Force in Egypt

The Force in Egypt was a British Army formation established in August 1914 to administer garrisoning armed forces in Egypt at the beginning of the First World War. The force had the objective of protecting the Suez Canal and was originally commanded by Major General Julian Byng,[1] but he was replaced by General J. Maxwell, who took command on 8 September 1914.[2] Initially, the main threat to the Suez came from Germany and throughout the early months several of the force's elements were sent to Europe to take part in the fighting on the Western Front. On 5 November 1914, Britain and France declared war on the Ottoman Empire,[3] after which the Force in Egypt faced a direct threat from Ottoman forces, which was realised in February 1915 with a raid on the Suez Canal. This threat remained until 1916 when the British forces went on the offensive.

Major General Julian Byng, commander

Principal battles of the Force in Egypt

1915: Defence of the Suez Canal

The composition of the force changed several times due to the varying availability forces. By the end of 1914, the forces deployed in defence of the Suez Canal under Maxwell totaled approximately 30,000 troops. The main elements of this force were the 10th Indian Division (Major General A. Wilson), the 11th Indian Division, the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade, and the Bikaner Camel Corps, as well as elements from the Indian Mountain Artillery and the Egyptian Army Artillery. In addition, several British and French warships in the canal served as floating batteries and there were several aircraft available for reconnaissance.[4] Following the opening of the Gallipoli Campaign, the Force in Egypt was reduced mainly to a training and reinforcement camp until forces were withdrawn from the Gallipoli Peninsula and returned to Egypt in December 1915.

In 1916, the Force in Egypt was merged with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force to form the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF).[5] General Sir Archibald Murray was given command and additional resources and the mission of the EEF changed from the defence of the Suez to an invasion of Palestine.[6]

A member of the Bikiner Camel Corps

August 1914

3rd Dragoon Guards

T Battery, Royal Horse Artillery

7th Mountain Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery

2nd Field Company, Royal Engineers

2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment

1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment

2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment

2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders and auxiliary services.[7]

September 1914

In addition to the above, two units from the 3rd (Lahore) Division were added:

9th (Sirhind) Brigade

III Mountain Artillery Brigade

Shortly afterwards, as a result of the Sinai frontier being crossed, Lord Kitchener ordered additional forces in the form of the East Lancashire Division (Territorial Force) with two Yeomanry regiments to follow, although several elements that were assigned to the Force in Egypt in August 1914 were shipped to France.[8]

By October 1914, the 9th (Sirhind) Brigade was under orders to deploy to France but was retained until the 22nd (Lucknow) Brigade arrived.[9]

The following forces were promised and on their way to Egypt in October 1914:

Bikanir Camel Corps

Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade

32nd (Imperial Service) Brigade

33rd Punjabis battalion (regular British India Army)

Alwar, Gwalior and Patiala Infantry battalions

eight Indian battalions

three more Indian brigades.[9]

January 1915

Australian troops in Egypt, December 1914

(total force 70,000)

10th Indian Division

11th Indian Division

Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade

Bikanir Camel Corps

Indian Mountain Artillery (three batteries)

Egyptian Army Artillery (one battery)

Royal Flying Corps detachment

French naval seaplanes

In training

Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC)

42nd (East Lancashire) Division [10][11]

Suez Canal Defences: 15 January 1915

Advanced Ordnance Depot Zagazig

one battalion from the 32nd (Imperial Service) Brigade

Garrison railway and Sweetwater Canal

one troop of Imperial Service Cavalry

a half company from the Birkanir Camel Corps

a half company of Indian infantry

General Reserve Camp, Moascar

31st Indian Brigade

2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry

27th Punjabis

93rd Burma Infantry

128th Pioneers

32nd (Imperial Service) Brigade

33rd Punjabis

Alwar, Gwalior and Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade less three squadrons and one troop

one Egyptian RE Section (camels)

one Egyptian Mountain Battery

two sections of field artillery with the Cavalry Brigade

Indian field ambulances.[12]

Sector I: Port Tewfik to Geneffee

Headquarters at Suez

30th Indian Brigade

24th Punjabis

76th Punjabis

126th Baluchis

2/7th Gurkha Rifles

one squadron of Imperial Service Cavalry

one company from the Birkanir Camel Corps

half company of Sappers and Miners

one battery from the Royal Field Artillery (Territorial)

one Indian field ambulance

Sector II: Deversoir to El Ferdan

Headquarters at Ismailia Old Camp

22nd (Lucknow) Brigade

62nd Punjabis

92nd Punjabis

2/10th Gurkha Rifles

28th Indian Brigade

51st Sikhs

53rd Sikhs

56th Punjabis

1/5th Gurkha Rifles

one squadron Imperial Service Cavalry

the Birkanir Camel Corps (less three and a half companies)

a machine gun section from the Egyptian Camel Corps

one battery from the Royal Field Artillery (Territorial)

one battery from the Indian Mountain Artillery

two Indian field ambulances

Sector III: El Ferdan to Port Said

Headquarters El-Qantarah

29th Indian Brigade

14th Sikhs

69th Punjabis

89th Punjabis

1/6th Gurkha Rifles

one battalion from the 22nd (Lucknow) Brigade

one squadron from the Imperial Service Cavalry

two companies from the Birkanir Camel Corps

half company of sappers and miners

two batteries from the Royal Field Artillery (Territorial)

26th Battery, Indian Mountain Artillery

armoured train with a half company of Indian infantry

wireless section (Territorial)

Indian field ambulance

Detachment Royal Army Medical Corps (Territorial)[13]

April 1915

During April the 29th Indian Brigade and the East Lancashire Division were sent to Gallipoli. The 2nd Mounted (Yeomanry) Division arrived to take their place by 29 April.[14]

Sent to Gallipoli as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force

ANZAC Corps

42nd (East Lancashire) Division

one Indian brigade (incomplete)

Sent to Basra

one Indian brigade

Sent to Aden (to defend Yemen against a possible attack)

Aden Brigade [15][16]

9 July 1915

The total force of 69,765 personnel consisted of:

one Yeomanry brigade: 1,054 personnel

2nd Mounted Division: 8,242 personnel

Indian Expeditionary Force "E" (under orders for Aden): 15,940 personnel

5th, 6th, 7th Australian Brigades in process of arriving: 5,212 personnel

ANZAC: 10,243 personnel

29th Divisional Supply Column: 312 personnel

regulars, details, depot: 829 personnel

Mediterranean Expeditionary Force base: 28,134 personnel[17]

By November 1915, the Force in Egypt had been reduced largely to a training and reinforcement camp. Although there were 60,000 troops in Egypt, these were mainly details of formations fighting at Gallipoli and ANZACs in training.[18]

November 1915

Western Frontier Force (Major General A. Wallace)

Composite mounted brigade

Three composite regiments of Yeomanry

One composite regiment of Australian Light Horse

1/1st Nottinghamshire Royal Horse Artillery

Composite infantry brigade

Three territorial battalions.

One battalion Indian infantry (15th Sikhs).

Some South African troops and a New Zealand battalion were added after November 1915.[19]

On 10 March 1916, the Force in Egypt was merged with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force to form the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.[5]

Notes

1. Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 11
2. Falls p. 14
3. Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 16 note
4. Bruce 2002, pp. 15–6
5. Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 96–7
6. Woodward, David (March 10, 2011). "The Middle East During World War I". BBC History. BBC. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
7. Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 11 note
8. Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 14
9. Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 15
10. Carver 2003, pp. 8–9
11. Wavell 1968, p. 27
12. Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 32–3
13. Falls 1930 Vol. 1 pp. 31–2
14. Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 57
15. Coulthard-Clark 1998, p. 22
16. Wavell 1968, p. 34
17. Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 68
18. Falls 1930 Vol. 1 p. 85
19. Wavell 1968, pp. 36–7

References

• Bruce, Anthony (2002). The Last Crusade: The Palestine Campaign in the First World War. London: John Murray. ISBN 978-0-7195-5432-2.
• Carver, Michael, Field Marshal Lord (2003). The National Army Museum Book of the Turkish Front 1914–1918: The Campaigns at Gallipoli, in Mesopotamia and in Palestine. London: Pan Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-283-07347-2.
• Coulthard-Clark, Chris (1998). Where Australians Fought: The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles. St Leonards, New South Wales: Allen and Unwin. ISBN 1864486112.
• Falls, Cyril; G. MacMunn (1930). Military Operations Egypt & Palestine from the outbreak of war with Germany to June 1917. Official History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. 1. London: HM Stationery Office. OCLC 610273484.
• Wavell, Field Marshal Earl (1968) [1933]. "The Palestine Campaigns". In Sheppard, Eric William (ed.). A Short History of the British Army (4th ed.). London: Constable & Co. OCLC 35621223.