The Ambala 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 formed part of the Indian Army during the First World War. It was formed in November 1914 to replace the original Ambala Brigade that had been mobilized as the

3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade The Ambala Cavalry Brigade was a cavalry brigade of the British Indian Army formed in 1904 as a result of the Kitchener Reforms. It was mobilized as 3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade at the outbreak of the First World War as part of the 1st India ...

for service on the Western Front. It remained in India throughout the war. The brigade continued to exist between the World Wars and by September 1939 it was designated Ambala Brigade Area. It was broken up in 1941.

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 Ambala Cavalry Brigade was part of the

3rd (Lahore) Division The 3rd (Lahore) Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army and before 1895, the Bengal Army, first organised in 1852. It saw service during World War I as part of the Indian Corps in France before being moved to the Middle East where ...

. It was mobilized in August 1914 as the

, assigned to the newly formed

1st Indian Cavalry Division The 1st Indian Cavalry Division was a division of the British Indian Army which was formed at the outbreak of the First World War. It served on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front, and was renamed the 4th Cavalry Division on 26 Novem ...

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 ...

on 16 October for the Western Front. Likewise, the 3rd (Lahore) Division was transferred to France in August 1914. The

3rd Lahore Divisional Area The 3rd Lahore 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 3rd (Lahore) Division that had been ...

was formed in September 1914 to take over the area responsibilities of the 3rd (Lahore) Division and on 11 November 1914 a new Ambala Brigade was formed in 3rd Lahore Divisional Area to replace the original brigade. The brigade served with the division in India until May 1917. From December 1916, the 16th Indian Division began forming as a reserve division for the North-West Frontier eventually taking over the responsibilities and brigades of the 3rd Lahore Divisional Area: 44th (Ferozepore) Brigade in February 1917 and the Ambala and 45th (Jullundur) Brigades in May. It remained with the new division until June 1918 when it became an independent formation. The brigade continued to exist after the end of the war. By 1926 it had been redesignated as Ambala Brigade Area. It was broken up in 1941.

Orders of battle

Commanders

The Ambala Brigade had the following commanders:

Notes

References

Bibliography

* * * * *

External links

* *{{cite web, url=http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/16_ind_div.htm , title=16th Indian Division on ''The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918'' by PB Chappell , access-date=2015-06-30 , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517084648/http://www.warpath.orbat.com/indian_divs/16_ind_div.htm , archive-date=17 May 2008 , df=dmy Brigades of India in World War I Military units and formations established in 1914 Military units and formations disestablished in 1941