[1] On 4 May 1941, the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, ordered General Sir Archibald Wavell, the Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) Middle East Command, to create this force.
The main body, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John Nichols, comprised the Headquarters of the 1st Cavalry Division (elements), the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment, minus two rifle companies, the 60th (North Midland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, with 25 pounder gun-howitzers, less 237 Field Battery (with Kingcol) and a battery of 2-pounder anti-tank guns, Royal Artillery, minus one troop and a detachment of the Arab Legion consisting of three mechanised squadrons around 400 men strong.
On 11 May (some sources say 12 May) Kingcol, the flying column of Habforce, left Haifa in the British Mandate of Palestine and advanced towards RAF Habbaniya.
[11][12] Kingstone rushed ahead of his column to catch up with Glubb Pasha to coordinate the rest of the 220 mi (350 km) advance towards RAF Habbaniya.
On the advice of Colonel Ouvry Roberts in Habbaniya, the column was to turn south-east at Kilo 25 to avoid a confrontation with an Iraqi brigade thought to be at Ramadi.
On 15 May, Kingcol left Rutbah and an element of the column was attacked by a lone Heinkel He 111 bomber of Fliegerführer Irak (Air Commander Iraq).