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Superseded byChief of the General Staff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

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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

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  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".