1st Indian Cavalry Division

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1st Indian Cavalry Division
Active 1914 - 1918
Country India
Branch British Indian Army
Type Cavalry
Size Division
Part of Indian Cavalry Corps

Contents

[edit] History

The 1st Indian Cavalry Division was a regular division of the British Indian Army. The division sailed for France from Bombay on October 16, 1914 , under the command of Major General H D Fanshawe. The division would be re designated the 4th Cavalry Division , in November 1916. During the war the Division would serve in the trenches as infantry due to the difference on troop levels each Cavalry Brigade once dismounted formed a dismounted regiment. The high number of officer casualties suffered early on had an effect on its later performance. British officers that understood the language, customs, and psychology of their men could not be quickly replaced, and the alien enviroment of the Western Front had some effect on the soldiers.[1] The 1st Indian Cavalry Division served in France and Flanders until March 1918 when it was broken up and reformed in Egypt as the 1st Mounted Division. [2]

[edit] Order of Battle

[edit] Sialkot Cavalry Brigade

17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own)
6th King Edward's Own Cavalry
19th Lancers (Fane's Horse)
Signal Troop[3]

[edit] Ambala Cavalry Brigade

8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars
9th Hodson's Horse
30th Lancers (Gordon's Horse)
Signal Troop[4]


[edit] Lucknow Cavalry Brigade

1st (King's) Dragoon Guards
29th Lancers (Deccan Horse)
36th Jacob's Horse
Signal Troop [5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Haythornthwaite P.J. (1992). The World War One Sourcebook, Arms and Armour Press.
  2. ^ warpath.
  3. ^ cwgc.org.
  4. ^ cwgc.org.
  5. ^ cwgc.org.