The 3rd Lahore Divisional Area was an

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

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 3rd (Lahore) Division that had been mobilized in August 1914 for service on the Western Front. It was abolished in May 1917 when its remaining responsibilities were passed on to the 16th Indian Division.

History

At the outbreak of the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, the 3rd (Lahore) Division was mobilized in August 1914 and sailed from

Bombay Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial centre, financial capital and the list of cities i ...

and

Karachi Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...

between 24 and 29 September for the Western Front. The 3rd Lahore Divisional Area was formed in September 1914 to take over the area responsibilities of the 3rd (Lahore) Division. It took over the units left behind by the original division and started to form brigades to control them: the Ambala Brigade in November and the 44th (Ferozepore) Brigade in December 1914. However, the 45th (Jullundur) Brigade was not reformed until February 1917. The division served under Northern Army. It was intended to form a reserve division for the North West Frontier, but the urgent need to find troops for

Mesopotamia Mesopotamia is a historical region of West Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in the northern part of the Fertile Crescent. Today, Mesopotamia is known as present-day Iraq and forms the eastern geographic boundary of ...

meant that the 16th Indian Division was not formed until December 1916. In February 1917, 44th (Ferozepore) Brigade joined 43rd Indian Brigade in the new division. The Divisional Area and 16th Indian Division existed side by side until May 1917 when the 16th Indian Division took over the last of the area responsibilities and the 3rd

Lahore Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...

Divisional Area was abolished.

Order of battle

The division commanded the following brigades in the

: * Ambala Brigadeformed in November 1914; to 16th Indian Division in May 1917 * 44th (Ferozepore) Brigadeformed in December 1914; to 16th Indian Division in February 1917 * 45th (Jullundur) Brigadeformed in February 1917; to 16th Indian Division in May 1917

Commanders

The 3rd Lahore Divisional Area had the following commanders:

Notes

References

Bibliography

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External links

* {{Indian Divisions in World War I British Indian Army divisions Indian World War I divisions Military units and formations established in 1914 Military units and formations disestablished in 1917