Iraqforce
Encyclopedia
Iraqforce was a British
and Commonwealth
formation that came together in the Kingdom of Iraq
. The formation fought in the Middle East
during World War II
.
that landed in Basra
were initially known as Sabine Force and were under the command of Major-General
W.A.K. Fraser
. From 8 May 1941, Fraser was replaced and the forces in Basra were commanded by Lieutenant-General Edward Quinan
. On 18 June, Quinan was placed in command of all ground forces in Iraq which included both Sabine Force and British Forces in Iraq. Iraqforce was the name of the combined forces. From 21 June, Iraqforce became known as the Iraq Command. On 1 September 1941, after Persia (modern Iran
) was secured, Iraq Command was re-named "Persia and Iraq Force" or Paiforce. Paiforce was still commanded by Quinan and he still reported to India Command.
Iraqforce was variously part of India Command, Middle East Command
, and, finally, Persia and Iraq Command
.
, the British Army
defeated the Ottoman Army on the Middle Eastern Front
during the Mesopotamian Campaign
. Subsequently, the League of Nations
designated Mesopotamia
as a mandate territory
, the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. From 1920 to the early 1930s, "RAF Iraq Command
" was created as an inter-service
command
in charge of all British
forces in the mandate-controlled Kingdom of Iraq
. The command consisted of Royal Air Force
, Royal Navy
, British Army
, Commonwealth
, and locally raised units and was commanded by an RAF officer normally of Air Vice-Marshal
rank.
In 1932, the British mandate in Iraq ended. However, per the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty
of 1930, the United Kingdom was permitted to maintain troops in Iraq. In 1933 or 1934, RAF Iraq Command was renamed the "British Forces in Iraq
." By the late 1930s, these forces were restricted to two Royal Air Force stations, RAF Shaibah
near Basra
and RAF Habbaniya
west of Baghdad
.
On 1 April 1941, during World War II, Rashid Ali seized power in Iraq via a coup d'état
. He was supported by three top level Royal Iraqi Army
officers and one top level Royal Iraqi Air Force
officer who were collectively known as the "Golden Square
." Rashid Ali proclaimed himself Chief of the "National Defence Government." His new government was immediately recognized by Nazi Germany
. It was openly pro-Nazi and anti-British
.
Sabine Force was initially despatched from Karachi
by GHQ India to seize and secure the port of Basra
and to supplement the existing British Forces in Iraq at RAF Shaibah and RAF Habbaniya. British Prime Minister
Winston Churchill
saw Basra as a major supply base in the future for material from the United States
. Churchill did not recognize Rashid Ali's "National Defence Government" as legitimate. Churchill also wanted to reinstate a more compliant Iraqi government and to protect British interests in Iraq, notably the oilfields of which the British-owned Anglo-Persian Oil Company was concession holder.
On 18 April, a brigade from Karachi landed and Basra was captured. On 30 April, a second brigade arrived. The Rashid Ali government demanded that the British forces be removed from Iraq and Iraqi forces took up positions around RAF Habbaniya. On 2 May, British aircraft from Habbaniya launched a pre-emptive attack on Iraqi forces throughout the country.
, a force from the British Mandate of Palestine, known as Habbaniya Force (shortened to Habforce
), advanced into Iraq from Transjordan
. Habforce, with Kingcol
in the lead, was to relieve the British garrison forces besieged at the British Royal Air Force
treaty base at Habbaniya
.
The threat to Habbaniya
was removed by actions of the Habbaniya garrison before any elements of Habforce arrived. After it arrived, Habforce and a portion of the Habbaniya garrison then advanced onwards through Fallujah
to capture Baghdad
. By 31 May, an armistice was signed and the government collapsed.
From early May, the troops in Iraq were under the operational control of Army Headquarters, Middle East Command in Cairo, reverting to India command on 18 June. From 21 June, Iraqforce became known as the Iraq Command.
and, while active in Syria, they once more came under the authority of he Cairo Headquarters.
. A new formation, Hazelforce, based on the 2nd Indian Armoured Brigade was formed within Iraq Command during this effort.
On 1 September, after Persia (modern Iran
) was secured, Iraq Command was re-named "Persia and Iraq Force" or Paiforce. Paiforce was still commanded by Quinan and he still reported to India Command. In January 1942, Persia and Iraq once again came under Middle East Command and, in February 1942, Quinan's headquarters was re-designated as Tenth Army.
In 1942, with the growing threat from the German advance in the Caucasus
, it was felt that the area should come under a General Headquarters which could bring a heavy focus to the area. Previous experience of controlling the area both from Cairo and Delhi had not proved ideal and both these General Headquarters were by this time fully committed in the Western Desert Campaign
and to the Burma Campaign
respectively. In August 1942, it was decided therefore, as part of the changes made bringing in Alexander and Montgomery to Middle East Command and Auchinleck to India Command, to create a new, separate command, the "Persia and Iraq Command
," to be led by General
Sir Maitland Wilson and based in Baghdad.
W.A.K. Fraser
(until 8 May). Lieutenant-General Edward Quinan
(from 8 May).
Formed from existing units in early June:
Arriving At Basra on 9 June:
Arriving at Basra on 16 June:
During the Syria-Lebanon campaign Iraqforce consisted of:
During the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia (Iran
) Iraqforce was redesignated Paiforce. Paiforce consisted of:
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
formation that came together in the Kingdom of Iraq
Kingdom of Iraq
The Kingdom of Iraq was the sovereign state of Iraq during and after the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. The League of Nations mandate started in 1920. The kingdom began in August 1921 with the coronation of Faisal bin al-Hussein bin Ali al-Hashemi as King Faisal I...
. The formation fought in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Background
The ground forces from IndiaBritish Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
that landed in Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
were initially known as Sabine Force and were under the command of Major-General
Major-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
W.A.K. Fraser
William Archibald Kenneth Fraser
William Archibald Kenneth Fraser, CB, CBE, DSO, MVO, MC was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War I and World War II.-Biography:...
. From 8 May 1941, Fraser was replaced and the forces in Basra were commanded by Lieutenant-General Edward Quinan
Edward Quinan
General Sir Edward Pellew Quinan KCB, KCIE, DSO, OBE was a British army commander during the Second World War. In the early part of his career, he was involved in Indian Army campaigns in Afghanistan and Waziristan on the North West Frontier of the Indian Empire, also known as the British Raj...
. On 18 June, Quinan was placed in command of all ground forces in Iraq which included both Sabine Force and British Forces in Iraq. Iraqforce was the name of the combined forces. From 21 June, Iraqforce became known as the Iraq Command. On 1 September 1941, after Persia (modern Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
) was secured, Iraq Command was re-named "Persia and Iraq Force" or Paiforce. Paiforce was still commanded by Quinan and he still reported to India Command.
Iraqforce was variously part of India Command, Middle East Command
Middle East Command
The Middle East Command was a British Army Command established prior to the Second World War in Egypt. Its primary role was to command British land forces and co-ordinate with the relevant naval and air commands to defend British interests in the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean region.The...
, and, finally, Persia and Iraq Command
Persia and Iraq Command
The Persia and Iraq Command was a British Army Command established in September 1942 in Baghdad. Its primary role was to secure from land and air attack the oilfields and oil installations in Persia and Iraq...
.
History
During World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
defeated the Ottoman Army on the Middle Eastern Front
Middle Eastern theatre of World War I
The Middle Eastern theatre of World War I was the scene of action between 29 October 1914, and 30 October 1918. The combatants were the Ottoman Empire, with some assistance from the other Central Powers, and primarily the British and the Russians among the Allies of World War I...
during the Mesopotamian Campaign
Mesopotamian Campaign
The Mesopotamian campaign was a campaign in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I fought between the Allies represented by the British Empire, mostly troops from the Indian Empire, and the Central Powers, mostly of the Ottoman Empire.- Background :...
. Subsequently, the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
designated Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
as a mandate territory
League of Nations mandate
A League of Nations mandate was a legal status for certain territories transferred from the control of one country to another following World War I, or the legal instruments that contained the internationally agreed-upon terms for administering the territory on behalf of the League...
, the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. From 1920 to the early 1930s, "RAF Iraq Command
RAF Iraq Command
Iraq Command was the RAF commanded inter-service command in charge of British forces in Iraq in the 1920s and early 1930s, during the period of the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. It continued as British Forces in Iraq until 1941 when it was replaced by AHQ Iraq...
" was created as an inter-service
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
command
Command (military formation)
A command in military terminology is an organisational unit that the individual in Military command has responsibility for. A Commander will normally be specifically appointed into the role in order to provide a legal framework for the authority bestowed...
in charge of all British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
forces in the mandate-controlled Kingdom of Iraq
Kingdom of Iraq
The Kingdom of Iraq was the sovereign state of Iraq during and after the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. The League of Nations mandate started in 1920. The kingdom began in August 1921 with the coronation of Faisal bin al-Hussein bin Ali al-Hashemi as King Faisal I...
. The command consisted of Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
, and locally raised units and was commanded by an RAF officer normally of Air Vice-Marshal
Air Vice-Marshal
Air vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
rank.
In 1932, the British mandate in Iraq ended. However, per the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty
Anglo-Iraqi Treaty (1930)
The Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of 1930 was a treaty of alliance between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the British-Mandate-controlled administration of the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq. The treaty was between the governments of George V of the United Kingdom and Faisal I of Iraq...
of 1930, the United Kingdom was permitted to maintain troops in Iraq. In 1933 or 1934, RAF Iraq Command was renamed the "British Forces in Iraq
RAF Iraq Command
Iraq Command was the RAF commanded inter-service command in charge of British forces in Iraq in the 1920s and early 1930s, during the period of the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. It continued as British Forces in Iraq until 1941 when it was replaced by AHQ Iraq...
." By the late 1930s, these forces were restricted to two Royal Air Force stations, RAF Shaibah
RAF Shaibah
RAF Shaibah was an RAF station situated at Shaibah about 13 miles south west of the city of Basrah in Iraq. The area was the site of a battle with Turkish Forces during the Mesopotamian campaign of the First World War....
near Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
and RAF Habbaniya
RAF Habbaniya
Royal Air Force Station Habbaniya, more commonly known as RAF Habbaniya, was a Royal Air Force station at Habbaniyah, about west of Baghdad in modern day Iraq, on the banks of the Euphrates near Lake Habbaniyah...
west of Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
.
On 1 April 1941, during World War II, Rashid Ali seized power in Iraq via a coup d'état
Iraq coup (1941)
The 1941 Iraqi coup d'état, also known as the Rashid Ali Al-Gaylani coup or the Golden Square coup was a pro-Nazi military coup in Iraq on April 1, 1941 that overthrew the regime of Regent 'Abd al-Ilah and installed Rashid Ali as Prime Minister...
. He was supported by three top level Royal Iraqi Army
Iraqi Army
The Iraqi Army is the land component of the Iraqi military, active in various forms since being formed by the British during their mandate over the country after World War I....
officers and one top level Royal Iraqi Air Force
Iraqi Air Force
The Iraqi Air Force or IQAF is the military branch in Iraq responsible for the policing of international borders, surveillance of national assets and aerial operations...
officer who were collectively known as the "Golden Square
Golden Square (Iraq)
The Golden Square was a group of four officers of the Iraqi armed forces who played a part in Iraqi politics throughout the 1930s and early 1940s...
." Rashid Ali proclaimed himself Chief of the "National Defence Government." His new government was immediately recognized by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. It was openly pro-Nazi and anti-British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Sabine Force was initially despatched from Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
by GHQ India to seize and secure the port of Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
and to supplement the existing British Forces in Iraq at RAF Shaibah and RAF Habbaniya. British Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
saw Basra as a major supply base in the future for material from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Churchill did not recognize Rashid Ali's "National Defence Government" as legitimate. Churchill also wanted to reinstate a more compliant Iraqi government and to protect British interests in Iraq, notably the oilfields of which the British-owned Anglo-Persian Oil Company was concession holder.
On 18 April, a brigade from Karachi landed and Basra was captured. On 30 April, a second brigade arrived. The Rashid Ali government demanded that the British forces be removed from Iraq and Iraqi forces took up positions around RAF Habbaniya. On 2 May, British aircraft from Habbaniya launched a pre-emptive attack on Iraqi forces throughout the country.
Anglo-Iraqi War
During the ensuing Anglo-Iraqi WarAnglo-Iraqi War
The Anglo-Iraqi War was the name of the British campaign against the rebel government of Rashid Ali in the Kingdom of Iraq during the Second World War. The war lasted from 2 May to 31 May 1941. The campaign resulted in the re-occupation of Iraq by British armed forces and the return to power of the...
, a force from the British Mandate of Palestine, known as Habbaniya Force (shortened to Habforce
Habforce
Habforce was a British Army military unit created during the Anglo-Iraqi War and still active during the Syria-Lebanon Campaign.-Creation and composition:...
), advanced into Iraq from Transjordan
Transjordan
The Emirate of Transjordan was a former Ottoman territory in the Southern Levant that was part of the British Mandate of Palestine...
. Habforce, with Kingcol
Kingcol
-Creation and composition:Kingcol was created to allow a portion of Habforce to relieve RAF Habbaniya as soon as possible. The column was named after its commander, Brigadier J.J. Kingstone...
in the lead, was to relieve the British garrison forces besieged at the British Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
treaty base at Habbaniya
RAF Habbaniya
Royal Air Force Station Habbaniya, more commonly known as RAF Habbaniya, was a Royal Air Force station at Habbaniyah, about west of Baghdad in modern day Iraq, on the banks of the Euphrates near Lake Habbaniyah...
.
Habbaniya
The Habbaniya, or Habbania, are a Sunni Muslim tribe of the nomadic Bedouin Baggara people in the plains of Sudan's Darfur, North Kurdufan, and South Kurdufan provinces....
was removed by actions of the Habbaniya garrison before any elements of Habforce arrived. After it arrived, Habforce and a portion of the Habbaniya garrison then advanced onwards through Fallujah
Fallujah
Fallujah is a city in the Iraqi province of Al Anbar, located roughly west of Baghdad on the Euphrates. Fallujah dates from Babylonian times and was host to important Jewish academies for many centuries....
to capture Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. By 31 May, an armistice was signed and the government collapsed.
From early May, the troops in Iraq were under the operational control of Army Headquarters, Middle East Command in Cairo, reverting to India command on 18 June. From 21 June, Iraqforce became known as the Iraq Command.
Syria-Lebanon Campaign
In June and July 1941, after Iraq was secured, elements of Iragforce/Iraq Command took part in the Syria-Lebanon campaignSyria-Lebanon campaign
The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the Allied invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon, in June–July 1941, during World War II. Time Magazine referred to the fighting as a "mixed show" while it was taking place and the campaign remains little known, even...
and, while active in Syria, they once more came under the authority of he Cairo Headquarters.
Anglo-Soviet Invasion of Persia
In late August 1941, Iraq Command conducted the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia in conjunction with forces advancing from the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. A new formation, Hazelforce, based on the 2nd Indian Armoured Brigade was formed within Iraq Command during this effort.
On 1 September, after Persia (modern Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
) was secured, Iraq Command was re-named "Persia and Iraq Force" or Paiforce. Paiforce was still commanded by Quinan and he still reported to India Command. In January 1942, Persia and Iraq once again came under Middle East Command and, in February 1942, Quinan's headquarters was re-designated as Tenth Army.
In 1942, with the growing threat from the German advance in the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
, it was felt that the area should come under a General Headquarters which could bring a heavy focus to the area. Previous experience of controlling the area both from Cairo and Delhi had not proved ideal and both these General Headquarters were by this time fully committed in the Western Desert Campaign
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
and to the Burma Campaign
Burma Campaign
The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, Thailand, and the Indian National Army. British Commonwealth land forces were drawn primarily from...
respectively. In August 1942, it was decided therefore, as part of the changes made bringing in Alexander and Montgomery to Middle East Command and Auchinleck to India Command, to create a new, separate command, the "Persia and Iraq Command
Persia and Iraq Command
The Persia and Iraq Command was a British Army Command established in September 1942 in Baghdad. Its primary role was to secure from land and air attack the oilfields and oil installations in Persia and Iraq...
," to be led by General
General (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
Sir Maitland Wilson and based in Baghdad.
Order of Battle - Iraq May 1941
Commanded by Major-GeneralMajor-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
W.A.K. Fraser
William Archibald Kenneth Fraser
William Archibald Kenneth Fraser, CB, CBE, DSO, MVO, MC was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War I and World War II.-Biography:...
(until 8 May). Lieutenant-General Edward Quinan
Edward Quinan
General Sir Edward Pellew Quinan KCB, KCIE, DSO, OBE was a British army commander during the Second World War. In the early part of his career, he was involved in Indian Army campaigns in Afghanistan and Waziristan on the North West Frontier of the Indian Empire, also known as the British Raj...
(from 8 May).
- 10th Indian Infantry Division - Major-General W.A.K. Fraser (until 16 May). Major-General William Slim (from 16 May).
- 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (reconnaissance regiment in armoured cars)
- 3rd Field Regiment Royal ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
- 32nd Field Regiment Royal Artillery
- 157th Field Regiment Royal Artillery
- 20th Indian Infantry Brigade20th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 20th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in September 1940, by the conversion of the Khojak Brigade and assigned to the 9th Indian Infantry Division...
- BrigadierBrigadierBrigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
Donald PowellDonald PowellDonald Powell was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War II'-Biography:As part of Iraqforce , Brigadier Powell commanded the 20th Indian Brigade of the Indian 10th Infantry Division during the Anglo-Iraqi War, the Syria-Lebanon campaign, and the Anglo-Soviet invasion of...
- 2nd battalion 8th Gurkha Rifles8 Gorkha RiflesThe 8 Gorkha Rifles is a Gorkha regiment of the Indian Army. It was raised in 1824 as part of the British East India Company and later transferred to the British Indian Army after the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The regiment served in the World War I and World War II, before being one of the Gurkha...
- 2nd battalion 7th Gurkha Rifles7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha RiflesThe 7th Gurkha Rifles started as a regiment of the British Indian Army, before being transferred to the British Army following India's independence.-Formation:...
- 3rd battalion 11th Sikh Regiment11th Sikh RegimentThe 11th Sikh Regiment were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1922, when after World War I the Indian government reformed the army moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments....
- 2nd battalion 8th Gurkha Rifles
- 21st Indian Infantry Brigade21st Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 21st Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was converted from the Quetta Brigade in September 1940, and assigned to the 9th Indian Infantry Division. In March 1941, it was transferred to the 10th Indian Infantry Division and took part in...
- Brigadier C.J. WeldCharles Joseph WeldCharles Joseph Weld CIE MC was an officer in the British Indian Army during the interwar years, World War II, and post-war.As part of Iraqforce, Brigadier Weld commanded the 21st Indian Brigade of the Indian 10th Infantry Division during the Anglo-Iraqi War and the Syria-Lebanon campaign.As part...
- 4th battalion 13th Frontier Force Rifles13th Frontier Force RiflesThe 13th Frontier Force Rifles was part of the British Indian Army, and after 1947, Pakistan Army. It was formed in 1922 by amalgamation of five existing regiments and consisted of five regular battalions.-History:...
- 2nd battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles
- 2nd battalion 10th Gurkha Rifles10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha RiflesThe 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles, , was originally an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. The regiment was first formed in 1890, taking its lineage from a police unit and over the course of its existence it had a number of changes in designation and composition...
- 4th battalion 13th Frontier Force Rifles
- 25th Indian Infantry Brigade25th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 25th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in February, 1941 at Ahmednagar in India and assigned to the 10th Indian Infantry Division....
- Brigadier Ronald MountainRonald Gervase MountainRonald Gervase Mountain was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War II. "Gervase" may also be spelled "Gervais."-Biography:Mountain was born in Caistor, Lincolnshire...
- 3rd battalion 9th Jat RegimentJat RegimentThe Jat Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army and is one of the longest serving and most decorated regiments of the Indian Army. The regiment has won 19 battle honours between 1839 to 1947 and post independence 5 battle honours, Two Ashok Chakras, eight Mahavir Chakras, eight Kirti...
- 2nd Royal battalion 11th Sikh Regiment
- 1st battalion 5th Mahratta Light InfantryMaratha Light InfantryThe Maratha Light Infantry is a light infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was formed as the 103rd Maharattas in 1768, making it the most senior light infantry regiment of the Army....
- 3rd battalion 9th Jat Regiment
- Ground Forces at RAF HabbaniyaRAF HabbaniyaRoyal Air Force Station Habbaniya, more commonly known as RAF Habbaniya, was a Royal Air Force station at Habbaniyah, about west of Baghdad in modern day Iraq, on the banks of the Euphrates near Lake Habbaniyah...
- Air Vice-MarshalAir Vice-MarshalAir vice-marshal is a two-star air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force. The rank is also used by the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence and it is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in...
H. G. SmartHarry George SmartHarry George Smart, CBE, DFC, AFC, is best known as the commander of RAF Habbaniya during the first part of the Anglo-Iraqi War. Smart was a British officer in the British Army, the Royal Flying Corps, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the Royal Air Force...
(until 5 May). Colonel Ouvry RobertsOuvry Lindfield RobertsGeneral Sir Ouvry Lindfield Roberts, GCB, KBE, DSO was an officer in the British Army and the British Indian Army during World War I and World War II.-Military career:...
(from 5 May).- 1st battalion The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
- 1,200 Assyrian and Iraqi Levies - Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Brawn
- Number 1 Armoured Car Company RAFNumber 1 Armoured Car Company RAFThe Number 1 Armoured Car Company RAF was a military unit of the Britain's Royal Air Force which played a role in the defense of RAF Habbaniya during World War II.- Creation :...
- HabforceHabforceHabforce was a British Army military unit created during the Anglo-Iraqi War and still active during the Syria-Lebanon Campaign.-Creation and composition:...
commanded by Major-General J.G.W. ClarkJohn George Walters ClarkJohn George Walters Clark CB, MC was a British army officer in both World War I and World War II.-Early life:Clark was commissioned into the 16th The Queen's Lancers in 1911 and fought with them during World War I. In 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross...
- Mechanized squadron of the Transjordan Frontier ForceTransjordan Frontier ForceThe Transjordan Frontier Force was formed, on 1 April 1926, as a para-military border guard to defend Trans-Jordan's northern and southern borders. The TJFF was also an Imperial Service regiment whose Imperial Service soldiers agreed to serve wherever required and not just within the borders of...
- Refused to enter Iraq and were disarmed. - Detachment of the Arab LegionArab LegionThe Arab Legion was the regular army of Transjordan and then Jordan in the early part of the 20th century.-Creation:...
- John Glubb "Glubb Pasha"John Bagot GlubbLieutenant-General Sir John Bagot Glubb KCB, CMG, DSO, OBE, MC better known as Glubb Pasha , was a British soldier, scholar and author, best known for leading and training Transjordan's Arab Legion 1939-1956 as its commanding general... - Striking force KingcolKingcol-Creation and composition:Kingcol was created to allow a portion of Habforce to relieve RAF Habbaniya as soon as possible. The column was named after its commander, Brigadier J.J. Kingstone...
- Brigadier J.J. KingstoneJames Joseph KingstoneBrigadier James Joseph Kingstone DSO MC was an officer in the British Army during World War II.During the Anglo-Iraqi War, Brigadier Kingstone was under the command of Major General J. G. W...
- 4th Cavalry Brigade4th Cavalry Brigade (United Kingdom)The 4th Cavalry Brigade was formation of Regiments of the British Army during the First World War, which was formed again in 1939 from Yeomanry Regiments for service during the Second World War...
- Lieutenant-Colonel A. H. Ferguson- Composite Household Cavalry RegimentHousehold Cavalry RegimentThe Household Cavalry Regiment is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and is one of two regiments that are formed from the Household Cavalry. It was formed in 1992, under the Options for Change reforms, by the amalgamation of The Life Guards and the Blues and Royals. Both regiments were...
- The Warwickshire YeomanryWarwickshire YeomanryThe Warwickshire Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment of the British Army, first raised in 1794, which served as a cavalry and dismounted infantry regiment in the First World War and as a cavalry and an armoured regiment in the Second World War, before being amalgamated into The Queen's Own...
- The Royal Wiltshire YeomanryRoyal Wiltshire YeomanryThe Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry was a Yeomanry regiment of the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom established in 1794. It was disbanded as an independent Territorial Army unit in 1967, a time when the strength of the TA was greatly reduced...
- Composite Household Cavalry Regiment
- 237th Battery 60th Field Regiment, Royal ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
- A & D Companies, 1st Battalion Essex RegimentEssex RegimentThe Essex Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army that saw active service from 1881 to 1958. Members of the regiment were recruited from across Essex county. Its lineage is continued by the Royal Anglian Regiment.-Origins:...
- Major K. F. May - Accompanied by two Bren gun carriersUniversal CarrierThe Universal Carrier, also known as the Bren Gun Carrier is a common name describing a family of light armoured tracked vehicles built by Vickers-Armstrong. Produced between 1934 and 1960, the vehicle was used widely by British Commonwealth forces during the Second World War...
. Personnel carried in transport of the Royal Army Service CorpsRoyal Army Service CorpsThe Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
. - One anti-tank troop, Royal Artillery
- Number 2 Armoured Car Company RAFNumber 2 Armoured Car Company RAFThe Number 2 Armoured Car Company RAF was a military unit of the British Royal Air Force which was part of Habforce and Kingcol during World War II.- Creation :...
- Two supply companies, Royal Army Service CorpsRoyal Army Service CorpsThe Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
- 4th Cavalry Brigade
- Main Body - Lieutenant-Colonel J. S. Nichols, MCMilitary CrossThe Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
- Headquarters 1st Cavalry Division (elements)
- 1st Battalion Essex Regiment
- 60th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- One Battery of anti-tank guns, Royal Artillery
- Mechanized squadron of the Transjordan Frontier Force
Formed from existing units in early June:
- GocolGocolGocol was a flying column created by the British Army shortly after the Anglo-Iraqi War had ended.-Creation and composition:Gocol was a truck-borne flying column created in early June 1941 specifically to pursue and capture Dr. Fritz Grobba, the German Ambassador to the Kingdom of Iraq...
- R. E. S. Gooch - MercolMercolMercol was a flying column created by the British Army shortly after the Anglo-Iraqi War had ended.-Creation and composition:Mercol was a truck-borne flying column created in early June 1941 specifically with the task of rounding up irregular troops under Fawzi al-Qawuqji. In addition to Mercol,...
- E. J. H. Merry - Harcol - R. J. Hardy
Arriving At Basra on 9 June:
- 17th Indian Infantry Brigade17th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 17th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in November 1940, at the Delhi Cantonment in India and assigned to the 8th Indian Infantry Division. They were sent to participate in the Anglo-Iraqi War and the Syria-Lebanon Campaign...
(detached from 8th Indian Infantry Division) - Brigadier Douglas Gracey- 1st Battalion Royal Fusiliers
- 1st Battalion (Prince of Wales Own Sikhs) 12th Frontier Force Regiment12th Frontier Force RegimentThe 12th Frontier Force Regiment was part of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922. It consisted of five regular battalions; numbered 1 to 5 and the 10th Battalion. During the Second World War a further ten battalions were raised. In 1945 the prenomial "12th" was dropped when the British...
- 1st Battalion 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force)The 5 Gorkha Rifles is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army comprising Gurkha soldiers of Nepalese origin. It was formed in 1858 as part of the British Indian Army and served in the First World War and Second World War. The regiment was one of the Gorkha regiments that was transferred to the...
Arriving at Basra on 16 June:
- 24th Indian Infantry Brigade24th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 24th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. The brigade was formed in February 1941, in India and at first assigned to the 10th Indian Infantry Division, and fought in the Anglo-Iraqi War. The brigade was transferred to the 8th Indian Infantry...
- Brigadier R.E. Le FlemingRoger Eustace Le FlemingMajor-General Roger Eustace Le Fleming was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War II.As part of Paiforce , Brigadier Le Fleming commanded the 24th Indian Brigade attached to the Indian 8th Infantry Division during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia...
- 2nd Battalion 6th Rajputana Rifles6th Rajputana RiflesThe 6th Rajputana Rifles were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They were formed in 1922, after the Indian government reformed the army. They moved away from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...
- The Kumaon Rifles19th Hyderabad RegimentThe 19th Hyderabad Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed following the post World War I reforms of the Indian Army when they moved from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...
- 5th Battalion 5th Mahratta Light Infantry5th Mahratta Light InfantryThe 5th Mahratta Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922, whenthe Indian government reformed the army moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments. The regiment fought in World War II and raised 30 battalions...
- 2nd Battalion 6th Rajputana Rifles
Order of Battle - Syria June and July 1941
Commanded by Lieutenant General Edward QuinanDuring the Syria-Lebanon campaign Iraqforce consisted of:
- 10th Indian Infantry Division -Major-General William Slim
- 20th Indian Infantry Brigade - Brigadier Donald Powell
- 21st Indian Infantry Brigade - Brigadier C.J. Weld
- 25th Indian Infantry Brigade - Brigadier Ronald Mountain
- 17th Indian Infantry Brigade (detached from 8th Indian Infantry Division) - Brigadier Douglas Gracey
- Habforce - Major-General J.G.W. Clark
- 4th Cavalry Brigade - Brigadier J.J. Kingstone
- 1st Battalion The Essex Regiment
- Arab LegionArab LegionThe Arab Legion was the regular army of Transjordan and then Jordan in the early part of the 20th century.-Creation:...
Mechanized Regiment - 237th Battery 60th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
- An Australian battery of 2 pounder anti-tank guns
- 169th Light Anti-aircraft Battery
Order of Battle - Persia August and September 1941
Commanded by Lieutenant General Edward QuinanDuring the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia (Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
) Iraqforce was redesignated Paiforce. Paiforce consisted of:
- 10th Indian Infantry Division - Major-General William Slim (took overall command of the ground forces)
- 8th Indian Infantry Division - commanded by Major-General Charles HarveyCharles Offley HarveyMajor-General Sir Charles Harvey CB, CVO, CBE, MC was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War I and World War II.He was appointed CVO in 1922 for performing the duties of Assistant Military Secretary to the Prince of Wales during His.Royal Highness's Indian Tour and knighted in...
- 18th Indian Infantry Brigade18th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 18th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in October, 1940 at Meerut in India and assigned to the 8th Indian Infantry Division. It was then detached for independent duties in Abaden in Persia...
- Brigadier Rupert LochnerRupert LochnerRupert Lochner was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War II.As part of Paiforce , Lochner commanded the 18th Indian Brigade of the Indian 8th Infantry Division during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia.... - 19th Indian Infantry Brigade19th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 19th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in October, 1940 at Old Delhi in India and assigned to the 8th Indian Infantry Division. In August 1941, they took part in the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran...
- Brigadier C.W.W. FordCharles Willbraham Watson FordCharles Willbraham Watson Ford was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War II. "Willbraham" may also be spelled "Wilbraham."... - 24th Indian Infantry Brigade (until 11 September) - Brigadier R.E. Le Fleming
- 25th Indian Infantry Brigade (detached from 10th Indian Infantry Division) - Brigadier Ronald Mountain
- 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers
- 18th Indian Infantry Brigade
- Hazelforce - Brigadier J.A. AizlewoodJohn Aldam AizlewoodMajor General John Aldam Aizlewood MC was an officer in the British Army and British Indian Army during the interwar years and World War II.-Military career:John Aizlewood was commissioned into 4th Dragoon Guards in 1914....
- 2nd Indian Armoured Brigade Group31st Indian Armoured DivisionThe 31st Indian Armoured Division was an armoured formation of the Indian Army during World War II, formed in 1940, as 1st Indian Armoured Division; it consisted of units of the British Army and the British Indian Army...
- Brigadier J.A. AizlewoodJohn Aldam AizlewoodMajor General John Aldam Aizlewood MC was an officer in the British Army and British Indian Army during the interwar years and World War II.-Military career:John Aizlewood was commissioned into 4th Dragoon Guards in 1914.... - 9th Armoured Brigade (formerly the 4th Cavalry Brigade) - Brigadier John C. CurrieJohn Cecil CurrieBrigadier John Cecil Currie DSO & two Bars, MC was an officer in the British Army during World War II.As part of Iraqforce , Brigadier Currie commanded the 9th Armoured Brigade during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia. His brigade was part of Hazelforce commanded by Brigadier J.A...
- 21st Indian Infantry Brigade (detached from 10th Indian Infantry Division) - Brigadier C.J. Weld
- 2nd Indian Armoured Brigade Group
- 6th Indian Infantry DivisionIndian 6th Infantry DivisionFor the World War I formation see 6th DivisionThe 6th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II, created on 1 March 1941 in Secunderabad. On 11 September 1941 it was shipped to the Iraq and later Iran. During 1942 and 1943 it was part of the Tenth Army...
(from 11 September) - Major-General J.N. ThomsonJames Noel ThomsonJames Noel Thomson was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War II.As part of Iraqforce , Major-General Thomson commanded the Indian 6th Infantry Division during Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia.-Command history:...
- 17th Queen Victoria's Own Cavalry (Poona Horse)The Poona HorseThe Poona Horse is an armoured regiment in the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army. The regiment, known before independence as The Poona Horse , was raised as a regular cavalry regiment in the Bombay Presidency army of the East India Company...
- 27th Indian Infantry Brigade27th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 27th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in March 1941, at Secundarabad in India and assigned to the 6th Indian Infantry Division....
- Brigadier Alan BlaxlandAlan Bruce BlaxlandAlan Bruce Blaxland CB OBE was an officer in the British Indian Army during World War II.As part of Paiforce , Brigadier Blaxland commanded the 27th Indian Infantry Brigade of the Indian 6th Infantry Division during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia.In 1942, Blaxland was made an acting... - 24th Indian Infantry Brigade (transferred from 8th Indian Infantry Division) - Brigadier R.E. Le Fleming
- 17th Queen Victoria's Own Cavalry (Poona Horse)
External links
- Ravi Rikhye, India: Paiforce 1942–43, http://www.orbat.com, June 2002