7th Meerut Divisional Area

The 7th Meerut Divisional Area was an infantry division of the British Indian Army that formed part of the Indian Army during the First World War. It was formed in September 1914 to replace the original 7th (Meerut) Division that had been mobilized in August 1914 for service on the Western Front. It was renamed as Meerut Division in June 1917 and remained in India throughout the war. The division was broken up in 1920.

For the original division, see 7th (Meerut) Division.

7th Meerut Divisional Area
Meerut Division
ActiveSeptember 1914 – 1920
Country British India
AllegianceBritish Crown
Branch British Indian Army
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Part ofNorthern Army
Northern Command
Garrison/HQMeerut Cantonment
ServiceFirst World War
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Maj.-Gen. Sir H.D’U. Keary
Maj.-Gen. O.S.W. Nugent

History

At the outbreak of the First World War, the 7th (Meerut) Division was mobilized in August 1914 and sailed from Bombay on 20 September for the Western Front.[1] 39th Royal Garhwal Rifles went with the 7th (Meerut) Division to fight in World War One on the Western Front. [2] The 7th Meerut Divisional Area was formed in September 1914 to take over the area responsibilities of the 7th (Meerut) Division. It took over the units left behind by the original division and started to form brigades to control them: the 14th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade in November, the Bareilly and Delhi Brigades in December 1914 and the Dehra Dun Brigade in March 1915. However, the Garhwal Brigade was not reformed until April 1917.[3]

The division served with in India throughout the war (although the Meerut Cavalry Brigade was mobilized for the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919), initially under Northern Army, then Northern Command from January 1918.[3]

In 1918, the division was responsible for posts and stations at Agra, Almora, Bareilly, Bhim Tal, Chakrata, Chambattia, Dehra Dun, Delhi, Gangora, Kailana, Lansdowne, Meerut, Moradabad, Muttra, Ranikhet, Rurki and Sitoli. It was renamed Meerut Division in June 1917[4] and was broken up in 1920.[5]

Order of battle

The division commanded the following brigades in the First World War:[6]

  • 14th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade[lower-alpha 1] – formed in November 1914; renumbered 4th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade in February 1915
  • Bareilly Brigade[lower-alpha 1] – formed in December 1914
  • Delhi Brigade – formed in December 1914; broken up in February 1915; reformed in December 1918
  • Dehra Dun Brigade[lower-alpha 1] – formed in March 1915; broken up in December 1918
  • Garhwal Brigade[lower-alpha 1] – formed in April 1917
  • Agra Brigade – formed in December 1918
  • Nepalese Brigade – attached to the division from January 1916
    • Kali Bahadur Battalion
    • Sabuj Barakh Battalion
    • Mahindra Dal Battalion
    • 2nd Rifle Battalion

Commanders

The 7th Meerut Divisional Area / Meerut Division had the following commanders:[5][4]

FromRankNameNotes
7 December 1914Brigadier-GeneralO.M.R. Thackwell
16 October 1917Major-GeneralSir H.D’U. Keary
3 August 1918Major-GeneralO.S.W. NugentDivision broken up in 1920

See also

Notes
  1. 7th (Meerut) Division mobilized with 19th (Dehra Dun), 20th (Garhwal) and 21st (Bareilly) Brigades.[7] They are not to be confused with the Dehra Dun, Garhwal and Bareilly Brigades reformed in the 7th Meerut Divisional Area.[6] In addition, the 7th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade mobilized for the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division[8] and should not be confused with the 4th (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade.[6]

References
  1. Perry 1993, p. 89
  2. Joglekar, Rahul (17 November 2017). "Indian WW1 soldiers laid to rest after French mystery". BBC News.
  3. Perry 1993, p. 97
  4. Perry 1993, p. 91
  5. Mackie 2015, p. 361
  6. Perry 1993, p. 92
  7. Perry 1993, p. 84
  8. Perry 1993, p. 85

Bibliography
  • Gaylor, John (1996). Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–1991 (2nd ed.). Tunbridge Wells: Parapress. ISBN 1-898594-41-4.
  • 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.
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