Jump to content
Free downloads from TNA ×
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Dunsterforce


Will O'Brien

Recommended Posts

I have come across a reference to 'Dunsterforce', a grouping of elite Allied (British & Dominion) troops, serving in Mesopotamia. Unfortunately other than that they were led by a General Dunsterville & they were operating in the Baku region in 1918 I can find little out about them..............Can anyone add to this?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From the official Canadian account:

"...the advance of Bolsheviks (and Austrian prisoners of war freed by them) into the area east of the Caspian must be checked, or they would join with hostile elements there to form a serious threat to Afghanistan and India. Finally, if the Eastern front was to be restored, the Caspian and its shipping must be under Allied control, and this meant that Baku had to be taken and defended against the

Turks. (It was clear at the beginning of 1918 that sufficient British forces were not available from any theatre for dispatch to this area. As an indication of what an adequate force might be, the Caucasus-Persian front had been held by between 100,000 and 200,000 Russian troops; many, indeed, were still in Persia, but it was evident that they could not be relied on much longer as an effective barrier to hostile penetration eastwards. Another barrier was urgently required, but how was it to be provided? It seemed that to organize a local defensive force from Georgians, Armenians, Assyrians, and Russian volunteers was the only feasible answer. (The Campaign in Mesopotamia, 102-3). To this end, a British Mission to the Caucasus was authorized by the War Office on 14 January 1918. At its head was Major-General L.C. Dunsterville, who arrived in Baghdad from India on the

18th with orders to proceed to Tiflis as British representative to the Trans-Caucasian Government. It was foreseen that he would need 150 officers and 300 N.C.Os. – who were the nucleus of Dunsterforce – for the main purpose “of organizing, training, and leading native troops to be raised from the tribes of Asia Minor and Mesopotamia.” (Ibid., 104-5. Report of the Ministry, O.M.F.C. 1918, 20.)

To Dunsterforce, Canada contributed 15 officers and 26 N.C.Os., of “strong character, adventurous spirit, especially good stamina, capable of organizing, training, and eventually leading, irregular troops”. (“The Dunsterforce”, file G.A.Q. 10-28). All came from the Canadian Corps (although three who were medically unfit were replaced in England) and left the Western Front for England on 13 January."

And of Dunsterville himself:

"Lionel Charles Dunsterville (1865-1946) was responsible for leading the so-called 'Dunsterforce' across present-day Iran in an attempt to prevent an invasion of India by a combined Germano-Turkish force.

Dunsterville as commissioned into the British Army - into the infantry - in 1884, prior to transferring to with the Indian Army for service on the Northwestern Frontier, Waziristan and later in China. Dunsterville's First World War service saw him initially posted to India prior to his appointment at the close of 1917 to lead an Allied force (comprised of Australian, British, Canadian and New Zealand troops) across Persia in an effort to prevent a (somewhat unlikely) invasion of India by Germany and Turkey and also to aid in the establishment of an independent Trans-Caucasia.

Dunsterville duly led his force of under 1,000 elite troops (drawn from the Mesopotamian and Western Fronts and accompanied by armoured cars) from Hamadan some 350km across Persia before they were turned back by 3,000 Russian revolutionary troops at Enzeli. Fresh from this remarkable demonstration of leadership and logistics Dunsterville was next tasked with the occupation of Baku, a key oil port. This expedition too was ultimately abandoned on 14 September 1918 in the face of overwhelming Turkish opposition (amounting to 14,000 Turkish troops, although the port fell to the Allies within two months as a consequence of the Turkish armistice).

Promoted to Major-General in 1918, Dunsterville (the basis for Rudyard Kipling's character "Stalky") died in 1946."

Hope that helps....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi there

A couple of good books on Central Asia and intelligence and The Gerat Game, both by Peter Hopkirk, On Secret Service East of Constantinople, and Setting the East Ablaze.

Dunsterforce is mentioned in them -- along with everything else that was going on as Tsarist Russia collapsed and the Soviet Union emerged.

They are both very well written.

Hope this helps

Tim :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a book on the Australian/NZ part of this war. It is called "With Horse and Morse in Mesopotamia" by Keast Burke.

It gives details (Nominal rolls) of Dunster force and the Anzac members who went.

But the main book is abut the Aussie Signals teams operating with British units during the war in Mesopotamia. But has much on all aussie units in country including the half flight.

Has many photos and much back ground detail.

S.B

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Will,

I suspect that the best source on this activity is probably the British Official History. Its by Brig-Gen F J Moberley C.B., C.S.I., D.S.O., p.s.c (what a lot of letters). "The Campaign in Mesopotamia" which is abbreviated to Mesopotamia Campaign comes in four volumes. Dunsterville and Dunsterforce activities are covered in volume 4 at some length. For some reason the original volume 4 (1927) is less common that the previous three volumes but it was reprinted by Battery Press/IWM in 1997 and you should be able to find a copy or order it through a library (or consult it at the IWM/British Library or similar)

Martin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Major-General L C Dunsterville wrote an account of the campaign in 'The Adventures of Dunsterforce' which must have been published in the 1920s. My copy is a book club reprint from 1932.

The book is most interesting and quite readable, ie unlike some autobiographies, it's not an epic of self justification. Worth reading if you can find it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One of the Australian members who served in Dunsterforce was a Captain Stan Savige of the 24th Bn AIF.

In his biography 'There goes a Man' the Dunsterforce aspect of his career is given quite a good coverage. The account about how a small group of Australians, Candians & Kiwis defended a refugee column from marauding hordes makes very interesting reading.

In WW2 Savige went on to command an Australian division.

Charles Bean, the Australian historian also wrote a bit about Dunsterforce and you should be able to access that through his online histories on the Australian War Memorial Website.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have all 4 volumes of the official campaign history for Mesopotamia and also the single volume for operations in Persia. I will take a look tonight when I get home.

Steve

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Ian Bowbrick

I osted a thread on the Dunster Force some months ago purely because I had found a piccie of the man himself. Will post it again if I can find it.

Ian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Many thanks to everyone who has contributed :D .................lots of excellent info which has been very useful indeed..............also thanks for the pointers on additional reading................will be making a trip to the local library at the weekend to see which of the suggested books I can order through the inter-library loan service................Ian if you can find the picture that would be great........its always nice to be able to put a face to the man.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The photograph of the author attached below is the frontispiece to "The Adventures of Dunsterforce".

I hope it's interesting.

post-5-1076449444.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Related to Dunsterforce is Bridgesforce, a group of 14th Hussars who were formed to protect Dunsterforce's lines of communication.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
Guest Kasvin847

Came across the piece on Dunsterforce. My grandfather served in the force. He didn't say alot about it in front of me (I was only a young lad). We do know that he was a private in the Hampshire Regiment. We have a couple of pictures of him with a 'white russian' soldier who he became friends with. In the time that he was in the force he never received any mail and none of his mail that he sent to his fisnce arrived. An aunt of mine did try to find out from the Hampshire regimental museum about the force but they could not help. So it has been interesting reading some of the messages.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The 14th Hussars and additional units were known as 'Bridges Column' after Lieutenant Colonel E J Bridges, 14th Hussars. By the way, any cavalry in the Hampshire photos???

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sorry, Patrick is right, Bridges Column. I have not read my notes in ages.

All the best

Chris

P.S. Patrick, I have Bridges medals and have been looking for some copies of some decent photos of the 14th Hussars 1914-18, could you shoot me an Email ?

Thanks

Chris

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

Does anyone have any information on the armoured car units attached to Dunsterforce, I believe one was the Russia armoured car unit transferred from Murmansk but can't find any more details other than they operated Lanchester armoured cars.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 6 years later...

Nice find, I will add this to the CEF Study Group List of Recommended Great War Websites and include you as the referral. Included is the current list of books from Archive.Org. We are always looking for additional material. The Dunsterforce abstract has been bolded. Borden Battery

Great War Document Download Websites - Part 27

Note: CEF Study Group member websites denoted with asterisk " * "

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Archive Dot Org Website

The following books are presented on Archive Dot Org and represent a growing resource of scanned texts in the public domain. A consortium of universities is scanning a wide range of older text-books including the following sample on the Great War. These texts can be down-loaded free of charge. [Recommendation by Bro with URL linkages provided by Chris Wight][CEF Study Group - Updated Aug 2010]

http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=military

REGIMENTAL HISTORIES

_________________________________

Canada's Hundred Days - With the Canadian Corps from Amiens to Mon, Aug. 8 - Nov. 11, 1918.

By J. F. B. Livesay

This is a remarkable on-line document - period. I would recommend any student of the Canadian Corps download this pdf. reference document which can also be “key-word” searched for specific units and events. While there are some dated patriotic comments and hyperbole at times, this 1919 document also contains some detailed and important information on the Canadian Corps' military activities during the Last Hundred Days and its interactions with both British and French army units. Information on specific Battalions and heroic individuals is extensive. This book also provides some significant insight into the detailed battle movements of specific units with some remarkable coordination of attacking battalion movements with artillery which was far more sophisticated than just the “rolling barrage”. There is also [perhaps the first] an outline of modern tank tactics which may pre-date the written theories of both Liddell-Hart and Major Fuller. Highly recommended. [marc leroux Recommendation][CEF Study Group - July 2006]

http://www.archive.org/details/canada100days00liveuoft

The Story of the 6th Battalion, the Durham Light Infantry : France, April 1915-Nov. 1918

Ainsworth, Ralph Bignell, Sir St. Catherine Press , London, 1919 [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/6thbattaliondur00ainuoft

Short History of the London Rifle Brigade

– Anonymous, Compiled regimentally [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/londonrifle00regiuoft

The Fifth Battalion Highland Light Infantry in the war, 1914-1918

- Anonymous [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/5thbattalionHLI00fiftuoft

With a Highland Regiment in Mesopotamia, 1916-1917

Blampied, H. J. [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/highlandregiment00blamuoft

The War Service of the 1/4 Royal Berkshire Regiment (T.F.)

Cruttwell, Charles Robert Mowbray Fraser [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/warserviceberk00crutuoft

The Incomparable 29th and the "River Clyde"

Davidson, George [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/incomparable00daviuoft

The Doings of the Fifteenth Infantry Brigade, August 1914 to March 1915

Gleichen, Edward, Lord [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/fifteenthbrigad00gleiuoft

War History of the 18th (S.) Battalion Durham Light Infantry

Lowe, William Douglas [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/18thdurham00loweuoft

A History of the 1st Battalion, the Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's) : July 1st, l916, to the End of the War

Majendie, V. H. B. [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/somersettinfantry00majeuoft

A Short History of the 6th Division Aug. 1914- March 1919

Marden, Thomas Owen, Sir [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/hist6thdivision00marduoft

Breaking the Hindenburg Line the Story of the 46th (North Midland) Division

Priestley, Raymond Edward, Sir [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/breakhindenburg00priesuoft

The Story of the 2/4th Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry

Rose, G. K. [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/24thoxfordshire00roseuoft

The Fifty-First in France

Ross, Robert B. - Illustrated by Jessie K. Ross [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/fiftyfirstfrance00rossuoft

The History of the 7th Battalion Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders

Sandilands, J W. [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/7thbattcameron00sanduoft

War Diary of the Fifth Seaforth Highlanders, 51st (Highland) Division

Sutherland, D. [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/51stseaforth00sunduoft

The 23rd (Service) Battalion Royal Fusiliers (First Sportsman's) : A Record of its Services in the Great War, 1914-1919 Ward, Fred W. [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/23rdfusiliers00warduoft

The Sherwood Foresters in the Great War, 1914-1919, 1/8th Battalion

Weetman, W. C. C. [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/forestersgreatwar00weetuoft

A Short History of the 39th (Deptford) Divisional Artillery 1915-1918

Wiebkin, H. W. [Recommended by [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/39thartillery00weibuoft

The Seventh Manchesters July 1916 to March 1919

Wilson, S. J. [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/sevenmanchester00wilsuoft

A History of No. 7. (Queen's) Canadian General Hospital, March, 26th, 1915-Nov. 15th, 1917 ([1917])

[Recommended by Tighe McManus][CEF Study Group – Nov 2007]

http://www.archive.org/details/historyofno7quee00canauoft

Fourth Canadian Infantry Brigade; history of operations, April, 1915, to demobilization ([1919])

[Recommended by Tighe McManus][CEF Study Group – Nov 2007]

http://www.archive.org/details/fourthcanadianin00coopuoft

From B.C. to Baisieux; being the narrative history of the 102nd Canadian Infantry Battalion (1919)

[Recommended by Tighe McManus][CEF Study Group – Nov 2007]

http://www.archive.org/details/frombctobaisieux00gouluoft

Through the Hindenburg Line; crowning days on the western front (1918)

[Recommended by Tighe McManus[CEF Study Group – Nov 2007]

http://www.archive.org/details/throughhindenbur00mckeuoft

Thirty Canadian V. C s. : 23rd April 1915 to 30th March 1918 ([1918?])

[Recommended by Tighe McManus][CEF Study Group – Nov 2007]

http://www.archive.org/details/thirtycanadianvc00canauoft

Canada's Triumph from Amiens to Mons; August to November 1918 ([1918?])

[Recommended by Tighe McManus][CEF Study Group – Nov 2007]

http://www.archive.org/details/canadastriumphfr00jameuoft

Two Years of War as Viewed from Ottawa

a special issue of 'The Civilian' giving some account of the war work of the Civil Service of Canada, 1914-1916 (1916) [Recommended by Tighe McManus][CEF Study Group – Nov 2007]

http://www.archive.org/details/twoyearsofwarasv00ottauoft

Canada in the Great World War

An authentic account of the military history of Canada from the earliest days to the close of the war of the nations ([c1918-1921]) - This is Volume 4 that was previously not available online. [Recommended by Tighe McManus][CEF Study Group – Nov 2007]

http://www.archive.org/details/canadaingreatwor04torouoft

Canada in Khaki

A tribute to the officers and men now serving in the overseas military forces of Canada [Recommended by [Recommended by Tighe McManus][CEF Study Group – Nov 2007]

http://www.archive.org/details/canadainkhakitri00torouoft

Pictorial History of the Great War ([c1919])

[Recommended by Tighe McManus][CEF Study Group – Nov 2007]

http://www.archive.org/details/pictorialhistory00duncuoft

No. 8 Canadian Field Ambulance: Canada, England, France, Belgium, 1915-1919 (1920)

[Recommended by Tighe McManus][CEF Study Group – Nov 2007]

http://www.archive.org/details/historicalrecord00gunnuoft

War story of the Canadian Army Medical Corps ([1918])

[Recommended by Tighe McManus][CEF Study Group – Nov 2007]

http://www.archive.org/details/warstoryofcanadi01adamuoft

Second Canadian Divisional Ammunition Column (1921) (Excerpts)

[Recommended by Tighe McManus][CEF Study Group – Nov 2007]

http://www.archive.org/details/extractsfromward00claruoft

The History of the Fifty-fifth Battery, C.F.A. (1919)

[Recommended by Tighe McManus][CEF Study Group – Nov 2007]

http://www.archive.org/details/historyoffiftyfi00macauoft

The Adventures of Dunsterforce (1920)

[Recommended by Gibbo - GWF][CEF Study Group – Oct 2010]

http://www.archive.org/details/adventuresofduns00dunsrich

________________________________

PERSONAL NARRATIVES

"Contemptible"

- Anonymous [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/contemptible00casuuoft

Diary of a Nursing Sister on the Western Front, 1914-1915

- Anonymous [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/diarynursesisterwestfront00blacuoft

A Soldier's Diary

Atkinson, George Scott [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/asoldiersdiary00scotuoft

The Fighting Mascot : The True Story of a Boy Soldier

Bacon, E. L. [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/thefightingmascot00kehouoft

A Kut Prisoner

Bishop, Harry C. W. [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/akutprisoner00bishuoft

Q. 6. a and Other Places : Recollections of 1916, 1917, 1918

Buckley, Francis [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/q6aandotherplaces00buckuoft

"We'll Stick to the Finish!" : "C'est la Guerre" (It is the War) : A Voice from the Soldiers and Sailors Overseas

Chapple, Joe Mitchell [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/tothefinish00chapuoft

Duty and Service : Letters from the Front

Crouch, Lionel William [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/dutyandservice00crouuoft

The Soul of the War

Gibbs, Philip [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/soulofwar00gibbuoft

Golden Lads

Gleason, Arthur [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/goldenlads00gleauoft

Kitchener's Mob ; The Adventures of an American in the British Army

Hall, James Norman [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/kitchenersmob00halluoft

A Soldier's Sketches Under Fire

Harvey, Harold [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/soldierssketches00harvuoft

All in It : "K (1)" Carries On

Hay, Ian [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/allinit00hayuoft

Letters to Helen : Impressions of an Artist on the Western Front

Henderson, Keith [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/letterstohelen00henduoft

One Young Man

Hodder-Williams, John Ernest, Sir [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/oneyoungman00willuoft

Two Men : A Memoir

Howson, Hugh E. E. [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/twomenmemoir00soutuoft

My Home in the Field of Honour

Huard, Frances Wilson [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/fieldofhonour00huaruoft

War Letters of a Public-School Boy

Jones, Henry Paul Mainwaring [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/warletterschoolboy00joneuoft

With the Immortal Seventh Division

Kennedy, Edmund John [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/immortalseventh00kennuoft

A Minstrel in France

Lauder, Harry, Sir [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/aminstrelinfrance00lauduoft

Letters of the Lt.-Col. George Brenton Laurie (Commanding 1st Battn. Royal Irish Rifles): Dated November 4th, 1914-March 11th, 1915 Laurie, George Brenton [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/lettersoflaurie00vereuoft

On the King's Service : Inward Glimpses of Men at Arms

Logan, Innes [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/onthekingsservice00logauoft

The Amateur Army

MacGill, Patrick [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/theamateurarmy00macguoft

The Red Horizon

MacGill, Patrick [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/redhorizon00macguoft

Letters from France

Mack, Isaac Alexander [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/lettersfrance00mackuoft

My War Experiences in Two Continents

Macnaughtan, Sarah [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/wartwocontinents00macnuoft

Blood & Iron: Impressions from the Front in France & Flanders

McNair, Wilson [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/bloodandiron00mcnauoft

Leaves From a Field Note-Book

Morgan, John Hartman [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/leavesfieldnotebook00morguoft

On the Fringe of the Great Fight

Nasmith, George Gallie [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/onthefringe00nasmuoft

Pushed and the Return Push

Nichols, G. H. F. [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/pushreturnpush00quexuoft

Englishman, Kamerad! Right of the British Line

Nobbs, Gilbert [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/englishmankamerad00nobbuoft

Letters from Mesopotamia in 1915 and January, 1916

Palmer, Robert [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/mesopotamia00palmuoft

Ladies from Hell

Pinkerton, Robert Douglas [CEF Study Group] [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/ladiesfromhell00pinkuoft

Three Years in France with the Guns: Being Episodes in the Life of a Field Battery

Rose, C A. [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/yearsinfrance00roseuoft

A Soldier of England : Memorials of Leslie Yorath Sanders

Sanders, Leslie Yorath [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/soldierofengland00sanduoft

From Mons to Loos : Being the Diary of a Supply Officer

Stewart, Herbert Arthur [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/frommonstoloos00stewuoft

The Leicestershires Beyond Baghdad

Thompson, Edward John [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/beyondbaghdad00thomuoft

Field Hospital & Flying Column : Being the Journal of an English Nursing Sister in Belgium & Russia

Thurstan, Violetta [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/fieldhosflyingcolumn00thuruoft

Combed Out

Voigt, F. A. [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/combedout00voiguoft

Adventures of a Despatch Rider

Watson, William Henry Lowe [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/advdespatchrider00watsuoft

How I Filmed the War : A Record of the Extraordinary Experiences of the Man Who Filmed the Great Somme Battles Warren, Low [CEF Study Group]

http://www.archive.org/details/ifilmedwar00maliuoft

Link to comment
Share on other sites

L.C. Dunsterville has an entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online - http://oxforddnb.com/index.jsp - using your library card number it should be possible to access this via home computer. If not pop round to the public library who will be able to help.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tried to edit the last post but it wouldn't - so here is a quotation from the ODNB article:

"He vividly describes the effects of halting a company in hobnailed boots on the ice, [and of] playing early morning music for the Royal Navy (the officers of the Algerian threatened to open fire if the noise did not cease at once) "

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Will

I found this on Dunsterforce

http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/great-war-on-land/general-interest/175-dunster-force.html

I know you already got quite a lot of material to go through ?

best reguards

Ian

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
×
×
  • Create New...