TRANSJORDAN FRONTIER FORCE

Military group established to defend Palestine and Trans-jordan (1926–1948).

The Transjordan Frontier Force (TJFF) was organized by the high commissioner for Palestine to fulfill Britain's responsibility under terms of the mandate treaty. The TJFF should not be confused with the Arab Legion, from which it was entirely separate.

Confusion arose out of the TJFF's having a name identifying it with Transjordan but being a part of the imperial forces in Palestine and thus a Palestinian responsibility. In the end, the British treasury agreed to have Palestine pay five-sixths of the cost of the TJFF and Transjordan pay one-sixth, following the line of reasoning that security in Transjordan contributed to security in Palestine.

Further disagreement arose over the need for a force to undertake responsibilities many believed could be handled by the Arab Legion. The high commissioner for Palestine, Lord Plumer, considered that the frontiers with Syria and Saudi Arabia were vulnerable. The latter frontier was regarded as particularly open to the possibility of expansion efforts by Abd al-Aziz ibn Saʿud Al Saʿud, who had proclaimed himself king of the Hijaz in January 1926 and conceivably would seek to expand into areas controlled by the Hashimites, particularly Trans-jordan. The TJFF proved incapable of patrolling the desert of Transjordan and retired across the Jordan river to Palestine in 1930 when John Bagot Glubb created the Desert Mobile Force, which became the nucleus of the Arab Legion, and took over responsibility for the frontiers.

When the TJFF was formed, its recruits came from the disbanded Palestine gendarmeries, including noncommissioned officers and enlisted men who had had five years of experience. Some 70 percent of the recruits were Arabs from Palestine, mainly literate fallahin from the villages. In addition, there was a camel company of Sudanese enlisted men; it was replaced in 1933 by a mechanized unit. Some Jews and town Arabs served in administrative and technical services. Before 1935, about 25 percent of the force were Circassians.

The TJFF was under direct control of the high commissioner in Jerusalem, and above him the War Office in London. Non-British officers were not to attain command positions that gave them seniority over British personnel. Therefore, the officer corps and squadron commanders (majors or above) were British. Troop commanders (captains) and below included Palestinians, Syrians, Sudanese, Circassians, and a few Jews.

Initially the TJFF had three squadrons of two companies each, plus one camel company. In 1930, a mechanized company was added, bringing the total to eight companies. After the camel corps was replaced by a mechanized company, the TJFF consisted of three squadrons and two mechanized companies until the TJFF was disbanded.

All in all, there were some one thousand officers and men in the TJFF. Command headquarters, al-Zarqa, near Amman, was headed by a British lieutenant colonel. By 1935, there were twenty-four British officers in command of the TJFF: the commanding officer, seven majors, and sixteen captains. This complement remained more or less constant.

see also abd al-aziz ibn saʿud al saʿud; arab legion.

Bibliography

Dann, Uriel. Studies in the History of Transjordan, 1920–1949: The Making of a State. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1984.

Vatikiotis, P. J. Politics and the Military in Jordan: A Study of the Arab Legion, 1921–1957. New York: Praeger, 1967.

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