC

Nos 26 and 27 Australian Units of Supply



Medical Units

1st, 2nd Light Horse and the 1/1st North Midland Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance

NZ Mounted Brigade Ambulance






Imperial Mounted Division GOC Colonel (temp. Major General) H. W. Hodgson

3rd Light Horse Brigade GOC Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) J. R. Royston

8th Light Horse Regiment

9th Light Horse Regiment

10th Light Horse Regiment

3rd Australian Light Horse Signal Troop

3rd Australian Machine Gun Squadron



4th Light Horse Brigade GOC Lieutenant Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) J. B. Meredith

4th Light Horse Regiment

11th Light Horse Regiment

12th Light Horse Regiment

4th Australian Light Horse Signal Troop

4th Australian Machine Gun Squadron



5th Mounted Brigade GOC Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) E. A. Wiggin

1/1st Warwick Yeomanry

1/1st Gloucester Yeomanry

1/1st Worcester Yeomanry

5th Mounted Brigade Signal Troop

16th Machine Gun Squadron



6th Mounted Brigade GOC Lieutenant Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) T. M. S. Pitt

1/1st Buckinghamshire Yeomanry

1/1st Berkshire Yeomanry

1/1st Dorsetshire Yeomanry

6th Brigade Signal Troop

17th Machine Gun Squadron





Divisional Troops

Artillery

1/1st Nottinghamshire and 1/1st Berkshire Batteries RHA

"A" and "B" Batteries, H.A.C.

Mounted Divisional Ammunition Column



Engineers
Imperial Mounted Division Field Squadron


Signal Service
Imperial Mounted Division Signal Squadron


ASC (unidentified)

Medical Units
3rd and 4th Light Horse, 1/1st and 1/2nd South Midland Mounted Brigades Field Ambulances





Northern Canal Section
GOC Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) H. D. Watson commander of 20th Indian Brigade



Mounted Troops

1/2nd County of London Yeomanry (less two squadrons)

16th Company Imperial Camel Corps (attached from 4th Battalion)



Infantry
20th Indian Brigade (attached)

Alwar Infantry (I.S.)

Gwalior Infantry (I.S.)

Patiala Infantry (I.S.)

Signal Section

121st (Indian) Field Ambulance







1st Battalion British West Indies Regiment

2nd Battalion British West Indies Regiment

1st Garrison Battalion, Notts and Derby Regiment (two companies)

19th Garrison Battalion, Rifle Brigade


Medical Units
1/1st Lowland Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance



Delta and Western Force
GOC Brevet Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) H. G. Casson



Mounted Troops

Bikanir Camel Corps

Nos. 8 and 10 Companies Imperial Camel Corps

"B" Squadron 1/2nd County of London Yeomanry (attached Imperial School of Instruction, Zeitoun)



Infantry

2nd Garrison Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers

2/7th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers

6th Garrison Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers

20th Garrison Battalion, Rifle Brigade

21st Garrison Battalion, Rifle Brigade

22nd Garrison Battalion, Rifle Brigade

1st Garrison Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

1st Garrison Battalion, Devonshire Regiment

1st Garrison Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment

1 Coy, 3rd Infantry Battalion, Egyptian Army



Artillery

Detachment, Royal Marine Artillery (2 Naval 4-inch guns)

No. 2 Armoured Train

Detachments RFA dismounted (three 15-pdr, Q.F., two 15-pdr BLC, two 15-pdr Ehrhardt and two 9-pdr Krupp guns)

Nos 1, 2, 3 Light Armoured Motor Batteries

Six Light Car Patrols (Ford cars)



Signal Service

Western Force Signal Company

No. 42 Airline Section

UU Cable Section

Pigeon Section (detachment)

No. 6 Wagon and No. 6 Pack W/T Section



ASC

Mechanical transport

5th, 6th, 29th Reserve Field Ambulance and Workshop Units

Western Force Mechanical Transport Supply Company

Advanced M.T. Supply Depot (Samalut)

No. 303 (M.T.) Company ASC



Camel Transport
"H" and "O" Companies, Egyptian Camel Transport Corps





Alexandria District
GOC Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) R. C. Boyle



Coast Defence Artillery

No. 103rd Local Company, RGA

Ras el Tin Fort

Royal Malta Artillery (detachment)

Quarantine and Chatby Batteries

Mex Fort



Infantry

5th [sic probably 3rd] Battalion, British West Indies Regiment

1st Garrison Battalion, Liverpool Regiment

2nd Garrison battalion, Cheshire Regiment




General Headquarters Troops



Royal Flying Corps Middle East Brigade RFC GOC Brevet Lieutenant Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) W. G. H. Salmond

5th Wing
Nos 14 and 67 (Australian) Squadrons


20th Reserve Wing
Nos 21, 22, 23, 57, 58 Reserve Squadrons




Engineers
Railway Operating Division

115th and 116th Railway Companies RE

2 Companies Railway Battalion Sappers and Miners

Topographical Section RE




Signal Service

"M" (L. of C.) Signal Company

Nos 12 and 62 Airline Sections

BQ, BS Cable Sections

Northern Wagon, Southern Motor and No. 12 Pack W/T Sections



ASC

Mechanical transport

HQ, ASC Motor Boat Company

Two Advanced M.T. Sub Depots (Ismailia and Qantara)

52nd Highland Mounted Brigade, 6th Reserve and 29th Field Ambulance and Workshop Units



Camel Transport

Nos 1 and 2 Came Transport Depots

"O" [sic] and "R" Companies, Egyptian Camel Transport Corps






Southern Canal Section
GOC Brevet Colonel (temp. Brigadier General) P. C. Palin in addition to GOC 29th Indian Brigade



Mounted Troops
4th (Australian and New Zealand) Battalion, Imperial Camel Corps (less 15th Coy, attached 3rd Battalion and 16th Coy attached Northern Canal Section with 13th Coy from 3rd Battalion attached)


Engineers

14th Army Troops Company RE

496th (Kent) Field Company (less detachment)



Infantry


232nd Brigade (first brigade of the yet to be formed 75th Division )

2nd Loyal North Lancashire

1/4th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry (both temporarily attached to Eastern Force)

1/5th Devonshire Regiment

2/5th Hampshire Regiment



29th Indian Brigade

2/3rd Gurkhas

3/3rd Gurkhas

123rd Rifles

Brigade Signal Section

123rd Indian Field Ambulance

Indian Brigade Supply Column




49th Indian Brigade

58th Rifles

1/101st Grenadiers

1/102nd Grenadiers

110th Indian Field Ambulance








1st Garrison Battalion Notts and Derby Regiment (less two companies)

1st Garrison Battalion, Northampton Regiment


ASC
No. 900 Company ASC (Axiliary Horse Transport Company, Ismailia)



Cyprus Detachment


1st Garrison Battalion Royal Scots

and Lines of Communications controlled by GHQ including RFC "X" Aircraft Park (5th Wing), "X" Aircraft Depot for all Middle East units RFC, Engineers, Signal Service, ASC, Medical Units, Ordnance, Veterinary, Remounts and Postal Units.[55]



Expansion of Desert Column June 1917


Desert Column was expanded to three divisions, commanded by Chauvel –


Anzac Mounted Division commanded by Major General Chaytor

1st Light Horse Brigade

2nd Light Horse Brigade

New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade

18th Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery (18 pounder guns)



Australian Mounted Division commanded by Major General Hodgson

3rd Light Horse Brigade

4th Light Horse Brigade

5th Mounted Brigade

19th Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery (18 pounder guns)



Yeomanry Mounted Division commanded by Major General G. de S. Barrow

6th Mounted Brigade

8th Mounted Brigade (recently arrived from Salonika)

22nd Mounted Brigade (recently arrived from Salonika)

20th Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery (13 pounder guns)



Army Troops

Imperial Camel Corps Brigade

7th Yeomanry Brigade (two regiments)

an unidentified battery.[56]



At the end of June 1917 General Allenby took command. At that time the Egyptian Expeditionary Force consisted of the British XX Corps and the British XXI Corps, under the command of Lieutenant Generals Philip Chetwode and Edward Stanislaus Bulfin, respectively, along with the Desert Mounted Corps commanded by Lieutenant General Harry Chauvel. The air component was the Palestine Brigade of the Royal Flying Corps (later the Royal Air Force) and the Australian Flying Corps.[citation needed]



Order of Battle October





The commander of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, General Sir Edmund Allenby entering the Holy City of Jerusalem on foot December 1917




British troops on parade at Jaffa Gate in December 1917 after the capture and occupation of Palestine.


XX Corps (Lieutenant General Sir R.W. Chetwode, Bart.)




10th (Irish) Division (Major General J.R. Longley)[Note 4]

29th Brigade

30th Brigade

31st Brigade



53rd (Welsh) Division (Major General S.F. Mott)

158th (North Wales) Brigade

159th (Cheshire) Brigade

160th (Welsh Border) Brigade




60th (2/2nd London) Division (Major General J.S.M. Shea)

179th (2/4th London) Brigade

180th (2/5th London) Brigade

181st (2/6th London) Brigade




74th (Yeomanry) Division (Major General E.S. Girdwood)

229th Brigade

230th Brigade

231st Brigade



Corps Cavalry Regiment – 1/2nd County of London Yeomanry

Corps Artillery – 96th Heavy Artillery Group


XXI Corps (Lieutenant General Sir E.S. Bulfin)



52nd (Lowland) Division (Major General J. Hill)

155th (South Scottish) Brigade

156th (Scottish Rifles) Brigade

157th (Highland Light Infantry) Brigade



54th (East Anglian) Division (Major General S.W. Hare)

161st (Essex) Brigade

162nd (East Midland) Brigade

163rd (Norfolk and Suffolk) Brigade




75th Division(Major General P.C. Palin)

232nd Brigade

233rd Brigade

234th Brigade



Corps Cavalry Regiment – Composite Yeomanry Regt.

Corps Artillery – 97th, 100th, 102nd Heavy Artillery Groups

20th Indian Brigade (Brigadier General H.D. Watson)


Desert Mounted Corps (Lieutenant General Sir H. Chauvel)



Anzac Mounted Division (Major General E.W.C. Chaytor)

1st Light Horse Brigage (Brigadier General C. F. Cox)
1st, 2nd and 3rd Australian Light Horse Regiments


2nd Light Horse Brigade (Brigadier General G. de L. Ryrie)
5th, 6th and 7th Australian Light Horse Regiments


New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade (Brigadier General W. Meldrum)
Auckland, Canterbury and Wellington Mounted Rifle Regiments



18th Brigade RHA (Inverness-shire, Ayrshire and Somerset Batteries) of 13–pounder guns and Divisional Ammunition Column



Australian Mounted Division (Major General Henry W. Hodgson)

3rd Light Horse Brigade (Brigadier General L. C. Wilson)
8th, 9th and 10th Australian Light Horse Regiments


4th Light Horse Brigade (Brigadier General W. Grant)
4th, 11th and 12th Australian Light Horse Regiments


5th Mounted Brigade (Brigadier Generals Percy Desmond FitzGerald/P. J. V. Kelly)
Gloucestershire Husssars, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry Regiments



19th Brigade RHA (A and B Batteries Honourable Artillery Company and Notts Battery RHA) of 13–pounder guns and Divisional Ammunition Column



Yeomanry Mounted Division (Major General G. de S. Barrow)

6th Mounted Brigade (Brigadier General C. A. C. Godwin)
Dorset, Bucks and Berks Yeomanry Regiments


8th Mounted Brigade (Brigadier General C. S. Rome)
1st City of London and 1st and 3rd County of London Yeomanry Regiments


22nd Mounted Brigade (Brigadier General P. D. FitzGerald)
Stafford, Lincoln and East Riding Yeomanry Regiments



20th Brigade RHA (Berkshire, Hampshire and Leicestershire Batteries) of 13–pounder guns and Divisional Ammunition Column



Corps Reserve


7th Mounted Brigade (Brigadier General J. T. Wigan)
Sherwood Rangers, South Notts and Herts Yeomanry Regiments with the Essex Battery RHA and Brigade Ammunition Column


Imperial Camel Corps Brigade (Brigadier General C. L. Smith)

2nd (British) Battalion

3rd (Australian and New Zealand) Battalion

4th (Australian and New Zealand) Battalion

Hong Kong and Singapore Camel Battery RGA.[52][57][58][Note 5]








British 18-pounders as used until September 1917


On establishment in 1916 and 1917, the first two mounted divisions had been supplied with 18–pounder artillery guns. In September 1917 these guns were replaced with 13-pounders, making the divisions "even more capable", according to Erickson.[56][58][59]




HAC 13-pounders in March 1918


General Headquarters Troops
Army Cavalry

Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade (Major (temp. Brigadier General) M. H. Henderson)

Jodhpur Lancers

Mysore Lancers



1st Hyderabad Lancers

Kathiwar Signal Troop

124th Indian Cavalry Field Ambulance.[60]






Royal Flying Corps, Middle East (Brigadier General W. G. H. Salmond to 5 November then Brigadier General W. S. Brancker to 3 January 1918 when Salmond returned)
Palestine Brigade (composite Royal Flying Corps RFC and Australian Flying Corps (AFC) (Lieutenant Colonel A. E. Borton) operational from 27 October to 7 November 1917)

5th (Artillery Corps) Wing at Deir el Belah

No. 14 Squadron RFC at Deir el Belah and allotted to XXI Corps

No. 113 Squadron RFC at Sheikh Nuran (2 flights allotted to XX Corps; 1 flight to Desert Mounted Corps)[Note 6]

No. 21 Kite Balloon Company[Note 7] consisting of –

No. 49 Kite Balloon Section at Sheikh Shabasi

No. 50 Kite Balloon Section at Wadi Ghuzze.





40th (Army) Wing Headquarters at Deir el Belah

No. 11 Squadron RFC at Deir el Belah

No. 67 Squadron (No. 1 Squadron Australian Flying Corps) at Shiekh Nuran. (A special squadron was formed from the 20th Training Wing at Aboukir on 24 October for duty at Nuran under the direct orders of the Palestine Brigade for operations consisting of bombing raids on enemy camps, dumps, trench works and battery positions.)



Aircraft Park – "X" Aircraft Park at Abbassia with an advanced stores section at Kantara was responsible for the supplies to the RFC in Palestine.[57][61]




Also in General Headquarters Troops were the



VIII Mountain Brigade RGA (10th and 11th Batteries of 3.7inch howitzers)

IX Mountain Brigade RGA of "A" and "B" Batteries of 2.75 inch howitzers and the 12th Battery of 3.7 inch howitzers.[61][Note 8]



1918


The force initially consisted mostly of British and Egyptian troops, but most of the former were sent to the Western Front in early 1918 to help repel Germany's Spring Offensive. In the meantime, new troops were then dispatched from India, Australia, and New Zealand, in particular who made up a large portion of the army. Though it was feared that mostly Muslim Indian troops might desert and join Ottoman Empire forces in the region (who had declared a jihad against the Allies early in the war), this fear proved unfounded, as the Indians fought valiantly on the front lines of most of the army's major engagements. The force also included a small contingent of French and Italian troops. The forces of the Arab Revolt, led by Prince Feisal of Mecca, were also unofficially attached during Allenby's Damascus offensive.[citation needed]




The force also included contingents of Armenian soldiers


The force's role evolved from a defense of Egypt to the invasion of Palestine which involved: the capture of Beersheba and Gaza in October–November 1917 (see Third Battle of Gaza), entering Jerusalem on December 11, 1917, and Allenby's successful campaign of 1918, resulting in the defeat of the Turks at Megiddo, and the capture of Damascus, Beirut, and Aleppo. The force's successes ultimately led to Turkey's exit from the war and the creation of the British Mandate of Palestine.[citation needed]


The Palestine Brigade RAF was reorganised at the end of 1917 or during the summer of 1918, as follows:


5th (Corps) Wing

No. 14 Squadron RAF

No. 113 Squadron RAF

No. 142 Squadron RAF



40th (Army) Wing

No. 111 Squadron RAF

No. 144 Squadron RAF

No. 145 Squadron RAF

No. 1 Squadron AFC

No. 21 Balloon Company

Nos 49, 50, 57 Balloon Section[62]




Deployment, 9 February



  • General Headquarters at Bir Salem


7th Mounted Brigade at Deir el Belah

Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade at Herbieh

Imperial Camel Brigade at Rafa

20th Indian Brigade at Gaza


  • Desert Mounted Corps at Kh. Deiran


Anzac Mounted Division at Richon le Zion (Ayun Kara)

Australian Mounted Division at Deir el Belah

Yeomanry Mounted Division at Deir el Belah


  • XX Corps at Mount of Olives


10th (Irish) Division at O99, P.20.d. place not named.

53rd (Welsh) Division at Ram Allah

60th (London) Division at Jerusalem

74th (Yeomanry) Division at Latron


  • XXI Corps at Jaffa


52nd (Lowland) Division at Jaffa and Sarona

54th (East Anglian) Division at Wilhelma

75th Division at Ramleh.[63]



Shea's Force March




60th (London) Division

Anzac Mounted Division

Imperial Camel Corps Brigade including the Hong Kong and Singapore Mountain Battery, with four BL 2.75 inch Mountain Guns, (firing 12-pounder shells) :the 10th Heavy Battery Royal Garrison Artillery (RGA)

one Light Armoured Car Brigade

Army Bridging Train

Desert Mounted Corps Bridging Train and pontoon units.[64][65][66][67][Note 9]



Order of Battle April



  • Desert Mounted Corps (GOC Lieutenant General H. G. Chauvel)


60th (London) Division commanded by Major General John Shea (less the 181st Brigade in reserve on the XXth Corps front)

179th Brigade (Brigadier General FitzJ. M. Edwards)

2/13th London Regiment

2/14th London Regiment

2/15th London Regiment

2/16th London Regiment



180th Brigade (Brigadier General C. F. Watson)

2/17th London Regiment

2/18th London Regiment

2/19th London Regiment


2/20th London Regiment
Artillery 301st, 302nd, 303rd Brigades RFA




20th Indian Brigade (Brigadier General E. R. B. Murray)

Alwar Infantry (I.S.)

Patiala Infantry (I.S.)

Gwalior Infantry (I.S.)

110th Mahratta L. I. Regiment





Anzac Mounted Division (GOC Major General E. W. C. Chaytor)

2nd Light Horse Brigade (Brigadier General G. de L. Ryrie)

5th Light Horse Regiment

6th Light Horse Regiment

7th Light Horse Regiment



New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade (Brigiadier General W. Meldrum)

Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment

Canterbury Mounted Rifles Regiment

Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment
Divisional Artillery XVIII Brigade RHA (Inverness-shire, Ayrshire and Somerset Batteries)






Australian Mounted Divisions (GOC Major General H. W. Hodgson)

1st Light Horse Brigade (Brigadier General C. F. Cox) (Anzac Mounted Division)

1st Light Horse Regiment

2nd Light Horse Regiment

3rd Light Horse Regiment



3rd Light Horse Brigade (Brigadier General L. C. Wilson)

8th Light Horse Regiment

9th Light Horse Regiment

10th Light Horse Regiment



4th Light Horse Brigade (Brigadier General W. Grant)

4th Light Horse Regiment

11th Light Horse Regiment

12th Light Horse Regiment



5th Mounted Brigade (Brigadier General P. J. V. Kelly)

1/1st Gloucester Yeomanry Regiment

1/1st Worcester Yeomanry Regiment

1/1st Sherwood Rangers Regiment (7th Mounted Yeomanry Brigade)
Divisional Artillery XIX Brigade RHA (Notts. Battery RHA, "A" and "B: Batteries HAC with Hong Kong Mountain Battery attached)


1/1st Dorset Yeomanry Regiment (6th Mounted Yeomanry Brigade)

1/1st County of London (Middlesex) Yeomanry Regiment (8th Mounted Yeomanry Brigade)





Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade


Jodhpur Lancers

Mysore Lancers

Hyderabad Lancers


11th and 12th Light Armoured Motor Batteries [LAMB] (Machine Gun Corps)




West of the Jordan



Imperial Camel Corps Brigade (Brigadier General C. L. Smith)

2nd (British) Battalion

3rd (Australian) Battalion

4th (ANZAC) Battalion
Artillery Singapore Mountain Battery less Hong Kong Mountain Battery




22nd Mounted Brigade (Brigadier General F. A. B. Fryer/Brigadier General P. D. FitzGerald)

1/1st Lincolnshire Yeomanry Regiment

1/1st Staffordshire Yeomanry Regiment

1/1st East Riding Yeomanry Regiment[68]





Order of Battle 19 September



XX Corps (Lieutenant General Sir P. Chetwode)



53rd (Welsh) Division (Major General S. F. Mott)

158th Brigade (Brigadier General H. A. Vernon)
5/6th R. Welsh Fus., 4/11th Gurkhas, 3/153rd and 154th Indian Inf.


159th Brigade (Brigadier General N. Money)
4/5th Welsh Regt., 3/152nd, 1/153rd and 2/153rd Indian Inf.


160th Brigade (Brigadier General V. L. N. Pearson)
1/7th R. Welsh Fus., 1/17th Indian Inf., 1/21st Punjabis, 1st Cape Corps


265th, 266th, 267th Brigades RFA each with three batteries of twelve 18-pdrs. and four 4.5-inch hows.

39th Indian Mountain Battery

Troop Corps Cavalry Regiment (1/1st Worcester Yeomanry)



10th (Irish) Division (Major General J. R. Longley)

29th Brigade (Brigadier General C.L. Smith)
1st Leinsters, 1/101st Grenadiers, 1/54th Sikhs, 2/151st Infantry


30th Brigade (Brigadier General F. A. Greer)
1st Royal Irish Regt., 1st Kashmir I.S. Rifles, 38th Dogras, 46th Punjabis


31st Brigade (Brigadier General E. M. Morris)
2nd Royal Irish Fus., 2/101st Grenadiers, 74th Punjabis, 2/42nd Deolis


67th, 68th, 263rd Brigades RFA (67th and 68th Brigades with three batteries of twelve 18-pdrs. and four 4.5-inch hows.; 263rd Brigade with six 18-pdrs. and four 4.5-inch hows.)

Hong Kong and Singapore Mountain Battery



"Watson's Force" (holding centre of XX Corps' Front)

Corps Cavalry Regiment (1/1 Worcester Yeomanry)

Pioneer Battalions (2/155th and 1/155th) of 10th and 53rd Divisions

Corps Reinforcement Detachment (700 strong)



XX Corps Heavy Artillery


  • For support of 53rd Division


103rd Brigade RGA

R. Section 10th Heavy Battery

L. Section 10th Heavy Battery

205th Siege Battery

387th Siege Battery (less 1 gun)

392nd Siege Battery


  • For support of 10th Division


421st Siege Battery

397th Siege Battery (1 gun)

2 captured 15 cm hows.

2 captured 105 mm hows

3 captured 75 mm hows.


XXI Corps (Lieutenant General Sir E. Bulfin)




3rd (Lahore) Division (Major General A.R. Hoskins)

7th Brigade (Brigadier General S. R. Davidson)
1st Connaught Rngrs, 2/7th Gurkha Rifles, 27th and 91st Punjabis


8th Brigade (Brigadier General S. M. Edwardes)
1st Manchester Regt., 27th Sikhs, 59th Scinde Rifles, 2/124th Baluchistan Infantry


9th Brigade (Brigadier General C. C. Luard)
2nd Dorsets, 1/1st Gurkha Rifles, 93rd Infantry, 105th Mahratta Light Infantry


4th, 8th, 53rd Brigades RFA, each with twelve 18-pdrs. and four 4.5-inch hows.




7th (Meerut) Division (Major General Sir V. B. Fane)

19th Brigade (Brigadier General G. S. Weir)
1st Seaforth Highrs., 28th and 92nd Punjabis, 125th Napier's Rifles


21st Brigade (Brigadier General A. G. Kemball)
2nd Black Watch, 1st Guides Infantry, 20th Punjabis, 1/8th Gurkha Rifles


28th Brigade (Brigadier General C. H Davies)
2nd Leicesters, 51st and 53rd Sikhs, 56th Punjabi Rifles


261st, 262nd, 264th Brigades RFA, each with twelve 18-pds and four 4.5-inch hows.



54th (East Anglian) Division (Major General S. W. Hare)

161st (Essex) Brigade (Brigadier General A. B. Orpen Palmer)
1/4th, 1/5th, 1/6th and 1/7th Essex


162nd (East Midland) Brigade (Brigadier General A. Mudge)
1/5th Bedford, 1/4th Nothampton, 1/10th and 1/11th London


163rd (Norfolk and Suffolk) Brigade (Brigadier General A. J. MacNeill)
1/4th, 1/5th Norfolk, 1/5th Suffolk, 1/8th Hampshire


270th, 271st, 272nd Brigades RFA, each with twelve 18-pds and four 4.5-inch hows.



60th (London) Division (Major General Sir J. S. M. Shea)

179th Brigade (Brigadier General E. T. Humphreys)
2/13th London, 3/151st Infantry, 2/19th Punjabis, 2/137th Baluchis


180th Brigade (Brigadier General C. F. Watson)
2/19th London, 2nd Guides, 2/30th Punjabis, 1/50th Kumoan Rifles


181st Brigade (Brigadier General E. C. da Costa)
2/22nd London, 130th Baluchis, 2/97th Deccan Inf., 2/152nd Infantry.[69][70]




75th Division (Major General P. C. Palin)

232nd Brigade (Brigadier General H. J. Huddleston)
1/4th Wilts, 72nd Punjabis, 2/3rd Gurkhas, 3rd Kashmir I.S. Infantry


233rd Brigade (Brigadier General E. M. Colston)
1/5th Somerset Light Infantry, 29th Punjabis, 3/3rd Gurkhas, 2/154th Infantry


234th Brigade (Brigadier General C. A. H. Maclean)
1/4th D.C.L.I., 123rd Outram Rifles, 58th Vaughan's Rifles, 1/152nd Infantry.[71][72][73]


301st, 302nd 303rd Brigades RFA, each with twelve 18-pdrs. and four 4.5- hows.


5th Light Horse Brigade (under orders of 60th Division)

French Palestine Contingent (4 Bns and 3 Btys)[71][74]

Corps mounted troops (Composite Yeomanry Regiment)



XXI Corps Heavy Artillery


  • Sub-Group under the Right Group


4.7-inch Battery RGA

300 SB, RGA 6-inch Section

334 SB, RGA, One Section


  • Right Group


100th Brigade, RGA, Headquarters –

15th HB, RGA

134 SB, RGA

334 SB, RGA One Section

43 SB, RGA "Bessie"


  • Right Centre Group


95th Brigade, RGA Headquarters –

181 HB, RGA

304 SB, RGA

314 SB, RGA

383 SB, RGA

422 SB, RGA

5.9-inch Hows. Section.


  • Left Centre Group


102nd Brigade, RGA Headquarters –

91 HB, RGA

209 SB, RGA

380 SB, RGA

440 SB, RGA

300 SB, RGA 8 inch Section

43 SB, RGA "Lizzie"


  • Left Group


96th Brigade, RGA Headquarters –

189 HB, RGA

202 HB, RGA

378 SB, RGA

394 SB, RGA


Generally –



  • The Sub-Group was in support of the French

  • The Right Group was in support of the 54th Division

  • The Right Centre Group was in support of the 3rd (Lahore) Division

  • The Left Centre Group was in support of the 75th Division

  • The Left Group was in support of the 60th Division.[75]


Desert Mounted Corps (Lieutenant General Sir H. Chauvel)




4th Cavalry Division (Major General Sir G. de S. Barrow)

10th Cavalry Brigade (Brigadier General Wilfrith Gerald Key Green/Richard Howard-Vyse)
1/1 Dorset Yeomanry (ex 6th Mounted Brigade), 2nd Lancers, 38th Central India Horse (38th King George's Own Central India Horse)


11th Cavalry Brigade (Brigadier General Charles Levinge Gregory)
1/1st County of London Yeomanry (ex 8th Mounted Brigade), 29th Lancers, 36th Jacob's Horse


12th Cavalry Brigade (Brigadier General J. T. Wigan)
1/1Stafford Yeomanry (ex 22nd Mounted Brigade), 6th Cavalry, 19th Lancers


20th Brigade RHA and Divisional Ammunition Column

12th LAM Battery

No. 7 Light Car Patrol




5th Cavalry Division (Major General H. J. M. MacAndrew)

13th Cavalry Brigade (Brigadier General Philip James Vandeleur Kelly)
1/1 Gloucester Yeomanry (ex 5th Mounted Brigade), 9th Hodson's Horse, 18th Lancers


14th Cavalry Brigade (Brigadier General Goland Vanhalt Clarke)
1/1 Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry (ex 7th Mounted Brigade), 20th Deccan Horse, 34th Poona Horse


15th (Imperial Service) Cavalry Brigade (Brigadier General Cyril Rodney Harbord)
Jodhpur, Mysore and 1st Hyderabad Lancers [Regiments] (These regiments were all maintained by the Ruling Princes of their respective States in India.)


'B' Battery HAC and Essex Battery RHA with Divisional Ammunition Column

11th LAM Battery

No. 1 Light Car Patrol.[76][77]



Australian Mounted Division (Major General H. W. Hodgson)

3rd Light Horse Brigade (Brigadier General L. C. Wilson)
8th, 9th, 10th Australian Light Horse Regiments


4th Light Horse Brigade (Brigadier General W. Grant)
4th, 11th 12th Light Horse Regiments[78]


5th Light Horse Brigade (Brigadier General C. Macarthur Onslow) (attached XXI Corps till 22 September)

14th, 15th Light Horse Regiments (ex Imperial Camel Corps Brigade)

16th Regiment Mixte de Marche de Palestine et Syrie (French Régiment Mixte de Cavalerie)

French Chasseurs d'Afrique (2 squadrons)


Spahis (1 squadron).[79][80][81]





19th Brigade RHA.[82]




Chaytor's Force (Major General E.W.C. Chaytor)



20th Indian Brigade

Four Indian Battalions

1st Battalion British West Indies Regiment

2nd Battalion British West Indies Regiment

38th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (Jewish Battalion)

39th Battalion Royal Fusiliers (Jewish Battalion)[71][83][84][85]



Anzac Mounted Division (Major General E.W.C. Chaytor)

1st Light Horse Brigage (Brigadier General C. F. Cox)
1st, 2nd and 3rd Light Horse Regiments


2nd Light Horse Brigade (Brigadier General G. de L. Ryrie)
5th, 6th and 7th Light Horse Regiments


New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade (Brigadier General W. Meldrum)
Auckland, Canterbury and Wellington Mounted Rifle Regiments


18th Brigade RHA (Inverness-shire, Ayrshire and Somerset Batteries) and Divisional Ammunition Column[86]

A/263 Battery RFA

195th Heavy Battery RGA

29th and 32nd Indian Mountain Batteries

No. 6 (Medium) Trench Mortar Battery

3 anti–aircraft sections RA

Detachment No. 35 AT Company RE.[87]





See also



  • Sinai and Palestine Campaign

  • History of Palestine

  • Postage stamps and postal history of Palestine



Notes





  1. ^ The names of the infantry divisions, brigades and battalions and some other units have, in many cases, been changed so they no longer reflect the names of these units as they appear in the sources quoted. Additional names of units have been added without citation.


  2. ^ This could be the 3rd Battalion mentioned in Falls EEF April 1916 order of battle. [Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 389] However in his EEF April 1917 order of battle he again mentions only the 1st 2nd and 5th Battalions. [Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 402, 404]


  3. ^ The third brigades of 53rd and 54th Divisions were in the Suez Canal Defences with 1st Light Horse Brigade about Bir el Abd, Mazar and Bardawil patrolling the pipeline until moving to El Arish on 20 March. And only four guns of each 18–pounder battery of the 53rd and 54th Divisions, and one section of each heavy battery were brought across the Sinai Peninsula. The guns left behind formed part of the Suez Canal Defences. [Wavell 1968, p. 94, 1st Light Horse Brigade War Diary March 1917 AWM4-10-1-32]


  4. ^ Nominally Army Troops. [Keogh 1955 p. 135]


  5. ^ Keogh notes the 7th Mounted Brigade had only two regiments. He places six squadrons of Indian Imperial Service troops, one West Indies battalion, French and Italian contingents in Army Troops, totalling 3,000. He also places the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade in Desert Mounted Corps. [Keogh 1955 p. 135]


  6. ^ Shown as No. 113 Squadron in Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 666


  7. ^ Shown as part of the 40th Wing by Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 666


  8. ^ The 7th Mounted Brigade and the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade had been attached to Desert Mounted Corps and the 10th Division attached to the XX Corps. [Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 666]


  9. ^ Blenkinsop refers to the 60th Indian Division but the Londoners did not leave for the Western Front until after the Second Transjordan attack.




References





  1. ^ Bruce 2002, p. 34


  2. ^ Keogh 1955, p. 32


  3. ^ Wavell 1968, p. 41


  4. ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 69–204


  5. ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 242–350


  6. ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 351–372, Vol. 2 pp. 1–43


  7. ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 2 pp. 44–647


  8. ^ ab Keogh 1955, p. 34


  9. ^ ab Powles 1922, pp. 12, 29–35, 278–9


  10. ^ ab Wavell 1968, pp. 92–3, 139–41


  11. ^ ab Woodward 2006, p. 53


  12. ^ "Sinai and Palestine" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. p. 68. Retrieved 30 November 2011..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}


  13. ^ Bruce 2002, pp. 38–9


  14. ^ "Imperial Camel Corps". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 13 January 2012.


  15. ^ Cutlack 1941, pp. 32


  16. ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 1 Appendix 2 p. 395


  17. ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 1 Appendix 2 pp. 380–394


  18. ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 203


  19. ^ Bruce 2002, pp.43–4


  20. ^ Keogh 1955, p. 53–4


  21. ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 244


  22. ^ Wavell, 1968, p. 69


  23. ^ Powles 1922, p. 47


  24. ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 381


  25. ^ McGuirk 2007, pp. 260–1, 263–4


  26. ^ Carver 2003 pp. 186–8


  27. ^ Bowman–Manifold 1923, p. 23


  28. ^ Anzac MD WD AWM4-1-60-10 Appendix 24 pp. 3–7


  29. ^ ab Cutlack 1941, pp. 45–9


  30. ^ Powles 1922, pp. 48–9 Map of Magdhaba & 278-9


  31. ^ Woodward 2003, p. 53


  32. ^ Bou 2009, pp. 150–2


  33. ^ Hill 1978, p. 67


  34. ^ Kinloch 2007, pp. 57–8


  35. ^ Powles 1922, p. 12


  36. ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 276


  37. ^ ab Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 275


  38. ^ Bruce 2002 p. 85


  39. ^ Cutlack 1941, pp. 45–9, 51


  40. ^ Gullett 1941, pp. 230–1


  41. ^ Keogh 1955, p. 77


  42. ^ Powles 1922, p. 65


  43. ^ Coulthard-Clark 1998, p. 123


  44. ^ "Imperial Camel Corps". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 10 December 2011.


  45. ^ "The 52nd (Lowland) Division in 1914–1918". Long Long Trail. Retrieved 10 December 2011.


  46. ^ "The 54th (East Anglian) Division in 1914–1918". Long Long Trail. Retrieved 10 December 2011.


  47. ^ "The 74th (Yeomanry) Division in 1914–1918". Long Long Trail. Retrieved 10 December 2011.


  48. ^ "The 53rd (Welsh) Division in 1914–1918". Long Long Trail. Retrieved 10 December 2011.


  49. ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 390, 398


  50. ^ Wavell 1968, pp. 92–4


  51. ^ Powles 1922, pp. 278–9


  52. ^ ab Preston 1921, pp. 331–3


  53. ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 402


  54. ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 1 Appendix 3 p. 407


  55. ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 1 Appendix 3 pp. 396–406, Vol. 2 Appendix 2 pp. 660–666


  56. ^ ab Keogh 1955 pp. 125–6


  57. ^ ab Wavell 1968, pp. 139–41


  58. ^ ab Erickson 2007 p. 112


  59. ^ Powles 1922 p. 28


  60. ^ Blenkinsop 1925 pp. 199–200


  61. ^ ab Falls 1930 Vol. 2 p. 666


  62. ^ Cutlack 1941 p. 68


  63. ^ GS, GHQ, EEF War Diary AWM4, 1-6-22 pp.18–9


  64. ^ Woodward 2006 p. 163


  65. ^ Blenkinsop 1925 p. 224


  66. ^ Keogh 1955 p. 212


  67. ^ Powles 1922 p. 202


  68. ^ Falls 1930 Vol. 2 pp. 365, 368, 660–2, 673


  69. ^ Wavell 1968, p. 217-8


  70. ^ Massey 1920, pp. 339–40


  71. ^ abc Keogh 1955, p. 240


  72. ^ Blenkinsop 1925, pp. 235–6


  73. ^ Massey 1920, p. 340


  74. ^ Wavell 1968, p. 218


  75. ^ Wavell 1968, p. 218-9


  76. ^ Preston 1921, pp. 331, 333–4


  77. ^ Wavell 1968 pp. 216


  78. ^ Preston 1921, p.332


  79. ^ Jones 1987, pp. 146–7


  80. ^ Preston 1921, p. 335


  81. ^ Massey 1920, p. 338


  82. ^ Preston 1921, p. 333


  83. ^ Powles 1922, p. 236


  84. ^ Wavell 1968, p. 219


  85. ^ Massey 1920, p. 339


  86. ^ Preston 1921, p. 331


  87. ^ Powles 1922, p. 236




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