The 11th Indian Division 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 The Indian Army was the force of British Raj, British India, until Indian Independence Act 1947, national independence in 1947. Formed in 1895 by uniting the three Presidency armies, it was responsible for the defence of both British India and ...

during

World War I 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 ...

. It was formed in December 1914 with two infantry

brigade A brigade is a major tactical military unit, military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute ...

s already in

Egypt Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...

and a third formed in January 1915. After taking part in the Actions on the Suez Canal, the division was dispersed as its brigades were posted away. The division was commanded throughout its existence by Major-General Alexander Wallace.

History

The pre-war 22nd (Lucknow) Brigade and the 32nd (Imperial Service) Brigade (formed in October 1914) were posted to Egypt to help defend the

Suez Canal The Suez Canal (; , ') is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, Indo-Mediterranean, connecting the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez and dividing Africa and Asia (and by extension, the Sinai Peninsula from the rest ...

. The 11th Indian Division was formed on 24 December 1914 with these two brigades, and little else in terms of divisional troops. A third brigade ( 31st) was formed in January 1915 with other units already in Egypt. The division beat off Turkish attempts to cross the

on 3–4 February 1915 in the Actions on the Suez Canal. Thereafter, the division was dissolved in May 1915 with its brigades posted to the Suez Canal Defences. The brigades did not last much longer: the 22nd and 32nd Brigades bere broken up in January 1916 and the 31st Brigade joined 10th Indian Division at the same time, but was also broken up a month later.

Order of Battle, January 1915

The division commanded the following units in January 1915: * Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade ** 1st Hyderabad Lancers ** Mysore Lancers ** Patiala Lancers * 22nd (Lucknow) Brigade ( Brigadier-General W.A. Watson) **2/ 10th Gurkha Rifles ** 3rd Brahmans ** 62nd Punjabis ** 92nd Punjabis *

31st Indian Brigade The 31st 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 served in Egypt in 1915 before being broken up in February 1916. History The 11th Indian ...

(Brigadier-General A.H. Bingley) ** 2nd Queen Victoria's Own Rajput Light Infantry ** 27th Punjabis ** 93rd Burma Infantry ** 128th Pioneers * 32nd (Imperial Service) Brigade (Brigadier-General H.D. Watson) ** 33rd Punjabis **

Alwar Infantry Alwar (Rajasthani languages, Rajasthani Pronunciation: Help:IPA/Hindi and Urdu, �lʋəɾ is a city located in India's National Capital Region (India), National Capital Region (NCR) and the administrative headquarters of Alwar district, Alw ...

(I.S.) **4th Gwalior Infantry (I.S.) **1st Patiala Infantry (I.S.) *Divisional troops ** 23rd Sikh Pioneers ** 21st (Kohat) Mountain Battery (Frontier Force) **121st Indian Field Ambulance **124th Indian Field Ambulance

Notes

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