The 16th Indian Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during the First World War. It was formed in December 1916, during the First World War. It was the only war formed division of the British Indian Army that was not sent overseas,[a] instead it was sent to guard the North West Frontier. The division took over the responsibilities of the 3rd Lahore Divisional Area when it was disbanded in May 1917.
| 16th Indian Division | |
|---|---|
 Insignia of the 16th Infantry Division | |
| Active | 1916–1922 |
| Country |  British India |
| Allegiance | British Crown |
| Branch |  British Indian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Division |
| Part of | Northern Army |
| Engagements | First World War Third Afghan War |
The 16th Division was called into action for the Waziristan Campaign in 1917, the 45th (Jullundur) Brigade under command of Brigadier Reginald Dyer were responsible for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. In 1919, they were sent into Afghanistan during the Third Afghan War.[4]
The division was not reformed for the Second World War.[5]
Order of Battle
editThe division was composed as follows:[6]
43rd Indian Brigade
edit- 2/6th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment
- 2nd Battalion 12th Pioneers
- 1st Battalion 124th Duchess of Connaught's Own Baluchistan
- 1st Battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles
44th (Ferozepore) Brigade
editJoined the division in February 1917:
- 1/9th Battalion Hampshire Regiment
- 2nd Battalion 17th Infantry
- 2nd Battalion 30th Punjabis (Replaced by the 3rd battalion August 1918)
45th (Jullundur) Brigade
editJoined the division in May 1917:
- 1/25th Battalion London Regiment
- 3rd Battalion 23rd Sikh Pioneers
- 55th Coke's Rifles (Frontier Force)
- 1st Battalion 151st Sikh Infantry
In the Third Afghan War the formation was:
- 1 Squadron 37th Lancers (Baluch Horse)
- 1/25th Battalion London Regiment
- 2nd Battalion 41st Dogras
- 2nd Battalion 69th Punjabis
- 2nd Battalion 150th Infantry
- 57th Wilde's Rifles (Frontier Force)
- 1 Company 2/4th Battalion Border Regiment
- 23rd (Peshawar) Mountain Battery (Frontier Force)[7]
Ambala Brigade
editJoined the division in May 1917:
- 1/9th Battalion Middlesex Regiment
- 4th Battalion 30th Punjabis
Divisional troops
edit- 23rd Battalion Rifle Brigade
- 2nd Battalion 10th Jats
Divisional Artillery
edit- VI Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (RFA)
- CCXVII Brigade, RFA
- CCXVIII Brigade, RFA
- CCXXI Brigade, RFA
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ The 3rd Lahore,[1] 6th Poona,[2] and 7th Meerut Divisional Areas[3] also remained in India throughout the war.
References
edit- ^ Perry 1993, p. 55
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 82
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 97
- ^ "Waziristan Campaign 1917". 25th County of London Cycle Battalion. Archived from the original on 7 January 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
- ^ Kempton 2003a, i
- ^ Perry 1993, pp. 67–71
- ^ Collett, pp.301–302
Bibliography
edit- Collett, Nigel (2007). The Butcher of Amritsar: General Reginald Dyer. Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN 1-85285-575-4.
- Kempton, Chris (2003a). 'Loyalty & Honour', The Indian Army September 1939 – August 1947. Vol. Part I Divisions. Milton Keynes: The Military Press. ISBN 0-85420-228-5.
- 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
edit- "16th Indian Division on The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918 by PB Chappell". Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2015.