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From: Jeremy Stroud
Date: 3/12/2002
Time: 7:55:36 AM
Remote Name: 80.126.25.164
Mel, it is like Steve says. To help you with the hierarchical structure of the Army from the top down the line of command:- (Full) General Allenby heads the Army (expedition force) consisting of 3 Corps. Each Corps is headed by a Lieutenant-General (Chauvel DMC; Chetwode XX Corps; Bulfin XXI Corps) consiting of 3 (or 4) Divisions. Each Division is commanded by a Major-General (e.g. Chaytor, Barrow, Hodgson etc) and for the DMC, each Division consisted of 3 Brigades plus Artillery. Each Brigade is commanded by a Brigadier-General and consisted of 3 Regiments. Each Regiment is commanded by a Colonel and comprised 3 Squadrons, command staff, etc Each Squadron, I think, is commanded by a Major who would have a few Captains under his command ... Hope this helps with the structure of the line of command. As Steve says Grant, who was certainly a Colonel at the time and acting or tempory Brigadier-General or maybe even already promotion confirmed (from September 1917) would not have ridden with the charge. It is said that he rode some of the first part before returning to command post. It is also highly irregular in war for a Colonel to enter combat with the enemy, as Colonel of a regiment is a staff post, although I dont think this held true for WWI. Certainly the Majors, Captains & Lieutenants would be the Officiers commanding the details of the operation during the actual engagement. See Steve's reply for more details, regards Jeremy.