1915: Supporting Gallipoli
From April 1915, Egypt was the Base of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF), which was fighting on the Gallipoli peninsula, trying to open the straits of the Dardanelles.
The majority of the forces in Egypt were re-directed to the MEF. By July 1915, there were 81,000 soldiers (as well as 36,000 horses and 17,000 mules) in Egypt, of whom just 25,000 were actually assigned to the defence of the country. Another 15,000 men were Australians and New Zealanders still under training, after which they would be sent to Gallipoli, and 30,000 were logistical and support staff administering the MEF and its supply chain. The remaining 11,000 were sick and wounded who had been evacuated from Gallipoli and were now in Egyptian hospitals or convalescent homes.
The logistical train for supporting the troops in Gallipoli was long and complicated. While the advance base of the MEF was the port of Mudros on the island of Lemnos, space there was limited. Many of the ships that brought supplies from across the world, as well as the huge amounts of food and other material grown or produced within Egypt itself, were gathered in Egyptian ports. Here they were stored, sorted and loaded back onto ships for movement to Lemnos or directly to the Dardanelles. Even fresh water, in several massive tankers, was exported from Egypt to supply the MEF!
From April 1915, Egypt was the Base of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF), which was fighting on the Gallipoli peninsula, trying to open the straits of the Dardanelles.
The majority of the forces in Egypt were re-directed to the MEF. By July 1915, there were 81,000 soldiers (as well as 36,000 horses and 17,000 mules) in Egypt, of whom just 25,000 were actually assigned to the defence of the country. Another 15,000 men were Australians and New Zealanders still under training, after which they would be sent to Gallipoli, and 30,000 were logistical and support staff administering the MEF and its supply chain. The remaining 11,000 were sick and wounded who had been evacuated from Gallipoli and were now in Egyptian hospitals or convalescent homes.
The logistical train for supporting the troops in Gallipoli was long and complicated. While the advance base of the MEF was the port of Mudros on the island of Lemnos, space there was limited. Many of the ships that brought supplies from across the world, as well as the huge amounts of food and other material grown or produced within Egypt itself, were gathered in Egyptian ports. Here they were stored, sorted and loaded back onto ships for movement to Lemnos or directly to the Dardanelles. Even fresh water, in several massive tankers, was exported from Egypt to supply the MEF!
Horses being tended at one of the base Patients in C Block, Nassich Military A member of the Bikaner Camel Corps,
depots in Egypt. hospital, Cairo. one of the Indian units that continued to
guard the Suez Canal.
The many different logistical units in Egypt, some supporting Gallipoli and others the troops in the country itself, as well as the different training organisations and finally the garrison troops themselves, made this a very confusing time. Many support units sprang in or out of existence, or were renamed, regularly. There is evidence that even the officers commanding these units became confused as to who they were supposed to report to at times! At Port Said, for example, the units overseeing the port passed from the command of the Canal Defence Force, to the Force in Egypt, to the Levant Base, and finally to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force all in the space of one month in early 1916.
There were also a large number of depots for mounted troops and other units (such are artillery) who used horses. These animals had to be left behind as, in the close confines of the Gallipoli peninsula, the usually mounted troops fought on foot. Small cadres of men would be left to care for the horses, and as such would have their work cut out for them in an endless round of feeding, watering, grooming, exercising and mucking-out.
The hospital system had to expand rapidly in the summer of 1915, to support the unexpectedly large numbers of troops wounded at Gallipoli, and those succumbing to the extremely high rates of sickness. Initially many troops were evacuated directly to Egypt, often in whatever shipping was available. Later, properly equipped hospital ships made regular runs to Mudros, where advanced hospitals were established. If a man was likely to recover within four weeks, he was held at Mudros. If his recovery would take longer, he would be sent on to Egypt (where there were some 35,000 hospital beds by the end of 1915) or to Malta.
After the end of the Gallipoli campaign, most of the troops involved were withdrawn to Egypt for from three to six months, where they were rested, re-equipped and re-trained before most of them were sent to France. A few divisions remained in Egypt, and these became the basis of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in April 1916.
depots in Egypt. hospital, Cairo. one of the Indian units that continued to
guard the Suez Canal.
The many different logistical units in Egypt, some supporting Gallipoli and others the troops in the country itself, as well as the different training organisations and finally the garrison troops themselves, made this a very confusing time. Many support units sprang in or out of existence, or were renamed, regularly. There is evidence that even the officers commanding these units became confused as to who they were supposed to report to at times! At Port Said, for example, the units overseeing the port passed from the command of the Canal Defence Force, to the Force in Egypt, to the Levant Base, and finally to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force all in the space of one month in early 1916.
There were also a large number of depots for mounted troops and other units (such are artillery) who used horses. These animals had to be left behind as, in the close confines of the Gallipoli peninsula, the usually mounted troops fought on foot. Small cadres of men would be left to care for the horses, and as such would have their work cut out for them in an endless round of feeding, watering, grooming, exercising and mucking-out.
The hospital system had to expand rapidly in the summer of 1915, to support the unexpectedly large numbers of troops wounded at Gallipoli, and those succumbing to the extremely high rates of sickness. Initially many troops were evacuated directly to Egypt, often in whatever shipping was available. Later, properly equipped hospital ships made regular runs to Mudros, where advanced hospitals were established. If a man was likely to recover within four weeks, he was held at Mudros. If his recovery would take longer, he would be sent on to Egypt (where there were some 35,000 hospital beds by the end of 1915) or to Malta.
After the end of the Gallipoli campaign, most of the troops involved were withdrawn to Egypt for from three to six months, where they were rested, re-equipped and re-trained before most of them were sent to France. A few divisions remained in Egypt, and these became the basis of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in April 1916.