Mediterranean Expeditionary Force
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| Mediterranean Expeditionary Force | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1915–1916 |
| Country |  First World War
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Sir Charles Monro (1915–1916) |
The Mediterranean Gallipoli and Salonika. It was formed in March 1915, under the command of General Sir Ian Hamilton, at the beginning of the Gallipoli campaign of the First World War.
History
The Mediterranean Expeditionary Force included the initial
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, but for the duration of the Gallipoli campaign it was General Sir Charles Monro, who had served on the Western Front
as a division, corps, and army commander, who led the MEF.
While the Gallipoli theatre was the only active
Dardanelles Army and the Salonika contingent became the Salonika Army on the Macedonian front. Once Salonika became the sole Mediterranean theatre the MEF was commanded by General Sir Archibald Murray who was based in Egypt and whose command also involved defence of the Suez Canal from Turkish attacks. As the importance of the Sinai front grew, a separate headquarters called the Egyptian Expeditionary Force
was formed (in March 1916).
Supposedly when
Lord Kitchener, was preparing the Mediterranean expedition he intended to name the headquarters the Constantinople Expeditionary Force but Hamilton suggested this might be a bit of a giveaway and also noted in his diary, "I begged him to alter this to avert Fate's evil eye."[2]
See also
- Order of battle for the Gallipoli Campaign
- Gallipoli campaign
- Dardanelles Army
References
- ISBN 978-0-90-162784-1.
- OCLC 580456.