Egyptian Expeditionary Force.

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tigre
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Egyptian Expeditionary Force.

#1

Post by tigre » 16 Mar 2015, 16:06

Hello to all :D; a brief account.................................

THE PARTICIPATION OF THE MOUNTED UNITS OF THE EGYPTIAN EXPEDITIONARY CORPS IN PALESTINE. THE COMBATS TO CAPTURE JERUSALEM. RAIDS ON TRANSJORDAN. [Der Anteil berittener Truppen des "Agyptischen Expeditionskorps" an dem Kampfe urn Palästina.] Major Welsch.

The events described may be summarized as follows:

(1) Advance of the British army against the Turkish positions at Gaza; retirement of the Turkish army to the north, behind the Wadi el Audscha, eighteen miles northwest of the line: Jerusalem -Wadi Sarrar. Reorganization of the Turkish defense; counteroffensive to relieve the Turkish VII Corps which had fallen back on Jerusalem. While the Yeomamy Mounted Division screened the centre of the line, the remaining two cavalry (and four infantry) divisions were employed against Beersheba. Various difficulties, notably water shortages, hampered the pursuit by the cavalry, and the Turks were allowed the space to escape. Meanwhile, the Gaza force was only able slowly to follow up the Turks as it had no cavalry, and the Desert Mounted Corps had failed to surround the Turks from the east.

2) Lack of water causes a modification of the British plans. It is decided to attack and capture Wadi Sarrar, which not only would provide water, but it would also disrupt the supply system of the Turkish VII Corps, The main objective: Jerusalem, due to political and strategical reasons.

(3) The British command gives up a frontal attack against Jerusalem. Having received information from its aviation that the Turks were retreating, the British decide up on an advance towards El Bire, situated eight miles north of Jerusalem, cut off the defender's communications, thus making their position untenable. The battle of Nebi Samwil resulted in a British defeat with heavy losses and placed them in a precarious situation. The troop movements observed by the aviators were wrong; they were reported as a retreat and were concentration of troops instead.

(4) Reorganization of the British forces for an attack on Jerusalem, which for some reason unknown to this day, was abandoned without fighting.

(5) New British plan of operations, the objective of which was the destruction of railway installations in Amman and gain contact with the forces of Emir Feisal. This resulted in the "Battle of the Jordan," which the British call "Raid on Amman." The British failed due to the Turks' counterattacks, and only the lack of cavalry failed to convert a retreat into a rout.

(6) Second Battle of the Jordan.-The British command decided upon another offensive in May in the valley of the Jordan in order to weaken the right wing of the Turkish Army. A tribe of Bedouins, camping only 18 miles from Ghoranije, offered its cooperation provided the offensive was launched in the early part of May. The British, desiring to accept this offer, ordered the attack for 30 April. The attack failed and the British had to withdraw with enormous losses.

After the Trans-Jordan raids the E.E.F. entered a period of quiescence until September 1918 when, reorganised and facing an enemy weakened and disheartened by the Central powers' defeat in other war-theatres, the E.E.F. was able quickly to defeat the Turks in Palestine and Trans-Jordan, and promote Prince Feisal as an ally by handing Damascus to him.

Sources: Review of Military Literature. June 1938.
https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/files/ ... 309159.pdf (full point of view)

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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Re: Egyptian Expeditionary Force.

#2

Post by tigre » 23 Jul 2016, 17:35

Hello to all :D; another brief account, back in time.................................

The Battle of Beersheba - October 31, 1917.

The operation at Beersheba represents a combination of frontal or holding attack, with a turning movement or envelopment, by cavalry, both coordinated and accurately timed; the attack jumped off, as ordered, on the morning of 31 October.

The frontal attack gained certain objectives by mid afternoon but slowed down thereafter; the enveloping force also ran into tough going initially and developed, in turn, into a holding attack by dismounted elements with mobile reserves waiting for an opportunity to envelop Beersheba itself. The frontal attack had not succeeded in reaching Beersheba, and it was feared that the retreating Turks would damage the water supply; time was precious; speed became essential; at 3:30 PM the order came: "Take the town before dark. Put Grant straight at it."

The 4th Cavalry Brigade, commanded by General Grant, was nearest Beersheba; racing against daylight, Grant decided to attack mounted; he made it; two squadrons of the 12th galloped straight into Beersheba, while the remainder of the attacking force dismounted to clean up isolated Turkish resistance.

Sources: Maneuver in War. Reprint of 1939 Edition. USMC 1990.
1918 WW1 EGYPTIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE ADVANCE THROUGH PHILISTIA 29 OCT 6PM 1917

Cheers. Raúl M 8-).
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