3rd (Lahore) Division
3rd (Lahore) Division | |
---|---|
Active | 1852 – ? |
Country | India |
Branch | British Indian Army |
Type | Infantry |
Garrison/HQ | Mian Mir (Lahore) |
Engagements | Western Front[1]
Palestine Campaign
|
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Sir Arthur Hoskins |
The 3rd (Lahore) Division was an
Pre-Mutiny
The Lahore Division first appears in the Indian Army List in 1852, when the short-lived Cis-
Composition 1852
Lahore: Commanding Station: Brigadier Sir James Tennant,
- HQ, 1st and 2nd Troops, 3rd Brigade, Bengal Horse Artillery
- HQ, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Companies, 2nd (European) Battalion, Bengal Foot Artillery (1st Company and O Company Ordnance Drivers manning No 7 Light Field Battery (horsedrawn))
- 2nd Company, 8th (Native) Battalion, Bengal Foot Artillery, and D Company Ordnance drivers, manning No 2 Light Field Battery (bullock drawn)
- 4th Company, Bengal Sappers and Miners
- Her Majesty's 96th Foot
- 5th Bengal Native Infantry
- 9th Bengal Native Infantry
- 39th Bengal Native Infantry
- 57th Bengal Native Infantry
- 65th Bengal Native Infantry
- 1st Bengal Irregular Cavalry (Skinner's Horse)
- 18th Bengal Irregular Cavalry
Wazirabad: Brigadier J.R. Hearsey
- 4th Company 7th (Native) Battalion, Bengal Foot Artillery
- Her Majesty's 3rd Light Dragoons
- Her Majesty's 10th Foot
- Her Majesty's 24th Foot
- 21st Bengal Native Infantry
- 32nd Bengal Native Infantry
- 34th Bengal Native Infantry
Sialkot: Lieutenant-Colonel J.T. Lane, Bengal Artillery
- 2nd Troop, 2nd Brigade, Bengal Horse Artillery
- 1st Company, 1st (European) Battalion, Bengal Foot Artillery
- 10th Company, Bengal Sappers and Miners
- 4th Bengal Light Cavalry
- Detachment Her Majesty's 24th Foot
- 63rd Bengal Native Infantry
- 6th Bengal Irregular Cavalry
- 3rd Company, 8th (Native) Battalion, Bengal Foot Artillery
- Detachments Her Majesty's 10th Foot and Native Infantry
Indian mutiny
During the '
Post-Mutiny
Over succeeding decades, the stations controlled by Lahore Division varied, and the forces under command were regularly rotated. For example:
Composition January 1888
GOC: Maj-Gen Sir
Divisional HQ: Mian Mir (Lahore Cantonment)[8]
Mian Mir:
- K Battery, 3rd Brigade, Royal Artillery
- O Battery, 4th Brigade, Royal Artillery
- 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
- 5th Regiment Bengal Cavalry
- 24th (Punjab) Regiment, Bengal Infantry
- 32nd (Punjab) Regiment Bengal Infantry (Pioneers)
- 34th (Punjab) Regiment Bengal Infantry (Pioneers)
Fort Lahore:
- 3rd Battery, 1st Brigade, Scottish Division Garrison Artillery, Royal Artillery
- Detachment 2nd Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
Multan Brigade:
- B Battery 1st Brigade, Royal Artillery
- 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment
- 10th Bengal (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Cavalry
- 25th (Punjab) Regiment Bengal Native Infantry
- L Battery, 4th Brigade, Royal Artillery
- 9th Battery, 1st Brigade, Eastern Division Garrison Artillery, Royal Artillery
- 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment
- 17th Regiment of Bengal Cavalry
- 19th (Punjab) Regiment Bengal Native Infantry
- 35th (Sikh) Regiment Bengal Native Infantry
- Detachment 1st Battalion, Border Regiment
- Detachment 24th (Punjab) Regiment Bengal Native Infantry
- 1st Battalion, 1st Goorkha Light Infantry
- 2nd Battalion, 1st Goorkha Light Infantry
Bakloh (near Dalhousie):
- 1st Battalion, 4th Goorkha Regiment
- 2nd Battalion, 4th Goorkha Regiment
Pre–World War I
Under the reforms introduced by
World War I
Western Front 1914
In 1914 the 3rd (Lahore) Division was part of
The 3rd Lahore Divisional Area was formed in late 1914 to take over the garrison duties of the 3rd Division when it left for France. The 3rd Lahore Divisional Area was disbanded in May 1917, the responsibilities of the area being taken over by the 16th Division.
Order of Battle October 1914[12][13]
GOC: Lieut-Gen H.B.B. Watkis, CB
Ferozepore Brigade
GOC: Brig-Gen R.G. Egerton, CB
- 1st Battalion, Connaught Rangers
- 9th Bhopal Infantry
- 57th Wilde's Rifles (Frontier Force)
- 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis
Jullundur Brigade
GOC: Maj-Gen P.M. Carnegy, CB
- 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment
- 4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment (Territorial Force) - joined from GHQ Reserve 4 December 1914
- 15th Ludhiana Sikhs
- 47th Sikhs
- 59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force)
Sirhind Brigade - arrived at Marseilles from Egypt 30 November, joined 9 December 1914
GOC: Maj-Gen J.M.S. Brunker
- 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
- 125th Napier's Rifles
- 1st Battalion, 1st King George's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)
- 1st Battalion, 4th Gurkha Rifles
Divisional Troops: Mounted Troops:
Artillery:
- V Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (RFA) - joined 22 November 1914 from 7th (Meerut) Division
- 64th, 73rd & 81st Batteries, V Brigade Ammunition Column
- XI Brigade, RFA - joined 22 November 1914 from 7th (Meerut) Division
- 83rd, 84th & 85th Batteries, XI Brigade Ammunition Column
- XVIII Brigade, RFA
- 59th, 93rd & 94th Batteries, XVIII Brigade Ammunition Column
- 109th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (4.7-inch guns)
- Heavy Battery Ammunition Column
- Lahore Divisional Ammunition Column
Engineers
- 20th & 21st Companies, 3rd Sappers and Miners
Signals Service:
- Lahore Signal Company
Pioneers
- 34th Sikh Pioneers
Supply & Transport:
- Lahore Divisional train
Medical Units:
- 7th & 8th British Field Ambulances
- 111th, 112th and 113th Indian Field Ambulances
The division finally got into action piecemeal at the simultaneous Battles of La Bassee, 1st Messines and Armentieres along the British part of the Western Front in October–November 1914. The degree to which the division was broken up can be gauged by the 29 October entry in the diary kept by the Indian corps' commander, Lt-Gen Sir James Willcocks:
- "Where is my Lahore Division?
Sirhind Brigade detained in Egypt.
Ferozepore Brigade: somewhere in the north, split up into three or four bits.
Jullunder Brigade: Manchesters gone south to (British) 5 Division (this disposes of only British unit)
47th Sikhs: Half fighting with some British division; half somewhere else!
59th Rifles and 15th Sikhs: In trenches
34th Pioneers (divisional troops) also in trenches
15th Lancers: In trenches.
Two companies of Sappers and Miners fighting as infantry with British divisions.
Divisional Headquarters: Somewhere?
Thank heaven the Meerut Division will get a better chance."[14]
When the troops were relieved in November 1914, the reassembled division defended a section of the front in Indian Corps' sector.
Western Front 1915
After winter operations (in which the Indian soldiers suffered badly) the division next took part in the Battles of
Order of Battle May 1915[15]
GOC: Maj-Gen
Ferozepore Brigade
GOC: Brig-Gen R.G. Egerton, CB
- 1st Battalion, Connaught Rangers
- 1/4th Battalion, London Regiment (Territorial Force)
- 9th Bhopal Infantry
- 57th Wilde's Rifles (Frontier Force)
- 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis
Jullundur Brigade
GOC: Brig-Gen E.P. Strickland
- 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment
- 1/4th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment (Territorial Force)
- 1/5th Battalion, Border Regiment (Territorial Force)
- 40th Pathans
- 47th Sikhs
- 59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force)
Sirhind Brigade
GOC: Brig-Gen W.G. Walker, VC
- 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
- 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, King's (Liverpool Regiment) (Special Reserve)
- 15th Ludhiana Sikhs
- 1st Battalion, 1st King George's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)
- 1st Battalion, 4th Gurkha Rifles
Divisional Troops: As before, with addition of XLIII (Howitzer Bde, RA (40th & 57th Batteries)
Mesopotamia
On 13 August 1915, General
Palestine
After the fall of Baghdad, the
Order of Battle from May 1918[21][22]
GOC: Maj-Gen
7th Brigade:
- 1st Battalion, Connaught Rangers
- 27th Punjabis
- 91st Punjabis (Light Infantry)
- 2nd Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles
- 7th Light Trench Mortar Battery
8th Brigade:
- 1st Battalion, Manchester Regiment
- 47th Sikhs
- 59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force)
- 2nd Battalion, 124th Duchess of Connaught's Own Baluchistan Infantry
- 8th Light Trench Mortar Battery
9th Brigade:
- 1st Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment
- 93rd Burma Infantry
- 105th Mahratta Light Infantry
- 1st Battalion, 1st King George's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Malaun Regiment)
- 9th Light Trench Mortar Battery
Divisional Artillery (reorganised in April 1918):
- IV Brigade, RFA
- 7, 14 and 66 18-pounder Batteries
- B/LXIX (Howitzer) Battery
- VIII Brigade, RFA
- 372 and 373 18-pounder Batteries
- 428 (Howitzer) Battery
- LIII Brigade, RFA
- 66 and 374 18-pounder Batteries
- 430 (Howitzer) Battery
(372, 373 and 374 were new six-gun 18-pounder batteries formed in 64th (2nd Highland) Division's billeting area round Norwich, England, in December 1916[23] and shipped to Mesopotamia.[24])
See also
- List of Indian divisions in World War I
References
- ^ a b Baker, Chris (2010). "The British Corps of 1914-1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ East India Register and Army List 1851–53; Bengal and Agra Directory and Annual Register 1852.
- ^ East-India Register and Army List 1847–53
- ^ Imperial Gazetteer of India. Vol. 16. 1908. p. 115. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ Imperial Gazetteer of India. Vol. 12. 1908. p. 343. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ Bengal and Agra Directory and Annual Register 1852; East-India Register and Army List 1853
- ^ Imperial Gazetteer of India. Vol. 16. 1908. p. 97. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ Imperial Gazetteer of India. Vol. 17. 1908. p. 316. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ India List January 1888
- ^ Monthly Army List August 1914.
- ^ Edmonds, 1914, Vol II, p. 92, Note 1.
- ^ Edmonds, 1914, Vol II, Appendix 1.
- ^ F.W. Perry & A.F. Becke, Orders of Battle.
- ^ Lt-Gen Sir James Willcocks, With the Indians in France, London: Constable, 1920 (quoted in Corrigan p 74).
- ^ Edmonds & Wynne, 1915, Vol II, Appendix 2.
- ^ Edmonds & Wynne, 1915, Vol II, pp. 402–3.
- ^ Moberly, Vol II.
- ^ Baker, Chris (2010). "The British campaign in Mesopotamia 1914-1918". The Long, Long Trail. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ Moberly, Vol IV.
- ^ Bullock.
- ^ Bullock, Appendix.
- ^ Perry, pp. 51–2.
- ^ Army Council Instruction 2403 of 22 December 1916
- ^ Perry, pp. 51–2.
Bibliography
- Army Council Instructions Issued During December 1916, London: HM Stationery Office.
- Bullock, David L. (1988). Allenby's War: the Palestine-Arabian Campaigns 1916–1918. London: Blandford. ISBN 0-7137-1869-2.
- Corrigan, Gordon (1999). Sepoys in the Trenches: the Indian Corps on the Western Front, 1914-1915. Staplehurst: Spellmount. ISBN 1-86227-054-6.
- ISBN 1-870423-55-0.
- Edmonds, Sir James Edward; Wynne, Graeme Chamley (1928). Military Operations, France and Belgium, 1915: Battle of Aubers Ridge, Festubert, and Loos. History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Vol. II. London: Macmillan. OCLC 911247753.
- ISBN 1-85409-351-7.
- Kempton, Chris (1997). A Register of Titles of the Units of the H.E.I.C. and Indian Armies 1666–1947. British Empire and Commonwealth Museum Research Paper No 1. ISBN 0-9530174-0-0.
- Moberly, Frederick James (1924). Military Operations: The Campaign in Mesopotamia. History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Vol. II. London: HMSO.
- Moberly, Frederick James (1927). Military Operations: The Campaign in Mesopotamia. History of the Great War Based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence. Vol. IV. London: HMSO.
- 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
- British Empire has list of all Indian Army regiments with pictures of their regimental badges.
- Imperial Gazetteer of India 1908–30, gives complete list of Indian towns and their history and establishment.
- The Long Long Trail, gives orders of battle and much more.
- "3rd (Lahore) Division on The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918 by PB Chappell". Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2015.