Egypt Command


Egypt Command was a British military command. By the mid-1930s and throughout the Second World War the command's title had become British Troops in Egypt.

History

The command was established in the late 19th century after the Anglo-Egyptian War in 1882. The British Army remained in Egypt throughout the First World War and, after the War, remained there to protect the Suez Canal. Following Egypt's independence in 1922, the United Kingdom and Egypt entered into a treaty in 1936 whereby British troops remained to protect the canal and to train the Egyptian Army. After the Second World War anti-British resentment escalated and there was rioting in the streets in February 1946. British troops left Egypt in June 1956 shortly before the Suez Crisis.
It is reported that in December 1945 Major General Lashmer Whistler, GOC 3rd Division, became GOC British Troops in Egypt and shortly after ceased to be a member of the 3rd Division. Whistler's rank of major general was made substantive in February 1947, with seniority backdated to April 1946.

Commanders

Commanders were as follows: