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20th Indian Brigade

October 25, 2023

For the replacement brigade in India in the First World War, see Garhwal Brigade. For the Second World War formation, see 20th Indian Infantry Brigade.

The Garhwal Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Indian Army formed in 1902 as a result of the Kitchener Reforms. It was mobilized as 20th (Garhwal) Brigade at the outbreak of the First World War as part of the 7th (Meerut) Division and departed for France. It served on the Western Front until November 1915. It then moved to Egypt where it joined the 10th Indian Division, by now designated as 20th Indian Brigade.[a] It left the division in March 1916 and thereafter served as an independent brigade in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. It was broken up in 1920.

History Edit

The Kitchener Reforms, carried out during Lord Kitchener's tenure as Commander-in-Chief, India (1902–09), completed the unification of the three former Presidency armies, the Punjab Frontier Force, the Hyderabad Contingent and other local forces into one Indian Army. Kitchener identified the Indian Army's main task as the defence of the North-West Frontier against foreign aggression (particularly Russian expansion into Afghanistan) with internal security relegated to a secondary role. The Army was organized into divisions and brigades that would act as field formations but also included internal security troops.[5]

The Garhwal Brigade was formed in November 1902[b] as a result of the Kitchener Reforms. The brigade formed part of the 7th (Meerut) Division.[6]

Western Front Edit

At the outbreak of the First World War, the Garhwal Brigade was still part of the 7th (Meerut) Division. It was mobilized with the division in August 1914 as the 20th (Garhwal) Brigade and sailed from Bombay on 20 September for the Western Front. It arrived in Marseilles on 12 – 14 October and moved up to the Front, entering the line on the night of 30/31 October – taking part in the Battle of La Bassée (10 October – 2 November). While in France, the brigade was known by its geographical rather than numerical designation so as to avoid confusion with the British 20th Brigade also serving on the Western Front at the same time. The brigade served with the division as part of the Indian Corps on the Western Front until the end of 1915.[7]

For the rest of 1914, the brigade took part in the Defence of Festubert (23 – 24 November) and the Defence of Givenchy (20 – 21 December).[7] In the former, Naik Darwan Singh Negi of the 1st Battalion, 39th Garhwal Rifles won the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Indian troops only became eligible for the award in 1911. His award was gazetted[8] on the same date as that of Sepoy Khudadad Khan, the first Indian VC winner.[5]

In 1915, the brigade took part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle (10 – 13 March)[7] where another two VCs were won: Rifleman Gabar Singh Negi (posthumous) of the 2nd Battalion, 39th Garhwal Rifles, and Private William Buckingham of the 2nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment.[9] The brigade then took part in the battles of Aubers (9 May), Festubert (15 – 25 May) and Loos (25 September – 8 October)[7] where Rifleman Kulbir Thapa of the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles won the brigade's fourth VC.[10]

The losses suffered by the Indian Corps could not be adequately replaced as the reserve and replacement system essentially broke down. Consequently, on 31 October 1915 orders were received to transfer the 3rd (Lahore) and 7th (Meerut) Divisions to Mesopotamia. The last elements were relieved by 9 November and departed for Egypt en route to Mesopotamia.[7] While in Egypt, the brigade left 7th (Meerut) Division in December 1915 and was replaced by 28th Indian Brigade.[11]

Egypt and Palestine Edit

The 10th Indian Division was re-formed on 7 January 1916 as part of the Suez Canal Defences with units and formations in Egypt: the 20th (Garwhal) Brigade – by now designated as 20th Indian Brigade – joined the division along with the 29th Indian Brigade returned from Gallipoli and 31st Indian Brigade formerly with 11th Indian Division. The new division was short lived: it was broken up again on 7 March 1916 as the need to reform depleted units from France made this plan unrealistic.[12] The brigade became an independent formation[13] and served as such for the rest of the war in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign.[3]

The brigade continued to serve on the Suez Canal Defences under command of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in 1916 and 1917. In April 1918, it was attached to the Desert Mounted Corps and with it took part in the Second Transjordan attack (30 April – 4 May 1918). Two battalions of the brigade – Alwar Infantry (I.S.) and 1st Battalion, Patiala Infantry (I.S.) – were involved in the Battle of Abu Tulul on 15 July.[14] It then helped to occupy the Jordan Valley. In August 1918, the brigade joined Chaytor's Force along with the Anzac Mounted Division and other units under the command of Major-General E.W.C. Chaytor. As part of the Final Offensive in Palestine, the Force operated in the Jordan Valley and hills to the east of the Jordan.[1] It took part in the Third Transjordan attack (19 – 25 September) leading to the capture of Amman (25 September).[15]

The brigade was broken up in 1920.[16]

Orders of battle Edit

Commanders Edit

The Garhwal Brigade / 20th (Garhwal) Brigade / 20th Indian Brigade had the following commanders:[16][23][24][3]

From Rank Name Notes
26 November 1902[6][25][g] Major-General A.G.F. Browne
18 October 1907[26] Major-General C.L. Woollcombe
14 November 1911 Major-General H.D’U. Keary
8 January 1915 Brigadier-General C.G. Blackader Appointment vacated on 30 November 1915[23]
November 1915[h] Major-General Sir H.V. Cox
December 1915[h] Brigadier-General F.A. Smith
3 January 1916 Brigadier-General H.D. Watson
17 January 1918 Brigadier-General E.R.B. Murray Until January 1919

See also Edit

Notes Edit

  1. ^ The brigade is sometimes mistakenly referred to as 20th Imperial Service Brigade due to the fact that it included three Imperial Service Troops battalions during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. There is no evidence that this was the official title.[1][2][3] All three battalions had previously served with 32nd (Imperial Service) Brigade.[4]
  2. ^ 26 November 1902 was the appointment date of the first commanding officer of the brigade.[6]
  3. ^ a b c d In April 1915, the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 39th Garhwal Rifles were amalgamated as 39th Garhwal Rifles.[17]
  4. ^ The Alwar Infantry (I.S.) was redesignated as the 145th (Alwar) Infantry from August to December 1918.[19]
  5. ^ The original 110th Mahratta Light Infantry was captured in April 1916 with the 6th (Poona) Division in the fall of Kut.[20] It was reformed from 2nd Mahratta Reserve Battalion in India in June 1917.[21]
  6. ^ a b The 38th and 39th battalions of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) were formed from Jewish volunteers.[22]
  7. ^ Mackie says the brigade was formed in 1904.[16]
  8. ^ a b Perry does not show the appointment of H.V. Cox or F.A. Smith.[23][24]

References Edit

  1. ^ a b "No. 31767". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 February 1922. p. 1530.
  2. ^ a b Perry 1993, p. 116
  3. ^ a b c d e Perry 1993, p. 167
  4. ^ Perry 1993, p. 120
  5. ^ a b Haythornthwaite 1996, p. 244
  6. ^ a b c The late Lieutenant General H.G. Hart. "Hart's Annual Army List for 1906". London: John Murray. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d e Perry 1993, p. 89
  8. ^ "No. 28999". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 December 1914. p. 10425.
  9. ^ "No. 29146". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 April 1915. p. 4143.
  10. ^ "No. 29371". The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 November 1915. p. 11450.
  11. ^ Perry 1993, p. 87
  12. ^ Perry 1993, p. 118
  13. ^ Perry 1993, p. 117
  14. ^ Becke 1945, p. 41
  15. ^ Becke 1945, p. 42
  16. ^ a b c Mackie 2015, p. 363
  17. ^ a b c Perry 1993, p. 86
  18. ^ Perry 1993, p. 85
  19. ^ Perry 1993, p. 168
  20. ^ Perry 1993, p. 76
  21. ^ Perry 1993, p. 176
  22. ^ James 1978, p. 50
  23. ^ a b c Perry 1993, p. 84
  24. ^ a b Perry 1993, p. 115
  25. ^ The late Lieutenant General H.G. Hart. "Hart's Annual Army List for 1907". London: John Murray. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  26. ^ The late Lieutenant General H.G. Hart. "Hart's Annual Army List for 1909". London: John Murray. Retrieved 28 July 2015.

Bibliography Edit

  • Becke, Major A.F. (1945). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 4. The Army Council, GHQs, Armies and Corps 1914–1918. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 1-871167-16-7.
  • Haythornthwaite, Philip J. (1996). The World War One Source Book. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-351-7.
  • James, Brigadier E.A. (1978). British Regiments 1914–18. London: Samson Books Limited. ISBN 0-906304-03-2.
  • Mackie, Colin (June 2015). (PDF). www.gulabin.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  • 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 Edit

  • . Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 2015-07-31.
  • . Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 2015-06-30.
  • . Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 2015-07-03.

October 25, 2023
20th, indian, brigade, replacement, brigade, india, first, world, garhwal, brigade, second, world, formation, 20th, indian, infantry, brigade, garhwal, brigade, infantry, brigade, british, indian, army, formed, 1902, result, kitchener, reforms, mobilized, 20th. For the replacement brigade in India in the First World War see Garhwal Brigade For the Second World War formation see 20th Indian Infantry Brigade The Garhwal Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Indian Army formed in 1902 as a result of the Kitchener Reforms It was mobilized as 20th Garhwal Brigade at the outbreak of the First World War as part of the 7th Meerut Division and departed for France It served on the Western Front until November 1915 It then moved to Egypt where it joined the 10th Indian Division by now designated as 20th Indian Brigade a It left the division in March 1916 and thereafter served as an independent brigade in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign It was broken up in 1920 Garhwal Brigade20th Garhwal Brigade20th Indian BrigadeActive26 November 1902 1920Country British IndiaAllegianceBritish CrownBranch British Indian ArmyTypeInfantrySizeBrigadePart of7th Meerut Division10th Indian DivisionIndependentPeacetime HQLansdowneEngagementsFirst World War Western FrontBattle of La Bassee Battle of Neuve Chapelle Battle of Aubers Battle of Festubert Battle of Loos dd Sinai and Palestine CampaignSecond Transjordan attack Third Transjordan attack Second Battle of Amman dd CommandersNotablecommandersMaj Gen C L WoollcombeMaj Gen H D U KearyBr Gen C G Blackader Contents 1 History 1 1 Western Front 1 2 Egypt and Palestine 2 Orders of battle 3 Commanders 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksHistory EditThe Kitchener Reforms carried out during Lord Kitchener s tenure as Commander in Chief India 1902 09 completed the unification of the three former Presidency armies the Punjab Frontier Force the Hyderabad Contingent and other local forces into one Indian Army Kitchener identified the Indian Army s main task as the defence of the North West Frontier against foreign aggression particularly Russian expansion into Afghanistan with internal security relegated to a secondary role The Army was organized into divisions and brigades that would act as field formations but also included internal security troops 5 The Garhwal Brigade was formed in November 1902 b as a result of the Kitchener Reforms The brigade formed part of the 7th Meerut Division 6 Western Front Edit At the outbreak of the First World War the Garhwal Brigade was still part of the 7th Meerut Division It was mobilized with the division in August 1914 as the 20th Garhwal Brigade and sailed from Bombay on 20 September for the Western Front It arrived in Marseilles on 12 14 October and moved up to the Front entering the line on the night of 30 31 October taking part in the Battle of La Bassee 10 October 2 November While in France the brigade was known by its geographical rather than numerical designation so as to avoid confusion with the British 20th Brigade also serving on the Western Front at the same time The brigade served with the division as part of the Indian Corps on the Western Front until the end of 1915 7 For the rest of 1914 the brigade took part in the Defence of Festubert 23 24 November and the Defence of Givenchy 20 21 December 7 In the former Naik Darwan Singh Negi of the 1st Battalion 39th Garhwal Rifles won the Victoria Cross VC the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces Indian troops only became eligible for the award in 1911 His award was gazetted 8 on the same date as that of Sepoy Khudadad Khan the first Indian VC winner 5 In 1915 the brigade took part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle 10 13 March 7 where another two VCs were won Rifleman Gabar Singh Negi posthumous of the 2nd Battalion 39th Garhwal Rifles and Private William Buckingham of the 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment 9 The brigade then took part in the battles of Aubers 9 May Festubert 15 25 May and Loos 25 September 8 October 7 where Rifleman Kulbir Thapa of the 2nd Battalion 3rd Queen Alexandra s Own Gurkha Rifles won the brigade s fourth VC 10 The losses suffered by the Indian Corps could not be adequately replaced as the reserve and replacement system essentially broke down Consequently on 31 October 1915 orders were received to transfer the 3rd Lahore and 7th Meerut Divisions to Mesopotamia The last elements were relieved by 9 November and departed for Egypt en route to Mesopotamia 7 While in Egypt the brigade left 7th Meerut Division in December 1915 and was replaced by 28th Indian Brigade 11 Egypt and Palestine Edit The 10th Indian Division was re formed on 7 January 1916 as part of the Suez Canal Defences with units and formations in Egypt the 20th Garwhal Brigade by now designated as 20th Indian Brigade joined the division along with the 29th Indian Brigade returned from Gallipoli and 31st Indian Brigade formerly with 11th Indian Division The new division was short lived it was broken up again on 7 March 1916 as the need to reform depleted units from France made this plan unrealistic 12 The brigade became an independent formation 13 and served as such for the rest of the war in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign 3 The brigade continued to serve on the Suez Canal Defences under command of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in 1916 and 1917 In April 1918 it was attached to the Desert Mounted Corps and with it took part in the Second Transjordan attack 30 April 4 May 1918 Two battalions of the brigade Alwar Infantry I S and 1st Battalion Patiala Infantry I S were involved in the Battle of Abu Tulul on 15 July 14 It then helped to occupy the Jordan Valley In August 1918 the brigade joined Chaytor s Force along with the Anzac Mounted Division and other units under the command of Major General E W C Chaytor As part of the Final Offensive in Palestine the Force operated in the Jordan Valley and hills to the east of the Jordan 1 It took part in the Third Transjordan attack 19 25 September leading to the capture of Amman 25 September 15 The brigade was broken up in 1920 16 Orders of battle EditGarhwal Brigade in India in August 1914At the outbreak of the First World War the brigade had the following composition 17 1st Battalion 39th Garhwal Rifles 2nd Battalion 39th Garhwal Rifles 2nd Battalion 3rd Queen Alexandra s Own Gurkha Rifles 2nd Battalion 8th Gurkha Rifles transferred in September 1914 to 21st Bareilly Brigade 20th Garhwal Brigade 7th Meerut Division on the Western FrontThe brigade s composition on the Western Front included 17 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment joined in September 1914 from 21st Bareilly Brigade transferred on 17 November 1915 to 28th Indian Brigade in Egypt 1st Battalion 39th Garhwal Rifles until April 1915 c 2nd Battalion 39th Garhwal Rifles until April 1915 c 39th Garhwal Rifles from April 1915 c 2nd Battalion 3rd Queen Alexandra s Own Gurkha Rifles 1 3rd Battalion London Regiment joined on 10 February 1915 from Malta joined 139th Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Brigade 46th North Midland Division on 4 November 1915 2nd Battalion 8th Gurkha Rifles rejoined in March 1915 from 7th Ferozepore Brigade 3rd Lahore Division left the brigade in Egypt in December 1915 and in March 1916 to Lansdowne 7th Meerut Divisional Area The following Indian units temporarily replaced British ones during July and August 1915 18 15th Ludhiana Sikhs 1st Battalion 1st King George s Own Gurkha Rifles The Malaun Regiment 1st Battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles20th Indian Brigade 10th Indian Division in EgyptThe brigade had the following composition while assigned to the 10th Indian Division in Egypt 2 39th Garhwal Rifles left in February 1916 for Dehra Dun Brigade 7th Meerut Divisional Area c 2nd Battalion 3rd Queen Alexandra s Own Gurkha Rifles 2nd Battalion 2nd King Edward s Own Gurkha Rifles The Sirmoor Rifles joined in November 1915 from 19th Dehra Dun Brigade 7th Meerut Division left in February 1916 for Dehra Dun Brigade 7th Meerut Divisional Area 4th Battalion Gwalior Infantry I S joined in January 1916 from 32nd Imperial Service Brigade Alwar Infantry I S joined in February 1916 from 32nd Imperial Service Brigade via Lines of Communication 20th Indian Brigade as an independent formationThe brigade had the following composition while acting as an independent formation in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign 3 2nd Battalion 3rd Queen Alexandra s Own Gurkha Rifles left in December 1916 for 29th Indian Brigade 4th Battalion Gwalior Infantry I S Alwar Infantry I S d 58th Vaughan s Rifles Frontier Force joined in February 1916 from 31st Indian Brigade left in April 1917 for 49th Indian Brigade 1st Battalion Patiala Infantry I S joined in December 1916 from 29th Indian Brigade 1st Battalion 101st Grenadiers joined on 18 January 1918 from 49th Indian Brigade left on 30 April 1918 for 29th Brigade British 10th Division 2nd Battalion 101st Grenadiers joined on 19 January 1918 from 49th Indian Brigade left on 1 May 1918 for 31st Brigade British 10th Division 110th Mahratta Light Infantry joined on 20 July 1918 from 160th Brigade British 53rd Division e The brigade had the following units attached from August to November 1918 3 38th Service Battalion Royal Fusiliers City of London Regiment f 39th Service Battalion Royal Fusiliers City of London Regiment f 1st Battalion British West Indies Regiment 2nd Battalion British West Indies RegimentCommanders EditThe Garhwal Brigade 20th Garhwal Brigade 20th Indian Brigade had the following commanders 16 23 24 3 From Rank Name Notes26 November 1902 6 25 g Major General A G F Browne18 October 1907 26 Major General C L Woollcombe14 November 1911 Major General H D U Keary8 January 1915 Brigadier General C G Blackader Appointment vacated on 30 November 1915 23 November 1915 h Major General Sir H V CoxDecember 1915 h Brigadier General F A Smith3 January 1916 Brigadier General H D Watson17 January 1918 Brigadier General E R B Murray Until January 1919See also Edit nbsp World War I portalGarhwal Brigade formed in India to replace the original brigade when it was mobilized Indian Expeditionary Force ANotes Edit The brigade is sometimes mistakenly referred to as 20th Imperial Service Brigade due to the fact that it included three Imperial Service Troops battalions during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign There is no evidence that this was the official title 1 2 3 All three battalions had previously served with 32nd Imperial Service Brigade 4 26 November 1902 was the appointment date of the first commanding officer of the brigade 6 a b c d In April 1915 the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 39th Garhwal Rifles were amalgamated as 39th Garhwal Rifles 17 The Alwar Infantry I S was redesignated as the 145th Alwar Infantry from August to December 1918 19 The original 110th Mahratta Light Infantry was captured in April 1916 with the 6th Poona Division in the fall of Kut 20 It was reformed from 2nd Mahratta Reserve Battalion in India in June 1917 21 a b The 38th and 39th battalions of the Royal Fusiliers City of London Regiment were formed from Jewish volunteers 22 Mackie says the brigade was formed in 1904 16 a b Perry does not show the appointment of H V Cox or F A Smith 23 24 References Edit a b No 31767 The London Gazette Supplement 4 February 1922 p 1530 a b Perry 1993 p 116 a b c d e Perry 1993 p 167 Perry 1993 p 120 a b Haythornthwaite 1996 p 244 a b c The late Lieutenant General H G Hart Hart s Annual Army List for 1906 London John Murray Retrieved 28 July 2015 a b c d e Perry 1993 p 89 No 28999 The London Gazette Supplement 7 December 1914 p 10425 No 29146 The London Gazette Supplement 28 April 1915 p 4143 No 29371 The London Gazette Supplement 16 November 1915 p 11450 Perry 1993 p 87 Perry 1993 p 118 Perry 1993 p 117 Becke 1945 p 41 Becke 1945 p 42 a b c Mackie 2015 p 363 a b c Perry 1993 p 86 Perry 1993 p 85 Perry 1993 p 168 Perry 1993 p 76 Perry 1993 p 176 James 1978 p 50 a b c Perry 1993 p 84 a b Perry 1993 p 115 The late Lieutenant General H G Hart Hart s Annual Army List for 1907 London John Murray Retrieved 28 July 2015 The late Lieutenant General H G Hart Hart s Annual Army List for 1909 London John Murray Retrieved 28 July 2015 Bibliography EditBecke Major A F 1945 Order of Battle of Divisions Part 4 The Army Council GHQs Armies and Corps 1914 1918 London His Majesty s Stationery Office ISBN 1 871167 16 7 Haythornthwaite Philip J 1996 The World War One Source Book London Arms and Armour Press ISBN 1 85409 351 7 James Brigadier E A 1978 British Regiments 1914 18 London Samson Books Limited ISBN 0 906304 03 2 Mackie Colin June 2015 Army Commands 1900 2011 PDF www gulabin com Archived from the original PDF on 5 July 2015 Retrieved 1 July 2015 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 Edit 7th Meerut Division on The Regimental Warpath 1914 1918 by PB Chappell Archived from the original on 17 May 2008 Retrieved 2015 07 31 10th Indian Division on The Regimental Warpath 1914 1918 by PB Chappell Archived from the original on 17 May 2008 Retrieved 2015 06 30 Independent Indian Brigades on The Regimental Warpath 1914 1918 by PB Chappell Archived from the original on 13 February 2012 Retrieved 2015 07 03 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 20th Indian Brigade amp oldid 1041158486, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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