The 29th Indian Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Indian Army that saw active service with the Indian Army during the First World War. Formed in October 1914, it raided Sheik Saiad en route to Egypt, defended the Suez Canal in early 1915, before taking part in the Gallipoli Campaign (April to December 1915). On returning to Egypt it acted as an independent formation being broken up in June 1917.
| 29th Indian Brigade | |
|---|---|
 29th Indian Brigade landing at Cape Helles, Gallipoli | |
| Active | 31 October 1914 – 25 June 1917 |
| Country |  India |
| Allegiance | British Crown |
| Branch |  British Indian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 10th Indian Division att. to British 29th Division |
| Engagements | First World War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Maj.-Gen. H.V. Cox Br.-Gen. P.C. Palin |
History edit
- Formation
The 29th Indian Brigade was formed in October 1914 as part of Indian Expeditionary Force F (along with the 28th and 30th Indian Brigades) and sent to Egypt.[1] En route to Egypt it raided Sheik Saiad (10–11 November). The Ottoman Empire maintained a small fort at Sheik Saiad guarding the entrance to the Red Sea. Having destroyed the Ottoman fortifications, the brigade re-embarked and continued on to Suez.[2]
- 10th Indian Division
After arriving in Egypt, it joined the 10th Indian Division when it was formed on 24 December. It served on the Suez Canal Defences, notably taking part in the Actions on the Suez Canal on 3–4 February 1915. After the defeat of the Turkish attempts to cross the canal, the division was dispersed and the brigade was sent to Gallipoli in April 1915.[3]
- Gallipoli
The brigade formed Indian Expeditionary Force G for service in Gallipoli, the only Indian Army formation to serve on the peninsula.[4] From 1 May to 7 July 1915 it was attached to the British 29th Division at Cape Helles.[2] While with the division, it was in reserve for the Second Battle of Krithia (6–8 May), but played a more major role at Gurkha Bluff (12 May), the Third Battle of Krithia (4 June) and the Battle of Gully Ravine (28 June–2 July).[5]
The brigade was switched to ANZAC Cove where it was attached to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, with which it took part in the Battle of Sari Bair (6–21 August 1915). 1st Battalion, 6th Gurkha Rifles was the only unit to reach the top of the ridge and see the Dardanelles; shelled by the Royal Navy, a Turkish counter-attack drove them off.[6] The brigade's involvement at Gallipoli came at a high price: the 14th Sikhs, alone, suffered 264 killed and 840 wounded while serving at Gallipoli.[7][a]
- Independent
On 7 January 1916, the 10th Indian Division was reformed as part of the Suez Canal District, and the brigade joined it. The need to return depleted units that had served in France to India meant that this was short-lived. The division was broken up on 7 March and the brigade became an independent formation. It continued to serve on the Suez Canal Defences.[3]
In March 1917, the Egyptian Expeditionary Force started forming the British 75th Division, originally to be made up of Territorial Force battalions arriving from India. In May 1917, to speed up the formation of the division, it was decided to incorporate Indian battalions.[9] To this end, the 29th Indian Brigade was broken up in June 1917 and its battalions posted to 75th Division.[10]
Orders of battle edit
| With 10th Division in Egypt |
|---|
The brigade had the following composition from formation and while assigned to 10th Indian Division in Egypt:[11]
|
| Gallipoli |
|---|
The brigade commanded the following units during the Gallipoli Campaign:[11]
The 69th and 89th Punjabis served briefly at Gallipoli before departing for the Western Front.[12][13] While serving at Gallipoli, the following units were attached to the brigade:[14]
|
| Return to Egypt |
|---|
After returning to Egypt, the battalions that had served at Gallipoli were gradually posted away:[11]
|
| Reformed and service as an independent formation |
|---|
The brigade was gradually reformed as new battalions joined from February 1916 onwards:[11][15]
|
Commanders edit
The brigade had the following commanders:[16][15]
| From | Rank | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 October 1914 | Brigadier-General | H.V. Cox | subsequently commanded the Australian 4th Division[17] |
| 17 February 1915 | Major General | ||
| 26 September 1915 | Brigadier-General | P.C. Palin | |
| 5 February 1917 | Brigadier-General | E.R.B. Murray | |
| 25 March 1917 | Brigadier-General | P.C. Palin | subsequently commanded the British 75th Division[18] |
See also edit
Notes edit
References edit
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 172
- ^ a b Perry 1993, p. 117
- ^ a b Perry 1993, p. 118
- ^ Haythornthwaite 1996, p. 246
- ^ Becke 1935, p. 123
- ^ Gaylor 1996, p. 236
- ^ Gaylor 1996, p. 168
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 173
- ^ Becke 1937, p. 129
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 168
- ^ a b c d Perry 1993, p. 116
- ^ Becke 1935, p. 86
- ^ Becke 1935, p. 50
- ^ Becke 1935, p. 119
- ^ a b Perry 1993, p. 167
- ^ Perry 1993, p. 115
- ^ Perry 1992, p. 27
- ^ Becke 1937, p. 123
Bibliography edit
- Becke, Major A.F. (1935). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 1. The Regular British Divisions. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 1-871167-09-4.
- Becke, Major A.F. (1937). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2B. The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th) with The Home-Service Divisions (71st–73rd) and 74th and 75th Divisions. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 1-871167-00-0.
- Gaylor, John (1996). Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–1991 (2nd ed.). Tunbridge Wells: Parapress. ISBN 1-898594-41-4.
- Haythornthwaite, Philip J. (1996). The World War One Source Book. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-351-7.
- Perry, F.W. (1992). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5A. The Divisions of Australia, Canada and New Zealand and those in East Africa. Newport: Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 1-871167-25-6.
- Perry, F.W. (1993). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions. Newport: Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 1-871167-23-X.
External links edit
- "10th Indian Division on The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918 by PB Chappell". Archived from the original on 17 May 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
- "Independent Indian Brigades on The Regimental Warpath 1914 - 1918 by PB Chappell". Archived from the original on 13 February 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2015.