Ras el Tin

[ddycher]

All

 

Continueing the Alexandria theme of other threads.

 

I have a working hypothesis that the Alexandria District was run from Ras el Tin and this included garrisons of initially Port Said, Khartoum, Cyprus, Malta. Mustapha supplying the garrison for Alexandria itself and detachments for Kom el Dik etc. The District Commanders before Roger Boyle took command on 9th December 1914 remain ellusive as does their command structure.

 

Can anybody help with hints / leads on how to expand on this and prove / disprove the thinking ?

 

Would appreciate some input.

 

Regards

Dave

Edited 23 September , 2017 by ddycher

[ddycher]

Teasing it alittle bit....

 

On George Mackworth Bullock's promotion from District Commander at Alexandria to GOC Force in Egypt in 1906 Alexandria was reduced to a station rather than a command and would have been commanded by the senior officer of station. However within a year events in Egypt saw a complete turn around and the FIE was quickly re-inforced; Bullock being promoted to Maj-Gen. Logic says that Alexandria would / should have been built up again. I think it was but presently have a gap to fill between Bullock and Boyle. Command structure in Alexandria at start of the war proving difficult to pin down.

 

No takers ?

 

Dave

Edited 23 September , 2017 by ddycher

[ddycher]

Cracked it.

 

The Garrison Commandant was based at Mustapha. Mustapha supplied guards / detachments required in the district including Kom el Dik (see seperate post). Between the promotion of George Bullock in 1905 and Noel Lee arriving with the Manchester Bde in September 1914. Alexandria was a Col's command.

 

Detachment at Ras el Tin was supplied by the Bn then serving in the Sudan. 2x old Coys / 1x Double Coy was split and rotated between Ras el Tin and Cyprus. This Bn also supplied 1x old Coy for the British Camel Corps between Port Soudan and Khartoum. The other wing of the British Camel Corps coming from detachments of Force Troops in Cairo. Stay in Cyprus was initially short until the Kings Own Malta Regt Militia relieved the men from Alexandria in January 1915. The KOMRM returned to Malta in September 1915. Cyprus being again covered by Alexandria. Things settled down with the arrival of the 1st GB Royal Scots in February 1916. The Royal Scots being there for the rest of the war.

 

There are also examples of occasional detachments from Mustpha pre-war to Cyprus.

 

If this is of interest to anyone. Happy to share what I have.

 

Regards

Dave

Edited 24 September , 2017 by ddycher