The Indian Army 1914
v.1.0 March 25, 2001
This historical order of battle is by Dr. Graham Watson and is copyright.
In 1914 the British military force in India was made up of units of the British Army and of the Indian Army. The two armies were mixed together in the same command structure to provide a field force and forces for internal security duties.
The British Army provided 6,056 cavalry, 17,140 artillery, 165 engineers and 77,075 infantry.
The Indian Army consisted of 24,854 cavalry, 3,104 artillery, 4,877 engineers and 141,890 infantry
This combined force provided a field force of 9 infantry divisions and 8 cavalry brigades to defend the Indian subcontinent from the threat of Russian invasion via Afghanistan and the North-West Frontier. Units surplus to the requirements of the field force were employed on internal security duties throughout India. In peacetime, the internal security troops came under the command of the divisions and brigades of the field force. There was no formal provision for the use of troops in the defence of other parts of the British Empire, although Britain expected India to provide at least two infantry divisions for service outside the subcontinent: by 1914 such divisions had not been nominated or trained.
The field force was divided into two armies:
The Northern Army stretched from the North-West Frontier to Bengal. It had five divisions and three brigades under command. They were:
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1st (Peshawar) Division |
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2nd (Rawalpindi) Division |
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3rd (Lahore) Division |
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7th (Meerut) Division |
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8th (Lucknow) Division |
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Kohat Brigade |
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Bannu Brigade |
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Derajat Brigade |
The Southern Army stretched from Baluchistan to southern India. It had four divisions under command and two formations outside the subcontinent. They were:
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4th (Quetta) Division |
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5th (Mhow) Division |
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6th (Poona) Division |
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9th (Secunderabad) Division |
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Burma Division |
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Aden Brigade |
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The whole force was commanded from Headquarters in Delhi by the Commander-in-Chief, India who was assisted by the Chief of the General Staff, India. All senior command and staff positions in India alternated between senior officers of the British Army and the Indian Army. In 1914, the above posts were held by General Sir Beauchamp Duff [Indian Army] and Lt General Sir Percy Lake [British Army.]
In the following pages units will be listed according to the British practice of 1914= British units, Indian units and Gurkha units.
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NORTHERN ARMY |
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HQ at Murree [Lt General Sir James Willcocks] |
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1st (PESHAWAR) DIVISION HQ=Peshawar [Major General C Blomfield] |
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1st Peshawar Infantry Brigade, Peshawar [Major General Young] |
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2 King’s Liverpool |
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1 Royal Sussex |
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14 Sikh |
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21 Punjabis |
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51 Sikh |
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72 Punjabis |
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VIII Brigade RHA-M Battery |
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XVI Brigade RFA-89, 90, 91 Batteries |
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III Brigade RFA- 75 Battery |
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72 Company RGA |
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2nd Nowshera Brigade, Nowshera [Major General Bannantine-Allason] |
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2 East Surrey |
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1 Durham Light Infantry |
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24 Punjabis |
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38 Dogra |
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46 Punjabis |
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82 Punjabis |
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112 Infantry |
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2/1 Gurkha |
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25 Mountain Battery |
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1st Risalpur (Cavalry) Brigade, Risalpur [Brigadier General Turner] |
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1 Lancers |
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13 Lancers |
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14 Lancers |
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Guides Cavalry |
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Guides Infantry |
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2ND (RAWALPINDI) DIVISION HQ=Rawalpindi [Major General G Kitson] |
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3rd Abbottbad Brigade, Abbottabad [Brigadier General Loch] |
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1/5th Gurkha |
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2/5th Gurkha |
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1/6th Gurkha |
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2/6th Gurkha |
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Q Battery RHA |
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VII Brigade RFA- 4, 38, 78 Batteries |
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68, 94, 104 Companies RGA |
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23, 27, 28, 30 Mountain Batteries |
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4th Rawalpindi Brigade, Rawalpindi [Brigadier General Cox] |
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21 Lancers |
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5 Cavalry |
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4 KRRC |
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2 North Staffordshire |
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2 Rifle Brigade |
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35 Sikh |
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84 Punjabis |
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W Battery RHA |
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1, 6, 9 Mountain Batteries RGA |
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5th Jhelum Brigade, Jhelum [Brigadier General Macintyre] |
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21 Cavalry |
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37 Dogra |
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69 Punjabis |
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76 Punjabis |
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87 Punjabis |
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2nd Sialkot (Cavalry) Brigade, Sialkot [Brigadier General Leader] |
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17 Lancers |
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6 Cavalry |
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19 Lancers |
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32 Pioneers |
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1 Yorkshire |
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3RD (LAHORE) DIVISION HQ=Lahore [Lt General Sir Henry Watkis |
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7th Ferozepore Brigade, Ferozepore [Brigadier General R Egerton] |
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7 Lancers |
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1 Connaught Rangers |
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129 Baluchis |
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I Brigade RHA-A, B Batteries |
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82, 86 Companies RGA |
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8th Jullundur Brigade, Jullundur [Major General P Carnegy] |
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15 Lancers |
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37 Lancers |
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2 Royal West Kent |
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1 Manchester |
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47 Sikh |
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59 Rifles |
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1/1st Gurkha |
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1/4th Gurkha |
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2/4th Gurkha |
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III Brigade RFA-18, 62, 75 Batteries |
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9th Sirhind Brigade, Ambala [Major General Brunker] |
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4 Rifle Brigade |
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2 Northumberland Fusiliers |
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1 South Lancashire |
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1 Highland LI |
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34 Pioneers |
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XVIII Brigade RFA-59, 93, 94 Batteries |
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2, 5 Mountain Batteries RGA |
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3rd Ambala (Cavalry) Brigade, Ambala [Major General Pirie] |
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8 Hussars |
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9 Horse |
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30 Lancers |
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Lahore |
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23 Cavalry |
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1 Duke of Wellington’s |
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23 Pioneers |
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28 Punjabis |
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7TH (MEERUT) DIVISION HQ= Mussorie [Major General C Anderson] |
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19th Dehra Dun Brigade, Dehra Dun [Brigadier General C Johnson] |
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1 Welsh Regiment |
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1/2nd Gurkha |
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2/2nd Gurkha |
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1/9th Gurka |
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2/9th Gurkha |
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XII Brigade RHA-V, W Batteries |
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VII Mountain Brigade RGA-21, 26 Batteries |
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59, 81 Companies RGA |
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20th Garwhal Brigade, Lansdowne [Major General Keary] |
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1/39 Garwhal |
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2/39 Garwhal |
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1/3rd Gurkha |
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2/8th Gurkha |
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VI Brigade RFA-77 Battery |
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IX Brigade RFA-19, 20, 28 Batteries |
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73, 74 Companies RGA [74-Delhi] |
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21st Bareilly Brigade, Bareilly [Major General Macbean] |
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4 Cavalry |
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2 Leicestershire |
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2 East |
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2 Black Watch |
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3 KRRC |
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41 Dogras |
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128 Pioneers |
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1/3rd Gurkha |
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XI Brigade RFA-83, 84, 85 Batteries |
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V Brigade RFA-84, 73, 81 Batteries |
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91 Company RGA |
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Meerut (Cavalry) Brigade, Meerut [Brigadier General Edwards] |
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13 Hussars |
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3 Horse |
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18 Lancers |
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Delhi |
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6 Dragoons |
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11 Probyns Horse |
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1 Seaforth Highlanders |
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13 Rajput |
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30 Punjabis |
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79 Battery RFA |
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74 Company RGA |
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HQ=Lucknow [Lt General Sir R Scallon] |
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8th (LUCKNOW) DIVISION |
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22nd Lucknow Infantry Brigade, Lucknow [Major General A Wilson] |
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3 Royal Fusiliers |
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1 KOSB |
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17 Infantry |
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36 Sikh |
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74 Punjabis |
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U Battery RHA |
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V Brigade RFA-63, 64, 73 Batteries |
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Fyzabad Brigade, Fyzabad [Brigadier General Kavangh] |
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12 Cavalry |
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1 Leinster |
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9 Bhopal |
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Allahabad Brigade, Allahabad [Brigadier General Cowper] |
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17 Cavalry |
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1 Royal Scots |
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3 Middlesex |
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62 Punjabis |
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92 Punjabis |
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Presidency Brigade, Calcutta [Major General May] |
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2 Royal Fusiliers |
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2 KORR |
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1 Argyll & Sutherland Hldrs |
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11 Rajput |
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22 Punjabis |
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93 Infantry |
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2/10th Gurkha |
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XVII Brigade RFA-10, 26, 92 Batteries |
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51, 62 Companies RGA |
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8th Lucknow (Cavalry) Brigade, Lucknow [Major General Cookson] |
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1 Kings Dragoon Guards |
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16 Cavalry |
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36 Horse |
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39 CIH |
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unbrigaded |
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5 Light Infantry [Nowgong] |
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113 Infantry [Dibrugarh] |
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123 Infantry [Manipur] |
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1/8th Gurkha [Shillong] |
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KOHAT BRIGADE, HQ KOHAT [Major General A Campbell] |
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31 Lancers |
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53 Sikh |
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54 Sikh |
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56 Rifles |
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122 Rajputana |
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31 Mountain Battery |
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Frontier Force Garrison Artillery |
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BANNU BRIGADE, HQ BANNU [Major General O’Donnell] |
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25 Cavalry |
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33 Punjabis |
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52 Sikh |
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55 Rifles |
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29 Mountain Battery |
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DERAJAT BRIGADE, HQ SHEIK BUDIN [Major General G Younghusband] |
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35 Horse |
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18 Infantry |
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27 Punjabis |
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45 Sikhs |
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57 Rifles |
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32 Mountain Battery |
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SOUTHERN ARMY |
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HQ OOCTAMUND [Lt General Sir John Nixon] |
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4TH (QUETTA) DIVISION HQ= Quetta [Lt General H Grover] |
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1st Quetta Infantry Brigade, Quetta [Brigadier General Sitwell] |
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2 Somerset LI |
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12 Pioneers |
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19 Punjabis |
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58 Rifles |
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1/7th Gurkha |
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2/7th Gurkha |
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XXI Brigade RFA-101, 102, 113 Batteries |
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2nd Quetta Infantry Brigade, Quetta [Major General Mellis VC] |
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2 Royal Irish Fusiliers |
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40 Pathans |
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67 Punjabis |
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106 Hazara Pioneers |
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114 Mahrattas |
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IV Mountain Brigade RGA-3, 8 Batteries |
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4 Mountain Battery RGA |
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Karachi Brigade, Karachi [Brigadier General Shaw] |
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1 Lancashire Fusiliers |
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127 Baluchis |
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69 Company RGA |
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unbrigaded troops |
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10 Lancers [Loralai] |
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22 Cavalry [Jacobabad] |
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28 Lt Cavalry [Quetta] |
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15 Sikhs [Loralai] |
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29 Punjabis [Chaman] |
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31 Punjabis [Fort Sandeman] |
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60 Company RGA |
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5TH (MHOW) DIVISION HQ= Mhow [Major General H Payne] |
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Nasirabad Brigade, Nasirabad [Major General Davison] |
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27 Cavalry |
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1 Royal Irish Regiment |
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42 Deoli |
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43 Erinpure |
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44 Merwar |
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90 Punjabis |
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XIII Brigade RHA-X, Y Batteries |
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XI Brigade RFA- 83, 84, 85 Batteries |
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XIX Brigade RFA- 95 Battery |
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Jubbulpore Brigade, Jubbulpore [Major General Fanshawe] |
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2 Lancers |
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32 Lancers |
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2 Cheshire |
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1 York & Lancaster |
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2 East Yorkshire |
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16 Rajputs |
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63 Light Infantry |
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97 Infantry |
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98 Infantry |
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71, 90 Companies RGA |
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Jhansi Brigade, Mhow [Major General Townshend] |
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8 Cavalry |
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38 Central Indian Horse |
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2 Royal Berkshire |
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10 Jats |
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99 Infantry |
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107 Pioneers |
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116 Mahratta |
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60 Company RGA |
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Mhow |
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14 Hussars |
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2nd Bn Hampshire |
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96 Infantry |
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125 Rifles |
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VI Brigade RFA-74, 77,79 Batteries |
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XX Brigade RFA-98, 99, 100 Batteries |
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6TH (POONA) DIVISION HQ= Poona [Lt General A Barrett] |
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16th Poona Infantry Brigade, Poona [Brigadier General Atkins] |
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29 Lancers |
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2 Dorsetshire |
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2 Cameron Highlanders |
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20 Infantry |
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48 Pioneers |
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104 Rifles |
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105 Mahratta |
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117 Mahratta |
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X Brigade RFA- 76, 81, 82 Batteries |
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17th Ahmednagar Brigade, Ahmednagar [Major General Dobbie] |
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33 Lt Cavalry |
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1 Oxfordshire |
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7 Rajputs |
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103 Mahratta |
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119 Infantry |
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130 Baluchis |
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XIX Brigade RFA-96 Battery |
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18th Belgaum Brigade, Belgaum [Brigadier General Fry] |
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2 Royal Norfolk |
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81 Pioneers |
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110 Mahrata |
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120 Infantry |
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Bombay Brigade, Bombay [Major General Gorringe] |
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1 Sherwood Foresters |
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95 Infantry |
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52, 77, 79, 85 Companies RGA |
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9TH (SECUNDERABAD) DIVISION HQ=Oootacamund [Lt General Woon] |
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1st Secunderabad Infantry Brigade, Secunderabad [Major General Wilkinson] |
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2 Kings Shropshire LI |
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1 Brahman |
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88 Infantry |
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94 Infantry |
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XIX Brigade RFA-97 Battery |
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2nd Secunderabad Infantry Brigade, Secunderabad [Brigadier General Rodwell] |
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1Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers |
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6 Jat LI |
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83 Light Infantry |
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XIII Brigade RFA-2, 8 44 Batteries |
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27th Bangalore Brigade, Bangalore [Brigadier General Wapshare] |
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2 North Lancashire Regiment |
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61 Pioneers |
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101 Grenadiers |
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108 Infantry |
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IV Brigade RFA-7 14 66 Batteries |
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Southern Brigade, Wellington, Madras [Brigadier General W Hamilton] |
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2 The Buffs |
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1 Royal Dublin Fusiliers |
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73 Infantry |
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75 Infantry |
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86 Infantry |
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IX Brigade RHA-N, S Batteries |
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Secunderabad (Cavalry) Brigade, Bolarum [Brigadier General Wadeson] |
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7 Dragoon Guards |
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7 Hussars |
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20 Horse |
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26 Lt Cavalry |
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34 Horse |
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BURMA DIVISION |
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HQ=Maymyo [Major General T Pilcher] |
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Rangoon Brigade, Rangoon [Brigadier General Johnstone] |
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4th Bn Worcestershire |
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1st Bn Munster Fusiliers |
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66 Punjabis |
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79 Infantry |
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89 Punjabis |
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64, 75 Companies RGA |
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22 Mountain Battery RGA |
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Mandalay Brigade, Mandalay [Major General Raitt] |
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1 Border Regiment |
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64 Pioneers |
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80 Infantry |
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91 Punjabis |
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1/10th Gurkhas |
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ADEN BRIGADE [Major General Bell] |
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Aden Cavalry Troop |
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1 Royal Irish Rifles |
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109 Infantry |
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61, 70, 76 Companies RGA |