Imperial Camel Corps

Imperial Camel Corps
A posed photograph of Australian, British, New Zealand and Indian camel troops
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 Senussi Campaign Sinai and Palestine Campaign Arab Revolt
Commanders
Notable commanders	Clement Leslie Smith VC

The Imperial Camel Corps (ICC) was a camel-mounted infantry brigade, raised in January 1916, by the British Empire, for service in the Middle East, during the First World War.

From a small beginning the brigade eventually comprised four battalions, one battalion each from Great Britain and New Zealand and two battalions from Australia. Support troops, included a mountain artillery battery, a machine gun squadron, Royal Engineers, a field ambulance and an administrative train.

The ICC became part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) and fought in several battles and engagements, in the Senussi Campaign, the Sinai and Palestine Campaign and in the Arab Revolt. During which the brigade suffered several casualties and had 246 men killed the majority of them 106 British, with another forty-one from New Zealand, eighty-four from Australia and nine from India. The ICC was disbanded after the end of the war in May 1919.

Formation

Background

Australian camel company

The advantages of camels in a desert environment are well known, and the British Army had raised the Somaliland Camel Corps in 1912. However the British Army forces serving in Egypt at the start of the First World War did not possess their own camel formation. The first units of what became the Imperial Camel Corps, were four company sized formations, deployed on long range patrols around the Suez Canal and the Sinai Desert. They were raised in Egypt in January 1916, from Australians returning from the failed Gallipoli Campaign. The first camels were supplied by the Indian princely state of Bikaner, the same animals that were used by the Bikaner Camel Corps. These camels were later only used as draught animals and the lighter Egyptian camel was 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.

The camel companies were sub-divided into a small headquarters and four sections, each of seven groups of four men. The establishment of a company was 130 men, all armed with the standard British bolt action rifle of the time the Lee-Enfield. However the move from patrol to a more combat role in August 1916, led to a re-organisation. Each company was expanded with the addition of a machine-gun section, of fifteen men and three Lewis guns; extra staff were also assigned to the company headquarters, increasing the company strength to 184 men. The four companies were expected to operate as independent units which travelled by camel then dismounted to fight as infantrymen. Following the practise used in cavalry and mounted infantry units, one man of each group of four was nominated to hold the camels when in action, reducing their 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 they dismounted.

In March 1916 six new companies were raised from men that had been serving in British yeomanry regiments. Then in June another four Australian companies were raised, from reinforcements intended for the Australian Light Horse regiments. Reinforcements from New Zealand intended for the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade were used to form two companies one in August and the second in November.

Brigade

The Hong Kong and Singapore (Mountain) Battery

By December 1916, the decision was made to expand and form the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade. Commanded by Brigadier General Clement Leslie Smith VC, the brigade originally comprised three battalions, 1st (Australian), 2nd (British), 3rd (Australian) and supporting units. 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, and three battalions serving at the front.

To complete the brigade structure, and supply added firepower other units were assigned. Including the Hong Kong and Singapore (Mountain) Battery armed with six BL 2.75 inch Mountain Guns, the battery was formed by men from the British Indian Army, and the 265th (Camel) Machine Gun Squadron, with eight Vickers machine guns. The brigade also had their own Royal Engineers the 10th (Camel) Field Troop, a signal section and from Australia the Australian (Camel) Field Ambulance and the 97th Australian Dental Unit, which with only four men was the brigade's smallest unit. The rest of the brigade was the ICC Mobile Veterinary Section, and their 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.

Operational history

1916

Imperial Camel Corps at the Battle of Magdhaba

In March 1916, after training for two months the first camel patrols left their depot at Abassi on the outskirts of Cairo and were sent to patrol the Libyan desert. In 1915 the Senussi had attacked British and Egyptian outpost along the Suez canal and the Mediterranean coast. The resulting Senussi Campaign was largely over by then, but the patrols were to show the Senussi that the British were watching them and protect the border areas. Around the same time long-range patrols, each of about thirty men, were sent into the south and south-east of the Sinai desert. Their objective was to detect any Ottoman incursion into the area. When they discovered Ottoman outposts a company strength raid was organised against them. Similar patrols in the north were undertaken to protect the rail and water lines, which were vital for any British attack. The Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) went over to the offensive in the Sinai Desert in August, winning the Battle of Romani. In support of these operations in December the brigade moved into the Sinai; their first large battle came during the Battle of Magdhaba on 23 December.

1917

Not long after the start of the new year on 9 January the ICC, was involved in another victory during the Battle of Rafa, which forced the Ottomans to withdraw the Sinai outposts towards Gaza. This also reduced the need for independent camel patrols across the Sinai and the surplus companies were consolidated with the formation of the 4th (ANZAC) Battalion in May.

The intensity of operations grew and the ICC were next involved in the Battle of Hassana, the defeats during the First Battle of Gaza in March, and the Second Battle of Gaza in April and a raid on the Sana redoubt in August. They then had a break to refit and fought in the victories in the Battle of Beersheba, the Third Battle of Gaza and at Battle of Mughar Ridge during October and November. By the end of the year the advance had crossed the Sinai and entered Palestine.

ICC troops crossing the River Jordan to attack Amman April 1918

1918

Early in 1918, the ICC moved to the area of the Jordan valley and took part in the raid on Amman in March and April. The raid led to a three day battle but 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.

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 the 14th and 15th Light Horse Regiments. While the New Zealand troops formed the 2nd New Zealand Machine Gun Squadron, all three became part of the 5th Light Horse Brigade. The six British companies remained part of the ICC for a while longer. Two of them fought with T.E. Lawrence in the Arab Revolt, and in July 1918 carried out operations sabotaging the Hejaz 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.

Aftermath

In over two years of service including much combat, two hundred and forty six members of the corp died, one hundred and six of them British, eighty-four Australians, forty-one New Zealanders, and nine from India.

Imperial Camel Corps London memorial

A memorial to the Imperial Camel Corps was unveiled on the 22 July 1921, on the Thames 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.

It also lists all the battles and engagements fought by the corps;

• 1916: Romani, Baharia, Mazar, Dakhla, Maghara, El. Arish, Maghdaba
• 1917: Rafa, Hassana, Gaza 1, Gaza 2, Sana Redoubt, Beersheba, Bir Khu Weilfe, Hill 265
• 1918: Amman, Jordan Valley, Mudawar (Hedjaz)

Order of battle

The strength of the brigade/corps in the field was around 3,380 men and 3,880 camels, with one battalion resting.

• Brigade Headquarters (40 men)
• 1st (Australian) Battalion (770 men)
• 2nd (British) Camel Battalion (770 men)
• 3rd (Australian) Camel Battalion (770 men)
• 4th (ANZAC) Camel Battalion (770 men)

• Hong Kong and Singapore (Mountain) Battery (255 men)
• 265th (Camel) Machine Gun Squadron (115 men)
• 10th (Camel) Field Troop, Royal Engineers (71 men)
• Signal Section, ICC Brigade (30 men)
• Australian (Camel) Field Ambulance (185 men)
• 97th Australian Dental Unit (4 men)
• ICC Mobile Veterinary Section (42 men)
• ICC Brigade Ammunition Column (75 men)
• ICC Brigade Train (245 men)

References

Footnotes

Citations

Bibliography

• Clayton, Anthony; Killingray, David (1989). Khaki and blue: military and police in British colonial Africa. Africa series. Volume 51 of Monographs in international studies. Ohio University Center for International Studies. ISBN 9780896801479. 

Further reading

War diaries

• AWM4/11/1/1: February 1917 unit diary
• AWM4/11/10/1: 1st Company, ICC.
• AWM4/11/11/1: 2nd Company, ICC.
• AWM4/11/2/1-11/2/16: HQ Imperial Camel Brigade.
• AWM4/11/6/1-11/6/4: 1st Battalion, ICC.
• AWM4/11/8/1-11/8/5: 3rd Battalion, ICC.
• AWM4/11/9/1-11/9/5: 4th Battalion, ICC.

Books

• Langley, G.F. (1976). Sand, Sweat and Camels: the Australian companies of the Imperial Camel Corps. Lowden Publishing. ISBN 9780909706517. 
• Inchbald, Geoffrey (1970). Imperial Camel Corps. Johnson. ISBN 0853070946. 
• Lawrence, T.E. (1962). Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Penguin Books Ltd. ISBN 0140016961. 

External links

• Imperial War Museum information film clip
• Danish Military History Society article (in Danish)