 In response to the growing threat from a pro @-@ Turkish Islamic Arab sect known as the Senussi , a composite British force — the " Western Frontier Force " — under the command of the British Indian Army officer Major General Alexander Wallace , was sent into the Libyan Desert to Mersa Matruh in late @-@ November 1915 . This force included a composite regiment of Australian light horse and the horse transport of the 1st Division . A series of sharp battles against the Arabs ensued at Um <unk> , Gebel <unk> and <unk> during December and January . British casualties were comparatively light , although many were killed or wounded , including Australians . Arab losses were much higher however , with hundreds killed during the fighting . Meanwhile , a number of the Australian Light Horse units returning from Gallipoli were sent further south to guard the edge of the Nile Valley against the Senussi . The 1st Armoured Car Section was also involved in guarding the Western Desert until it was sent to Palestine as the 1st Light Car Patrol at the end of 1916 . 
