The 33rd Indian Brigade 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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

that saw active service with the Indian Army during the First World War. It took part in the

Mesopotamian campaign The Mesopotamian campaign or Mesopotamian front () was a campaign in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I fought between the British Empire, with troops from United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Britain, Australia and the vast major ...

in 1915 before being broken up at the end of the year.

History

The 33rd Indian Brigade was formed in

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 ...

in March 1915 as part of the 12th Indian Division, with the last elements arriving at

Basra Basra () is a port city in Iraq, southern Iraq. It is the capital of the eponymous Basra Governorate, as well as the List of largest cities of Iraq, third largest city in Iraq overall, behind Baghdad and Mosul. Located near the Iran–Iraq bor ...

on 9 April. On 18 August, the HQ was transferred to

Bushire Bushehr (; ) is a port city in the Central District of Bushehr County, Bushehr province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. Etymology The roots of the name "Bushehr" are uncertain. It is unlikely that it ...

and the HQ was reformed in the division. The brigade was broken up on 7 December and replaced by the 34th Indian Brigade. The only significant action the brigade was involved with was the Occupation of Nasiriya on 25 July.

Order of battle

The brigade commanded the following units in 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 ...

: * 1/4th Battalion,

Hampshire Regiment The Hampshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 37th (North Hampshire) Regiment of Foot and the 67th (South Hampshire) Regiment of Foot. The re ...

''(joined from Rawalpindi Brigade,

2nd (Rawalpindi) Division The 2nd (Rawalpindi) Division was a regular army division of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1903 after the British Indian Army#Kitchener reforms, Kitchener reforms of the Indian Army. During World War I it remained in British Raj, In ...

in March 1915; attached to 30th Indian Brigade May to October; joined the 1/5th ( The Weald of Kent) Battalion, Buffs (East Kent Regiment) as the Composite Territorial Battalion in February 1916 in 35th Indian Brigade)'' * 11th Rajputs ''(joined from Presidency Brigade, 8th (Lucknow) Division in March 1915; left for Bushire in July)'' * 66th Punjabis ''(joined from 5th (Jhelum) Brigade, 2nd (Rawalpindi) Division in March 1915; to 16th (Poona) Brigade, 6th (Poona) Division in October)'' * 67th Punjabis ''(joined from Lorelai,

4th (Quetta) Division The 4th (Quetta) Division was an infantry division of the British Indian Army. It was formed by Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, General Kitchener while he was Commander-in-chief of British Raj, India. During World War I the division rema ...

in March 1915; to

12th Indian Brigade The 12th Indian Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Indian Army that saw active service in the First World War. It served in the Mesopotamian Campaign on the Euphrates Front throughout its existence. History The 12th Indian Brigad ...

in April)'' * 4th Prince Albert Victor's Rajputs ''(joined from 12th Indian Brigade in July 1915; to Corps Troops in December)'' * 43rd Erinpura Regiment ''(joined from

Chaman Chaman (Pashto and ) is the capital city of the Chaman District in Balochistan, Pakistan, Balochistan, Pakistan. It is located near the Durand Line, Afghanistan-Pakistan border. The city is situated south of the Wesh–Chaman border crossing with ...

, 4th (Quetta) Division in August 1915; to Corps Troops in October)'' * 20th Punjabis ''(joined from 16th (Poona) Brigade, 6th (Poona) Division in October 1915; to Corps Troops in December)''

Commanders

The brigade had the following commanders in the First World War:

References

Bibliography

External links