Middle East 1915

Alexandria April 1915: 2nd South Midland Brigade in Camp

Early in the war the British had decided to garrison Egypt in order to protect the main British interests in the Middle East which, of course, included the Suez Canal. The need for forces in that area gained momentum when, in October 1914, the Turks entered the war on the side of Germany and the Central Powers. In April 1915 the Second Mounted Division was sent from England as reinforcements for the Egyptian Garrison. The Berkshire Yeomanry arrived in Alexandria on 20 April and the regiment’s horses arrived the following day.

Disembarkation was competed on 21 April, and thence through the streets to Brigade Camp at el Zahria, to the north of the city near the sea. The march from the docks through the streets of Alexandria was an experience of the maximum novelty, with almost none of the men having been east before, so the babel of tongues, the variety of clothes and general strangeness of the place were remarkable to all.

Tpr Claude Webb writing home: Here we are on the sunny plains of Egypt with the sun scorching hot, so hot in fact that we are not allowed outside our tents without our sun helmets on. We are surrounded by date palms and banana trees. We are up at 5 every morning. Roll call and orders at 5.30; then stables and turn out at 6.30 for exercise. Back at 8.15 water and feed. Breakfast at 8.30. Then stables from 9.30 until 11, after which we do nothing except water and feed at 1 pm and 5 pm, when we finish for the day. It is too hot during the day to do anything but lie about and wash ourselves to keep cool.

Early in May 1915 the Brigade was ordered to move to Cairo, and on 3 May the Berkshire Yeomanry entrained in Alexandria, arriving at Cairo the next day, where they occupied the Kasr el Nil Barracks. Other elements of the Brigade: Bucks Yeo, Dorset Yeo and Brigade Signal Troop were accommodated at Citadel Barracks.

Kasr el Nil, or Palace of the Nile, was pleasantly situated on the banks of the Nile on the extreme west of the town, near the Great Nile Bridge connecting Gezireh (Island), then the residential quarter of the "fashionable world". On the island were the grounds of the Khedival Sporting Club, the racecourse, and the beautifully laid out grounds of Esbekiyeh Park. The club and racecourse were favourite resorts of the officers, while Esbekiyeh Park, with a YMCA pavilion and other attractions by the side of the river, was largely frequented by the men. The YMCA facilities were highly regarded. Rooms and grounds were placed at the disposal of the troops, and all the men were made very welcome, a kindness much appreciated.

BY trooper: We are about fifteen minutes camel ride from the centre of the town and right on the bank of the Nile, and we get some very welcome breezes from it. From our balcony we get a fine view of the Pyramids eight miles away. I went there last Sunday and had a good look round. It is very interesting especially inside the Great Pyramid, also there is a fine view from the top. Cairo is a fine place, with little streets and trams.

All drill and training was carried out in the early morning. The desert provided a magnificent training ground, and full use was made of its possibilities for practising advance guard, rear guard and patrol work in all its branches. This work in an open country, devoid of habitation or landmarks, and of confusing character, did a great deal towards developing the initiative of the men. Exercises of all kinds, courses of instruction, bayonet fighting, inspections, alarms and excursions were to keep all ranks busy.

D Squadron at Kasr-el-Nil Barracks

Few would forget the dense clouds of sand stirred up, or the extraordinary formations in which the Brigade found itself when the halt had been sounded and the dust allowed to subside. The difficulties greatly improved both squadron and troop leading, and it was not long before dust clouds appeared to be no handicap. Tpr Fred Colebrook: We were in the saddle for six hours almost without dismounting, and travelling at a good pace all the time. The ground is pretty rough and it is full of rifle pits and trenches. About six fellows were thrown, but I was fortunate and had no such mishaps. We had two sword charges which were pretty exciting as there is such a cloud of dust that it is as a rule impossible to see more than a horse’s length in front of you.

Guard duties and prisoner escort duties were frequent and often varied. Guards were mounted on the principal places such as the houses of the High Commissioner and General Maxwell (GOC British Forces in Egypt), banks, embassies, hospitals, and so on. Colebrook: Last night I was a guard at the National Bank of Egypt. We had to patrol the inside of the bank and the vaults with fixed bayonets and loaded rifle. We also have to find a guard for the Turkish prisoners at the Red Cross Hospital.

Training also included trench digging, a relatively new requirement. Colebrook: On 9 July we went over to Abbassia and linked the horses on the sand out there at about 8 pm and then proceeded to dig trenches which we did all through the night until 4 am only knocking off for two hours rest, and two lots of tea and biscuits.

On 19 July the Brigade moved from Kasr el Nil and Citadel to Abbassia Barracks, situated on the eastern side of Cairo on the fringe of the desert. These barracks were the largest and finest of the British garrisons in Egypt and much closer to the desert training areas.

Towards the end of July rumours began of a move to Gallipoli where the British and Empire forces had been fighting the Turks since April. On 30 July the Division was ordered to hold itself in readiness for an immediate move and the move was confirmed on 10 August. The few days left before the move were spent in re- organisation, handing in swords and saddles, drawing infantry equipment and in infantry training.

Major Hughes, several officers, SSM Bill Cox, 16 sergeants and about 80 men of the Berkshire Yeomanry were left behind as rear party to look after the regiment’s horses. Eventually all the rear parties from the Division were grouped together in Abbassia Barracks. Sgt John Sell on 1 September: “I am still here with the horses. There are thousands of them here and I don't know what they are going to do with them”. As it later transpired, theirs was not to be a quiet life and many were to become embroiled in the sharp fighting in the Western Desert described later in this article.

Summer 1915: Turkish prisoners in Cairo