1st Indian Cavalry Division


The 1st Indian Cavalry Division was a division of the British Indian Army which was formed at the outbreak of World War I. It served on the Western Front, and was renamed the 4th Cavalry Division on 26 November 1916. In March 1918, the 4th Cavalry Division was broken up. The British units remained in France, and the Indian elements were sent to Egypt to help form the 1st Mounted Division.

History

The division sailed for France from Bombay on 16 October 1914 under the command of Major General H. D. Fanshawe. The division was re-designated the 4th Cavalry Division in November 1916. During the war, they served in the trenches as infantry.
The large number of early officer casualties affected the division's later performance. British officers who understood the language, customs, and psychology of their men could not be quickly replaced, and the alien environment of the Western Front affected the soldiers. The division served in France and Flanders, held in reserve for the expected breakthrough. It provided dismounted parties for trench duty, but its only battle was the Battle of Cambrai during the German counterattacks of 30 November – 3 December. In March 1918, the division was broken up and the Indian regiments were combined in Egypt with the Yeomanry Mounted Division to form the 1st Mounted Division.

Order of battle