Syria–Lebanon campaign order of battle facts for kids
This is a list of the military units and their leaders, called an "order of battle", for the Syria–Lebanon campaign. This campaign was a part of World War II. It took place in June and July 1941. The fight was between the Allied forces and Vichy France. Vichy France was the French government that worked with Germany during the war.
Contents
Allied Forces in the Campaign
The Allied forces were led by General Sir Archibald Wavell. He was the Commander-in-Chief for the Middle East. General Sir H. Maitland Wilson was in charge of forces in Palestine and Trans-Jordan.
Allied Forces in South Syria and Lebanon
From June 18, the Australian I Corps led the Allied forces here. Lieutenant-General John Lavarack was their commander.
- Australian 7th Division
* This division was first led by Major-General John Lavarack. * Later, Major-General Arthur "Tubby" Allen took command. * It included special units like the 6th and 9th Division Cavalry. * They also had machine gun battalions and parts of British cavalry units. * Artillery units provided fire support. These included field regiments and anti-tank units. * The division had several brigades, such as the 21st Australian Brigade. This brigade included infantry battalions like the 2/14th and 2/16th. * The 25th Australian Brigade also fought here. * From June 28, the 17th Australian Brigade joined them.
- Gentforce
* This group was active from June 12 to June 18. * Major-General P L Legentilhomme first led them. * After he was wounded, Brigadier W. L. Lloyd took over.
- British 6th Infantry Division
* This division was activated on June 18. * Major-General J. F. Evetts was its commander. * It included the British 16th Infantry Brigade. * The British 23rd Infantry Brigade joined later. This brigade included the Czechoslovak 11th Infantry Battalion. * The 5th Indian Infantry Brigade also fought here.
- 1st Free French Light Division
* Major-General Paul Legentilhomme led this division. * It had two Free French Brigades. * These brigades included battalions of the Foreign Legion and Marine infantry. * They also had cavalry, artillery, and tanks.
- Circassian Cavalry
* This group had 453 troops. * Colonel Collet was their leader.
Allied Forces in Northern Syria
Parts of the Allied force called Iraqforce were active here.
Advancing on the Euphrates River
- 10th Indian Infantry Division
* Major-General W J Slim commanded this division. * It included cavalry, artillery, and two Indian Infantry Brigades. * The 21st Indian Infantry Brigade had Gurkha Rifles and Frontier Force Rifles. * The 25th Indian Infantry Brigade included Mahratta Light Infantry and Sikh Regiment units.
Forces in Northern Iraq and the "Duck's Bill" Region of Syria
These forces were under the command of Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Quinan.
- 20th Indian Infantry Brigade
* Brigadier D Powell led this brigade. * It included Gurkha Rifles and Sikh Regiment units.
- 17th Indian Infantry Brigade
* Brigadier Douglas Gracey commanded this brigade. * It had Frontier Force Regiment and Frontier Force Rifles units.
Forces in Central Syria
- Habforce
* Major-General J.G.W. Clark led this group. * It included the British 4th Cavalry Brigade. * Units like the Household Cavalry Regiment were part of it. * The 1st Battalion of the Essex Regiment also fought here. * The Arab Legion Mechanised Regiment was also part of Habforce. * They had artillery and anti-tank guns.
Vichy French Forces
The French forces in the region were known as the Army of the Levant. France had been given control over Syria and Lebanon by the League of Nations in 1920. These areas were known as the French Mandates.
- South Lebanon Sector
* This sector included areas like Saïda and Merdjayoun. * Units here included Algerian Tirailleur Regiments and Colonial Artillery. * The 1st Lebanese Chasseur Battalion also fought in this area.
- South Syria Sector
* This sector included areas like Hauran and L'Hermon. * Units here included Metropolitan Artillery and Senegalese Tirailleur Regiments. * There were also reserve units like Moroccan and Tunisian Tirailleur Regiments.
- Levant Cavalry
* This included Moroccan and African Chasseur Regiments. * They also had special cavalry units. These included Méhariste, Druze, and Circassian companies.
- Forces in Central Lebanon
* Several special groups, called Task Forces, were active here in mid-1941. * Task Force Albord included Algerian Tirailleur and Foreign Legion units. * Task Force Barré had Foreign Legion and Senegalese Tirailleur units. * Lehr-Olive Detachments included African Chasseur and Colonial Infantry units. * Task Force Rougie also had Tunisian Tirailleur and Foreign Legion units.
Sources
