The Force in Egypt was a British Army formation established in August 1914 to administer garrisoning armed forces in Egypt at the beginning of the First World War. The force had the objective of protecting the Suez Canal and was originally commanded by Major General Julian Byng, but he was replaced by General J. Maxwell, who took command on 8 September 1914. Initially, the main threat to the Suez came from Germany and throughout the early months several of the force's elements were sent to Europe to take part in the fighting on the Western Front. On 5 November 1914, Britain and France declared war on the Ottoman Empire, after which the Force in Egypt faced a direct threat from Ottoman forces, which was realised in February 1915 with a raid on the Suez Canal. This threat remained until 1916 when the British forces went on the offensive.
The composition of the force changed several times due to the varying availability forces. By the end of 1914, the forces deployed in defence of the Suez Canal under Maxwell totaled approximately 30,000 troops. The main elements of this force were the 10th Indian Division (Major General A. Wilson), the 11th Indian Division, the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade, and the Bikaner Camel Corps, as well as elements from the Indian Mountain Artillery and the Egyptian Army Artillery. In addition, several British and French warships in the canal served as floating batteries and there were several aircraft available for reconnaissance. Following the opening of the Gallipoli Campaign, the Force in Egypt was reduced mainly to a training and reinforcement camp until forces were withdrawn from the Gallipoli Peninsula and returned to Egypt in December 1915.
In 1916, the Force in Egypt was merged with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force to form the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF). General Sir Archibald Murray was given command and additional resources and the mission of the EEF changed from the defence of the Suez to an invasion of Palestine.
August 1914
3rd Dragoon Guards
T Battery, Royal Horse Artillery
7th Mountain Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
2nd Field Company, Royal Engineers
2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment
1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment
2nd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment
2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders and auxiliary services.
September 1914
In addition to the above, two units from the 3rd (Lahore) Division were added: 9th (Sirhind) Brigade III Mountain Artillery Brigade Shortly afterwards, as a result of the Sinai frontier being crossed, Lord Kitchener ordered additional forces in the form of the East Lancashire Division (Territorial Force) with two Yeomanry regiments to follow, although several elements that were assigned to the Force in Egypt in August 1914 were shipped to France.
By October 1914, the 9th (Sirhind) Brigade was under orders to deploy to France but was retained until the 22nd (Lucknow) Brigade arrived.
The following forces were promised and on their way to Egypt in October 1914: Bikanir Camel Corps Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade 32nd (Imperial Service) Brigade 33rd Punjabis battalion (regular British India Army) Alwar, Gwalior and Patiala Infantry battalions eight Indian battalions three more Indian brigades.
January 1915
(total force 70,000) 10th Indian Division 11th Indian Division Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade Bikanir Camel Corps Indian Mountain Artillery (three batteries) Egyptian Army Artillery (one battery) Royal Flying Corps detachment French naval seaplanes
In training
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) 42nd (East Lancashire) Division
Suez Canal Defences: 15 January 1915
Advanced Ordnance Depot Zagazig
one battalion from the 32nd (Imperial Service) Brigade
Garrison railway and Sweetwater Canal
one troop of Imperial Service Cavalry
a half company from the Birkanir Camel Corps
a half company of Indian infantry
General Reserve Camp, Moascar
31st Indian Brigade
2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry
27th Punjabis
93rd Burma Infantry
128th Pioneers
32nd (Imperial Service) Brigade
33rd Punjabis
Alwar, Gwalior and Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade less three squadrons and one troop one Egyptian RE Section (camels) one Egyptian Mountain Battery two sections of field artillery with the Cavalry Brigade Indian field ambulances.