Empire and Portuguese contribution British Expeditionary Force (World War I)

1 empire , portuguese contribution

1.1 indian expeditionary force a
1.2 south african overseas expeditionary force
1.3 canadian expeditionary force
1.4 new zealand expeditionary force
1.5 australian imperial force
1.6 portuguese expeditionary corps

empire , portuguese contribution

the british empire responded british call troops western front , major formations of british indian army, canadian army, australian army, new zealand army , south african army served in france. bef integrated of portuguese army troops fought on western front.

indian expeditionary force a

men indian cavalry regiment on western front 1914

in september 1914, bef reinforced indian expeditionary force formed 2 corps each of 2 divisions, indian cavalry corps , indian infantry corps. upon arrival in marseilles on 30 september 1914, 6 weeks after declaration of war, moved ypres salient , took part in battle of la bassée in october 1914. in march 1915, 7th (meerut) division chosen lead assault in battle of neuve chapelle. expeditionary force hampered lack of familiarity new equipment, being issued lee–enfield rifles on arrival in france , had no artillery, relying on support neighbouring corps when in front line. not accustomed continental weather , poorly equipped resist cold, leading low morale further compounded reserve system, whereby reinforcements drafted in regiment , had no affiliation new units. officer casualties more of handicap, replacements unfamiliar indian army , not speak language. infantry divisions withdrawn egypt in october 1915, when replaced new british divisions of kitchener s army.

south african overseas expeditionary force

the south african overseas expeditionary force consisted of 1st south african infantry brigade of 4 infantry battalions supported 5 heavy artillery batteries, field ambulance, royal engineers signal company , general hospital under command of brigadier general henry lukin. brigade arrived in france in april 1916, , assigned 9th (scottish) division , took part in battle of somme in july 1916, , on 14 july battle of delville wood. of 3,153 men in brigade 750 left when brigade relieved on 20 july. later in 1917, brigade took part in battle of arras , in third battle of ypres (passchendaele). brigade destroyed in 1918 german spring offensive , end of war had suffered 15,000 casualties, 5,000 killed.

canadian expeditionary force

canadian soldiers consolidating positions on vimy ridge

the canadian expeditionary force designation of field force created canada service overseas in first world war. major combat formation canadian corps, commanded 4 canadian infantry divisions. canadian corps first commander general edwin alderson, succeeded general julian byng in 1916, in turn succeeded in 1917, canadian general arthur currie until end of war. distinguished in battle second battle of ypres, through somme , particularly in battle of arras @ vimy ridge in april 1917. since untouched german offensive in spring of 1918, canadians ordered spearhead last campaigns of war battle of amiens in august 1918.

new zealand expeditionary force

the new zealand expeditionary force (nzef) under command of general alexander godley title of military forces sent new zealand fight britain during first world war. upon outbreak of war, new zealand offered provide 2 brigades — 1 of infantry , 1 of mounted troops — total of 8,500 men. nzef closely tied aif of war. when gallipoli campaign began, new zealand contingent insufficient complete division on own combined 4th australian infantry brigade form new zealand , australian division. division, along australian 1st division, formed famous australian , new zealand army corps (anzac) under command of general william birdwood. after end of gallipoli campaign, nzef formed own infantry division; new zealand division served on western front april 1916. took part in battle of flers-courcelette, battle of morval, battle of le transloy, , celebrated battle of le quesnoy. new zealanders considered exceptional troops germans, captured intelligence report named them ...an exceptionally assault division ... .

australian imperial force

australian 2nd division marching rear after battle of pozières, august 1916. being watched soldiers of australian 1st division

the australian imperial force (aif) supposed supply 20,000 men organised 1 infantry division , 1 light horse brigade plus supporting units. end of war, aif on western front comprised 5 infantry divisions. first australian troops arrived in france in june 1915, 1st siege artillery brigade formed under command of lieutenant colonel walter adams coxen, australian army s director of artillery, service on western front. half men in unit permanent gunners of garrison artillery. brigade departed melbourne england on 17 july 1915 , landed in france on 27 february 1916. 54th siege battery equipped 8 inch howitzers , 55th siege battery 9.2 inch howitzers. 5 infantry divisions of aif saw action on western front in france , belgium, leaving egypt in march 1916. organised anzac corps , ii anzac corps alongside new zealand division, however, on 1 november 1917 australian divisions re-grouped form australian corps. 2nd division first arrive in france, followed 1st division, while 4th , 5th left egypt later in june 1916. 3rd division last arrive, having been formed in australia in march 1916, , moving england training in july 1916, before being sent france in december 1916. when formed in 1914 aif commanded major general william throsby bridges, commanded 1st division. after bridges death @ gallipoli in may 1915, command transferred default lieutenant general william birdwood, british officer commander of australian , new zealand army corps. birdwood officially confirmed commander of aif on 14 september 1916, while commanding anzac corps on western front. birdwood later given command of australian corps on formation in november 1917. lieutenant general john monash, australian officer, took on command of corps in may 1918. despite being promoted command fifth army, birdwood retained command of aif.

portuguese expeditionary corps


portuguese troops training gas masks in western front.

following british government call portuguese troops, on 7 august 1916 parliament of portugal agreed participation of portuguese army on western front. in addition heavy artillery corps of 1,000 men under command of french army, of portuguese forces sent western front incorporated in cep – corpo expedicionário português (portuguese expeditionary corps) under british command. cep organised army corps of 2 divisions , corps troops, totalling 55,000 men, under command of general tamagnini de abreu. first cep troops arrived in france on 2 february 1917. first troops reached front on 4 april. on 4 june 1st infantry brigade of 1st division repelled first major attack made german army against lines defended cep troops. on 5 november 1917 cep assumed responsibility autonomous sector in front, under direct command of first army. of cep destroyed in battle of la lys on 9 april 1918, losing more 7,000 men. july 1918, remaining men of cep participated in final allied offensives under command of fifth army.