12th_Indian_Division Knowpia

12th Indian Division
12th Indian Division
Active	1915–1916
Country	India
Allegiance	British Crown
Branch	British Indian Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division
Engagements	Battle of Shaiba; Battle of Khafajiya; Battle of Nasiriya
Commanders
Notable; commanders	Major General Gerald Frederick Gorringe

The 12th Indian Division was formed in March 1915 from units of the British Indian Army. It formed part of the Tigris Corps, for service during the Mesopotamia Campaign of World War I. The Division arrived in Mesopotamia in April 1915 and remained there until it was broken up in March 1916. The Division's brigades remained in Mesopotamia as independent formations until forming part of the 15th Indian Division in May 1916.^[1] During its short existence it fought in a number of actions including the Battle of Shaiba between April 12–14, 1915, the Battle of Khafajiya between May 14–16, 1915, the Battle of Nasiriya between July 5, 13-14, 24 1915, where 400 British and Indian soldiers were killed in the battle and up to 2,000 Turkish Soldiers.^{[citation needed]} The Occupation of Nasiriya and the affair at Butanuja, January 14, 1916.^[1]

Order of battle edit

The division included the following units; not all of them served at the same time:^[1]^[2]^[3]

12th Indian Brigade edit

2nd Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
90th Punjabis
44th Mherwara Infantry
4th Prince Albert Victor's Rajputs
67th Punjabis
1/5th Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)

30th Indian Brigade edit

24th Punjabis
76th Punjabis
126th Baluchis
2nd Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles
1/4th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment
half of 2nd Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)
half of 67th Punjabis

33rd Indian Brigade edit

The brigade was broken up in December 1915.

34th Indian Brigade edit

Replaced 33rd Brigade when it was broken up.

1/5th Battalion, Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment)
31st Punjabis
1st Battalion, 112th Infantry
114th Mahrattas
half of 2nd Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)

Divisional Cavalry edit

Two squadrons of 33rd Queen Victoria’s Own Light Cavalry^[1]^[2]

Divisional Artillery edit

86th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
104th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
1/5th Hampshire (Howitzer) Battery, Royal Field Artillery (Territorial Force) ^[1]^[2]

Divisional Engineers edit

12th Field Company, 2nd Sappers and Miners
12th Division Signal Company ^[1]^[2]

References edit

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "army.mod".
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "warpath". Archived from the original on 17 May 2008.
^ Perry 1993, p. 124

Bibliography edit

Haythornthwaite, Philip J. (1996). The World War One Source Book. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 1-85409-351-7.
Moberly, F.J. (1923). Official History of the War: Mesopotamia Campaign. London: Imperial War Museum. ISBN 1-870423-30-5.
Perry, F.W. (1993). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions. Newport: Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 1-871167-23-X.