History of the 18th Indian Division
The 18th Indian Division began to form in Mesopotamia on 24 December 1917, but its development took time as many of its units had to move there from India.
Under command of Major-General Hew Dalrymple Fanshawe.
He had previously commanded British V Corps in Flanders but had been removed from command after the Actions of St Eloi Craters in 1916.
The division is recognised as participating in the following actions:
- Actions of Fat-ha Gorge and on the Little Zab (23 – 26 October 1918, under I Corps)
- Battle of Sharqat (28 – 30 October, same)
The division remained in the theatre after war had ended, to play a part in the occupation of Iraq. It was broken up in 1921.
Order of Battle
*units marked thus are British. All others are of the Indian Army.
Divisional Headquarters
Divisional Troops
| Units | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 106th Hazara Infantry (Pioneers) | Joined November 1917 | From 1st (Peshawar) Brigade |
| 249th Machine Gun Company* | Joined February 1918. Merged into MG 18th Battalion November 1918 | Arrived from France and at Magil Camp November 1917 |
| 1/32nd Sikhs (Pioneers) | Joined November 1918 | From 17th Indian Division |
| 18th Machine Gun Battalion* | Formed November 1918 | |
| 12th Mobile Veterinary Section | ||
| 18th Divisional Train |
Artillery
| Units | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 336 Brigade RFA* | Formerly known as 2/2nd Home Counties Brigade | |
| 337 Brigade RFA* | Formerly known as 2/3rd Home Counties Brigade | |
| 18th Divisional Ammunition Column | ||
| X.18 Medium Trench Mortar Battery | Joined July 1918 |
Engineers
| Units | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2/1st Sappers & Miners | Joined November 1917 | |
| 8/1st Sappers & Miners | Joined November 1917 | |
| 18th Divisional Signal Company | ||
| 5/1st Sappers & Miners | Joined April 1918, left August 1918 | |
| 6/1st Sappers & Miners | Joined August 1918 |
Infantry
| Units and sub-formations | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 53rd Indian Infantry Brigade HQ | Commanded the units below | |
| 1/9th Battalion Middlesex Regiment* | Joined November 1917 | From Ambala Brigade in 16th Indian Division |
| 1/89th Punjabis | Joined December 1917, left September 1918 | From 2nd (Nowshera) Brigade in 1st (Peshawar) Division. Went to 81st Brigade in British 27th Division |
| 1/3rd Gurkha Rifles | Joined November 1917 | From Kohat |
| 1/7th Gurkha Rifles | Joined December 1917 | From East Persia, 4th (Quetta) Division |
| 207th Machine Gun Company* | Joined February 1918. Merged into MG 18th Battalion November 1918 | |
| 53rd Light Trench Mortar Battery | Joined February 1918 | |
| 54th Indian Infantry Brigade HQ | Commanded the units below | |
| 1/5th Battalion Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment* | Joined November 1917 | From Jubbulpore Brigade in 5th (Mhow) Division |
| 1/39th Garhwal Rifles | Joined December 1917 | From 2nd (Quetta) Brigade |
| 25th Punjabis | Joined December 1917, left September 1918 | From Bannu Brigade. Went to British 22nd Division |
| 52nd Sikhs | Joined December 1917 | From 1st (Peshawar) Brigade |
| 238th Machine Gun Company* | Joined February 1918. Merged into MG 18th Battalion November 1918 | |
| 54th Light Trench Mortar Battery | Joined February 1918 | |
| 55th Indian Infantry Brigade HQ | Commanded the units below | |
| 1/5th Battalion East Surrey Regiment* | Joined 10 December 1918 | From Meerut Divisional Area |
| 116th Mahratta Light Infantry | Joined December 1917 | |
| 1/10th Jats | Joined January 1918, left September 1918 | From Bannu Brigade. Went to British 22nd Division |
| 1/94th Russell’s Infantry | Joined January 1918, left September 1918 | From 2nd (Nowshera) Brigade in 1st (Peshawar) Division. Went to 17th Indian Division |
| 87th Punjabis | Left September 1918 | |
| 1/5th Gurkha Rifles | Left December 1918 | Went to 15th Indian Division |
| 239th Machine Gun Company* | Joined February 1918. Merged into MG 18th Battalion November 1918 | |
| 55th Light Trench Mortar Battery | Joined February 1918 |
Medical
| Units | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 37th Combined Field Ambulance | ||
| 38th Combined Field Ambulance | ||
| 39th Combined Field Ambulance | ||
| 40th Combined Field Ambulance |
Research tips
The war diaries of units serving in Mesopotamia have been digitised and can be downloaded (free, if you register which is also free) from the National Archives website.
The volumes of the Official History of the campaign in Mesopotamia have been digitised and can be downloaded from archive.org.
India General Service Medal