4th Infantry Division (India)

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The Indian 4th Infantry Division a.k.a the Red Eagle Division , of the British Indian Army, is an infantry division that draws its roots to before Indian independence having been formed in Egypt in 1939 under the command of Major General (later Lieut. Gen. Sir) Noel Beresford-Peirse, K.B.E., C.B., D.S.O (the first Indian formation to go overseas during WWII).

As with all formations in the Indian Army prior to independence, it primarily had British officers and Indians in other ranks. However, it did include Indian officers with ranks as high as Captain or Major. During World War II, it took part in campaigns in East Africa (Eritrea and Sudan), Syria, North Africa and Italy.

Contents

[edit] World War II history

[edit] North Africa

During WWII, the Division was in the vanguard during nine campaigns in the Mediterranean theatre. In the first of Wavell's operations in Egypt, as part of the Western Desert Force, it took part in Operation Compass , and was involved in the decisive battle at Sidi Barrani in December 1940.

[edit] East Africa

In December 1940 the division was rushed to the British Sudan to join with the Indian 5th Infantry Division), to prevent the numerically vastly superior Italian forces (10 Divisions in total) from threatening Red Sea supply routes to Egypt as well as Egypt and the Suez Canal itself from the South. The East African campaign culminated (March 1941) with the battles at Keren in Eritrea where 33 Italian battalions (subsequently reinforced by a further 9) were defeated by 19 British and Indian battalions. It was at Keren that Subadar Richhpal Ram of the 1/6th Rajputana Rifles, part of 4th Division's 11 Infantry Brigade, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. In April 1941 Beresford-Peirse was promoted to command XIII Corps and Major General (later General Sir) Frank Messervy assumed command.

[edit] North Africa and Syria

Having returned to Egypt, part of the Division (its 5th Indian Infantry Brigade) was hurried across to Syria and was heavily involved in the advance on Damascus (June 1941). The rest of the Division was heavily involved in the fighting which ebbed and flowed past Tobruk from June 1941 onwards, having been rejoined by 5 Brigade, returning from Syria, in the autumn of 1941. For most of this period the Division was dispersed with units temporarily attached to other formations much to the disgust of Major General Francis Tuker who assumed command of the Division in December 1941. Notable at this time was the break-out at the end of January by 7 Brigade, having been cut off at Benghazi during the Germans' counter-offensive from Agheila and moving 200 miles avoiding the enemy to rejoin the 8th Army.

Early in April 1942 the Division was dispersed with 7 Brigade going to Cyprus, 5 Brigade to Syria, 11 Brigade to the Suez Canal Zone for training and the Central India Horse to Iraq after a period of training. By May 1942 11 Brigade was back in the fighting at Tobruk (attached to Indian 5th Infantry Division), joined by 5th Brigade in June. 11th Brigade was caught in the siege of Tobruk which fell on 21st June, and so disappeared from the order of battle for the next 18 months. Shortly before the second battle of Alamein in October 1942 the 4th Indian Division was back together again with the 7th Brigade returning from Cyprus and 161st Brigade attached (until December 1942) to fill the gap of the over-run 11th Brigade. The Division had a relatively subsidiary role in the battle, holding in stiff fighting, as a diversionary tactic, the Ruweisat Ridge which was at the centre of the Allied front whilst the breakthrough was planned further North.

By December 1942 the Division was once again dispersed but strong representations by its GOC, Francis Tuker, (including his asking to be relieved of command) resulted in the Division being brought together as a fighting entity in March 1943 and it fought with distinction through to the fall of Tunis in May 1943 gaining a particular reputation for its prowess in mountainous country. The Division had the honour of capturing General von Arnim in Tunisia, bringing an end to the North African campaign. Its major battles in North Africa were Benghazi, Tobruk, Wadi Akarit, Enfidaville and Tunis.

[edit] Italy

The division then moved in January 1944 to Italy (joined by the newly re-constituted 11 Brigade), where it took part in the Italian Campaign and notably the battles for Monte Cassino, Central Italy and the Gothic Line before being sent to Greece to help stabilise the country after the Axis withdrawal.

[edit] Conclusion

During World War II the Division captured 150,000 prisoners and suffered 25,000 casualties, more than the strength of a whole division. It won over 1,000 Honours and Awards which included 4 Victoria Crosses and 3 George Crosses.

Field Marshall Lord Wavell wrote: 'The fame of this Division will surely go down as one of the greatest fighting formations in military history, to be spoken of with such as The Tenth Legion, The Light Division of the Peninsular War and Napoleon's Old Guard'. Even beyond its fighting reputation it will be remembered for the spirit of mutual trust and fellowship maintained between all ranks coming from so many different races and creeds.

[edit] Formation During World War II

According to the booklet issued to mark the inauguration of the Indian Divisions Memorial 1939-1945 at the UK RAMC Sandhurst in June 1982 the Formation of the Division during WW2 was as follows:

[edit] Headquarters

  • Central India Horse (up to April 1942 and from July 1944)(Divisional Reconnaissance Regiment)
  • ROYAL ARTILLERY
    • HQ
    • 3, Royal Horse Artillery
    • 1, 4, 11, 25, 31 & 32 FD Regts RA
    • 57 Light A.A. Regt RA
    • 35 & 149 Anti-Tank Regts RA
  • INDIAN ENGINEERS: SAPPERS AND MINERS
    • 4 FD Coy K.G.O Bengal
    • 12 FD Coy QVO Madras
    • 18 & 21 FD Coys Royal Bombay
    • 11 FD Park Coy QVO Madras
  • 4 INDIAN DIV SIGNALS
  • 1 MG BN ROYAL NORTHUMBERLAND FUSILIERS
  • MG BN 6TH RAJPUTANA RIFLES

[edit] 5 INDIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE

[edit] 7 INDIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE

[edit] 11 INDIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE

[edit] Support Units

  • ROYAL INDIAN ARMY SERVICE CORPS
    • 4 Ind Div Troops Tpt Coy
    • 5, 7 & 11 Brigade Tpt Coys
    • 220 Indian DID
  • MEDICAL SERVICES
    • I.M.S-R.A.M.C-I.M.D-I.H.C-I.A.M.C
    • 14, 17, 19, 26 & 32 Indian Field Ambulances
    • 4 INDIAN DIV PROVOST UNIT
  • INDIAN ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS
    • 4 Indian Div Ordnance FD Park
  • INDIAN ELECTRICAL & MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
    • 117, 118 & 119 Infantry Workshop Coys
    • 4 Indian Div Recovery Coy

[edit] Badge

4th Division Badge
4th Division Badge

The Division, known as Red Eagle due to its badge of a red eagle on a black background, is now a part of the Indian Army. Coming under the Central Command, it is headquartered in Allahabad.

[edit] Notable Members of the 4th Indian Division

[edit] References

  • MacKenzie, Compton (1951), Eastern Epic. Chatto & Windus, London
  • Yeats-Brown, F (1945), Martial India. Eyre and Spottiswoode, London
  • Anon (1946), The Tiger Triumphs: The Story of Three Great Divisions in Italy. HMSO
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