What was an Indian Cavalry Pioneer Battalion?

Structure and composition

Personnel

  • Headquarters
    • 4 officers (Lieutenant-Colonel or Major in command; Major or Captain 2-i-C; one Adjutant; one Quartermaster)
    • 3 officers attached (one Medical Officer (RAMC); one Sub-Assistant Surgeon (RAMC); one Field Company Lieutenant or Second-Lieutenant (RE))
    • 2 Warrant Officers (Sergeant-Major and Quartermaster-Sergeant)
    • 1 Orderly Room Clerk
    • 3 Staff-Sergeants or Sergeants (Orderly Room; Transport; Signaller)
    • 3 Staff-Sergeants or Sergeants attached (Sanitary Section (RAMC); Armourer (AOC); Field Squadron (RE))
    • 5 Artificers (Saddler; Farrier-Corporal; 2 Shoeing Smiths; Salutri*)
    • 22 rank and file (7 Drivers; 5 Batmen; 1 Cook; 1 Signaller-Corporal; 6 Signallers; 2 Medical Officer’s orderlies)
    • 51 rank and file attached (2 RAMC; 1 Indian Ward Orderly; 8 Sanitary Section; 18 Stretcher Bearers; 1 Interpreter; 1 on Gas Duties; in the Field Squadron 18 Sappers and 2 Batmen)
  • Three companies (one British, two Indian), total:
    • 24 Officers
    • 3 Warrant Officers
    • 27 Staff-Sergeants or Sergeants
    • 720 Rank and File
  • Totals are
    • Headquarters 37 plus 57 attached
    • Companies 776
    • Complete Battalion 870

Note: Salutri is Veterinary

Note: each Company was made up of four Platoons, structured as follows:

  • British Company
    • Captain in command; 1 Lieutenant or Second-Lieutenant 2-in-C; 4 Lieutenants or Second-Lieutenants, each in command of a Platoon
    • 1 Company Sergeant-Major
    • 1 Company Quartermaster-Sergeant
    • 8 Sergeants
    • 16 Corporals or Lance-Corporals
    • 204 Privates
    • 8 Drivers
    • 6 Batmen
    • 2 Cooks
  • Indian Company
    • Captain in command; 1 Lieutenant or Second-Lieutenant 2-in-C; 2 Lieutenants or Second-Lieutenants; 5 Indian officers
    • 1 Company Sergeant-Major
    • 1 Company Quartermaster-Sergeant
    • 8 Sergeants
    • 16 Corporals or Lance-Corporals
    • 204 Privates
    • 8 Drivers
    • 9 Batmen
    • 4 Cooks
    • 2 Sweepers

Horses

  • Headquarters
    • 7 Riding, 16 Draught
  • Companies, total
    • 48 Draught
  • Totals
    • 7 Riding, 64 Draught

Transport

  • Headquarters
    • 1 Officers mess cart
    • 2 Water carts
    • 1 limbered General Service wagon
    • 1 Maltese cart for Medical Officer (or alternatively another limbered General Service wagon)
  • Companies, total
    • 3 travelling kitchens or limbered General Service wagons
    • 3 General Service wagons
    • 6 limbered General Service wagons

Source: War diary General Staff of headquarters, 2nd Indian Cavalry Division (National Archives WO95/1180)

Links

1st Indian Cavalry Division

2nd Indian Cavalry Division

Other unit definitions