What was the Desert Mounted Corps in WW1?
The Desert Mounted Corps was a major Allied Cavalry Force of the
Middle East campaign during World War One. In June 1917, Sir Edmund
‘Bull' Allenby took command of the Allied Forces (Egyptian Expeditionary Force) in the Middle East. He
set about reorganising this Force. The Desert Mounted Corps was to be commanded by
the Australian Sir H.G. Chauvel. Leading up to the formation of the Corps, Chauvel
had been successful at the Battles of Gaza, Romani and Rafa while
commanding the Anzac Mounted
Desert Mounted Corps HQ Staff - Harry Chauvell
first row 2nd left
Division. In 1916, the Anzac Mounted
Division had became part of the newly formed Desert Column under command of
Major-General Sir Philip Chetwode, In August 1917, Chauvel learned that
Allenby was to rename the Desert Column, he requested it be called the
Desert Mounted Corps. At that time, Chauvel received a major promotion
when he was given command of the Desert Mounted Corps. The Desert
Mounted Corps consisted of the Anzac Mounted Division, the Australian
Mounted Division (both of which comprised in part of various Australian Light Horse
Regiments), the newly formed Yeomanry Mounted Division and the Imperial
Camel Corps Brigade (French Cavalry being added in the final stages of
the war)
The
Corps took a major roll in pushing the Ottoman (Turkish) forces from
the Suez Canal area, and then into the Sinai Desert and further into
Palestine. Under Chauvel’s leadership the Corps took part in many famous
Battles which included the Battle of Beersheba in October 1917, Allenby’s Battle of Megiddo in 1918 and the subsequent capture of Damascus. first row 2nd left
Above information from Australian Light Horse History Books
