XXI Corps (United Kingdom)

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This article is about the United Kingdom Army unit. For other units of the same name, see XXI Corps.

XXI Corps
Army Corps
Part ofEgyptian Expeditionary Force
EngagementsWorld War I
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Lt-Gen Sir Edward Bulfin

The XXI Corps was an

Sinai and Palestine Campaign. At the Battle of Sharon it fought what has been described as 'one of the most overwhelmingly successful operations of the war'[2] and 'a precursor to the modern Blitzkrieg.'[3] It then carried out remarkable march up the coast of modern-day Lebanon
as the war came to an end.

Origin

When

Major-General Edward Bulfin of 60th (2/2nd London) Division was promoted to Lieutenant-General to command the new formation, which was built up during the late summer for the resumption of the offensive in October.[6][11]

Service

XXI Corps ' commander, Sir Edward Bulfin.

Order of Battle, October 1917

The composition of the corps at the beginning of the Third Battle of Gaza was as follows:[6][12][13]

Invasion of Palestine

Third Battle of Gaza: situation at 18.00, 1 November 1917.

The EEF's offensive began with the

Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade (composed of Imperial Service Troops from the Princely states of India), which GHQ released for the task. XXI Corps Cavalry led the two brigades and quickly took Beit Lahi, but the IS Cavalry Bde had a lengthy approach march, came under fire as soon as it emerged from Gaza, and was unable to take Beit Hanoun that day. Meanwhile 157th Bde, hugging the cliffs, had advanced along the beach across the mouth of the wadi. Next day 52nd (L) Division attacked inland against Sausage Ridge, while XXI Corps Cavalry swept round Beit Hanoun, overrunning some retreating Turkish heavy artillery and making contact with the Australian Mounted Division of the DMC.[14][15][16]

The advance then continued and XXI Corps was involved in the following actions:[6]

Order of Battle, September 1918

Following the

German Spring Offensive on the Western Front in March 1918, the EEF was obliged to send reinforcements to the British Expeditionary Force. Many of its units and formations were replaced by others from the Indian Army (of the infantry divisions only 54th (East Anglian) was not 'Indianised').[17][18] The EEF was then reorganised during the summer of 1918 in preparation for the final offensive.[19][20] The composition of XXI Corps at the beginning of the Battle of Megiddo was as follows:[6][13][21][22]

Final Offensive

Progress of the Megiddo offensive

The Battle of Megiddo was launched on 19 September. XXI Corps, with five infantry divisions and a cavalry brigade, had the task of breaking through Turkish trench lines that in places were5 miles (8.0 km) deep. However, it had overwhelming superiority in artillery and was aided by deception plans. The corps had established a bridging school on the

Plain of Sharon and captured Nablus on 21 September. Action on XXI Corps' front then ceased while the rest of the EEF kept up the pressure on the Turks. The Official History described the part played by XXI Corps in the battle as 'one of the most overwhelmingly successful operations of the war', and praised the staff for their efforts to supply water as the advance progressed.[6][32][33]

After the Battle of Sharon XXI Corps' divisions were employed on salvage work and road repair. 54th (EA) Division concentrated at Haifa, 60th and 75th Divisions left the corps and came directly under GHQ, while 3rd (Indian) Division did garrison duty under the DMC. By late September the EEF was closing in on Damascus and ordered XXI Corps to secure the coast and ports of Syria. 7th (Indian) Division, which had already shown remarkable powers of marching, was ordered to march to Beirut along the coast road. Starting on 29 September, the division advanced in three columns, Column A consisted of XXI Corps Cavalry Regiment, a light armoured motor battery (armoured cars), and a single infantry company; the Indian Sapper companies and Pioneer battalion followed with Column B. On 2 October the division was confronted by the Ladder of Tyre, a narrow ancient track consisting of steps cut into the cliff. There was no alternative route. Extensive engineering work would be required to make it passable for wheeled vehicles, with the danger of the whole cliff shelf falling into the sea. After a few minutes' consideration, Bulfin ordered the engineers to begin work. The task of preparing the half-mile (800 m) track took two-and-a-half days, but was successfully completed so that the 60-pounder guns of 15th Heavy Bty, RGA, could get through. Before it was completed, XXI Corps Cavalry Regiment advanced cross-country on 4 October and entered Tyre, where the Royal Navy landed supplies for the columns. On 6 October the advanced troops secured Sidon, where further supplies were landed, and on 8 October they entered Beirut, where Corps HQ was established in the Deutscherhof' Hotel.[6][34][35]

On 11 October Column A was suddenly ordered to occupy Tripoli, 65 miles (105 km) further on, by the evening of 13 October, which it achieved, arriving in moonlight. The leading infantry brigade of 7th (Indian) Division arrived on 18 October, having covered 270 miles (430 km) in 40 days. The leading troops of 54th (EA) Division began arriving on 31 October, the day on which hostilities in the theatre were ended Armistice of Mudros.[6][36][37]

General Officers Commanding

The following officers commanded the corps during its service:[6]

  • Lieutenant-General Edward Bulfin 18 August 1917 – 13 June 1918
  • Major-General Sir Vere Fane 13 June – 14 August 1918 (acting)
  • Major-General Reginald Hoskins 14 August – 19 August 1918 (acting)
  • Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Bulfin 19 August – November 1918

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Woodward, p 100
  2. ^ Falls, p. 509.
  3. ^ Bullock, p 131.
  4. ^ Bullock, p. 67.
  5. ^ Becke, Pt 4, pp. 27–44.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Becke, Pt 4, pp. 251–5.
  7. ^ Falls, p. 16.
  8. ^ Perrett.
  9. ^ a b Lord & Watson, pp. 220, 227.
  10. ^ Sainsbury, p. 165.
  11. ^ Bourne.
  12. ^ Falls, Appendix 2.
  13. ^ a b Bullock, Appendices.
  14. ^ Bullock, pp. 73–8.
  15. ^ Falls, pp. 63–76, 129–37.
  16. ^ Sainsbury, pp. 165–7.
  17. ^ Bullock, pp. 113–4.
  18. ^ Falls, pp. 411–3, 418.
  19. ^ Bullock, pp. 121–3.
  20. ^ Falls, pp. 414–21.
  21. ^ Bullock, p. 127.
  22. ^ Falls, Appendix 3.
  23. ^ Sainsbury, p. 171.
  24. ^ Falls, p. 484.
  25. ^ a b Watson & Rinaldi, pp. 41–2.
  26. ^ Falls, p. 510.
  27. ^ Bullock, pp. 123–4.
  28. ^ Falls, p. 459.
  29. ^ Sainsbury, pp. 172–3.
  30. ^ Bullock, p. 131.
  31. ^ Falls, pp. 455–6, 464, 469–88.
  32. ^ Falls, pp. 504–11.
  33. ^ Sainsbury, pp. 174–6.
  34. ^ Falls, pp. 509–11, 602–4.
  35. ^ Sainsbury, pp. 176–7.
  36. ^ Falls, pp. 605–7.
  37. ^ Sainsbury, pp. 177–8.

References

External sources
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