In November 1915 Lieut.-Gen. Sir John Maxwell, commanding in chief the forces in Egypt, concentrated the Western Force at Mersa Matruh, a town on the Mediterranean coast some 180 miles west of Alexandria. Under Maj.-Gen. Wallace, C.B., to whom command of the Mersa Matruh troops was given, several vigorous little operations were successfully carried out against the tribesmen; but the lack of camel transport and water supply arrangements restricted the scope of his activities. Preparations were therefore made to remedy these defects and thus render possible the despatch of a serious punitive expedition into the desert. On the 11th February a newly concentrated force of the Senussi occupied the Baharia Oasis, and on the 27th of the same month they also seized the Farafra and Dakhla Oases. To combat the serious menace to the Nile Valley offered by these fresh signs of activity, Sir John Maxwell formed a new command, known as the Southern Force, under Maj.-Gen. J. Adye, C.B., with Headquarters at Beni Suef, a township on the Nile some 175 miles south of Cairo. This Southern Force was concentrated in four distinct areas for the protection of the Nile Valley and the cultivated areas, the three northern areas respectively concentrated at Wadi Natrun, Beni Salama and the Fayoum, being grouped under command of Maj.-Gen. Dallas; the fourth and southernmost being located in the Minia and Assiut provinces under Brig.-Gen. A. Stirling. General Stirling's Minia Force was being concentrated at the period when the 2/4th Londons joined it, and comprised the following formations: Highland Mounted Brigade (dismounted). 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade. One squadron of Cavalry (Egyptian Army). Detachment of R.F.C. with two Aeroplanes. Nos. 1 and 2 Armoured Trains. 1/4th Glamorgan Battery R.F.A. One section Hong-Kong Mountain Battery. 2/1st Cheshire Field Company R.E. 2/4th London Regiment. Two Companies 2/2nd London Regiment, and was subsequently increased by the arrival of further units as follows: One squadron Armoured Cars R.N. Division. Half section Camel Transport Corps. One Company Australian Camel Corps.