Surveying Experiences at the War

Abstract

Abstract Just prior to the evacuation of Gallipoli, Lord Kitchener paid a hasty visit to the Suez Canal defences, and found that the forces stationed there were letting the Canal protect them, instead of them protecting the Canal. Had the Turks attacked, or even made raids on the Canal, shipping would have been held up. With the prospective evacuation of Gallipoli, Kitchener considered it more than likely that the TtIrks would once more mass for attack on Egypt, so he gave orders for a strong line of defence to be pushed out into the Sinai Peninsular. All the remaining surveyors in the Egyptian service were given R.E. commissions, and sent out with camels and their native chainmen to make topographical surveys, whilst an Indian Cavalry Division patrolled the front.