Imperial Mounted Division

Brief history of the Imperial Mounted Division

The division was formed at Ismailia in Egypt in accordance with an Egyptian Expeditionary Force order of 12 February 1917.

Brigadier-General H. W. Hodgson was placed in command and given the temporary rank of Major-General.

The division participated in the following named battles and engagements:

  • The First Battle of Gaza, 26-27 March 1917
  • The Second Battle of Gaza, 17-19 April 1917

Egyptian Expeditionary Force order of 20 June 1917 reorganised the forces again, creating the Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division, the Australian Mounted Division and the Yeomanry Mounted Division. The Imperial Mounted Division was renamed as the Australian Mounted Division.


Order of Battle

Divisional headquarters

3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade (transferred from ANZAC Mounted Division)

  • Brigade headquarters
  • 8th Australian Light Horse
  • 9th Australian Light Horse
  • 10th Australian Light Horse
  • 3rd Australian Light Horse Signal Troop
  • 3rd Australian Machine Gun Squadron

4th Australian Light Horse Brigade (in process of formation when division formed)

  • Brigade headquarters
  • 4th Australian Light Horse
  • 11th Australian Light Horse
  • 12th Australian Light Horse
  • 4th Australian Light Horse Signal Troop
  • 4th Australian Machine Gun Squadron

5th (1st South Midland) Mounted Brigade

  • Brigade headquarters
  • 1/1st Warwickshire Yeomanry
  • 1/1st Gloucestershire Yeomanry
  • 1/1st Worcestershire Yeomanry
  • 5th Mounted Brigade Signal Troop, Royal Engineers
  • 16th Machine Gun Squadron, Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry)

6th (2nd South Midland) Mounted Brigade (moved to Yeomanry Mounted Division in the reorganisation of July 1917)

  • Brigade headquarters
  • 1/1st Buckinghamshire Yeomanry
  • 1/1st Berkshire Yeomanry
  • 1/1st Queen’s Own Dorsetshire Yeomanry
  • 6th Mounted Brigade Signal Troop, Royal Engineers
  • 17th Machine Gun Squadron, Machine Gun Corps (Cavalry)

Divisional artillery

  • XIX Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery
    • 1/1st Nottinghamshire Battery, Royal Horse Artillery
    • 1/1st Berkshire Battery, Royal Horse Artillery
    • 1/A Battery, Honourable Artillery Company
    • 1/B Battery, Honourable Artillery Company

Divisional Royal Engineers

  • Imperial Mounted Division Field Squadron
  • Imperial Mounted Division Signal Squadron

Divisional Royal Army Medical Corps

  • 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance
  • 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance
  • 1/1st South Midland Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance
  • 1/2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance (moved to Yeomanry Mounted Division in the reorganisation of July 1917)
  • No. 31 Sanitary Section (moved to Yeomanry Mounted Division in the reorganisation of July 1917)

Divisional Army Veterinary Corps

  • 8th Australian Mobile Veterinary Section
  • 9th Australian Mobile Veterinary Section
  • 3/1st South Midland Veterinary Section
  • 4/1st South Midland Veterinary Section (moved to Yeomanry Mounted Division in the reorganisation of July 1917)

Links

Other Cavalry and Mounted Divisions