EEF

[InkyBill]

Hi Pals,

I am looking at the EEF in Sinai in early 1917 but am a little confused. As i understand it two formations were created, the Eastern Force and the Desert Column.

Would i be correct in saying the former consisted of Empire troops whose main job was to look after British intrests in Egypt i.e. Lines of Communication across the desert and the Suez Canal ?

As for the Desert Column was it's job to follow up the Turkish withdrawel ?

Lastly were the 52nd, 53rd, 54th and 74th Divisions attached to the Desert Column or did they operate as part of the EEF ?

Thanks

Marc

[Guest stevenbec]

Mate,

To short cut your answer is this.

The EEF was the name given to all troops in Egypt.

This was sub divided into basic groups;

The Eastern Force ( all the Infantry Div's and others)

The Dersert Colm ( The Mounted Troops : Australian and British)

There are other parts which are The Western Field Force and Canal Defence Force and others.

This is just an easy example more detail can be found in the Offical History.

S.B

[InkyBill]

Nice one Steve,

Thanks for your answer, brief and to the point.

I'm tracing a man killed in the First Battle of Gaza but was finding the various formations of the EEF difficult to understand.

The said man served with the 1/4th Essex, 161st Brigade, 54th Division.

Cheers

Marc

[Guest stevenbec]

Basicly EEF is the Egyptian Experdionary Force which includes all soldier in the Thearte.

Eastern Force is more like a Corps Grouping which in early 1917 had the 52nd, 53rd, 54th and 74th Divisions in there with others surport units.

S.B