17th Indian Division
| 17th Indian Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | August 1917 – August 1923 |
| Country |  British Crown |
| Branch |  British Indian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | I Corps |
| Engagements | World War I
|
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | |
The 17th Indian Division was formed in 1917 from units of the
Iraq Rebellion in 1920
. In August 1923, the division was reduced to a single brigade.
History
The 17th Indian Division started forming in
15th Indian Division.[1]
Most of the infantry battalions that had already been guarding lines of communications in Mesopotamia for some months, were somewhat acclimatized and accustomed to the country.[1] The division was involved in the action at Fat-ha Gorge on the Little Zab between 23–26 October 1918 and the Battle of Sharqat, 28–30 October 1918[2] under command of I Corps[1]
At the end of the war, the 17th Division was chosen to form part of the occupation force for Iraq. It took part in the
Iraq Rebellion in 1920. In August 1923, the division was reduced to a single brigade; the last British troops left in March 1927 and the Indian ones in November 1928.[1]
Order of battle
The division commanded the following units, although not all of them served at the same time:[3]
- 2nd Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
- 31st Punjabis
- 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry
- 114th Mahrattas
- 129th Machine Gun Company
- 34th Light Trench Mortar Battery
- 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
- 1st Battalion, 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry
- 14th Ferozepore Sikhs
- 1st Battalion, 10th Gurkha Rifles
- 257th Machine Gun Company
- 51st Light Trench Mortar Battery
- 1/6th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
- 45th Rattray's Sikhs
- 84th Punjabis
- 1st Battalion, 94th Russell's Infantry
- 1st Battalion, 113th Infantry
- 258th Machine Gun Company
- 52nd Light Trench Mortar Battery
Divisional Artillery
- CCXX Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (1064th, 1065th, 403rd (H) and Anglo-Indian Batteries)[a]
- CCXXI Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (1067th, 1068th, 404th (H) and Volunteer Batteries)[b]
- X.17 Medium Trench MortarBattery
- 17th Divisional Ammunition Column
Engineers and Pioneers
- ISF
- 17th Division Signal Company, Royal Engineers Signal Service
- 1st Battalion, 32nd Sikh Pioneers
Divisional Troops
- 276th Machine Gun Company
- 17th Machine Gun Battalion[c]
- 3rd, 19th, 35th and 36th Combined Field Ambulances, RAMC
- No. 7 Mobile Veterinary Section, AVC
- 17th Division Train, ASC
Commanders
The division was commanded from 25 August 1917 by
See also
- List of Indian divisions in World War I
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d Perry 1993, p. 146
- ^ "17th Indian Division on The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918 by PB Chappell". Archived from the original on 28 May 2008. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 144
- ^ a b c Perry 1993, p. 145
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 135
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 141
Further reading
- Haythornthwaite, Philip J. (1996). The World War One Source Book. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-351-7.
- Moberly, F.J. (1997) [1923]. Official History of the War: Mesopotamia Campaign. London: Imperial War Museum. ISBN 1-870423-30-5.
- Perry, F.W. (1993). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions. Newport: Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 1-871167-23-X.
External links
- "17th Indian Division on The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918 by PB Chappell". Archived from the original on 28 May 2008. Retrieved 2015-05-30.
- "Battle of Sharqat, 1918". FirstWorldWar.com. Retrieved 31 May 2015.