Egyptian Expeditionary Force

The following is extracted from the seminal work of Major A. F. Becke, R.F.A. (Retired), Hon. M.A. (Oxon.) which now is the Great War British standard reference called: History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence: Order Of Battle, Part 4, the Army Council, G.H.Q.s, Armies, and Corps, 1914-1918, published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1945, from pp. 27 - 32.

This entry is presented "as is". A table of abbreviations employed is found at the commencement of this section. Additionally, where necessary regarding Becke's understanding of Australian units is inaccurate, an explanatory note is added.

Egyptian Expeditionary Force

[This title was adopted on 20 March 1916, when General Sir A. J. Murray assumed command of the Mediterranean Expeditionary force and the force in Egypt.]

G.H.Q.

Commander-in-Chief.

[30 October, 1912] - Major-General Hon. J. H. G. BYNG [G.O.C. of the British Force in Egypt].

8 September, 1914 - Lieut.-General Sir J. G. MAXWELL [G.O.C. of the British Force in Egypt].

27 October, 1915 - General Sir C. C. MONRO [General Sir C. C. Monro left. Alexandria on 11 January 1916, and returned to France to command the First Army, B.E.F. (4 February 1916).

9 January, 1916 - General Sir A. J. MURRAY.

28 June, 1917 - General Sir E. H. H. ALLENBY.

C.G.S.

27 October 1915 - Maj.-Gen. A. L. LYNDEN-BELL.

16 September 1917 - Maj.-Gen. L. J. BOLS.

B.-G.G.S.

23 November 1915 - 2 June 1916 - Br.-Gen. W. GILLMAN.

13 August 1917 - Br.-Gen. G. P. DAWNAY.

20 February 1918 - Br.-Gen. A. B. ROBERTSON.

16 April 1918 - Br.-Gen. W. H. BARTHOLOMEW.

B.-G.G.S. (I).

8 August, 1918 - Br. Gen. B. T. BUCKLEY.

A. & Q.

D.-A.-G.

23 October 1915 - Maj.-Gen. E. M. WOODWARD.

1 February 1916 - Lt.-Col. J. B. WELLS (acting).

9 March 1916 - Lt.-Col. C. P. SCUDAMORE (acting).

1 April 1916 - Lt.-Col. W. J. AINSWORTH (acting).

6 April 1916 - Maj.-Gen. J. ADYE.

23 March 1918 - Maj.-Gen. W. G. B. WESTERN.

D.-Q.-M.-G.

23 October 1915 - Maj.-Gen. W. CAMPBELL

Assistant to D.-Q.-M.-G.

2 August, 1917 - Br.-Gen. E. F. O. GASCOIGNE.

27 January, 1918 - Br.-Gen. E. EVANS.

M.-G.R.A.

1. 23 November 1915 - Maj.-Gen. S. C. U. SMITH.

E.-in-C.

23 November 1915 - Maj.-Gen. G. WILLIAMS.

14 May 1916 - Maj.-Gen. H. B. H. WRIGHT.

D. Army Signals.

23 November, 1915 - Br.-Gen. M.G.E. BOWMAN-MANIFOLD.

Force in Egypt.

7 January 1918 - Maj.-Gen. H. D. WATSON.

Western Frontier Force.

[Became Delta and Western Force on 6 March 1917; ceased to exist on 21 March 1918.]

13 May 1916 - Lt.-Gen. Sir B. T. MAHON.

21 June 1916 - Maj.-Gen. Sir C. M. DOBELL.

19 September 1916 - Lt.-Gen. Sir C. M. DOBELL.

4 October 1916 - Maj.-Gen. W. A. WATSON.

6 March 1917 - 21 March 1918 - Br.-Gen. H. G. CASSON.

Coastal Section, Western Force.

22 March 1917 – January 1918 - Br.-Gen. R.M. YORKE.

Southern Section, Western Force.

22 March 1917 - Col. R.W.H. WILLIAMS-WYNN.

Canal Zone.

September 1918 - Br -Gen. A. H. O. LLOYD.

Desert Column.

[The Staff of the Desert Column consisted of: Lt.-Col. V.M. Fergusson (G.S.O.1), Lt.-Col. E.F. Trew (A.-A. & Q.-M.-G.) Br.-Gen. A. D'A. King (B.-G., R.A.), and Br.-Gen. R. L. Waller (C.E. until 28 February 1917; then Br.-Gen. R.E.M. Russell), Desert Column disappeared in August, 1917, on reorganization of E.E.F.]

7 December 1916 - Lt.-Gen. Sir P. W. CHETWODE, Bt.

21 April 1917 - 2 August 1917 - Maj.-Gen. Sir H. G. CHAUVEL.

Southern Canal Section.

4 February 1917 - Br.-Gen. P. C. PALIN.

25 June 1917 - March 1918 - Br.-Gen. E. R. B. MURRAY.

Eastern Force.

[The Staff of Eastern force consisted of: Br.-Gen. G. P. Dawnay (B.-G.G.S.), Br-Gen. E. F. O. Gascoigne (D.-A. & Q.-M.-G.) Br.-Gen. A. H. Short (B.-G., R.A.), and Br.-Gen. F. Mc L. Blair (C.E. until 1 March 1917; then Br-Gen. R. L. Waller). Eastern Force disappeared in August 1917, on reorganization of E.E.F.]

18 October 1916 - Lt.-Gen. Sir C. M. DOBELL.

21 April 1917 - 2 August 1917 - Lt.-Gen. Sir P. W. CHETWODE, Bt.

D. Supplies & Transport.

23 November 1915 - Br.-Gen. F.W.B. KOE.

26 July 1916 - Br.-Gen. G.F. DAVIES.

D. Ordnance services.

23 November 1915 - Br.-Gen. H.W. PERRY.

22 August 1916 - Br.-Gen. P.A. BAINBRIDGE.

D. Works.

23 November 1915 - Br.-Gen. E.M. PAUL.

D. Labour.

16 August 1917 - Br.-Gen. R.C. JELLICOE.

D.M.S.

23 November 1915 - Maj.-Gen. W. BABTIE, V.C.

17 March 1916 - Maj.-Gen. W.G.A. BEDFORD (sick, 7/4/16).

11 April 1916 - Maj.-Gen. J. MAHER.

9 October 1917 - Maj.-Gen. A. E. C. KEBLE (temporary).

2 February 1918 - Maj.-Gen. W. T. SWAN.

19 September 1918 - Maj.-Gen. R. H. LUCE.

D.V.S.

7 November 1915 - Br.-Gen. E.R.C. BUTLER.

D. Remounts.

23 October 1915 - Lt.-Col. V.R. HINE-HAYCOCK. (Asst.-Dir., acting).

28 October 1915 - Br.-Gen. C. L. BATES.

D. Railway Traffic.

7 December 1915 - Col. Sir G.B. MACAULEY.

10 April 1917 - Br.-Gen. Sir G. B. MACAULEY.

D. Inland Water Transport.

10 February 1917 - Lt.-Col. W. H. COYSH (A.-D.).

23 July 1918 - Col. W. N. BICKET (D.-D.).

30 October 1918 - Br.-Gen. W.N. BICKET.

Training Directorate.

16 April 1918 - Br.-Gen. A. B. ROBERTSON.

Alexandria District.

9 December 1915 - Br.-Gen. R.C. BOYLE.

Sollum District.

15 July, 1916 - Br.-Gen. H.W. HODGSON.

8 February 1918 - Br.-Gen. R.M. YORKE.

L. of C. Defences.

28 January 1916 - Maj.-Gen. W. A. WATSON.

4 October 1916 – 6 March 1917 - Br.-Gen. H.G. CASSON.

Levant Base.
Cdt. & I.G. Cmns.

24 December 1915 - Lt.-Gen. E.A. ALTHAM.

15 November 1916 - 29 January 1917 - Lt.-Col. St. G.B. ARMSTRONG (A.-A.-G.).

Palestine L. of C. Defences.

2 May 1917 - 6 January 1918 - Br.-Gen. H.D. WATSON.

Inspector, Palestine L. of C.

2 May 1917 - Br.-Gen. E.N. BROADBENT.

Military Governor, Jerusalem.

9 December 1917 - Br.-Gen. R. M. BOKTON.

27 December 1917 - Col. RONALD STORRS.

Hejaz Operations.

[In April, 1918, became S.S.O. Northern Hejaz Operations. Lt.-Col. A.G.C, Dawnay was  appointed G.S.O.I.H.Q. Hejaz Operations on 5 November 1917.]

6 December 1916 - Lt.-Col. T.E. LAWRENCE (S.S.O.).

Occupied Enemy Territory Admn.

16 January 1917 - Br.-Gen. G.F. CLAYTON.

16 April 1918 - Maj.-Gen. Sir A.W.

Chief Political Officer.

25 March 1918 - Br.-Gen. G.F. CLAYTON.

CYPRUS.

High Commissioner & C.-in-C.

5 August 1914 - Major Sir H.G. GOOLD-ADAMS.

January 1915 - Major Sir J.E. CLAUSON.

Commandant, Troops.

December 1916 - Col. Sir H.G. Dixon.

June 1918 - Maj. J. G. B. LETHBRIDGE.

Ordnance Base Depot, Alexandria.

[Served both the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and the Force in Egypt until 20 March 1916, when the Egyptian Expeditionary Force came into being.]

22 February 1915 - Br.-Gen. R.W.M. JACKSON.

G.H.Q. (3rd Echelon).

[Served both the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and the Force in Egypt until 20 March 1916, when the Egyptian Expeditionary Force came into being.]

28 July 1915 - Br.-Gen. T.E. O'LEARY (D.-A.-G.).

8 March 1916 - Lt.-Col. G.N. FITZJOHN (A.-A.-G.).

6 April 1916 - Lt.-Col. C.P. SCUDAMORE (A.-A.-G.).

10 October 1917 - Br.-Gen. C.P. SCUDAMORE (D.-A.-G.).

Liaison Officer with War Office.

13 June 1917 - Lt.-Col. A.P. WAVELL.

29 Dec., 1917 - Lt.-Col. A.C.M. WATERFIELD.

Liaison Officer with French E.F.

29 March 1916 - Lt.-Col. G.E. TYRRELL.

7 July 1916 - Lt.-Col. E. L. STRUTT.

4 November 1916 - 9 January 1918 - Capt. I.M. SMITH (with French Navy).

Liaison Officer with French Contingent.

28 December 1916 - Lieut. G.J.A. MARC.

14 February 1918 - Maj. R.H. ST. MAUR.

Liaison Officer with Italian Contingent.

June 1917 - Lieut. F.J.R. RODD.

29 April, 1918 - Capt. R.B. MITFORD.

August 1918 - Lieut. J.D.O. MURRAY.

LOCATION OF G.H.Q., E.E.F.

4 August 1914 - Cairo.

25 January 1916 - Ismailia.

[Headquarters of the Force in Egypt, as well as of the M.E.F., until 20 March 1916, when the Force in Egypt and the M.E.F. merged and were known henceforward as the E.E.F.]

Noon, 23 October, 1916. Cairo.

[On 28 June 1917 General Sir E.H.H. Allenby assumed Command of the E.E.F. General Allenby visited Khan Yunis (Palestine) on 27 July 1917; Shellal and Rafa on 29 July 1917 ; Deir el Belah on 30 July 1917 ; Kantara on 31 July 1917, and returned on the same day to Cairo.]

11 August 1917 - Kelab (Palestine: 2 miles S.W. of Khan Yunis).

Note: It is 200 miles from Cairo to Khan Yunis, and 50 miles from Khan Yunis to Bir Salem.

21 January 1918 - Bir Salem (near El Ramleh).

Noon, 31 October, 1918. Armistice with Turkey came into force.

Further Reading:

AIF and the EEF

Posted by Project Leader at 12:01 AM EADT

Updated: Wednesday, 20 May 2009 7:38 PM EADT

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