9th (Secunderabad) Division

The 9th (Secunderabad) Division was a formation of the British Indian Army. It was part of the Southern Army and was formed in 1904^[1] after Lord Kitchener was appointed Commander-in-Chief, India between 1902 and 1909. He instituted large-scale reforms, including merging the three armies of the Presidencies into a unified force and forming higher level formations, eight army divisions, and brigading Indian and British units. Following Kitchener's reforms, the British Indian Army became "the force recruited locally and permanently based in India, together with its expatriate British officers."^[2] The Division remained in India on internal security duties during World War I, but some of it brigades were transferred to serve with other units. Its 9th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade, traveled to France and served on the Western Front as part of the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division. The 27th Banglore Brigade served in East Africa as part of the Indian Expeditionary Force B. Force B was broken up in December 1914 and its units used for the defence of East Africa. ^[3][4][5]

Indian Army Gun crew East Africa

Composition in 1914

Divisional Commander, Lt General Woon

9th Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade

Commander Brigadier General Wadeson

• 7th (Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards
• 20th Deccan Horse
• 34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse
• Signal Troop ^[3][4][5]

1st Secunderabad Infantry Brigade

Commander Major General Wilkinson

• 2nd Btn King's Shropshire Light Infantry
• 1st Brahmans
• 88th Carnatic Infantry
• 94th Infantry
• XIX Brigade Royal Field Artillery ^[3][5]

2nd Secunderabad Infantry Brigade

Commander Brigadier General Rodwell

• 1st Btn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
• 6th Jat Light Infantry
• 83rd Wallajahabad Light Infantry
• XIII Brigade Royal Field Artillery ^[3][5]

27th Bangalore Brigade

Commander Brigadier General Wapshare

• 2nd Btn Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)
• 61st Pioneers
• 101st Grenadiers
• 108th Infantry
• IV Brigade Royal Field Artillery ^[3][5]

Later formed the Indian Expeditionary Force B for service in British East Africa the formation was;

• 2nd Btn Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire)
• 63rd Palamcottah Light Infantry
• 98th Infantry
• 101st Grenadiers

Southern Brigade

Commander Brigadier General W Hamilton

• 2nd Btn Buffs (Royal East Kent Regiment)
• 1st Btn Royal Dublin Fusiliers
• 73rd Carnatic Infantry
• 75th Carnatic Infantry
• 86th Carnatic Infantry
• IX Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery ^[3][5]

References

• Sumner, Ian. The Indian Army 1914-1947. Osprey Publishing. Oxford. 2001. ISBN 1-84176-196-6

Further reading

Perry, F.W. & Becke, A.F. (1945). History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions: Indian Army Divisions Pt. 5B. London HMSO. ISBN 1-871167-23-X

Haythornthwaite P.J. (1992). The World War One Sourcebook, Arms and Armour Press.

Moberly, F.J. (1923). Official History of the War: Mesopotamia Campaign, Imperial War Museum. ISBN 1-870423-30-5