Iraqforce

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Middle East campaign

Iraqforce, was a British and Commonwealth unit which fought in the Middle East during World War II. Iraqforce was commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Quinan and was in turn part of the Middle East Command and subsequently the Persia and Iraq Command.

Iraqforce was initially formed on the orders of General Archibald Wavell, commander of the British Army's Middle East Command, to seize and secure the port of Basra (which British Prime Minister Winston Churchill saw as a future major supply base for material from the United States), to reinstate a more compliant Iraqi government, and to protect British interests in Iraq. In the ensuing Anglo-Iraqi War Basra was captured from the sea by British Indian Army troops shipped from India. At the same time a force from the British Mandate of Palestine, known as Habforce, advanced from Transjordan to relieve the British forces besieged at the RAF treaty base at Habbaniya in Iraq and then onwards to capture Baghdad.

After Iraq was secured, Iraqforce was active during the Syria-Lebanon campaign. In a like manner, after Syria and Lebanon were secure, Iraqforce was then active during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia. A new formation, Hazelforce was formed within Iraqforce during this effort.

On 1 September 1941, after Persia (modern Iran) was secured, Iraqforce was re-named "Persia and Iraq Force" or Paiforce. Paiforce was still commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Quinan and he still reported to the Middle East Command. In February 1942, his headquarters was re-designated as British 10th Army.

In August 1942, 10th Army was transferred from the Middle East Command and brought under a new a separate command, the Persia and Iraq Command. The Persia and Iraq Command was commanded by General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson. It was separated from the Middle East Command because it was felt that Middle East Command, based in Cairo, was being distracted from its main task in the Western Desert of North Africa. [1]


Contents

[edit] Order of Battle - Iraq 1941

Main article: Anglo-Iraqi War

Commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Edward Quinan

The Anglo-Iraqi War was fought from 18 April 1941 to 30 May 1941. In Iraq, Iraqforce included:

[edit] Order of Battle - Syria 1941

Main article: Syria-Lebanon campaign

Commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Edward Quinan

The Syria-Lebanon campaign was fought from 8 June 1941 to 14 July 1941. In Syria, Iraqforce included:

[edit] Order of Battle - Persia 1941

Main article: Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia

Commanded by Lieutenant General Sir Edward Quinan

The Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia was fought from 25 August to 17 September 1941. In Persia (modern Iran), Iraqforce (renamed Paiforce as of 1 September) included:

[edit] Order of Battle - Persia and Iraq Command 1942

Commanded by General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson

[edit] References

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Compton Mackenzie, p.591

[edit] See also and External Links

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