37th Indian Brigade

The 37th Indian Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Indian Army that saw active service with the Indian Army during the First World War. It took part in the Mesopotamian campaign and was disbanded shortly after the end of the war.

For the Second World War formation, see 37th Indian Infantry Brigade.

37th Indian Brigade
37th Indian Brigade at Basra in Mesopotamia, 1916
Active14 February 1916 – February 1919
Country British India
AllegianceBritish Crown
Branch British Indian Army
TypeInfantry
SizeBrigade
Part of3rd (Lahore) Division
14th Indian Division
EngagementsFirst World War
Mesopotamian Campaign
Battle of Dujaila
Second Battle of Kut
Fall of Baghdad (1917)
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Br.-Gen. F.J. Fowler

History
3rd (Lahore) Division

Units of the 37th Indian Brigade began to land at Basra on 21 January 1916 and the brigade was formed in the next month. It served in the Mesopotamian Campaign for the rest of the war. It was attached to the 3rd (Lahore) Division from March to April 1916.[1] While with the division, it took part in the attempts to relieve the 6th (Poona) Division besieged in Kut, including the Attack on the Dujaila Redoubt (8 March) and the Action of Bait Isa (17 – 18 April).[2]

14th Indian Division

In May 1916, the brigade joined the newly formed 14th Indian Division. It remained with the division for the rest of the war and took part in a large number of small actions: the Advance to the Hai and Capture of the Khudaira Bend (14 December 1916 – 19 January 1917), the Capture of the Hai Salient (25 January – 5 February 1917), the Capture of the Dahra Bend (9 – 16 February), the Capture of Sannaiyat (17 – 24 February), the Passage of the Tigris (23 – 24 February), the Second Action of Jabal Hamrin (16 – 20 October), and the Third Action of Jabal Hamrin (3 – 6 December 1917).[3]

At the end of the war, the 14th Division was rapidly demobilized and the 37th Indian Brigade was broken up in February 1919.[3]

Order of battle

The brigade had the following composition in the First World War:[1][4]

Commanders

The brigade had the following commanders:[1][5]

FromRankNameNotes
14 February 1916Brigadier-GeneralF.J. Fowlerwounded, 9 March 1916
10 March 1916Brigadier-GeneralS.M. Edwardes
1 April 1916Brigadier-GeneralF.J. Fowlersick, 16 May 1916
16 May 1916Lieutenant-ColonelO. Gunningtemporary
30 May 1916Lieutenant-ColonelF.T. Stewarttemporary
10 June 1916Brigadier-GeneralF.J. Fowler
23 September 1916Brigadier-GeneralO.W. Carey
11 May 1917Brigadier-GeneralT.R. Maclachlan

See also

References
  1. Perry 1993, p. 49
  2. Perry 1993, p. 53
  3. Perry 1993, p. 130
  4. Perry 1993, p. 128
  5. Perry 1993, p. 127

Bibliography
  • Perry, F.W. (1993). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions. Newport: Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 1-871167-23-X.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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