Post by Diarist on Jul 26, 2015 8:39:14 GMT 1
After the Great War, the British defence of Egypt relied in part on the Egyptian Army. British domination of Egypt began in 1882 when troops arrived to suppress a rebellion threatening Britain’s strategic route to India, the Suez Canal. The rebellion was put down, British control established and the Egyptian Army reformed under British command. An Egyptian Army in occupation of the Sudan was defeated by the Mahdi in 1883 but the country was re-conquered by Anglo-Egyptian forces in the campaign of 1896-1898. During the Great War, Egypt was made a British Protectorate but in the face of growing and violent nationalism, independence of a kind was granted in 1922, with Britain retaining the right to intervene in Egyptian affairs if her interests were threatened. Although the Egyptian Army was transferred to the Egyptian government, Britain remained in control through the British Inspector-General.
Post-War Egyptian Forces
In 1935 there are around 12,290 officers and men in the Egyptian Army and 1,200 Royal Guards. The Guards, a mix of cavalry, infantry and motorcycles, provides a bodyguard for the King and security for the Royal palaces. The Royal Egyptian Air Force has recently formed, consisting of 15 officers, 200 men and 27 Gloster Gladiator biplanes provided by the British.
Source: British & Commonwealth Orders of Battle - homepages.force9.net/rothwell/Egypt.htm