Light Car Patrols 1916-19

[charlesmessenger]

Forumite Russell McGuirk is to be much thanked for bringing this vignette of one of the more obscure operational sub-theatres of 1914-18 to public attention. New Zealander Capt Claud Williams commanded Light Car Patrols (LCPs) in Egypt’s Western Desert from their inception in 1916 until after the end of the war. In this book he provides a series of graphic and entertaining sketches of his experiences.

The primary role of the LCPs was policing the desert so as to prevent the Turks and Germans smuggling arms and supplies to the Senussi, significant segments of which were bent on not only overthrowing Italian rule in neighbouring Libya, but British rule of Egypt as well. This entailed intercepting camel convoys. Their task, however, was made easier after the capture of the Siwa Oasis in early 1917, of which Williams gives a most interesting account. Russell McGuirk compliments Williams’ account with a most useful history of the LCPs, pointing out that they also had a very important secondary role – surveying the Western Desert so that more accurate maps of it could be drawn.

McGuirk emphasises how the invention of the sundial compass ([predecessor to the sun compass) improved desert navigation and Williams provides some fascinating descriptions on some his desert journeys, the most interesting of which took him into Libya to meet the country’s future king.

There is no doubt that the membets of the LCPs were, in Willams’ words, ‘highly skilled and versatile specialists’, but perhaps the real hero was the Model T Ford, with which they were equipped. Light, but remarkably tough and easy to maintain, it proved to be a true ’ship of the desert’.

The book is beautifully produced, with several never seen before photographs and two excellent loose maps contained in a wallet inside the back cover. Anyone with an interest in the Great War in North Africa. desert exploration, and/or mechanical transport 1914-18 will find it a most worthwhile addition to the bookshelf.

Charles M