| Imperial Camel Corps Brigade | |
|---|---|
 A posed photograph of Australian, British, New Zealand and Indian Camel Corps troopers | |
| Active | January 1916 – May 1919 |
| Country |  British Empire |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Brigade |
| Role | Camel-mounted Infantry |
| Size | 4,150 men and 4,800 camels |
| Part of | Egyptian Expeditionary Force |
| Equipment | camel |
| Engagements | First World War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Clement Leslie SmithVC |
| Insignia | |
| Battalion Insignia |     |
TheImperial Camel Corps Brigade (ICCB) was acamel-mounted infantrybrigade that theBritish Empire raised in December 1916 during theFirst World War for service in theMiddle East.
From a small beginning the unit eventually grew to a brigade of fourbattalions, one battalion each from Great Britain and New Zealand and two battalions from Australia. Support troops included amountain artillery battery, amachine gun squadron,Royal Engineers, afield ambulance, and an administrative train.
The ICC became part of theEgyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) and fought in several battles and engagements, in theSenussi Campaign, theSinai and Palestine Campaign, and in theArab Revolt. The brigade suffered 246 men killed. The ICC was disbanded in May 1919 after the end of the war.
The advantages of camels in a desert environment are well known, and theBritish Army had raised theSomaliland Camel Corps in 1912.[1] However the British Army forces serving inEgypt at the start of theFirst World War did not possess their own camel formation. The first units of what became the Imperial Camel Corps were fourcompany-sized formations that conducted long-range patrols around theSuez Canal and theSinai Desert. The companies were raised in Egypt in January 1916 from Australians returning from the failedGallipoli Campaign. The Indianprincely state ofBikaner supplied the first camels as theBikaner Camel Corps already used camels. These camels were later only used as draught animals and the lighter Egyptian camel became the mount chosen for carrying troops. The camels could cover an average distance of 3 miles (4.8 km) an hour, or 6 miles (9.7 km) an hour trotting, while carrying a soldier, his equipment, and supplies.[2]
The camel companies consisted of a small headquarters and foursections, each of seven groups of four men. The establishment of a company was 130 men, all armed withLee–Enfields, the standard Britishbolt action rifle of the time.[2] However the move from patrol to a more active combat role in August 1916 led to a re-organisation. Each company added amachine-gun section of fifteen men with threeLewis guns; the company headquarters also received extra staff. All this increased company strength to 184 men. The four companies were expected to operate as independent units that travelled by camel but then dismounted to fight as infantrymen. Following the practise of cavalry andmounted infantry units, one man of each group of four held the camels when the team was in action, which reduced a team's firepower by a quarter. However it was soon discovered that camels were not as nervous as horses when faced with artillery and rifle fire, and one man would look after twelve to sixteen camels once the troopers had dismounted.[2]
In March 1916 six new companies were raised from Britishyeomanry regiments. Then in June another four Australian companies were raised from reinforcements intended for theAustralian Light Horse regiments. Reinforcements from New Zealand intended for theNew Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade formed two companies, one created in August and the second in November.[3]
The Imperial Camel Brigade was formed on 19 December 1916,[4][5] under the command ofBrigadier GeneralClement Leslie SmithVC.[6] The brigade originally comprised three battalions, 1st (Australian), 2nd (British), and 3rd (Australian), plus supporting units.[b] Each of the battalions had an authorised strength of 770 men and 922 camels. A battalion comprised four companies and a headquarters. The 4th (ANZAC) Battalion was raised in May 1917, but instead of increasing the brigade fighting strength, it was decided one battalion would always be resting and refitting, while three battalions served at the front.[5][7]
To complete the brigade structure and supply added firepower, the brigade received some other units: the 265th (Camel) Machine Gun Squadron, with eightVickers machine guns, and the Hong Kong and Singapore (Mountain) Battery, armed with sixBL 2.75 inch Mountain Guns. Despite their title, the battery was formed by men from theBritish Indian Army.[8] The brigade also had its ownRoyal Engineers (the 10th (Camel) Field Troop), asignal section, the Australian (Camel)Field Ambulance, and the 97th Australian Dental Unit, which with only four men was the brigade's smallest unit. The brigade included the ICC Mobile Veterinary Section, and the brigade's logistic units were the ICC Brigade Ammunition Column and the ICC Brigade Train, which carried enough supplies for five days. The total brigade strength was around 4,150 men and 4,800 camels.[5][9]
In March 1916, after two months of training, the first camel patrols left their depot atAbassi on the outskirts of Cairo to patrol theLibyan Desert. In 1915 theSenussi had attacked British and Egyptian outposts along theSuez Canal and the Mediterranean coast. The resultingSenussi Campaign was largely over by then, but the patrols were to show the Senussi that the British were watching them, and to protect the border areas.[3]
Around the same time long-range patrols, each of about thirty men, went into the south and south-east of the Sinai desert to detect anyOttoman incursion into the area. When the patrols discovered Ottoman outposts, the brigade organized a company-strength raid against the outposts. The ICC undertook similar patrols in the north to protect the rail and water lines, which were vital for any British attack.[10]
TheEgyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) went over to the offensive in theSinai Desert in August, winning theBattle of Romani. In support of these operations in December the brigade moved into the Sinai; their first large battle came during theBattle of Magdhaba on 23 December, two days after the brigade was formed.[4][10]
On 9 January 1917 the ICC was involved in another victory during theBattle of Rafa, which forced the Ottomans to withdraw the Sinai outposts towardsGaza. This also reduced the need for independent camel patrols across the Sinai; in May the EEF consolidated the now-surplus companies into a new unit, the 4th (ANZAC) Battalion.[10]
The intensity of operations grew and the ICC were next involved in the capture of the Turkish force atBir el Hassana,[c] the defeats during theFirst Battle of Gaza in March, and theSecond Battle of Gaza in April and a raid on the Sanaredoubt in August. They then had a break to refit. Subsequently, they participated in the victories in theBattle of Beersheba, theThird Battle of Gaza, and at theBattle of Mughar Ridge during October and November. By the end of the year the advance had crossed the Sinai and entered Palestine.[10]
Early in 1918, the ICC moved to the area of theJordan valley and took part in theattack in March and April. TheFirst Battle of Amman was unsuccessful; after three days of battle the British were unable to break through the Ottoman defences around the city and had to withdraw. The 4th (Anzac) Battalion did succeed in capturing Hill 3039 overlooking the city and managed to hold out for twenty-four hours in the face of artillery and infantry attacks, until ordered to withdraw.[10]
During theSecond Transjordan attack on Shunet Nimrin and Es Salt, the camel brigade were assigned the western defence of the Jordan River ford at Umm esh Shert defending the left flank of the4th Light Horse Brigade. The camel brigade was unable to support the light horsemen, which were attacked on the left flank and forced to withdraw.[11]
When the EEF advanced out of the Sinai and into Palestine, the change in terrain led to the disbandment of the ICC. In June 1918, the Australian troops were used to form the14th and15th Light Horse Regiments. The New Zealand troops formed the2nd New Zealand Machine Gun Squadron. All three units became part of the5th Light Horse Brigade. The six British companies remained part of the ICC for a while longer. Two of them fought withT. E. Lawrence in theArab Revolt, and in July 1918 carried out operations sabotaging theHejaz railway line. However, no reinforcements were assigned and the six remaining companies were reduced in strength to two before they were eventually disbanded in May 1919.[12] Brigadier-General Claude Stuart Rome took over as Colonel of the corps in June 1918.[13]
Over two years of service cost the ICC 240 deaths: 106 British, 84 Australians, 41 New Zealanders, and 9 Indians.[12][14] Amemorial to the Imperial Camel Corps was unveiled on the 22 July 1921, on theThames Embankment in London. On one side it is inscribed with the names of all the members of the corps who died during the war, while on the front is the sentiment;
To the Glorious and Immortal Memory of the Officers, N.C.O.s and Men of the Imperial Camel Corps – British, Australian, New Zealand, Indian – who fell in action or died of wounds and disease in Egypt, Sinai, and Palestine, 1916, 1917, 1918.[12]
The monument also lists all the battles and engagements fought by the corps;
The strength of the brigade/corps in the field was around 3,380 men and 3,880 camels, with one battalion resting.
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