Active 1916–1917 | ||
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Type Light horse, mounted rifle, infantry Role Mounted infantry, infantry Engagements World War ISinai and Palestine CampaignBattle of RafaFirst Battle of GazaSecond Battle of Gaza | ||
The Desert Column was a First World War British Empire army corps which operated in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign from 22 December 1916 The Column was commanded by Lieutenant General Philip W. Chetwode and formed part of Eastern Force. When Chetwode took command of Eastern Force after the Second Battle of Gaza, Harry Chauvel took command and oversaw the expansion of the column to three divisions.
Contents
- December 1916
- Order of Battle 9 January 1917
- Order of Battle March 1917
- Order of Battle April 1917
- References
Chetwode was appointed on 7 December 1916 to command the Column which was composed of the 42nd (East Lancashire) Division, the 52nd (Lowland) Division, the Anzac Mounted Division and the Imperial Camel Brigade's eighteen companies, six of which were yeomen. These divisions had been involved in the Battle of Romani in August 1916 and had advanced across the Sinai Peninsula. Chetwode arrived El Arish to take up his appointment on 22 December 1916. The Battle of Magdhaba was won the next day, and on 9 January 1917 the Battle of Rafa was also won by the Desert Column, before two defeats were suffered during the First and Second battles for Gaza in March and April 1917.
In mid 1917 when General Edmund Allenby took command of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, Desert Column was renamed to become the Desert Mounted Corps commanded by Lieutenant General Chauvel.
December 1916
Desert Column Headquarters El Arish (Lieutenant General Sir Philip Chetwode)
42nd (East Lancashire) Division52nd (Lowland) Division (Major General W.E.B. Smith)Anzac Mounted Division (Major General Harry Chauvel)Imperial Camel Corps BrigadeRoyal Flying Corps 5th Wing stationed at Mustabig (Lieutenant Colonel W.G.H Salmond)Order of Battle 9 January 1917
Desert Column (Lieutenant General Chetwode)
Anzac Mounted Division (Major General Chauvel)Imperial Camel Corps Brigade5th Mounted Yeomanry BrigadeNo. 7 Light Car Patrol (six Ford cars equipped with machine guns)No. 1 Squadron Australian Flying CorpsNo. 14 Squadron Royal Flying CorpsOrder of Battle March 1917
Desert Column (Lieutenant General P. Chetwode)53rd (Welsh) Division (Major General A.G. Dallas)Artillery
Anzac Mounted Division 4 Batteries RHA of 4 18–pdrs = 16 gunsImperial Mounted Division 4 Batteries RHA of 4 18–pdrs = 16 gunsImperial Camel Brigade 1 Camel Pack Battery of 6 2.75-inch = 6 guns53rd (Welsh) Division (3 Brigades RFA 12 18–pdrs=24 guns) 4 of each battery only = 16 guns; 4 4.5-inch howitzers = 8 howitzer54th (East Anglian) Division (3 Brigades RFA 12 18–pdrs=24 guns) 4 of each battery only = 16 guns; 4 4.5-inch howitzers = 8 howitzerArmy Troops (3 Batteries of 4 60–pdrs=12 guns) one section only = 6 gunsOrder of Battle April 1917
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
Desert Column GOC Major General (temp. Lieutenant General P. W. Chetwode
Anzac Mounted Division GOC Colonel (temp. Major General) H. G. ChauvelDivisional Troops same as April 1916 oob exceptImperial Mounted Division GOC Colonel (temp. Major General) H. W. HodgsonDivisional Troops