All

I would be very interested to hear from anyone:


1. who knows the names and/or regiments of any soldiers assigned to the Ford Light Car Patrols used against the Sanusi from spring 1916, and after that campaign, from spring 1917, mainly to explore and map the Western Desert. From scanty records in various archives I have the names of about fifteen men, including ten who were patrol commanders at one time or another. I have, however, only some of their regiments: most are yeomanry, and many are Welsh or New Zealanders who signed up with a Welsh regiment. Any information concerning members of No. 1 (Australian) Light Car Patrol would also be welcome. Although this patrol was mainly active in Palestine, I would be interested especially in stories that illustrate how the Australians got on with their 3-vehicle mini-patrol (armoured Daimler and Mercedes, unarmoured Minerva tender) while they were still in Egypt.

2. who has any other information or photos (!) relevant to the history of the Light Car Patrols.

Regards,
Russell

Mate,

This has been discussed and photos are on these discussions.

As to the aussie elements I have a lot of details on them, including a history of this unit and nominal rolls.

If bill answers he can lead you his webb site which has the history on it.

There also a number of books on the British LCP, one by a soldier in the RNAC unit who later served with Lawrence, the book escapes me at present but I am sure others will fill in the name.

S.B

Thanks Steve,

Is the book you refer to Sam Rolls’ Steel Chariots in the Desert. I believe those cars were Rolls-Royces with the armoured car brigade of the Royal Naval Air Service, and later with the Light Armoured Motor Batteries. These RR units had Fords in the background for support, but while those Fords had LC numbers, they were not part of the Light Car Patrol Corps itself.

Re other books I’ve seen John Gordon’s chapter on LCPs in The Other Desert War, and Wheels Across the Desert by Andrew Goodie. There’s also some material in books/articles on Egypt desert explorations in the 1920s and ‘30s, and on the Long Range Desert Group of WWII.

I’ve seen several great pictures of the Australian LCP in Palestine, Syria and (I think) Iraq, but the only pictures I know of from Egypt are one of Claud Williams, OC No 5 LCP, sitting in a stripped down Ford in the W Desert; another of 4 battered Fords on patrol (also from the Williams family album); and several more in Fletcher’s War Cars. I’d be grateful if you could point me towards any others you know of.

No. 1 (Australian) LCP appears to have been put with the LAMBs or LACBs, at least so long as they had their original 3 cars brought over from Australia. I’d be VERY interested to know if the unit was moved to LCP Corps once it gave up those 3 cars and took over the 6 Fords from the “other” No 1 LCP, which had been operating around Kharga Oasis for most of 1916. I assume that it was, but I’ve found nothing definite in the archives.

I’ve been mainly working on the Sanusi campaign, but regarding LCPs am now trying to sort out fact from (sometimes mistaken) legend.

Regards,

Russell

Russell

You might be interested in the history 1st Australian Armoured Car Section.

The story written by Captain E.H. Jones called "The Motor Patrol" is on the Australian Light Horse Studies Centre site at this address:

http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse...opic_id=1104610

Cheers

Bill

Bill,

What a beautiful website! Many thanks for pointing it out. (I see what Steve meant when he said the Aussie side of the story had been well-covered...)

In fact, I once stumbled on the site but had completely missed the relevant section because of the patrol having two names. In the Egypt-related archives it is the No 1 (Australian) Light Car Patrol...

I have a question, though... Is there any possibility that the author E H Jones is actually E H James? In the UK sources the latter is given repeatedly as OC of the Australian patrol, and it occurs to me the transcriber of the journal might have been looking at something that wasn’t completely legible.

In a sense, I’m trying to do for the original six patrols in Egypt what you fellows have done for the Australians. Their work was definitely less exciting than what the Aussie’s did in Palestine and Syria – scarcely any fireworks except for a single day near Siwa. It’s the patrolling and exploration work I’m concentrating on, their work being the basis for Bagnold’s in the ‘20s and ‘30s, and his work the basis for the Long Range Desert Group later.

What I’ve done is long article-length, but before I finish I’m making this last attempt to get more info on individual members of the original six patrols and more photos, if possible.

Regards,

Russell

Russell

Amazing how inoculated a person becomes to an error. I appreciate your pick up and have amended the error - it was E H James. Thanks for that.

Thanks also for your kind words. They are much appreciated.

Cheers

Bill

Mate,

You may notice in the other coments on this subjuct that I also was after names and details on the British Armoured units in Egypt at that time, but ran into many problems none the lest the name and detail changes of these units.

I sorry to say I left it there and didn't go on with it so I wish you the best of luck with your endevors.

If you need details on aussie Camel Corps Companies involved in these operations let me know the areas and I can get you some of there details.

S.B

Thank you, Steve. Your kind wishes are much appreciated. Russell