History of the Division
The 3rd (Lahore) Division existed before the declaration of war and was under command of the Northern Army in India. It was responsible for posts and depots at Montgomery, Multan, Amritsar, Bakloh, Dalhousie, Dharmsala, Dagshai, Jutogh, Kasauli, Solon and Sabathu. It comprised a mixture of Indian and British units. The division was mobilised on 8 August 1914 and sailed as part of the Indian Corps, leaving from Bombay and Karachi in the period 24-29 August.
The first elements of the division arrived at Suez in Egypt on 8 September, and the division’s 9th (Sirhind) Brigade remained in the area while the rest continued to France. The main body arrived at Marseilles on 26 September 1914 and moved northward by train. The Sirhind Brigade eventually also moved to France, landing at Marseilles on 30 November 1914.
The division took part in the following battles and engagements:
1914
10 October – 2 November: the Battle of La Bassee
20 – 21 December: the defence of Givenchy
1915
10-23 March: the Battle of Neuve Chapelle
24 April – 4 May: the Battle of St Julien (a phase of the Second Battle of Ypres)
9 May: the Battle of Aubers
15-25 May: the Battle of Festubert
With increasing difficulties of replacing Indian casualties, a decision was taken to withdraw the Division from France and move it to Mesopotamia. Movement began on 8 December 1915. Headquarters was established on 16 January 1916 and came under orders of the Tigris Corps, but the urgency of the need to relieve the 6th (Poona) Division which was besieged at Kut-al-Amara led to the units of the Division being committed piecemeal as they arrived. It was not until mid-February 1916 until the full command structure of the Division was once again operational. The Division then remained in the Mesopotamia theatre for the rest of the war.
1916
21 January: the first attack on the Hanna (7th and 9th Brigades only)
8 March: Attack on the Dujaila Redoubt
17-18 April: Action of Bait Aisa
In the reorganisation of the Mesopotamia force after the fall of Kut, the Division was moved into I Corps.
1917
14 December 1916 – 19 January 1917: the advance to the Hai and the capture of Khudaira Bend
19 March: the occupation of Fallahiyeh
25 March: the first Action of Jabal Hamrin
21-22 April: the Action of Istabulat
11 July: the attack of Ramadi
2 Nov: the Action of Daur
In January 1918 the Division was moved to the Egyptian Expeditionary Force for operations in Palestine.
1918
19-23 September: the Battle of Sharon
Order of Battle
The 3rd (Lahore) Division contained a mixture of British and Indian units. Only the British units are shown below. I hope to add the Indian units in due course.
Headquarters
Mounted troops
15th Lancers
7th (Ferozepore) Brigade
1st Connaught Rangers (attached to 9th (Sirhind) Brigade late January to March 1915)
1/3rd London Regiment (briefly in February 1915 before going to the 7th (Meerut) Division
1/4th London Regiment (joined 20 February 1915)
131 Machine Gun Company (MGC) (joined August 1916)
7 Light Trench Mortar Battery (joined February 1918)
8th (Jullundur) Brigade
2nd Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) (left to join 5th (Mhow) Division in September 1914)
1st Manchester Regiment
1/4th Suffolk Regiment (joined 4 December 1914. Left for 7th (Meerut) Division 31 January 1915 but returned 12 April 1915)
1st Highland Light Infantry (attached from 9th (Sirhind) Brigade January – February 1916)
132 Machine Gun Company (MGC) (joined August 1916)
8 Light Trench Mortar Battery (joined February 1918)
9th (Sirhind) Brigade
4th Rifle Brigade (left for England in September 1914 and eventually came under command of 27th Division)
2nd Northumberland Fusiliers (left for England in September 1914 and eventually came under command of 27th Division)
1st Highland Light Infantry (attached to 8th (Jullundur) Brigade January – February 1916.Left as Corps Troops January 1917)
1st Connaught Rangers (attached from 7th (Ferozepore) Brigade late January to March 1915)
4th King’s (Liverpool Regiment) (joined 9 March 1915)
1/4th Hampshire Regiment (brief attachment from 12th Indian Division late January 1916)
2nd Dorsetshire Regiment (joined January 1917 after being reformed following fall of Kut)
133 Machine Gun Company (MGC) (joined August 1916)
9 Light Trench Mortar Battery (joined February 1918)
Unbrigaded infantry
1st Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment) (left for Lahore September 1914)
Divisional artillery
I Brigade (RHA) (A and B Batteries and Ammunition Column. Split up on arriving in France:A to 1st Indian Cavalry Division; B to XV Brigade (RFA) of 29th Division)
III Brigade (RFA) (restructured for British 28th Division on arriving in England 16 November 1914)
XVIII Brigade (RFA)
V Brigade (RFA) (joined from 7th (Meerut) Division 22 November 1914)
XI Brigade (RFA) (joined from 7th (Meerut) Division 22 November 1914)
XL (Howitzer) Brigade (RFA) attached from January to May 1915)
2 and 5 Mountain Batteries (RGA)
82 Company (RGA) (remained at Ferozepore when the Division sailed)
86 Battery (RGA) (remained in India when the Division sailed, and left for 12th Indian Division in March 1915)
109 Heavy Battery (RGA) joined in France 20 November 1914
The divisional artillery remained in France when the 3rd (Lahore) Division left for Mesopotamia. V and XVIII Brigades (RFA) came under command of the 3rd Canadian Division 20 March – 13 July. They were joined by XI Brigade (RFA) and then came under 4th Canadian Division to July 1917.
Medical units
7th and 8th (British) Field Ambulances
111th, 112th and 113th (Indian) Field Ambulances