Palestine Gendarmerie

[mule-73k]

When I say first, you could change that for the word proper. The guys in Scotland Yard were understaffed, if fact were only a very small unit, and more information gatherers I believe. They did not take on the 'Republician threat like the 'Auxies' did. These men were a force, they went out and took the fight to the republicians doorstep!

Many did take the jobs in the colonies, many others simply went home to their families. Most of the irish guys in it left for good.

[PeterMc]

Yes, a lot of Irish born Auxiliaries did leave, but a surprising number remained or returned within a few years and led untroubled lives. One (whose past may have been covered up and is not even today widely known) was even given a Irish State funeral!

[mule-73k]

That's great information, do we know who he was?

I hope that I was right in suggesting about the 'auxi' connection, and not starting a wild goose chase, but, the profile seems to fit.

[woodymyster]

Originally Posted by mule-73k

That's great information, do we know who he was?

I hope that I was right in suggesting about the 'auxi' connection, and not starting a wild goose chase, but, the profile seems to fit.

Turns out he did serve in the RIC, and from his ribbon bar, It is clear he served in WW1. I am trying to find information after this pic was taken. Some in the family believe he served in Northern Africa during WW2. It also appears he became a zookeeper in Bedfordshire, England towards the end of his life.

[Toby Purcell]

Originally Posted by woodymyster

Turns out he did serve in the RIC, and from his ribbon bar, It is clear he served in WW1. I am trying to find information after this pic was taken. Some in the family believe he served in Northern Africa during WW2. It also appears he became a zookeeper in Bedfordshire, England towards the end of his life.

Although your man did clearly serve in one of two Palestine Gendarmeries formed at the time of the Palestine Mandate in 1922, the uniform he is wearing is not those units but actually the Trans-Jordan Frontier Force that was formed in 1926. The British Gendarmerie in Palestine was recruited in March, 1922, chiefly from among constabulary and auxiliaries who had served in Ireland. Its strength was 49 officers and 701 other ranks and its headquarters were at Bir Salem. It was dissolved in June 1926, due to financial constraints. It consisted exclusively of British personnel and shouldn't be confused with the Palestine Gendarmerie, which consisted of Arabs and Jews. In April 1922, around 650 former “Black and Tans” arrived in Haifa, Palestine and commenced their duties in the British Palestine Gendarmerie. As a result, 75 to 95 percent of the new British Palestine Gendarmerie were former members of the Black and Tans from Ireland. The uniform of the British Gendarmerie in Palestine included a distinctive 'lemon squeezer' style wide brimmed hat.

The Trans-Jordan Frontier Force was created on 1 April 1926, to replace the disbanded Palestine Gendarmerie. It was a creation of the British High Commissioner for Palestine whose intention was that the Force should defend Trans-Jordan's northern and southern borders. The High Commissioner had been impressed with work done by The Arab Legion but local commanders thought it unnecessary to create an additional force when expansion of The Arab Legion might have been a better course of action. The Arab Legion immediately incurred a loss of more than half of its forces when they were transferred as cadre for the Frontier Force.

In addition to the drop in personnel, The Arab Legion was also stripped of its machine guns, artillery, and communications troops. Unlike the Arab Legion, the TJFF was responsible to the British High Commissioner in Jerusalem rather than to Amir Abdullah of Trans-Jordan. The Force officially came under British Imperial Troops and appeared in British orders of battle.

On creation at Sarafand on 1st April, 1926, with Lieutenant-Colonel FW Bewsher, DSO, OBE, MC, in command, the TJFF was organised into three cavalry squadrons (of 120 men each) and one camel company, together with six reserve troops (around 190 men). The first recruits to the TJFF were largely from the disbanded Palestine Gendarmerie. Arab peasants (fellahin) from Palestinian villages made up around 70 percent of the other ranks. There were some Sudanese in the camel company before 1930 when the company was replaced by a mechanised company. Jews and town Arabs, being better educated, served in the technical and administrative posts and by 1935 just under 25 percent of the Force were Circassians - a small ethnic, Muslim minority living in Trans-Jordan. The senior commanders were all British however junior officers were Palestinian Arabs, Circassians, Syrian Arabs, Sudanese and a few Jews. The Amir Abdullah was an Honorary Colonel of the Trans-Jordan Frontier Force from its inception.

The TJFF commander was a British lieutenant colonel, with Headquarters at Zerqa. Second-in-command was a British major, responsible for administration, workshops, quartermaster's stores and pay. The adjutant, also a British major, was responsible for training and personnel and was aided by an assistant adjutant who was a local Arab officer.

The squadrons and companies were all commanded by British majors, with another British officer as second-in-command. The cavalry squadrons were organised into three rifle troops (36 men) and one machine gun troop (36 rifles and 4 MGs). The normal tactical and reconnaissance unit however, was the half-squadron or half-company and these were commanded by local captains. Each half-squadron or company consisted of two troops, led by local lieutenants and captains. By the end of 1927 there were 39 officers (17 British), 12 warrant officers (all British), three staff sergeants and 676 other ranks. In 1930 there were 17 British officers, two in each of the four squadrons and companies with the remainder at Force HQ. In 1935 there were 24 British officers - the CO, seven majors and sixteen captains. Lieut-Col Bewsher relinquished command of the TJFF in 1928 and rejoined his Regiment in the Regular Army. Command of the Force passed to Major (local Lt-Col) CA Shute, CBE, Indian Army, previously second-in-command.

The TJFF spent its first six months training in Palestine, first at Sarafand then, from October 1926, at Shunet Nimrin in the Jordan Valley. Shortly after the HQ moved to Zerqa, Trans-Jordan, east of the Jordan River. The cavalry squadrons were based at Zerqa and the camel company at Ma'an. In 1929, the TJFF was called upon to help deal with Arab unrest in Palestine. The camel company moved to Jericho and a cavalry squadron went to Jisr el Majamie. In early 1930 a second cavalry squadron was despatched from Trans-Jordan as reinforcement.

In 1930, a mechanised company was formed and later that year the camel company disbanded. The addition of motorised troops extended the range of TJFF troops for it had been discovered that the horsed cavalry was unable to travel far into the desert. The new mechanised company was based at Ma'an. During the year the strength of the TJFF was 980 men, including 28 Jews.

The TJFF, while more smartly turned out and drilled than the more pragmatic Arab Legion, was not regarded as an elite force and its role was merely that of police or gendarmerie.

[Kalpak1]

The photo refers to a British Officer, Palestinian Gendarmerie, 1921-1926. He wears the embroidered cloth badge on the Kalpak, with what appears to be silver or white metal collar badges. The cross lanced badge and dress distinguish him from being in the British Gendarmerie. The dress of the Palestinian element of the Gendarmerie was carried on into the Transjordan Frontier Force, with the kalpak worn in reversed fashion (hence the cloth bag appearing on the opposite side of the wearers head in the TJFF).

[Eddie Parks]

Just to reinforce what Kalpak1 says. The photo is Palestine Gendarmerie not TJFF. While it is true to say that many (most?) ADRIC men joined the British Gendarmerie some did join the Palestine Gendarmerie, and I am not sure that the division between the two was as clear cut as it might seem.
Here's a photo of a chap who was in the Black and Tans (not ADRIC), joined the PG and then the TJFF - despite the pips on his shoulder chains his rank is British Warrant Officer. The uniform is identical to that of the gendarmerie and contrary to urban legend the bag on the kalpak is not reversed.
Eddie

[Lampwick]

I'm a bit lost by the reference to the 'bag' on the Kalpak. Is this a typo for badge?

[Eddie Parks]

No - a kalpak has a bag similar to a Busby which hangs down the side.
Eddie

[Lampwick]

Well.. you live and learn! Thanks Eddie.