Desert Mounted Corps

The Desert Mounted Corps was a World War I British Empire army corps that operated in the Middle East (Sinai and Palestine) during 1917 and 1918.

Desert Mounted Corps, originally Desert Column from December 1916 was commanded by Lieutenant General Henry Chauvel from establishment in August 1917 following the reorganisation of the Allied forces by General Allenby after the failure of the Second Battle of Gaza. The Desert Mounted Corps contained several Australian, British, French, Indian and New Zealand mounted units.

The Desert Mounted Corps contained:

  • Anzac Mounted Division
  • Imperial Mounted Division (later called the Australian Mounted Division)
  • Imperial Camel Corps Brigade
  • Yeomanry Mounted Division
The name of the original Desert Column was preserved as far as possible in the title of the new Cavalry Corps, as most of the troops composing it had fought throughout the Sinai Campaign, and by them much had already been accomplished. —Chauvel, 3 September 1920

In mid-1918, the Corps was reorganised again. Two British Indian Army cavalry divisions were transferred from the Western Front in France, and reorganised to incorporate three former regiments of the Yeomanry Mounted Division. The Anzac Mounted Division commanded by Chaytor became part of Chaytor's Force in September, 1918. The Imperial Camel Corps Brigade was reduced to a battalion and many of its personnel transferred to the Australian Mounted Division to form the 5th Light Horse Brigade in May/June 1918. Commanded by Chauvel, the Desert Mounted Corps now consisted of:

  • 4th Cavalry Division originally 1st Mounted Division
  • 5th Cavalry Division originally 2nd Mounted Division
  • Anzac Mounted Division
  • Australian Mounted Division

There were also seven batteries of the Royal Horse Artillery, an Armoured Car detachment and the 7th Light Car Patrol.

Read more about Desert Mounted Corps:  Order of Battle September 1918

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