11th Cavalry Brigade (British Indian Army)

The brigade was mobilised on 4 August 1914 at the outbreak of the First World War and concentrated in Berkshire. It joined 2nd Mounted Division on 2 September and moved with the division to East Anglia in November 1914.[4]

In April 1915, the 2nd Mounted Division moved to Egypt arriving at Alexandria on 27 April (City of London Yeomanry did not arrive until 6 May)[5] and was posted to the Suez Canal Defences (near Ismaïlia) by the middle of May.[6] In May 1915, the brigade was designated 4th (London) Mounted Brigade.[7]

It was dismounted in August 1915 and took part in the Gallipoli Campaign.[2] Each regiment left a squadron headquarters and two troops (about 100 officers and men) in Egypt to look after the horses.[8]

The brigade landed at Suvla Bay on the morning of 18 August and moved into reserve positions at Karakol Dagh. It moved to "C" Beach, Lala Baba on 20 August. On 21 August it advanced to Chocolate Hill under heavy fire and took part in the attack on Hill 112.[5]

Due to losses during the Battle of Scimitar Hill and wastage during August 1915, the 2nd Mounted Division had to be reorganised. On 4 September 1915, the 2nd Composite Mounted Brigade was formed from the 3rd (Notts and Derby) and 4th (London) Mounted Brigades.[9] The brigade formed a battalion sized unit 4th London Regiment.[10] The brigade embarked for Mudros on 2 November and returned to Egypt in December 1915 where it was reformed and remounted.[9]

The brigade left the 2nd Mounted Division on 18 January 1916 and was sent to Abbassia.[7] It served as part of the Suez Canal Defences.[12] On 31 March 1916, the remaining Mounted Brigades were numbered in a single sequence. As a consequence, the London Mounted Brigade was redesignated as 8th Mounted Brigade.[13]

From November 1916 to June 1917, the brigade took part in the Salonika Campaign,[7] serving as GHQ Troops with the British Salonika Army.

The brigade arrived back in Egypt from Salonika on 8 June 1917. The Machine Gun Squadron was formed in Egypt on 14 June. The brigade moved forward and joined the newly formed Yeomanry Mounted Division on 21 July 1917 at el Fuqari.[14] From 31 October it took part in the Third Battle of Gaza, including the Battle of Beersheba and the Capture of the Sheria Position. It took part in the Battle of Mughar Ridge on 13 and 14 November and the Battle of Nebi Samwil for 17 to 24 November. From 27 to 29 November, it withstood the Turkish counter-attacks during the Capture of Jerusalem.[15]

In March 1918, the 1st Indian Cavalry Division was broken up in France. The British units (notably 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons, 17th Lancers, 1/1st Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons and A, Q and U Batteries RHA) remained in France and the Indian elements were sent to Egypt.[17]

By an Egyptian Expeditionary Force GHQ Order of 12 April 1918, the mounted troops of the EEF were reorganised when the Indian Army units arrived in theatre. On 24 April 1918, the Yeomanry Mounted Division was indianized[lower-alpha 1] and its title was changed to 1st Mounted Division,[18] the third distinct division to bear this title.[lower-alpha 2]

On 24 April 1918, the 8th Mounted Brigade was merged with elements of the 8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade:[14]

• the 1st County of London Yeomanry remained with the brigade
• the City of London Yeomanry (Rough Riders) and the 3rd County of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) left the brigade on 7 April and were merged to form E Battalion, Machine Gun Corps. It was posted to France, arriving on 1 June
• 29th Lancers (Deccan Horse) joined from 8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade
• 36th Jacob's Horse joined from 8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade
• 21st Machine Gun Squadron remained with the brigade
• 8th Mounted Brigade Signal Troop remained with the brigade
• on 30 April, 1/London Cavalry Field Ambulance merged with Lucknow Cavalry Field Ambulance to form 8th Combined Cavalry Field Ambulance
• in April, 3/1st Highland Mobile Veterinary Section merged with Lucknow Mobile Veterinary Section to form 8th Mobile Veterinary Section

On 22 July 1918, the 1st Mounted Division was renumbered as the 4th Cavalry Division and the brigade as 11th Cavalry Brigade.[16] The sub units (Signal Troop, Combined Cavalry Field Ambulance and Mobile Veterinary Section) were renumbered on the same date.[14]

The brigade remained with 4th Cavalry Division for the rest of the war, taking part in the Battle of Megiddo and the Capture of Damascus.[19]

After the Armistice of Mudros, the brigade remained with 4th Cavalry Division in Palestine as part of the occupation forces. However, demobilization began immediately and by May 1919 most of the British units had been repatriated. The division was finally broken up in 1921.[19]