History of the 14th Indian Division
The 14th Indian Division was formed in Mesopotamia in 12 May 1916, based on three infantry brigades that had already seen action in the unsuccessful effort to relieve the besieged garrison of Kut-al-Amara.
The division is recognised as participating in the following actions:
Under command of Major-General Raleigh Gilbert Egerton
- The advance to the Hai and capture of the Khudaira Bend (14 December 1916 – 19 January 1917, under III Corps)
- The capture of the Hai salient (25 January – 5 February 1917, same)
- The capture of the Dahra Bend (9 – 16 February 1917, same)
- The capture of Sannaiyat (17 – 24 February 1917, same)
- The passage of the Tigris (23-24 February 1917, same)
- The passage of the Adhaim (18 April 1917, 35th Brigade only, same)
- Action of Ahaim (30 April 1917, 35th Brigade only, same)
- Second Action of Jabal Hamrin (16-20 October 1917, same).
Under command of Major-General William Montgomerie Thomson (from 22 November 1917)
- Third Action of Jabal Hamrin (3-6 December 1917, same).
Under command of Major-General Thomas Fraser (from 25 September 1918)
The division remained in the theatre after war but was soon broken up.
Order of Battle
*units marked thus are British. All others are of the Indian Army.
Divisional Headquarters
Mounted Troops
| Units | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 7th Hariana Lancers | Attached June 1916, left August 1917 | From 6th Indian Cavalry Brigade. Went to Secunderabad Cavalry Brigade |
| 14th Murray’s Jat Hussars | Attached to 36th Brigade (below) from April 1918 | From 6th Indian Cavalry Brigade. |
Divisional Troops
| Units | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 128th Pioneers | Joined June 1916 | From 7th (Ferozepore) Brigade in 3rd (Lahore) Division |
| 274th Machine Gun Company* | Joined 13 November 1917 | |
| 1st Mobile Veterinary Section | ||
| 14th Divisional Train |
Artillery
| Units | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 13th Brigade RFA* | From 7th (Meerut) Division | |
| C/69th Brigade RFA* | From 13th (Western) Division. Merged into 13th Brigade September 1917 | |
| 14th Divisional Ammunition Column | ||
| A/69th Brigade RFA* | Joined June 1917 | From 13th (Western) Division. Merged into 30th Brigade September 1917 |
| 30th Brigade RFA* | Joined September 1917 | Originally 166 Brigade bur renumbered on joining |
| X.14 Medium Trench Mortar Battery | Joined July 1918 |
Engineers
| Units | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 12/2nd Field Company Sappers & Miners | Left June 1918 | Went to Persian Lines of Communication |
| 13/2nd Field Company Sappers & Miners | Joined June 1916 | |
| 15/2nd Field Company Sappers & Miners | Joined November 1916, left June 1918 | Went to Persian Lines of Communication |
| 14th Divisional Signal Company |
Infantry
| Units and sub-formations | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 35th Indian Infantry Brigade HQ | From 7th (Meerut) Division. Commanded the units below | |
| Brigade Machine Gun Company* | Formed 31 January 1916, absorbed by 185th MG Company 31 October 1916 | |
| 1/5th Battalion Buffs (East Kent Regiment)* | Originally joined as a composite unit with 1/4th Hampshires. Split and resumed identity June 1916 | |
| 1/4th Battalion Hampshire Regiment* | Left November 1916 | Originally joined as a composite unit with 1/5th Buffs. Split and resumed identity June 1916. Went to 36th Indian Infantry Brigade (below) |
| 39th Dogras | Originally joined as a composite unit with 41st Dogras. Split and resumed identity June 1916 | |
| 41st Dogras | Originally joined as a composite unit with 39th Dogras. Split and resumed identity June 1916 | |
| 2/4th Gurkha Rifles | Joined June 1916 | From 41st Indian Brigade |
| 185th Machine Gun Company* | Joined 31 October 1916 | From England |
| 1/102nd Grenadiers | Joined December 1916 | From Corps Troops (but had been with this brigade up to June 1916) |
| 35th Light Trench Mortar Battery | Joined February 1918 | |
| 36th Indian Infantry Brigade HQ | Left June 1918 | Commanded the units below. Went to North Persia Force. |
| Brigade Machine Gun Company* | Absorbed by 186th MG Company 30-31 October 1916 | |
| 1/6th Battalion Devonshire Regiment* | Left October 1916 | Went to Corps Troops |
| 26th Punjabis | Left August 1918 | Went to Persian Lines of Communication |
| 62nd Punjabis | Left August 1918 | Went to Persian Lines of Communication |
| 82nd Punjabis | Left August 1918 | Went to 37th Indian Infantry Brigade (below) |
| 186th Machine Gun Company* | Joined 30 October 1916 | From England |
| 1/4th Battalion Hampshire Regiment* | Joined November 1916 | From 35th Indian Infantry Brigade (above) |
| 36th Light Trench Mortar Battery | Joined February 1918 | |
| 37th Indian Infantry Brigade HQ | Commanded the units below | |
| 1/2nd Gurkha Rifles | ||
| 64th Pioneers | Left June 1916 | Went to Corps Troops |
| 36th Sikhs | Left February 1917 | Went to Corps Troops |
| 1/4th Battalion Devonshire Regiment* | Left February 1917 | Went to Corps Troops |
| 45th Sikhs | Left February 1917 | Went to Corps Troops |
| Brigade Machine Gun Company* | Formed 30 September 1916, absorbed by 187th MG Company 31 October 1916 | |
| 187th Machine Gun Company* | Joined 31 October 1916 | From England |
| 2nd Battalion Norfolk Regiment* | Joined February 1917 | From Corps Troops |
| 2/9th Gurkha Rifles | Joined February 1917 | From Corps Troops |
| 1/67th Punjabis | Joined February 1917, left April 1918 | From Corps Troops. Went eventually to 82nd Infantry Brigade in British 27th Division |
| 82nd Punjabis | Joined August 1918 | From 36th Indian Infantry Brigade (above) |
| 37th Light Trench Mortar Battery | Joined February 1918 | |
| 56th Indian Infantry Brigade HQ | Joined August 1918 | Commanded the units below |
| 1/4th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry* | ||
| 1/42nd Regiment | ||
| 95th Infantry | ||
| 2nd Indian Machine Gun Company | ||
| 56th Light Trench Mortar Battery |
Medical
| Units | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Combined Field Ambulance | Left February 1917 | |
| 20th Combined Field Ambulance | Left with 36th Indian Infantry Brigade June 1918 | |
| 21st Combined Field Ambulance | ||
| 22nd Combined Field Ambulance | ||
| 135th Combined Field Ambulance | ||
| 13th Sanitary Section |
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