ddycher Posted 18 March , 2009 Share Posted 18 March , 2009 All Having been an avid fan of GWF for the last two and a half years and having followed the "Other Theatres" with particular interest I for one would like to see a dedicated platform for the study of the EEF. It is in my personal opinion a much maligned study area. Is anyone else interested in creating a tightened focus group for this force ? Moderators - is this allowed ? Not wanting to detract in any way from the bigger picture, which has been massively beneficial in my own personal research, I would love to develop a closer peer group based on common interest in this specific area. Anybody of a like mind ? regards Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KONDOA Posted 18 March , 2009 Share Posted 18 March , 2009 Dave, contrary to what you may believe, there are fewer numbers of folk interested in these other theatres than you imagine. Whilst many members read the threads there are few contributors and thus the "other theatres" heading seems to cover everything. Otherwise we would have one for the EAEF too so that the 3 or 4 of us with regular interest could post there, it would be pretty quiet most of the time though. Roop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWills Posted 18 March , 2009 Share Posted 18 March , 2009 I've been working my way through the eastern med theatres of war - Gallipoli & Salonika; starting to dabble in Mespot and starting to think about Egypt & Palestine so it fits my interests - but as others say it does not draw the crowds, though I for one would be interested. Perhaps the mods could be persuaded to split out other theatres into sections such as Italy; Salonika; Gallipoli; Mespot; Africa and others? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 19 March , 2009 Share Posted 19 March , 2009 Dave Go for it, even if you have to start a thread yourself specifically for this project. The big GWF fact of life is that most members enjoy looking at situations from a personal level, due to family interest or projects they are pursuing. This isn't going to change, nor should it, because most contributing members like researching at this level. But what we don't get enough of are contributions looking at a broader picture (where actually there is still lots of human interest), so I think that your idea is great. But always bear in mind that the wellies of the average GWF member are firmly stuck in the mud of F & F so you will have to make the running yourself. Forget the crowds, life always produces far more voyeurs than contributors - start something - I will gladly support it. Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KONDOA Posted 19 March , 2009 Share Posted 19 March , 2009 The upside for your sugestion is that a large number of British infantry were involved in the EEF so your audience may be bigger than for the EAEF. Roop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWFmedals Posted 19 March , 2009 Share Posted 19 March , 2009 A very timely thread for me. I have been searching the forum on this topic today! 30 pages of results, but I have not yet found answers to my query ..... Can one of you kind souls point me towards the right place to post a query or find the answer about the creation of the EEF in WWI ? Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herbie4798 Posted 19 March , 2009 Share Posted 19 March , 2009 Sounds a good idea Dave. The reason for my interest in the EEF is because of my Great Grandad and his Regiment, 1/10th Londons. Would be good for a dedicated Thread for the study of the EEF. I dont like the term "other theatres" As thats a very Broad term. James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 19 March , 2009 Share Posted 19 March , 2009 Can one of you kind souls point me towards the right place to post a query or find the answer about the creation of the EEF in WWI ? Richard, SIR A. MURRAY'S DESPATCHES FIRST DESPATCH, 1st June 1916 item 5, On 11th March (1916) I received instructions from the late Secretary of State for War that the command of the troops in Egypt was to be reorganised and that I was appointed General Officer Commanding-in-Chief all the Imperial Forces in this country, which added to... ... ... ... The unification of the command in Egypt made large economies in staff possible, and these were carried out at once. The Levant Base also ceased to exist. General Sir Edward Altham, K.C.B., remaining as Inspector - General of Communications. The work of reorganising the forces and staffs for the Delta and Western Frontier Force was pushed on as fast as possible. I decided to keep General Headquarters at Ismailia, and to establish at Cairo a General Officer Commanding the Delta District, who would also act as Commander of Lines of Communication Defences. For operations on the west I formed a Western Frontier Force, divided into two sections. a north-western and a south-western, divided by a line drawn east and west through Darut es Sharif. These staffs and forces were definitely established and at work by 1st April. The whole force under my command now took the name of Egyptian Expeditionary Force. These despaches are available in book/pdf format via 'archive' on the web re Dave's general idea; I concider myself very much a learner in this area, but am slowly buiding up (short) shelf of reading matter and will be glad to join in whenever I can best regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RWFmedals Posted 19 March , 2009 Share Posted 19 March , 2009 I can certainly see the benefit of more defined catagories. Even if people post there less frequently than the usual France & Flanders, Gallipoli etc - it would certainly help when searching for information. Michael Many Thanks for your interesting reply. The reason I am digging in this theatre is that I have found reference in a chaps service papers I am currently reading to being part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. What caught my eye was the dates. 10th September 1914 - 13th March 1915. I crossed referenced to his Medal Index Card, and sure enough, the theatre is shown as Egypt with a date of entry of 5th November 1914. This struck me as very early. Expanding this further across the RWF I found what would appear to be a party sent from the Royal Welch Fusiliers which consisted of 12 men men in all, all NCOs and all old sweats. 5 Colour Sergeants and 7 Sergeants. All had the same date and theatre on the MICs. The chap I am researching had requested discharge under KR 392 XXIII (Having claimed discharge after three months notice) and was discharged by 1st December 1916 (after serving over 23 years with the Colours) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddycher Posted 20 March , 2009 Author Share Posted 20 March , 2009 All Thanks for your response and support. Atleast we know there is a small core of interested parties. Will give some thought over the weekend on how to kick this off. If anybody has any ideas would really appreciate the input. Regards Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green_acorn Posted 20 March , 2009 Share Posted 20 March , 2009 I would also love to see "Other Theatres" broken down into more geographical areas, for example: Egypt, Palestine, Syria and the Arabian Peninsula (ie: The EEF Area) Mesopotamia Gallipoli Salonika and the Italian Front The Eastern Front and Russia Africa Rest of the World Perhaps even the Western Front could be sub-divided from North to South as the: Belgian and Portuguese Sector and Operations British Sector and Operations French Sector and Operations American Sub-Sector and Operations I do appreciate that when Chris Baker started the GWF, the focus was very much on the British Army in France and Flanders (I do like the gumboots analogy mentioned), but as you point out the other fronts are important and lumping them together is not good for the long term structure of the forum. I also think the forum has grown far beyond it's solely BEF origins and has become probably the single most important English language forum on the Great War, by doing some tweaking of the structure may encourage interaction in the less studied elements of the war and encourage that odd question or answer from "left field" which are so important and interesting to scholars, researchers and the interested horde like me. But at always, I am indebted to Chris Baker and subsequently the GWF Team for creating and maintaining this site, it is wonderful. Cheers, Hendo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razu Posted 20 March , 2009 Share Posted 20 March , 2009 I think anything that keeps alive the memory of those who fought in this war can only be a good thing.So that it should never be forgotten.Especially that many of them died...very young ,fighting. excerpt from Ciresoaia battle :*Fragment from a personal letter of Gramada,written with two weeks before his heroic death:"...I think very little about death and I am not at all afraid of it.I am prepared to face it.I am not afraid by the sins I commited ,because that how saint and just before God is the cause for which so much youth has dressed with the shirt of death,that all of us are awaited by eternity.I am sure of that.Our war is holly.Like I said,I regret only that I haven't linked my name with a heroic deed ,to be of use to others.But I hope in the fight that awaits me,soon God will help to acomplish a deed to cross me in imortality.(God only knows if I'm not making a sin now with my ego).I am amazed that there are still so many men left at their homes,which do not understand how much sublime beauty is in self martyr,martyr made of free will.There are moments when you fill the breath of God touching your forehead with a wind pale of wellbeing.And then you forget everything you loved in life,everything that is traveler ,like sand of the desert and you don't regret at all the world you left behind. ...God,help me to be tough,worthy and unfearful,to be able to revenge the tears of my kind for one hundred and fifty years of slavery..." With gratitude. Andrei p.s.Anyway,I think this site is making a bloody good job! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddycher Posted 22 March , 2009 Author Share Posted 22 March , 2009 All My thoughts in progressing would be to tag the top-line title on each thread with a catagory and then expand detail into the sub-title. I propose the following catagories : EEF - Organization EEF - Units EEF - People EEF - Battles EEF - Places Would atleast get it started. I will tag my relevent posts accordingly. Anybody have any alternitive thoughts or additions ? Regards Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aconnolly Posted 22 March , 2009 Share Posted 22 March , 2009 I think that seems a good idea Dave Will make topic identification easier if trying to search etc. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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