The rank of Sirdar (Arabic: سردار) – a variant of Sardar – was assigned to the British Commander-in-Chief of the British-controlled Egyptian Army in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[1] The Sirdar resided at the Sirdaria, a three-block-long property in Zamalek which was also the home of British military intelligence in Egypt.[2]

Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Egyptian Army
Sirdar
Longest serving
Sir Reginald Wingate

1899 – 1916
ResidenceSirdaria
Formation21 December 1882
First holderSir Evelyn Wood
Final holderSir Charlton Spinks
Abolished12 January 1937
Superseded byChief of the General Staff

List of officeholders edit

No. Portrait Sirdar Took office Left office Time in office Ref.
1Wood, EvelynSir Evelyn Wood
(1838–1919)
21 December 1882[3]31 March 1885[4]2 years
2Grenfell, FrancisLord Grenfell
(1841–1925)
19 April 1886[5]12 April 1892[6]6 years
3Kitchener, HerbertLord Kitchener
(1850–1916)
13 April 1892[7]18997 years
4Wingate, ReginaldSir Reginald Wingate
(1861–1953)
1899191616–17 years
5Stack, LeeSir Lee Stack
(1868–1924)
191620 November 1924 †7–8 years
6Spinks, CharltonSir Charlton Spinks
(1877–1959)
November 192412 January 193712 years, 2 months

References edit

  1. ^ "Sirdar". Merriam Webster. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
  2. ^ Raafat, Samir (2001-02-15). "The Sirdaria". Cairo Times. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
  3. ^ Sir Evelyn Wood, From Midshipman to Field Marshal p.xii.
  4. ^ Sir Evelyn Wood, From Midshipman to Field Marshal pp. xii, 500.
  5. ^ Lord Grenfell, Memoirs of Field-Marshal Lord Grenfell PC, GCB, GCMG p.90.
  6. ^ "Mirador Viewer".
  7. ^ "Mirador Viewer".