The Hejaz Expeditionary Force ( tr, Hicaz Kuvve-i Seferiyesi) of the
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
was one of the
expeditionary forces of the
military of the Ottoman Empire
The military of the Ottoman Empire ( tr, Osmanlı İmparatorluğu'nun silahlı kuvvetleri) was the armed forces of the Ottoman Empire.
Army
The military of the Ottoman Empire can be divided in five main periods. The foundation era covers the ...
. Its commander had the authority of an army
commander
Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain.
...
. It was formed during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
for the defense of
Medina
Medina,, ', "the radiant city"; or , ', (), "the city" officially Al Madinah Al Munawwarah (, , Turkish: Medine-i Münevvere) and also commonly simplified as Madīnah or Madinah (, ), is the Holiest sites in Islam, second-holiest city in Islam, ...
(located in the region known as the
Hejaz
The Hejaz (, also ; ar, ٱلْحِجَاز, al-Ḥijāz, lit=the Barrier, ) is a region in the west of Saudi Arabia. It includes the cities of Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, Tabuk, Yanbu, Taif, and Baljurashi. It is also known as the "Western Provin ...
).
Fahreddin Pasha was appointed to the commander of the Hejaz Expeditionary Force on 17 July 1916.
The principal unit of this force, the Medina garrison itself. And the Hejaz Expeditionary Force consisted of 14,000 men by the fall of 1916.
Order of battle
In 1916, the Hejaz Expeditionary Force was structured as follows:
[David Murphy, (Illustrated by Peter Dennis), ''The Arab Revolt 1916-18: Lawrence Sets Arabia Ablaze'', Osprey Publishing, 2008, p. 27.]
*Hejaz Expeditionary Force HQ (Medina, Commander:
Ferik Fahreddin Pasha)
**1st Camel Regiment (''1 nci Hecinsüvar Alayı'')
**1st Volunteer Cavalry Regiment (''1 nci Akıncı Alayı'')
**Field artillery batteries x 3
**Signal companies x 2
**Medical and logistical support elements
Sources
{{Use dmy dates, date=June 2017
Expeditionary Forces of the Ottoman Empire
Military units and formations of the Ottoman Empire in World War I
Ottoman Arabia
History of Medina