Base Camps

Tent Lines of 1 Div Train
Mena Camp 1915

1st DIvision base camps were established in front of the pyramids at Giza. 1 Div train's area was adjacent tothe rail line to Cairo and the post at Kantara.

Wagon and tent lines 10 Coy AASC (1 Div Reserve Park)
Alexandria1915

The emergency reserve of 1 Div for mobile operations, it was left with other transport at Alexandria during the Gallipoli campaign and used as base general transport. Not required in the static war in France, it was disbanded in early 1916 and used in raising divisional trains for the new 4th and 5th Divisions.

Australian War Memorial PS0589, J02935

 

Supplying Men

 

Napoleon's ovens, detailed isues and supply lines
Maadi Camp 1915

Although the ovens might not really have been from the reputed origin, this area outside Cairo at the foot of the pyramids had certainly seen a wide variety of armies from antiquity onwards: Bedouin, Assyrian, Persian, Macedonian, Roman, Arab, French, British, now Australian.

1 Div Train’s 1, 2, 3, 4 Coys and 13 Coy's bakery set up a supply system for the AIF camps, initally with borrowed refrigeration and accommodation, animals and wagons.

Australian War Memorial J01968, P01315.001, P00037.005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supplying Animals

 

Factory, Depot and Watering
Egypt 1915

Just as today's armies are dependent on large amounts of petroleum fuels, horsed armies had to be supplied with even greater quantities of fodder and water, for less payload and speed.

With no natural feeding paddocks, composite fodders of grains had to be supplied, from factories using local labour. The animals had their first taste of grass two years later in Paestine.

This was concentrated at1 Div Train forage depots for issue to units.

Away from the river, carriage and distrbution of water was another major activity.

Australian War Memorial P00037.006, PS0578, P02282.048

 

 

 

 

Other Services

New remounts from Australia
Kantara 1916

A remount unit was established in gypt to hade the constat flow of horses and mules imported from Australia to supply and replace the saddle and draught animals. The unit handled over 50,000.

Force Post Office
Mena 1915

1 Div Train provided the postal service for the force. Ssgt A.W. Ross commanded the post office, with Lcpl Baker as telegraphist.

Australian War Memorial B00936, J02426

Egypt Base