2nd Indian Cavalry Division

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=2nd Indian Cavalry Division


caption=
dates=1914 - 1918
country=India
allegiance=
branch=British Indian Army
type=Cavalry
role=
size= Division
command_structure= Indian Cavalry Corps
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=Battle of the Somme
Battle of Bazentin
Battle of Flers Courcelette
Hindenburg Line
Battle of Cambrai
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

History

The 2nd Indian Cavalry Division was a regular division of the British Indian Army. The division sailed for France from Bombay on October 16 , 1914 , under the command of Major General G A Cookson.During the war the Division would serve in the trenches as infantry due to the difference on troop levels each Cavalry Brigade once dismounted formed a dismounted regiment.In March 1916 the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division was attached to the British Fourth Army.On July 1 , 1916 the Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade moved into a reserve position on the Somme , ready to exploit any breakthrough.The same Brigade was sent up again on July 14 , to Montauban to support the attack on the Bazentin - Longueval ridge. At 17.30 the leading two regiments were ordered to advance between High Wood and Delville Wood.The British 7th Dragoon Guards and the Indian 20th Deccan Horse galloped forward to a position between the woods. But little could be achieved. At 03.30 on July 15 , they returned to Montauban, having suffered casualties of 74 men and 110 horses. Cavalry units were again brought forward on September 15 , to support the attack on Flers Courcelette , but were not drawn into the fighting and played no further part in the Battle of the Somme, except as labour units in reserve.The high number of officer casualties suffered early on had an effect on its later performance. British officers that understood the language, customs, and psychology of their men could not be quickly replaced, and the alien enviroment of the Western Front had some effect on the soldiers. [Haythornthwaite P.J. (1992). "The World War One Sourcebook", Arms and Armour Press.] The 2nd Indian Cavalry Division was renamed the 5th Cavalry Divisions on 26th November 1916 and attached to the 5th Army. [cite web|title=1914-1918|url=http://www.1914-1918.net/bat17.htm]

Formation

5th (Mhow Cavalry) Brigade

:6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons:2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse) :38th King George's Own Central India Horse:Signal Troop [cite web|title=cwgc.org|url=http://www.cwgc.org/ypres/content.asp?id=33&menu=subsub]

3rd (Ambala) Cavalry Brigade

:13th Hussars:3rd Skinner's Horse :18th King George's Own Lancers:Signal Troop [cite web|title=cwgc.org|url=http://www.cwgc.org/ypres/content.asp?id=33&menu=subsub]

9th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade

:7th (Princess Royal's) Dragoon Guards:20th Deccan Horse :34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse:Signal Troop [cite web|title=cwgc.org|url=http://www.cwgc.org/ypres/content.asp?id=33&menu=subsub]

Canadian Cavalry Brigade

Joined the Division June 1916:Royal Canadian Dragoons:Lord Strathcona's Horse:Fort Garry Horse:Canadian Cavalry Brigade Machine Gun Squadron

References