31st Indian Armoured Division

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 31st Indian Armoured Division
abbreviation=


caption=
dates= 1940 - 1945
country= British India
allegiance= British Crown
branch= British Indian Army
type= Armour
role=
size= Division
command_structure=
equipment= Stuart tank
M3 Lee
M4 Sherman tank
Past Commanders=
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
notable_commanders= Major General Robert Harley Wordsworth
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_2=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=World War II
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=The 31st Indian Armourd Division was formed in 1940 during World War II it consisted of units of the British Army and the British Indian Army. When it was raised it was at first called the 1st Indian Armoured Divisionand consisted of two Armoured Brigades (1st and 2nd Armoured Brigade) and one Motor Brigade (3rd Motor Brigade), this was later changed to one Armoured (252nd Indian Armoured Brigade) and one Motor Brigade (3rd Indian Motor Brigade).The Division was attached to the Tenth Army (United Kingdom) and served in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and in India but never saw any combat. The closest it came was in April 1944 when it was rushed to Egypt to crush a mutiny among the Greek 1st Infantry Brigade. The Tank Regiments received M4 Shermans in November 1943, thought to be in preparation for a transfer to Italy, but only drove them in Iraq, Syria and Egypt. [India’s Armour.By Mike Bennighof] [cite web|title=avalancepress|url=http://www.avalanchepress.com/IndianArmor.php]

252nd Indian Armoured Brigade

*Brigade Commander G.Carr-White
**14th/20th Hussars
**14th Prince of Wales's Own Scinde Horse
**1/4th Bombay Grenadiers

3rd Indian Motor Brigade

The 3rd Indian Motor Brigade due to the situation in Western Desert Campaign was detatched from the Division and sent to Egypt, where it was attached to the 9th Australian Division in March 1941 and part of the brigade, the 18th King Edward's Own Cavalry, was trapped with the garrison of Tobruk in the siege from April 1941.cite web|title=North Africa - May 41| work=British & Commonwealth Orders of Battle website| first=Steve| last=Rothwell| url=http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/NA150541.htm| accessdate=2008-07-10]

The brigade was overrun by the Germans in their first engagement at Mechili in late January 1942 when Rommel had regrouped after Operation Crusader and advanced from El Agheila. In May 1942, during the Battle of Gazala as part of 7th Armoured Division, the brigade fought an effective delaying action on the left wing of Eighth Army before being overrun. ['Loyalty & Honour' - The Indian Army September 1939 - August 1947 (3 Vols) by Chris Kempton. Military Press 2003.] Afterwards it was withdrawn to Iran to meet up with the rest of 31st Armoured Division and in January 1943 the 2/6th Gurkha Rifles, 2/8th Gurkha Rifles and 2/10th Gurkha Rifles joined and the three cavalry units were redleployed:

*2nd Royal Lancers (Gardner's Horse) was reassigned to the Risalpur Training Brigade.
*11th Prince Albert Victors Own Cavalry (Frontier Force) returned to India where it converted to an armoured-car regiment
*18th King Edward VII's Own Cavalry returned to India (Ferozepore). [cite web|title=rothwell|url=http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/NA150541.htm]

At the end of the month the brigade was renamed as the 43rd Indian Infantry Brigade (Lorried). The brigade and its three Gurkha battalions were sent to Italy in mid 1944 as an Independent brigade when the Division was broken up. [cite web|title=rothwell|url=http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/NA150541.htm] while the cavalry units were dispersed:

Formation

*Brigade Commander A.A.E. Filose
**2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse)Mackenzie (1951), p. 71]
**11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)
**18th King Edward's Own Cavalry

*after January 1943
**2/6th Gurkha Rifles
**2/8th Gurkha Rifles
**2/10th Gurkha Rifles

Divisional Units

**13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers
**15th Field Artillery, Royal Artillery
**144th Field Artillery, R.A.
**79th Antitank Regiment, R.A.
**32nd Field Squadron, QVO Madras Sappers & Miners, Indian Engineers
**39th Field Park Squadron, QVO Madras Sappers & Miners, I.E.
**31st Indian Armoured Divisional Signals [cite web|title=orbat|url=http://orbat.com/site/uk_orbats/files/6/42-09-15PAIFORCE(version3).pdf]

References