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29th Indian Brigade

October 21, 2023

For the Second World War formation, see 29th Indian Infantry Brigade.

The 29th Indian Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Indian Army that saw active service with the Indian Army during the First World War. Formed in October 1914, it raided Sheik Saiad en route to Egypt, defended the Suez Canal in early 1915, before taking part in the Gallipoli Campaign (April to December 1915). On returning to Egypt it acted as an independent formation being broken up in June 1917.

History Edit

Formation

The 29th Indian Brigade was formed in October 1914 as part of Indian Expeditionary Force F (along with the 28th and 30th Indian Brigades) and sent to Egypt.[1] En route to Egypt it raided Sheik Saiad (10–11 November). The Ottoman Empire maintained a small fort at Sheik Saiad guarding the entrance to the Red Sea. Having destroyed the Ottoman fortifications, the brigade re-embarked and continued on to Suez.[2]

10th Indian Division

After arriving in Egypt, it joined the 10th Indian Division when it was formed on 24 December. It served on the Suez Canal Defences, notably taking part in the Actions on the Suez Canal on 3–4 February 1915. After the defeat of the Turkish attempts to cross the canal, the division was dispersed and the brigade was sent to Gallipoli in April 1915.[3]

 
Gurkha soldiers of 29th Indian Brigade in Gallipoli, 1915
Gallipoli
 
Sikh soldiers of 29th Indian Infantry Brigade rest in a trench.

The brigade formed Indian Expeditionary Force G for service in Gallipoli, the only Indian Army formation to serve on the peninsula.[4] From 1 May to 7 July 1915 it was attached to the British 29th Division at Cape Helles.[2] While with the division, it was in reserve for the Second Battle of Krithia (6–8 May), but played a more major role at Gurkha Bluff (12 May), the Third Battle of Krithia (4 June) and the Battle of Gully Ravine (28 June–2 July).[5]

The brigade was switched to ANZAC Cove where it was attached to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, with which it took part in the Battle of Sari Bair (6–21 August 1915). 1st Battalion, 6th Gurkha Rifles was the only unit to reach the top of the ridge and see the Dardanelles; shelled by the Royal Navy, a Turkish counter-attack drove them off.[6] The brigade's involvement at Gallipoli came at a high price: the 14th Sikhs, alone, suffered 264 killed and 840 wounded while serving at Gallipoli.[7][a]

Independent

On 7 January 1916, the 10th Indian Division was reformed as part of the Suez Canal District, and the brigade joined it. The need to return depleted units that had served in France to India meant that this was short-lived. The division was broken up on 7 March and the brigade became an independent formation. It continued to serve on the Suez Canal Defences.[3]

In March 1917, the Egyptian Expeditionary Force started forming the British 75th Division, originally to be made up of Territorial Force battalions arriving from India. In May 1917, to speed up the formation of the division, it was decided to incorporate Indian battalions.[9] To this end, the 29th Indian Brigade was broken up in June 1917 and its battalions posted to 75th Division.[10]

Orders of battle Edit

Commanders Edit

The brigade had the following commanders:[16][15]

From Rank Name Notes
31 October 1914 Brigadier-General H.V. Cox subsequently commanded the Australian 4th Division[17]
17 February 1915 Major General
26 September 1915 Brigadier-General P.C. Palin
5 February 1917 Brigadier-General E.R.B. Murray
25 March 1917 Brigadier-General P.C. Palin subsequently commanded the British 75th Division[18]

See also Edit

Notes Edit

  1. ^ An Indian infantry battalion had a strength of 13 British officers, 17 Indian officers and 723 other ranks.[8] Such losses represented approximately 150% of this strength.

References Edit

  1. ^ Perry 1993, p. 172
  2. ^ a b Perry 1993, p. 117
  3. ^ a b Perry 1993, p. 118
  4. ^ Haythornthwaite 1996, p. 246
  5. ^ Becke 1935, p. 123
  6. ^ Gaylor 1996, p. 236
  7. ^ Gaylor 1996, p. 168
  8. ^ Perry 1993, p. 173
  9. ^ Becke 1937, p. 129
  10. ^ Perry 1993, p. 168
  11. ^ a b c d Perry 1993, p. 116
  12. ^ Becke 1935, p. 86
  13. ^ Becke 1935, p. 50
  14. ^ Becke 1935, p. 119
  15. ^ a b Perry 1993, p. 167
  16. ^ Perry 1993, p. 115
  17. ^ Perry 1992, p. 27
  18. ^ Becke 1937, p. 123

Bibliography Edit

  • Becke, Major A.F. (1935). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 1. The Regular British Divisions. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 1-871167-09-4.
  • Becke, Major A.F. (1937). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2B. The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th) with The Home-Service Divisions (71st–73rd) and 74th and 75th Divisions. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 1-871167-00-0.
  • Gaylor, John (1996). Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–1991 (2nd ed.). Tunbridge Wells: Parapress. ISBN 1-898594-41-4.
  • Haythornthwaite, Philip J. (1996). The World War One Source Book. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-351-7.
  • Perry, F.W. (1992). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5A. The Divisions of Australia, Canada and New Zealand and those in East Africa. Newport: Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 1-871167-25-6.
  • 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 30 June 2015.
  • . Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2015.

October 21, 2023
29th, indian, brigade, second, world, formation, 29th, indian, infantry, brigade, infantry, brigade, british, indian, army, that, active, service, with, indian, army, during, first, world, formed, october, 1914, raided, sheik, saiad, route, egypt, defended, su. For the Second World War formation see 29th Indian Infantry Brigade The 29th Indian Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Indian Army that saw active service with the Indian Army during the First World War Formed in October 1914 it raided Sheik Saiad en route to Egypt defended the Suez Canal in early 1915 before taking part in the Gallipoli Campaign April to December 1915 On returning to Egypt it acted as an independent formation being broken up in June 1917 29th Indian Brigade29th Indian Brigade landing at Cape Helles GallipoliActive31 October 1914 25 June 1917Country IndiaAllegianceBritish CrownBranch British Indian ArmyTypeInfantrySizeBrigadePart of10th Indian Divisionatt to British 29th DivisionEngagementsFirst World War South ArabiaRaid on Sheik Saiad dd Sinai and Palestine CampaignActions on the Suez Canal dd Gallipoli CampaignThird Battle of Krithia Battle of Gully Ravine Battle of Sari Bair dd CommandersNotablecommandersMaj Gen H V CoxBr Gen P C Palin Contents 1 History 2 Orders of battle 3 Commanders 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksHistory EditFormationThe 29th Indian Brigade was formed in October 1914 as part of Indian Expeditionary Force F along with the 28th and 30th Indian Brigades and sent to Egypt 1 En route to Egypt it raided Sheik Saiad 10 11 November The Ottoman Empire maintained a small fort at Sheik Saiad guarding the entrance to the Red Sea Having destroyed the Ottoman fortifications the brigade re embarked and continued on to Suez 2 10th Indian DivisionAfter arriving in Egypt it joined the 10th Indian Division when it was formed on 24 December It served on the Suez Canal Defences notably taking part in the Actions on the Suez Canal on 3 4 February 1915 After the defeat of the Turkish attempts to cross the canal the division was dispersed and the brigade was sent to Gallipoli in April 1915 3 nbsp Gurkha soldiers of 29th Indian Brigade in Gallipoli 1915Gallipoli nbsp Sikh soldiers of 29th Indian Infantry Brigade rest in a trench The brigade formed Indian Expeditionary Force G for service in Gallipoli the only Indian Army formation to serve on the peninsula 4 From 1 May to 7 July 1915 it was attached to the British 29th Division at Cape Helles 2 While with the division it was in reserve for the Second Battle of Krithia 6 8 May but played a more major role at Gurkha Bluff 12 May the Third Battle of Krithia 4 June and the Battle of Gully Ravine 28 June 2 July 5 The brigade was switched to ANZAC Cove where it was attached to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps with which it took part in the Battle of Sari Bair 6 21 August 1915 1st Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles was the only unit to reach the top of the ridge and see the Dardanelles shelled by the Royal Navy a Turkish counter attack drove them off 6 The brigade s involvement at Gallipoli came at a high price the 14th Sikhs alone suffered 264 killed and 840 wounded while serving at Gallipoli 7 a IndependentOn 7 January 1916 the 10th Indian Division was reformed as part of the Suez Canal District and the brigade joined it The need to return depleted units that had served in France to India meant that this was short lived The division was broken up on 7 March and the brigade became an independent formation It continued to serve on the Suez Canal Defences 3 In March 1917 the Egyptian Expeditionary Force started forming the British 75th Division originally to be made up of Territorial Force battalions arriving from India In May 1917 to speed up the formation of the division it was decided to incorporate Indian battalions 9 To this end the 29th Indian Brigade was broken up in June 1917 and its battalions posted to 75th Division 10 Orders of battle EditWith 10th Division in EgyptThe brigade had the following composition from formation and while assigned to 10th Indian Division in Egypt 11 14th King George s Own Ferozepore Sikhs joined from 1st Peshawar Brigade 1st Peshawar Division 69th Punjabis joined from 5th Jhelum Brigade 2nd Rawalpindi Division 89th Punjabis joined from Presidency Brigade 8th Lucknow Division 1st Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles joined from 3rd Abbottabad Brigade 2nd Rawalpindi Division GallipoliThe brigade commanded the following units during the Gallipoli Campaign 11 14th King George s Own Ferozepore Sikhs 69th Punjabis transferred in May 1915 to 21st Bareilly Brigade 7th Meerut Division 89th Punjabis transferred in May 1915 to 7th Ferozepore Brigade 3rd Lahore Division 1st Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles 1st Battalion 5th Gurkha Rifles Frontier Force joined in June 1915 from 28th Indian Brigade 10th Indian Division 2nd Battalion 10th Gurkha Rifles joined in June 1915 from 22nd Lucknow Brigade 11th Indian Division 1st Battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles joined in October 1915 from 9th Sirhind Brigade 3rd Lahore Division The 69th and 89th Punjabis served briefly at Gallipoli before departing for the Western Front 12 13 While serving at Gallipoli the following units were attached to the brigade 14 108th Indian Field Ambulance 23rd Mule Corps supply and transport columnReturn to EgyptAfter returning to Egypt the battalions that had served at Gallipoli were gradually posted away 11 14th King George s Own Ferozepore Sikhs detached to Tor in February 1916 and transferred to Bushire in May 1st Battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles transferred in December 1915 to 31st Indian Brigade 10th Indian Division 1st Battalion 5th Gurkha Rifles Frontier Force left for 1st Peshawar Brigade 1st Peshawar Division in February 1916 1st Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles left for 1st Peshawar Brigade 1st Peshawar Division in February 1916 2nd Battalion 10th Gurkha Rifles left in January 1916 for Suez local defences Reformed and service as an independent formationThe brigade was gradually reformed as new battalions joined from February 1916 onwards 11 15 57th Wilde s Rifles Frontier Force joined in February 1916 from 7th Ferozepore Brigade 3rd Lahore Division transferred in June 1916 to East Africa 1st Battalion Patiala Infantry I S joined in February 1916 from 31st Indian Brigade 10th Indian Division transferred in December 1916 to 20th Indian Brigade 1st Battalion 101st Grenadiers joined on 4 September 1916 from East Africa transferred on 10 April 1917 to 49th Indian Brigade 2nd Battalion 3rd Queen Alexandra s Own Gurkha Rifles joined in December 1916 from 20th Indian Brigade transferred on 24 June 1917 to 233rd Brigade British 75th Division 123rd Outram s Rifles joined in January 1917 from Multan 3rd Lahore Divisional Area transferred on 1 July 1917 to 234th Brigade British 75th Division 2nd Battalion 101st Grenadiers formed in February 1917 transferred on 10 April 1917 to 49th Indian Brigade 3rd Battalion 3rd Queen Alexandra s Own Gurkha Rifles formed in February 1917 transferred on 30 June 1917 to 233rd Brigade British 75th Division Commanders EditThe brigade had the following commanders 16 15 From Rank Name Notes31 October 1914 Brigadier General H V Cox subsequently commanded the Australian 4th Division 17 17 February 1915 Major General26 September 1915 Brigadier General P C Palin5 February 1917 Brigadier General E R B Murray25 March 1917 Brigadier General P C Palin subsequently commanded the British 75th Division 18 See also Edit nbsp World War I portalForce in EgyptNotes Edit An Indian infantry battalion had a strength of 13 British officers 17 Indian officers and 723 other ranks 8 Such losses represented approximately 150 of this strength References Edit Perry 1993 p 172 a b Perry 1993 p 117 a b Perry 1993 p 118 Haythornthwaite 1996 p 246 Becke 1935 p 123 Gaylor 1996 p 236 Gaylor 1996 p 168 Perry 1993 p 173 Becke 1937 p 129 Perry 1993 p 168 a b c d Perry 1993 p 116 Becke 1935 p 86 Becke 1935 p 50 Becke 1935 p 119 a b Perry 1993 p 167 Perry 1993 p 115 Perry 1992 p 27 Becke 1937 p 123Bibliography EditBecke Major A F 1935 Order of Battle of Divisions Part 1 The Regular British Divisions London His Majesty s Stationery Office ISBN 1 871167 09 4 Becke Major A F 1937 Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2B The 2nd Line Territorial Force Divisions 57th 69th with The Home Service Divisions 71st 73rd and 74th and 75th Divisions London His Majesty s Stationery Office ISBN 1 871167 00 0 Gaylor John 1996 Sons of John Company The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903 1991 2nd ed Tunbridge Wells Parapress ISBN 1 898594 41 4 Haythornthwaite Philip J 1996 The World War One Source Book London Arms and Armour Press ISBN 1 85409 351 7 Perry F W 1992 Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5A The Divisions of Australia Canada and New Zealand and those in East Africa Newport Ray Westlake Military Books ISBN 1 871167 25 6 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 10th Indian Division on The Regimental Warpath 1914 1918 by PB Chappell Archived from the original on 17 May 2008 Retrieved 30 June 2015 Independent Indian Brigades on The Regimental Warpath 1914 1918 by PB Chappell Archived from the original on 13 February 2012 Retrieved 3 July 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 29th Indian Brigade amp oldid 1174656575, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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